Mononoke Was More Than Just Experimental

[@commentersupporterway]

Coming back here to happily report that there’s a new season coming out! Glad to see it get the recognition it deserves!

[@circe2323]

wtfwtfwtf thank you for the info

[@Kurodesu96]

Wasn’t it a movie?

[@togaloverxoxo2074]

its a movie, but its coming this year🎉🎉🎉

[@shannahlight260]

I heard about the movie, but a season would be even greater!

[@togaloverxoxo2074]

@@shannahlight260 thats right✨✨

[@nightmarewastaken8307]

I might just be weird as hell but I'm simping over the medicine vendor 💀💀

[@dilarademir7095]

it’s not weird, pretty much every one does 😂😂

[@saenekokun2723]

Dw we all in the same boat

[@mehitablestorm8877]

Me too, he's so compelling. Those eyes.....and I love the way he says.....HO.

[@haileeyyy-hm3sr]

Ur not weird! He's literally so alluring ....probably the most alluring character I've seen in all my life of watching anime

[@kenny995]

Not weird at all. He's handsome and mysterious, how could you not be attracted to him?

[@MrAlquimista666]

One theory I have as to why Mononoke was not successful (I'm purely talking about numbers and reach here) is because it is just so... Uncomfortable. The colors, the perspective changes, the storylines, the character design, the sounds, the pacing, the obtuse dialogue, the subject matter, even the resolution of each story. Everything is designed to make the viewer feel on edge, like watching a confusing dream that turns into a nightmare that doesn't fully make sense once it's over. It's confusing, it's strange, it's unapprocheable. It is for a very specific and niche audience. I love.Mononoke and I'm really glad it's getting a resurgence. It deserves to be appreciated.

[@citriparadisi]

I agree. And I will even add something : some (most actually) of the subjects, the "human vices" depicted in this anime are even more unsettling and uncomfortable for women. I really think you see the anime differently as a woman : from the last episode of the first arc, when you see the blond pregnant women being forcibly.... by the owners of the hotel, to the last act, where the victim was struggling to be accepted as a serious professional because she was a woman... It does hit deeper and more significantly when you can empathise with the characters and the horror they are living though

[@olive4naito]

For non Japanese perhaps. It's different if you have seen old Japanese folktales being told in a similar style.

[@swarooparajpurohit4909]

I agree, I just saw the movie and it was not a comfortable sight to see, I was tripping on the visuals as if I was high on acid the whole time, I couldn’t make sense of what to focus on either. But there was honesty in its depiction which were appealing at the same time.. I couldn’t not think about it once I saw it

[@sedbaka]

this.

[@sofialaya596]

Makes me think of disco elysium. Beyond incredible piece of art, like this anime. But it holds you ,just a little, through the horrors by giving you a character you can emphatize with and have some self insert, and a companion you can love. At the end, you've seen everything, bcs there's familiarity you can hold on to, even if everything is is so true it hurts. Mononoke is like that, but never holds you through the horror, you have to walk through them alone. Bcs the protagonist is as otherwordly as those horrors. Also more esoteric and subtle.

[@noonespecial-wq5bk]

Just found it on Netflix today. It made my day better. At first I just wanted to quickly look into it because the art style caught my interest and then suddenly I was already at episode 9. This is great! Animation, voice acting, the whole atmosphere, just everything! I had a few "oh shit, OH shit, OH SHIT" moments, that were just perfect. This is the anime I never knew I needed and I'm already exited to continue watching tomorrow.

[@nixipixi8945]

Same!! I just started watching it on Netflix as well... it absolutely blew me away.. it's going in my list of favorites for sure.

[@Eframa66]

:O OMG its on Netflix now? *goes rewatch it in the speed of light* this one is pure eyecandy on so many levels and more

[@noonespecial-wq5bk]

@@Eframa66 yesss!!!!

[@Orhan6125]

So happy to see people discovering Mononoke in 2023. I watched it when I was a teenager way back in the day and it still remains one of my favorite shows and the reason why I'm still an anime fan today.

[@abyrupus]

It was popular before Netflix but hard to search because you would keep getting results for the more famous Princess Mononoke.

[@yabancosplay]

I've been preaching the Mononoke gospel for 15 years and I'll never stop. Just finished rewatching it (again) and I'm bouncing in anticipation for the movie.

[@fluxtheory3136]

Wait there's a movie?! After 15 years?! HOLY SHIT THERE IS A MOVIE

[@dazygal]

@@fluxtheory3136watched it today…it was soo good and beautiful…also his character design is so different now and the colors are so much more vibrant too

[@fluxtheory3136]

@@dazygal As long as he still has his characteristic pauses in his dialogue, he is still my kusuriuri.

