Here's a compilation of every Mononoke including the films and the original TV show.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: October 18th 2026
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ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: October 18th 2026
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TVTranscript
00:00I'm going to talk to you about the first time of Japanese, I'm going to talk to you about
00:29Mushy Age Muscle
00:37Mononoke, not to be confused with the Hayao Miyazaki film, was an anime series that was a spin-off of
00:42Ayakashi Samurai Tales.
00:44The main premise of the show was about when a mysterious medicine seller gets himself into various supernatural encounters with
00:50Mononoke, a type of Ayakashi, Batlinger and the human world.
00:53I love the series for its dark and eerie atmosphere, and the beautiful and complimentary animation, but I was excited
01:00for the movie and I can proudly say that Mononoke the movie, Phantom in the Rain, is well worth the
01:04wait.
01:05This time, the film sees the medicine seller having to deal with the goings on at Oku.
01:10For those of you who don't know your Japanese history and have to do a quick google halfway through the
01:14movie, an Oku was an area in the Ido castle where the ladies of the Shogun lived.
01:19In the film, there's something serious going on, but may or may not have connections to the disappearance of the
01:24concubine.
01:25Now, if you know the inner workings of an Oku, then you know that it didn't allow male adults in,
01:29so most of the film is actually focused on two new characters, Asa and Kame, as they deal with the
01:34inner workings of the Oku.
01:36Now, this would seem like a cop-out, not having the medicine seller be the main focus, but I liked
01:40it, because some of the best stories from the show mainly had other characters be the main focus and the
01:45medicine seller be an observer who was to solve the supernatural issue.
01:48Think of the Shashiki or Warashari or Nobbera Borg arcs, and you can see how this film goes.
01:55Asa and Kame here are compelling, and seeing them deal both with the essential office politics and the supernatural in
02:01its works, well, reminded me of stuff like Black Narcissus or that Sydney Sweeney nun movie Immaculate that came out
02:07earlier this year.
02:08As I mentioned, those arcs on the show, the film does bore those arcs' themes and observations about women in
02:13society as well.
02:13Sure, Asa and Kame are free to fulfil their roles in the Oku, but they're still contained within one building
02:18and have to make sacrifices to a Shogun who we don't see much in the film.
02:27It's a fascinating theme that connects the film to the show. The whole eminence here are strongly used effectively, the
02:32film carries the series' eerie and creepy atmosphere, but with a bit more fast pace than the show, lots of
02:36rabbits at editing, while it would be a bit disoriented, it still works to keep moving the film forward, but
02:42still making it very deliberately odd and unnerving.
02:44Now this is an anime film, how's the animation? It's great. Like a lot of film continuation of shows, the
02:50animation looks a bit upgrade, while the animation of the show was great, the film has a more wider scale.
02:55The colour of the film is a bit more brighter and vibrant, which creates a great contrast to the horror
02:59aspect of the film. That also makes it a little bit darker, but there's an unnatural element to it.
03:04The film character designs are also good, making them strike a fine line between what you'd call a recognisable anime
03:09style with an Okuyori painting look.
03:11It's praised the director Kenji Nakamura, who also directed the anime series, and here brings the full style of the
03:16show to the film with a bigger, grander style.
03:18More than I K, the movie, Phantom in the Rain, is a vibrantly creepy film. The film brings the show's
03:23iconic style and animation back in goals, all in the grander scope that a film would allow, but a TV
03:29show would not.
03:30Even though there are some elements I kind of feel like are left hanging, probably because this is the first
03:36part of a film trilogy, so that obviously will be followed up in two sequels.
03:41You can watch the film if you're much a fan, because it's a standalone film, and the show as well.
03:46Both are currently streaming on Netflix at the time of recording, and I full-heartedly recommend you watch it.
04:00.
04:16I'm not going to speak to you.
04:19I'm not going to speak to you.
04:25Moshi Agamashul.
04:55But also, other videos I have on my channel.
04:58Please subscribe to get more like it.
04:59Anyway, in Mononoke the movie, Chapter 2, Ashes of Rage,
05:04the medicine seller is back at the Yoku again to deal with some spooky stuff.
05:08But this time, the focus is on the upper chambers,
05:11where the higher class of concubine vie for the attention of the Shogun,
05:14where things get testy, as one lady, the lower in social class Fuku, is pregnant,
05:19and this is caused from us to stress in the court,
05:20and might be related to a possibly unrelated, but obviously not, fiery death of another concubine,
05:26which the medicine seller has to solve.
05:28I like this film.
05:29While its runtime is a bit shorter, so it doesn't have the slow burn of Phantom in the Rain,
05:34nor does it have the rise in creepiness as well,
05:36I don't mind it, as the film makes up for it in other ways.
05:38We get more insight of the inner workings of the Yoku, mainly in the upper class areas.
05:43Secondary characters who showed up in the previous film get more bigger roles,
05:46like Sachiko the God or Lady Boltan.
