Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Beryl12
Mononoke had a very unique type of storytelling, art style and soundtrack. The show goes on about a medicine seller who is also a Mononoke(ghost) slayer, but to actually kill one he would require its form, truth and regret. At first glance it would feel like the people who are being affected would open up but as the show progresses, the gravity of the past weighs their logic down and makes one suppress the truth to avoid being embarrassed or to avoid guilt even when it one's own life is at stake.
The show carries on slaying many Mononoke but it makes you realize and doubt : are they the actual ones who are supposed to suffer?
These Mononoke exist because of the regret they bear from their mortal life and the ones who affected them, and now are roaming around hurting others.
Their slaying…
Read at the sourcemoriimori_
In my opinion, *Mononoke* is a really great anime, and I highly recommend *Mononoke* for a horror/supernatural anime.
This story of *Mononoke* is about the journey of the Kusuriuri (The Medicine Seller), a mysterious wanderer who eradicates Mononoke (Mononoke are a type of ayakashi, unnatural spirits that linger in the human world by binding themselves to negative human emotions), and one of the interesting things about this anime is when the Kusuriuri wants to eradicate the Mononoke where he must fulfill 3 things first → shape (Katachi), truth (Makoto), and reasoning (Kotowari). Only then can he unsheathe his sword and exorcise the Mononoke.
Another unique and really interesting thing about this anime is its visuals which use the Ukiyo-e art genre, and these visuals really make the hist…
Read at the sourcekanibalizm
mononoke is genuinely brilliant. the combination of grotesque characters with the textures, where movement becomes part of the storytelling rather than simply a necessity dictated by the medium, and its absence becomes an intentional narrative choice, together with the limited dialogue that conveys more in the spaces between the words than in the words themselves, creates something truly unique and unlike typical japanese productions.
there were more straightforward stories, like the episode with the mother, and much more convoluted ones, like ochou, but the way they're presented makes you keep thinking about them long after they've ended, wondering whether you missed something. the atmosphere is incredible and difficult to put into words, but the sound design deserves just as much apprec…
Read at the sourceXerox96
This bizarre mix between Geralt of Rivia, Mushishi, and an Agatha Christie novel—with hints of horror ranging from subtle or almost comedic to truly spine-chilling and overwhelming—is one that seemingly shouldn't work, and yet it works—and boy, does it work.
Obviously, one cannot talk about this work without talking about its artistic design. You might like it or you might not, but I think it's undeniable that it is, without a doubt, a total assault on your senses in the best possible way. The madness of its colors, animation, and textures plunges you right into a visual chaos that perfectly mirrors the chaos of the story itself; it works flawlessly and is executed with divine grace.
Sound-wise, it’s more of the same: its music is god-tier, and its sound design even more so. The audio at…
Read at the sourceknivessorrows
visuals are obviously the star of the show.
i did find myself going on reddit to have a better understanding but liked how everyone were coming up with different viewpoints of the stories sometimes. some stories were more intriguing versus others and definitely had you guessing how the story was gonna end. the overall stories of how mononokes came to be is interesting! i do wish we can have more background on the medicine seller! how he came into this profession? what case was the hardest for him? etc!
will it be rewatched? hmm i don’t think so!
i still think it was good but i don’t think i would want to watch again lol
Read at the sourcenonaloth
Watched on Netflix
The spin-off takes everything that made Ayakashi unique and pushes it even further.
The Medicine Seller immediately stands out as one of the most unusual protagonists I've seen. His slow, deliberate manner of speaking can occasionally become frustrating, almost exaggerated, but it also reinforces his mysterious nature. He feels detached from the world around him, as though he belongs somewhere between humanity and the supernatural.
The visual presentation is extraordinary. Every frame looks like a moving traditional Japanese painting. Bold colors, elaborate textures, theatrical compositions, and experimental cinematography combine into one of the most distinctive visual identities in anime.
The soundtrack deserves equal praise. It mixes traditional Japanese influence…
Read at the sourcetripleaamin
I will try to keep this review concise because if I went into depth about each arc, I would have a long essay. Mononoke is a series for many people who look for anime for unique experiences. The directing is some of the best you will find in the medium. How it showcases its storytelling in each arc in a different, unique way is outstanding. Then you even add how its implementation of horror is so well done that it legitimately feels creepy.