[@coriii_vi]

@@dazygal The kusuriuri from the movie is another person than the serie one. There are 69 kusuriuris, The creator said that

[@dazygal]

@@coriii_vi seriously?! Thats so cool do you know where I could find more information on that? I hadn’t known that there was more than one that kinda explains why it felt like this ones personality was a tad different than the one in the series

[@bat_mobile7545]

Unlike any horror stories, the Mononoke was born from human neglected flaws, when the flaw became so strong it will attain form that brings misfortune worse case death on the innocents or any accomplices.

[@StoryBird2]

When the sword is unsealed and the animation/visuals go crazy you know the episode is at it's high point

[@abyrupus]

My favorite part aside from the art-style is it almost feels like a traditional theatre or puppetry unravelling scene by scene in front of the audience. Extremely trippy. And scary in the "old ghost stories" kind of way instead of the modern styles of horror. I think its unpopular for the same reason it's unique and special - it's like a pistachio - you have to crack open the shell to enjoy it. When an episode begins, it's slow burn and you have to wait for the mystery to unravel. It is not meant to be a crowd-pleaser, and that is OK.

[@jbpeony7872]

I saw this on animax when i was 10 and my brain melted at the visuals, i still see some of the scenes in my dreams, it has been burned into my subconscious. thank you for reminding the name of the series. Its been so long since i thought about it.

[@nadenhwa]

Ditto. 2000s weren't great for many things. But they had exceptional anime.

[@creatureofmoth]

This should have way more views. I'm doing a presentation on Mononoke for my manga history class, and this video helped a ton with my research. Thank you!

[@kikofoxy]

Awesome! Can you share the presentation?

[@flyingorange2482]

Manga history class? WHAT?

[@noonespecial-wq5bk]

How did it go? :) (If you want to tell)

[@saenekokun2723]

Man you should update us it's been like 11 months 😔

[@mickflick8133]

Your WHAT?

[@Carlos-7529]

I just found Mononoke on Netflix this week. I’m blown away. It’s like they took Belladonna of Sadness and went “yeah let’s go wilder.”

[@Kotokomoto]

Mononoke is one of my favorite animes. Back at a Japan Fair in Boston I saw someone cosplaying the Medicine Vendor and someone dressed as the guy from Mushishi. I really regret not asking for a picture because I love those shows dearly. I wish to find someone just as interested in this type of media as I am.

[@anonymousmouse5253]

I don't know if you've ever watched the Ayakashi one but I would like to applaud the Mononoke series for staying loyal and going beyond the original creation. It's just- it blows my mind how the 2007 series reused many of what they had in the 2006 one. The way both starts with him entering a building, whispering something to himself that we viewers cannot hear. They even used the same sound effects such as that very low (almost like a vibration) sound you hear when the medicine seller enters the Sakai mansion (twice, heard it again as he steps over another threshold), it's the same one as when the landlady sees medicine seller for the first time (used again in episode 9). Also used the same sfx when they showed the sword (that twinkling sfx) but I'm not sure if they used the same sound for when the sword "reacts" to the mononoke (I heard smth similar on the 4th arc Nue, when they mentioned Nue for the first time but it's not exactly the same hehe). PLUS they reused some of the soundtracks. The most significant soundtrack I can note is the ending track after everything that happened in the Sakai mansion and the ending track of the 2007 series. It starts off with the original instruments, minus the voice because I think the voice represents Tamaki's (or the cat's mononoke) and then progresses with more instruments (as if to say this is their expansion and the development of the world of mononoke). Thank you for attending my ted talk. But all jokes aside, I'm simply amazed how they expanded and developed the medicine seller's story and style because it's so different from the first 2 arcs of Ayakashi. Idk why I'm so surprised at the loyalty because it's directed by the same director (maybe I just had a very low expectation because of the adaptations trend in the last decade, and movies made off of popular anime series such as the hunterxhunter movies, and some other spin offs that's like day and night between it and the original) aaaahh I forgot to mention, they even greeted the viewers with the "long time no see" slide or card or whatever it is called aahhh i can only imagine being a fan of the arc and getting greeted by that omg I do have one question, is Mononoke a feminist work? All the victims are women (the sources or maybe the trigger of the Mononokes) but then that's not true, cause Toudaiji....... hmmm but then Toudaiji isn't even a human. But I thought Mononoke is something that comes from people's intense feelings and haunt people like a disease????? I would like to add, I've been rewatching parts of the series and noticed they used the same track for the ending scenes of the last 3 arcs of the series, all of which does not include the singing part. But, the voice track was used during Ochos's arc, near the end. I wonder if the reason behind this is because it is similar to Tamaki's situation. A woman married off to someone (marriage done as a sacrifice, and the women the sacrificial lamb - in Tamaki's case, literally. And in Ocho's case, metaphorically) I do have to say. I prefer how in the 2006 one, Medicine Seller seems more human and empathetic (we see him struggle and almost fail, saw him get disgusted and be shocked at how inhumane humans can be). It feels more morally gray in a sense that we see the cause of the mononoke, and it's not like he's ridding the world of it to make it a better place because we humans is the reason why it even happened/exists. He even seemed apologetic for "killing" the mononoke and happy to see that Tamaki's finally free but for some reason (reason we don't know of) he still needs to "cut" off the mononokes from the human world