05:48But again, Asa, the main character from the first film, shows up briefly,
05:52which is kind of odd, considering that she was kind of the main character in the last one,
05:55and I was kind of thinking she'd be like the main through-line character,
05:58but surprisingly not, which is a shame, because I liked her character in the last one.
06:01The Shogun is also briefly seen, but he's still not that big of a presence.
06:05It's clear when all three films will be released that they're going to play well together,
06:09and that's where you can also see little story beats set up and will be played off,
06:13especially in regards to how things are set up in each film.
06:16This film also carries the previous film's themes of what women give up to work in a patriarchal society.
06:21The last film was about identity, with most of the concubines throwing away personal belongings
06:25to start working at the Yoku.
06:27This one is about bodily autonomy, so that's fun.
06:29If the first film felt like it was expanding on the themes of the Noppao Bo arc,
06:33this one taps into the themes of the Zashiki Roroshari arc,
06:37but unlike that one, it doesn't feel muddled.
06:40If you've seen the show, you understand what I'm talking about,
06:42because I've not given up a lot of details here,
06:44because they might give the film's game away.
06:46Here, we see most of the Shogun's counsellors in the film,
06:48whose daughters are all concubines,
06:50and we see them trying to jostle for power,
06:51using their own daughters as pawns in the game.
06:54And helping us nail that theme down,
06:56is that most of the scenes, they're all seen playing a game of Shogi, subtle.
07:00In my last film, I compared the theme to Immaculate, the assuming none movie,
07:04but that comparison is more appropriate here, along with last year's first omens,
07:07as they also deal with bodily autonomy and how the patriarchy seeks to control women.
07:11There seems to be a bigger theme across these films emerging,
07:13like Permission, the medicine center isn't allowed into the LQ,
07:16unless he has permission, and still uses the policy earned from the last film,
07:19and certain characters are asked to do things if they consent to it,
07:22but often that is given under duress.
07:24It's a small thing, but I sense it will become a bit clearer
07:26when the third film comes out next year.
07:27On the animation side, it's as good as the previous film,
07:30still has the psychedelic, ukiya-air look,
07:32and the titular Mononoke visiting around looks cool,
07:34and makes a good companion to the previous film's one.
07:37Obviously, the editor in this movie is a bit less hyperactive than the last film,
07:41but editor Shigeru Nishiyama does some interesting tricks,
07:44like how he uses jump cuts to make a close-up on Lady Boltown,
07:48or how it cuts to a different character to correct just position,
07:50who is often in the same place.
07:53Mononoke, the movie, Asher of Rage,
07:55is a good and consistent follow-up to Phantom in the Rain,
07:57tackling some interesting themes and painting a clear throughline
07:59between these films, with good animation to boot.
08:01I'm excited for the final part that comes out next year.
08:04This film, along with its previous entry and TV show it's based on,
08:07are all available on Netflix at the time of recording.
08:25As 2025 draws to a close, it's usually a time to look back,
08:28but for this episode, I want to look forward at what 2026 offers us on the film front.
08:36Number 6, Mononoke, the movie, Chapter 3, The Curse of the Serpent.
08:40I feel like the Mononoke movies are pretty underrated.
08:42Some of the best animated films I've seen recently,
08:44and 2026 offers us the conclusion to the Medicine Cellar's escapades in the Yoku.
08:47This one seems to finally involve the Shogun,
08:49who's made sporadic appearances in the films,
08:51and could possibly type other mysteries that have popped up about the Yoku in the films.
08:55Well, I'm probably going to have to watch the films by now,
08:57if they'll answer my questions.
09:24So, I've reviewed both Mononoke movies,
09:27but I've never reviewed the TV shows.