[@akiraniiru1302]

I was just talking with my friend about Mononoke, but i remember the Medicine Seller saying the more you interact with Mononoke the more you become like them (or turn into one) and i wonder if we're watching him become that which he fights... He mentions that on the boat arc if i remember correctly, i'd have to look again but yeah, I enjoyed your analysis (impromptu ted talk haha!)!

[@anonymousmouse5253]

@@akiraniiru1302 Woah i can't believe someone read my stupidly long comment lol But yes, that makes sense. Maybe that's the reason why he doesn't seem to age. (But funnily enough, he felt the most human-like emotionally in the last scene of the series, with him petting a cat, and his tone of voice even changes)

[@zkuheii7642]

​@anonymousmouse5253 it seems like his humanity mainly shows through when it is in regard to non-human creatures.. at least that is how i interpret it!

[@ellakociba6058]

I would absolutely say that Mononoke is a feminist series! You mention Toudaiji being an exception to the pattern of female victims, but I interpreted that scenario as a manifestation of the original Princess being objectified and pursued simply to obtain the Toudaiji - and the power it represented - rather than to connect with her as a person. She shifted between the different phases of a woman's expected life in that period (child, bride, hostess) as a Nue because all the men could see was their perceptions of her. I'm unfamiliar with the original Princess from the incense story that the Princess is named after, but I've been meaning to look into it as I'm almost positive it has some significance to the arc's overarching theme. Thank you for mentioning the anime's feminist themes, admittedly I only recently finished the show but I have yet to see an analysis of Mononoke bring up this seemingly obvious overarching theme and it's driving me a bit bonkers lol

[@ckb5943]

I'm an old guy who's been exploring Japanese film for a while now and have recently gotten interested in anime. I was looking for anime made for someone older than 15 and stumbled on to this astounding series. Agree entirely with this analysis, and would add that the opening and closing music is especially important for this series. The opening song in Argentinian style, featuring bandoneón virtuoso Ryōta Komatsu (check this dude out!), sets up a dark, fatalistic mood that nicely prepares you for what follows, and using such exotic music for a Japanese production suits the otherworldly nature of the show. And the soothing love song at the end is really needed to help the viewer smooth out after this intense show. There is so much talent involved in this production! This hard-to-see series is being issued in blu-ray in March, and a new movie is apparently in the works, so hopefully this masterful series will start getting the exposure it deserves.

[@GBE000]

Im argentine, i was finding the surreality of the show very interesting, and when i heard the opening music it felt SO familiar. This added a lot to it's beautiful weirdness for me and got me right away.

[@gregwillams5463]

Netflix has added Mononoke to its library.

[@0ViciousV0]

Dude, Mononoke blew my mind. Its a beautiful masterpiece imo. The art, sound and stories are all beautiful and well thought out with just enough left to be interpreted with its etherealism

[@Blue_Sky24211]

A yôkai is also called a mononoke and can be compared to spirits and demons. There are also different sub-groups like, Obake(Ghost), Oni (Demon), Kitsune (Fox). This series artfully introduces you to Japanese art and belief in the supernatural. It is a very expressive series in itself

[@kotowaza-sensei428]

I've been raving about this anime since 2008 and people always think that I talk about Princess Mononoke. Casuals... 🧐

[@VictorH-27]

The Medicine Seller has never left my mind for the last 15 years. No other horror anime thus far has topped the storytelling, art style, and concept of Mononoke. Cannot wait for the movie!

[@arinalikes5911]

This is possibly the one of the best shows i have seen across media. The art style is absolutely stunning. As someone who also likes using nauseatingly bright color scheme and complex/nonsensical perspective in art i feel like i was holding my breath the whole time watching it.

[@goya1831]

I watched Mononoke when I was at middle school and it really opened up a new realm of art for me, which I never expected from anime in general. I was young and I almost had a phobia in horrors, also never really heard or enjoyed experimental art films. But I stumbled into this anime, somehow. And it was amazing. I loved every moment of watching this anime. Subtle voice acting, beautiful art style that almost every scene can be put in the illustration book, it's symbolic and vague ways of delivering the narrative and all the stories they are telling. I still am emotional thinking about this anime, and I could say Mononoke is my favorite anime of all time. Please, this anime does not deserve to be in someone's pretentious watch list. The story of Mononoke is entertaining, heart-wrenching, beautifully cruel and horrific. One thing that makes Mononoke my favorite anime is, at the end of the day, the plot is about voiceless victims, especially women. It is to hear and lull the anger and sadness of the ones who vanished with too much stories to tell, and the medicine seller-the main protagonist-is there to listen to their voices screaming truth and pain. This is why I keep coming back to this anime.

[@m.streicher8286]

In my all time top 3, want the medicine seller to hold me.

[@AmeliaMastervally]

I think the best arc is the first, because it shows how the abstract representations of these nightmares are more horrific than the usually splatter gore in your face horror. The subtle hints towards the aborting, the unfurling ribbons and weird sexual moments the characters stumble across, it makes you skin crawl and haunts you in a way that just showing you a play by play of these events could never. Knowing what has happened but never having it expressly stated is stomach churning. It's like our minds can't comprehend something horrific and cruel and vile, and so our own mind abstracts and twists it to allow us to process it. The reality is terrible and the representations we are presented with are haunting

[@Trelghyl]

Mononoke really reminds me of old decective theatre like an inspector calls because of the way the plot will play out. Specifically in reference to an inspector calls, the way the medicine seller shows up unannounced, is often ridiculed by those he is interrogating and then ends up tearing each character apart to reveal the things they want to hide most and turning otherwise proud characters into spluttering idiots is very similar to that play and it leads to a very satisfying end.

[@fooluke6522]

I have the medicine seller tattooed on my entire right arm. And that's not enough to say how much I love this anime. Greetings from Brazil.

[@certainlynotaserialkiller]

I am now experiencing tattoo envy. That’s amazing. ♡

[@lynnhua9482]

Hands down my favorite anime - wish they made more!! Thanks for creating a video and giving it the recognition it deserves on youtube.

[@lynnhua9482]

There's a manga called Tropical Citron that I wish could be adapted into an art/animation style similar to Mononoke

[@bixyland66]

Mononoke is one my top lists on favorite anime, mostly because story and designs on characters. I especially love one of the characters, Noppera-Bou, or the man in fox mask.

[@spencerburba3941]

OH MY GOD I WOULD PAY SO MUCH MONEY TO HEAR THIS GUY TALK AND READ ANYTHING HE WRITES

[@toluwalopeabegunde4990]

A new Mononoke movie was released today and gosh it was so stunning.OIne of my fave watches of 2024.

[@tonyharrison2880]

I absolutely love this show, and it’s such a shame it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves

[@forte4450]

Mad you beat me to the punch of structuring the video essay with the 3 needs of opening the sword. Good video!

[@hauntedflower9107]

I think in part the lack of popularity is how confusing it can be at first. Most animes now hold my hand and explain the lore of the world and have whole episodes around characters backstory. This isn't a bad thing but it definitely makes it a show you need to be focusing a bit harder than normal to watch. I think it's really interesting that we know so little about the medicine seller and why he does what he does. I started by watching the movie not knowing a series was out and watched the series expecting clarity on him only to get little information. I was stuck on that fact for a bit but grew to accept the state of confusion I was often in while watching the show.

[@hauntedflower9107]

Unrelated to this but just wanna state another reason love the series is because of the confusing aspect I genuinely couldn't guess what was going to happen next. The only one I vaguely guessed was the reporter one but I think that's because it was more spelled out than normal. All the other ones were wonderful surprises that left me amazed at the show.

[@hellohell7773]

I read somewhere the medicine seller in the movie is actually a different medicine seller and that there are many of them! I’m watching the movie soon as I just finished the og 2007 series as I’ve been wanting to watch it for years. The show is super purposeful in every shot down to the backgrounds representing the themes of each episode to the color palettes and character designs. The medicine seller is unique as he is technically the main character but also a voiceless narrator letting the viewer find out each case like watching a play along with him. I think he is made so mysterious as he is not the main focal point of the show even if he is technically the main consistent character throughout every episode.