09:28show on the channel so let's do that mostly for completionist's sake and also it adds a bit to
09:32the upcoming compilation video that i'm gonna make when the third film comes out anyway back to the
09:36show spinning off from the anthology series ayakashi samurai tales and released in 2007
09:41mononoke sees a mysterious medicine seller traveling to various places that usually become
09:45beset with supernatural spirits called mononoke to exercise these spirits the medicine seller
09:50needs to find out for mononoke's shape truth and reason but usually in doing so he finds out a lot
09:56more about the places he visits and the people he initially sets out to help the show had 12
10:01episodes and within those episodes were serialized story arcs often ranging from two to three episodes
10:06the arcs are pretty quick and don't draw things out and let the mystery play out it also manages to
10:10let
10:10the themes that underlie the horror play out as i mentioned in my mononoke movie reviews the
10:15commodification of women is a persistent theme in the show as it was in the movies and the show also
10:19delves into other themes like the darker side of humanity people's voices and less savory details
10:24are also examined in the show arcs like the new way arc about how people will prize something that
10:28has some inherent worth or the zashiki rashi arc which is also about how you have to sacrifice your
10:33own choices in order to work i could go into more depth about this but these are mystery stories and
10:38i feel if i give out more details it would spoil the show so do check out the series if
10:43you want to
10:43have a better understanding of what i'm talking about and you should really check out the show it's
10:46well worth it my favorite arcs of the series were the number bear a bow and back a nickel number
10:50bear a bow
10:51had a great story behind it detail why a woman killed her husband it's two episodes long but as
10:55i mentioned before the show managed to make those two episodes compelling back in their car was
10:58actually a remake or set an update of the original three episodes that were in the eye cache samurai
11:02tales series which the medicine seller first appeared in moving the timeline to the 1920s and
11:07has medicine seller having to solve a murder mystery on the subway train it's a great mystery and a good
11:12bookend for the series to end on both on a story and thematic front while it's not essential to watch
11:17before the show watching whatever order you want honestly i do recommend you check out the
11:20eye cache samurai tales episodes as it's a good pilot for the show in a way and some characters show
11:25up
11:25in the series proper so there's good connective tissue there check it out if you want to be a
11:29completionist another aspect i should mention is the show's animation it utilizes a bright colorful
11:34and cartoony art store which evokes wood pain the type of pain that was popular in the show's
11:38possible time period it also serves as a good offset for the show's horror aspect the show doesn't
11:43revel in the scariness it gets it's scared to the uncomfortableness and the unease that plays out
11:47during the episodes it's aided by the editing there are effective jump cuts and transitions
11:51which adds to the odd and uneasiness of the show if you want something scary and visually
11:56different from your typical anime then mononoke is the show for you the show is at the time of
12:01recording available on netflix so do check it out if you want to
12:20so now it's the end of the medicine sellers trips to the oku and boy is an event for one
12:25but is it a satisfying conclusion let's get into it
12:32so if you've ever watched my previous mononoke videos the basic premise is that in a
12:36undisclosed period in japan's past a medicine seller investigates supernatural goings on at various
12:42places started out as an episode on an anthology show got its own series that i reviewed and it's
12:47getting another one down the line and i'll sell three movies two of which i previously reviewed
12:50playlist link for all those reviews in the comments and if you like stuff like that don't forget to
12:56click the like button share the videos and subscribe to this channel for more stuff like that last time
13:00the medicine seller went into the oku he had to solve a fiery murder mystery and this time he has
13:04to save the inhabitants of the oku from a snake spirit that is attacking around the same time
13:08the shogun's concert has given birth to a baby boy that next in line to the throne are these two
13:13events
13:13connected duh right off the bat the film wastes our time getting into the film you already know who the
13:18central characters are this time around what's this film's supernatural situation is going to be
13:22and see what some twists will be and it's pretty good overall it manages to keep a good pace and
13:28as the last film in the trilogy
13:29it manages to call back to previous characters themes and motifs from the other films characters like
13:34asa and fuki return and in ace's case get a bigger role and we get to know the peripheral characters
13:38like the shogun and his family but that does lead to my big issue with the film as with most
13:43trilogy
13:43enders often new characters aren't as interesting as the ones that came before as they haven't had two
13:48prior films to be developed the characters here were previously seen in other movies but they weren't as
13:52prominent mostly as a presence that the characters often refer to and nothing else so when it comes time for
13:57their
13:57movie they get a bit of character development but nothing else the biggest victim of this lack of
14:03character development is lady kukiko she's supposed to be the film's normal plv character like what
14:07asa or fuki were in the previous two films but we don't get much time with her unlike those two
14:12and
14:12it's a bit egregious as those two characters return to prominent roles here which i feel could have been
14:17used by yukiko but then the full circleness of the film wouldn't be put to good use here it's a
14:22double-edged sword but bringing the discussion back to a positive note the film manages to keep in line
14:26with the predecessors theme the central theme at play this time is power and the lengths and lies
14:31people mainly the patriarchy will go and tell to keep it this aligns well for the themes of the
14:35previous films and tv show which isn't the only thing that has in common with the show and brings
14:40them all together in an amazing manner that doesn't feel overall stuffed or preachy from things such as
14:45how systems are designed to keep people entrapped to how many great systems are built on lies
14:52it offers a lot to be examined especially as all these films have been released so it's probably
14:57going to be an interesting rewatch seeing any moments of foreshadowing that i might have missed
15:02along with characters and romantic elements the animation continues to be great as well still
15:07looking great with its bright colors and ukiyo-e art style but goes all out in the final act as
15:12it
15:12manages to recreate something i don't want to spoil but it works well also the weird rapid editing is back
15:17from phantom in the rain yay also it was announced there was going to be another mononoke anime series
15:22disconnected from the original series and this film i'm excited to see it might review it might not
15:27see how i feel mononoke the movie curse the serpent ends its trilogy on a good note with splendid
15:31animation and relevant themes this trilogy is worthy to seek out the film is available at the time of
15:35recording on netflix like what you see here then please subscribe from my youtube channel so you can
15:40get more watch this space but also other things such as my short films please remember to like and
15:45subscribe to the videos you just watched and also please check out the orange bin my blog where
15:50i have write-ups of my episodes here which with links to sources that i mentioned on the show i
15:56also
15:56contain some of my old blog posts if you want to see what else i used to do back in
16:01the olden days
16:01so please remember to check out my blog and like and subscribe to my youtube channel