[@Silversubs29078]

I'm so glad to find people talking about this anime. I love it so much.

[@UteHempel]

When people ask what "underrated" anime I'd recommend, I always say Mushishi and Mononoke. I never noticed it back in 2007 sadly, but watched it a few years ago and I'm so glad. Bth theses shows have a wonderful atmosphere you don't get to see in 90% of shows. And I've been watching anime since the mid 90s.

[@asherscottL]

I was revisiting this series this year because of the movie, and it's nice to see people appreciate it. It came out when I was in high school and I was enthralled by it. Mononoke was and still is my favorite anime. It blends two of my favorite things: - Folklore - Art I have always been entrhalled by the bright colors of ukiyo-e, or ankara textiles. Seeing these bright and beautiful colors blended with the story telling conventions of Mononoke resonated with me. I wasn't educated in Japanese mythology (besides the popular myths that made it across the pond in other media). I didn't fully understand the show or its spirits or the untranslatable "truth, regret, and reason." But I understood enough to be sucked into the stories. It felt like catharsis watching the medicine vender work. And I learned so much about the Edo period while watching it. I still learn more today, by re-watching it. I learned about the Noh mask archetypes that were used in the Noppera-bo arc. How Noh theater usually tells its tales with only two major actors (the shite and the waki). The whole production is art, and I'm glad people are coming back to appreciate it again. ❤

[@nucleja]

Ghiblis movie made this anime impossible to search for for a good half of my life. this was my fav anime for years and i didn't know anyone else who knew it, thanks for the vid MU CHA CHO

[@shannahlight260]

Well, be impressed - you casual yourself - I've just discovered it and I'm absolutely in love! 12 episodes is soooo not enough. I hope we get to see more

[@Chota-bu7vw]

MONONOKE IS SO GOOD I LOVE THE ART STYLE

[@laurenceoni]

This anime was so damn weird, but i loved its artstyle and ambient, loved it a lot!

[@ryttu3k]

Absolutely incredible series. I watched it back in 2010 and goddamn adored it; learned about and watched the new movie yesterday and got hurled headfirst back into my earlier love for it. If you haven't seen the movie yet, absolutely go and do so! (Same setting, has a different Medicine Seller. The creators actually unleashed a whole lot of hitherto-unknown lore which both quashed a lot of earlier theories but opened up the ground for so much more. There's 64 of them!)

[@SnowDropSteph]

I don't care if I sound like THAT friend but This remains as one of the most memorable anime I watched. It touched me by giving me an experience instead of just watching something to complete it Oh and shout out to the Ayakashi OP...one of the best OPs I've heard

[@ZipZopZip09]

I feel like this is THE show anyone should want to watch if they like art that makes you think. If someone doesn't like Monoke I don't like them

[@Jhudorisa]

I found this in 2008 on a streaming site when I was 13, simply from looking through the list of shows. Ayakashi caught my attention first and I found Mononoke afterwards. I've lost count of the times I've watched this series, I can safely say it's my all time favourite.

[@lazchurchyard1229]

I saw this ages ago, and still think of it often.

[@angelinadulac]

Remember, years ago, asking if anyone knew animes similar to Mushishi and this got recommended to me. I've never been able to forget it since then, it's an inspiration for my own art.

[@admiralofcuteness]

This show had been on my radar since I saw stills of the animation online almost a decade ago. I finally watched it this week. Its 8.4/10 on MyAnimeList is well-earned. Even beyond the visuals, its little story arcs accomplish more in 2-3 episodes than most series do in their entire run. You will not be bored with it for a moment.

[@AhanaNags]

Excellent video! Mononoke has one of the most distinctive styles in animation in general, it really woke me up to what anime could be. It's so good it makes it hard to watch "normal" stuff now 😅

[@sofialaya596]

I think the reason is loneliness. Seems strange, but i believe it's true. All other animes make you feel like you have more "company" by giving you a character you can feel as (and thus live the adventure and feel less alone by interacting with the fantasy people) or giving you a character that feels like your friend, or a narrative that makes you feel like home even if it has horror or is just action. Most other animes have that, self insert, friend, or home. And that's what the world wants rn (even fanservice is just a a way to horniness that is just a way to cope with feeling devoid of life and alone)

[@Lucid_birdbrain]

Finished it and can report I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! Definitely one of my absolute favorite shows now

[@CursedLavender_23]

I've watched this anime for god how many times and it's addicting even I literally rewatched it today and it's still as good as I watched last time

[@Sharonmplus]

I was a huge fan of Ayakashi (I had just completed a paper on Yotsuya Kaidan before Ayakashi came out so that drew me in, but "Bakeneko" was the standout that broke my heart when I watched it). So when Mononoke came out I dove in head first. It is something I recommend highly to whoever would give anime a chance. I fully agree with your assessment that so much of it was tied to Japanese culture. The group who did the sub back then actually added a separate file with footnotes to explain certain terms and cultural significance which went a long ways in assisting my understanding of the story. I hope with Mononoke being on Netflix that more people can appreciate it.

[@azurefluxtarot7679]

I loved this show and was disappointed that there were no more seasons I’m looking forward to seeing the movie

[@chiripaxa]

Ive seen all of Mononoke, but what really freightened me, engrained into me, and made me reflect on and still to this day hold it as my core value, is the first episode. I think the topic of abortion- and pregnancy is a timeless moral issue for humanity. Im speaking in absolute generalization here. This show does deal with uncomfortable reality, but thats what makes it genius because there is universal truth in it. Life is life, it doesnt stop for your convenience, is the gist of this show for me. It'll forever haunt until the truth can be brought to light and then put to rest from its grievances. There is unconditional and conditional love in this show and the cultural story telling is incredible.

[@RukoHanaji]

Horror as a genre is really underrated.

[@Ash-dy5tk]

Monotone has been my favourite anime for ages now and I'm so glad it's finally escaping cult status and getting new installations!! The first new movie was great, and I can't wait for the second!

[@maywenearedhel]

I remember watching this just after it came out, and I fell in LOVE with everything about it.

[@ajinmericancitizen8723]

I randomly found this series in my dad's dvd collection thinking it was princess mononoke

[@redditmanllegnisthebirdofh9887]

Subbed Bc this is what i j started watching randomly and was amazed by the art and even more shocked when I heard it’s from 2007

[@ZetaCancri]

It's always been one of my favorites

[@limikkin3943]

I loved the hell out of this anime!! And I always enjoy looking at they style and listening to the sounds! And the medicine seller is just amazing as a character!!!

[@iferlyf8172]

Season 1 of Promised Neverland had some genuinely scary moments, as well as Made in Abyss. It is hard to make anime scary for sure, tho really cute kids do help

[@helenawave]

very excited for the new mononoke stuff that's gonna come out aaaaaaaa

[@creeperkinght1144]

This is the Yume Nikki of anime, it does both what it wants to and needs to, while self maintaining itself in a unique portrayal of culture. It's very interesting with what it's presenting, while wearing it's art style on it's sleeve while pushing said style to it's boundaries. It's not super popular perse, the creators of both knew it didn't need be for it to fufill it's purpose. But it stands as a timeless example of how push creativity in it's medium in unique fashions.

[@laurenvelentzas5044]

This video came up in my recommendeds, and about halfway through I had to stop and go watch this cuz you absolutely sold me on it (the stunning visuals in the clips you used helped too.) So thank you so much for that, because I absolutely loved it! I’m also really excited to learn there’s a Mononoke movie coming out this month :)

[@milktea181]

It's probably one and only most unique series I have seen. It has such a special place in my heart

[@TheMrMayo]

What's hilarious about this is that by around 2007, I was head-long into American culture learning about Toonami, where Naruto and One Piece and Bo-BoBo played on, unaware (probably for the better back then) of this masterpiece. My younger self would have been terrified of this, but after having disovered this show by pure accident earlier today, I ended up finding a full playlist of the entire series! I even managed to recommend a friend of mine who was equally curious! Then your video popped up at the last episode, and I *had* to know more. I'm sad that I didn't get to learn about all of this until now, but I'm genuinely glad I managed upon all of it, your video included. It really hit the mark on how Mononoke was ahead of it's time, like you said!

[@madmouse1016]

I suddenly discovered this anime after getting recommended the upcomming movie for it and immediately I had to know what it was about. I finished the whole thing in a single day and I don't regret it, it never unnerved me, but it always kept me on edge. While I figured out the first episode in one go, the other episodes after kept me confused and guessing and that's what's so amazing about it.

[@robynthegemini]

How does this only have 671 views my goodness this is such a good video!

[@Vgjhgvgh]

Now there’s a trilogy coming with 2 films. The second one is coming out on march 14 2025

[@losglitterfreeze]

This video was very well written and enjoyable. Subscribed! Looking forward to the next surreal nightmare you cover.

[@SamuraiMujuru]

I'm doing my part! Bought the DVD set when it FINALLY came out, and then immediately bought the blu-ray when that dropped.

[@nikkup4745]

Trash is good, but the lesser known stuff like this is what I truly yearn for in anime. Call me unusual. That is fine, but I've got to say. The more obscure, the better and more interesting it is.

[@amandacarvalho3527]

Found it on netflix last week and watched it all in one go. Most of the time you have to keep trying to figure out what the hell is happening, but it was really amazing and managed to cure my boredoom of endlessly scroling through the Netflix catalogue. It's fun even when you don't understand what's happening and when you do it's just so rewarding. Already recomended to friends as well :)

[@thinksie]

Since I watched it, there's something that is just unreplicable about it, you get visual shock with some slight unsettling audio, a main character that's beyond badass, and culture shock that makes you even more confused about the whole thing. It's just special. Another thing is that, we don't really know anything about anything in the anime not even after watching it, it stays mysterious and you can only guess khahah The best word to cathegorize it isn't anime, it's art, of somewhat unaproachable kind.

[@siberianwinds]

3 years late for this video, thank you for not classifying it as experimental! I agree, it's too purposeful to be one. Not crapping on experimental works (and this is a personal take), experimental for me comes off as something shapeless, leaving the "shaping" bit to the audience. Mononoke's message was always clear and deliberate. Its first arc - the Bakeneko from Ayakashi - had so much heart and soul, as mentioned in many comments here. It's tangible and solid despite the whimsical design. And YES, the sound design, it's etched in my mind for years. To me, it's not an anime you show to impress *those* friends. It's something you share with someone you want to know a bit of your heart.

[@yukiutaware1064]

Mononoke? Yes.

[@Enivlens]

Wow. You somehow manage to be the world's greatest man of culture and absolutely hilarious. Fantastic content!

[@gabefinalperigee]

*rattling sound* E X T R A S E N S O R Y

[@nourbanuhijazi2737]

I watched the anime years back, & absolutely loved it. Last night I watched the new Mononoke movie: Phantom in the rain, & it was spectacular. I love your video in that it describes & puts into words what I find iconic about this series but can’t seem to find the structure & words to describe it in the way that convey how great it is, so thank u for making this, I’m so glad I found this video :D

[@SerifSansSerif]

If I recall, I watched mononoke via fansubs and it was competing with the likes of my bride is a mermaid, gurren lagann, nodame cantabile, haruhi, higurashi and a million others. It came out at a time when EVER FUCKING TITLE was chef's kiss, and an instant classic and yet, in the US, it was when the industry was in practically mid-implosion, and there was nobody picking up licenses....

[@maggyfrog]

when i watched this series for the first time, it deadass was like the artistic grandchild of writers like ryunosuke akutagawa and dare i say even filmmakers like kurosawa. it felt like it was the unknown cousin of isao takahata but for adults

[@umeda26]

Thank you for this.

[@Corbeauxx]

Mononoke is a rare masterpiece... I can't wait to see the upcoming movie.

[@phantomflower6749]

This is in my top 10 anime! I can't wait for the movie to come out ❤❤❤

[@shadoewater]

Mononoke is still one of my favorite anime of all time, and I can't really put into words why it is. Especially with it being in my top 5 with Spirited Away and Kiki's Delivery Service...

[@m1.r0_bot]

mate, this is my favorite anime . . . I'm so sad it is so unknown.

[@i7bwn]

i have to admit, i remember watching this when i watched the horror theater (might watch again this week after this video) this was eary and strange but amazing. I don't think you can impress someone that already seen this as i think you've seen all thoses art piece like mononoke. but id you didn't, watch the child and the egg, it's as eary as this but darker, calmer, slower. Also happy you've seen mushishi, that's my fav. no boobs, no fight, no weapons, no fanservice. just poesy and beautiful paintings. the mangas as 2 pages of glassy water taped pages for every chapter.

[@n2bfw884]

Great analysis! Thank you.

[@megalixir]

i was 18 when mononoke came out. i think i didn't watch it until 2 years later because it was hard to come by but while i have many favorite anime, nothing has topped this masterpiece to this day. thank you for making this video and raising awareness. more people should watch this masterpiece it is everything to me. i love mushishi and shows like it but there's no one quite like kusuriuri. takahiro sakurai is amazing in everything he's in and i'm sad to hear he won't be reprising his role as the medicine seller. either way, it was great to watch this and i DO hope you make a video ab yuuasa eventually. i'm kind of a hipster sort of weeb who prefers their trash but is really big on like. . .stuff that's just GOOD. thank you again.

[@TheOnceandFutureGeek]

This is such a great breakdown of a cult classic! I hope you make a video about the new movie(s) someday. The first one had me so hyped, and I can't wait for the next two.

[@dontcare7086]

So I started this on Netflix and ep 1+2 I was like wtf this is weird. I'm on episode 6 and absolutely love this. The trippy artwork mixed with feudal Japan is really cool. The storylines are starting to make sense. I'm still confused why he let the mononoke live in episode 2. Was it because the pregnant lady offered herself up to give birth to all of them so he couldn't banish them? That's all I can think of since she seemed to love the idea of being their mother as they seemed to love her well all the humans didn't like her and constantly made fun of her.

[@ami5marion]

He did kill them in the end but if happens in the span of one second. If you watch closely, after the pregnant lady offered to give birth to the zashiki warashi it overwhelmed her own fetus and she started to bleed. The zashiki warashi realized this and they let the medicine seller kill them. Then they all disappear except for one of them which was her own baby.

[@nandinianil6390]

I'm currently watching mononoke and it is a very different experience for me from any other anime that I have watched. I wouldn't lie, the only reason why I decided to check out mononoke was because of it's artstyle but the characters in this anime are very strong and the stories are deep and meaningful. Hats off to the creator of this anime. Edit : I finished watching it couple of days ago and man.. Every single of the stories in this anime can be made into it's own series. It's a well written anime.

[@c.powell8472]

Hey, I was 18 when this anime came out and honestly... I was very very deep into anime. being a weeboo and hanging out in chatrooms and exchanging what shows to watch. Learning Japanese, etc. This anime was never ever mention or brought up. I didnt know about it until 2017? Maybe? I saw an AMV with the anime. I use to be an AMV editor, so I saw one of my old peeps edit a vid. I honestly think this anime just didnt make it past japan. Sure, it was subbed. But I had never heard or seen the anime in 2006-20012 when I was neck deep in everything. This anime fell through the cracked imo. Which sucks, because when I did watch, it was amazing!!! I would not have thought it was that old!

[@mehitablestorm8877]

Just started watching this, absolutely amazing show, visually and intellectually. Incredibly beautiful and mysterious, we need more things like this.

[@D__S__]

ive seen a looot of shows in the medium of anime (ive also seen an absurd amount of non anime movies and tv shows so just media in general) this show is (imo) possibly the best thing to ever come out of the anime medium, and ranks up with some of the best media period anime or not, truly a work of art in every sense, been singing its praises for years cant wait for the movie in the summer (i hope)

[@dragonlady266]

The art style makes me think of The Beatles Yellow Submarine movie, ESPECIALLY the backgrounds. The surrealism in Mononoke also gives me that vibe, but it's awesome!

[@n2bfw884]

Me too.

[@TheDayd111returns]

That’s exactly what I said. It gives Yellow Sub vibes. It’s pretty trippy and psychedelic.

[@MagicalSlimeGirl]

Loved this anime and am loving binging your media analysis. I wonder if there will eventually be a video on Tatami Galaxy.

[@mcstabbins4501]

I still remember finding this anime on Netflix in school. It was senior year and I basically had nothing to do during the final weeks before graduation and I was extremely bored and decided to just watch some random animes to pass time. This was one I actually liked because of its trippy AF art and actually good story.

[@kurathchibicrystalkitty5146]

"...his magical talking sword, which at the time were illegal for anyone but samurai to carry--" Now I'm just picturing samurai running around with talking swords. 😆 Joking aside, Mononoke is the kind of art that I classify as 'Ripples in my Mind', the kind that I keep thinking about, every so often, that have a lasting impact on me, that haunt me, that challenge my perceptions of reality. Thank you for making this video.

[@DasParkaeffchen]

This channel's videos are as criminally underwatched as Mononoke. I've never heard anyone articulate their thoughts and explanations in such an amazing format while teaching you how to understand stories on a deeper level for yourself, like the mood vs. tone in the Chainsaw Man video, as this channel does. I also find myself agreeing with the author on basically all points across all the videos made so far, lol. I would love to see a future video exploring, reviewing, or analyzing some of ONE's works, especially Mob Psycho 100 since I personally consider MP100 to be peak storytelling and very deserving of getting looked at through the lense of this format.