The storytelling might draw similarities for those who are familiar with Bakemonogatari. Since that series is much more popular in this one. Here the use of the mythology of the Mononoke is done to illustrate various stories. Despite these supernatural elements, there is a feeling that the audience can resonate with. Because we can empathize or sympath…
Read at the sourceLuminous-Potato
Genuinely one of, if not the best anime series ever made. If you like anime, watch this. If you don't like anime, you need to watch this. It is (mostly) liberated from the unbearable conventions of its medium, yet keeps what makes anime distinct and loveable. It achieves great, unique visuals while noticeably on a budget, mostly through LSD-esque symbolism and delicate, disorientating editing. But it is so confident of itself that it pulls it off. Its briefness is its strength. The last three episodes are the best audiovisual story I have ever seen. On paper, some of the stories aren't very mindblowingly original, but the way they are put together and presented is so masterful that the thought never crosses your mind while watching it; and still, some of the twists are extremely unpredicta…
Read at the sourceStarPlatinum787
Mononoke is absolutely fantastical. Going into the series blindly felt more like a suspenseful LSD-Trip than anything else, and I love it for that.
Everything about this show, from the characters, to the mononoke, to the dialogues and writing, always manages to build suspense, but never opts to fully resolve it. It is just that. Figuring out the nature of the Mononoke, how it came to be, seeing how it behaves, and finally having the medicine man exorcise it.
By nature, the creatures, called Mononoke, have deep connections to the tales of Japanese folklore. But instead of integrating them into a story, Mononoke focusses on the exploration of them, and the concepts behind them, entirely.
What first seems like a risky artistic choice, only makes the characters and stories all the more ap…
Read at the sourceStridertheRanger
This show is incredible, but it's not for everyone, and that is alright.
A medicine seller travels the land in search of mononoke to defeat, which are demons born from human hate, regret, and sorrow—the darkest recesses of the human heart. Each storyline, which consists of either two or three episodes per story, plays out like a detective story. The demon slayer must figure out three things before he can draw his sword and defeat each mononoke. He must know the Form, the Truth, and the Reason; that is, he must know its appearance, the truth of why it came to exist, and the reason it has a grudge against certain people. This show delves into the deepest and darkest recesses of the human heart. Each demon is born because of some horrific injustice or evil action committed by people against…
Read at the sourceShinrindegozaru
Story & Themes: 9 | Art & Visuals: 10 | Sound: 9 | Atmosphere: 10 | Character Depth: 8 | Symbolism & Execution: 10
Overall: 9.3 → 9
There are anime that tell stories, and then there are anime that paint stories—Mononoke belongs to the latter. With its surreal visuals, fragmented storytelling, and deeply symbolic themes, this series is more than just a supernatural mystery; it is an experience, one that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.
At its core, Mononoke follows the enigmatic Medicine Seller, a man of almost supernatural presence, as he travels across Edo-period Japan, exorcising vengeful spirits known as "mononoke." But this is no typical horror tale. Rather than simply eliminating spirits, he first needs to determine their "Form," "Truth," and "Reason" before closing…
Read at the sourceCynthesia
If I could use only a single anime to convince someone that this is truly a respectable artistic medium, Mononoke would be my choice. Every scene is crafted with a remarkable level of detail and intention. There is no action, sound, or character without purpose. This all blends together into a completely unified experience. The world of Mononoke is truly alive and will pull you into its brutal tales of sin, whether you like it or not.
Nothing looks like Mononoke, likely because attempting to achieve its level of intricate detail would be an overwhelming task. At first glance, the show resembles a Japanese painting more than an animated series. Most of the movement, or animation, happens in the background rather than with the characters themselves. When characters do move, it is either a d…
Read at the sourceThalesSV
PT-BR and ENG review
PT-BR
De forma literal, encaixamos Mononoke como uma história de suspense e mistério, porém, ele evoca muitas coisas mais por sua fantástica unidade estilistica. A forma que o faz é uma peça de teatro, que de maneira sublime, cresce até tornar-se uma fantástica resolução. Mesmo permeada por questões religiosas, onde não tenho conhecimento, é exímio, sempre sendo preciso na construção e expansão da narrativa.
Os contos separadamente mostram uma unidade muito forte, cada uma abordando temas de realidade comum, porém, muita das vezes, traiçoeira com quem a convive. Meu conto favorito ainda é o Zashikiwarashi, mas é impossível não citar Bakeneko como o melhor suspense. A resolução do mistério nunca é o objetivo do "boticário", por isso, a experimentalidade da série é dese…
Read at the sourceHomeyra
A very good adult show from an objective point of view, but possibly not to everyone's taste.
This is a show that you will most probably either "drop because you can't bear to complete it but also can't deny it's good" or "find yourself captivated by it".
The main reason for this claim is that it's not your average anime show; both the art style and animation is unique and not to everyone's taste (Although with a bit of patience, you might eventually appreciate them.). Plus, the stories (It's a multi-story series) contain elements of Japanese mythology, making the plot a bit difficult to follow if you're not familiar with them, specially since it's not a slow-paced show and all the captivating art in the background can sometimes be distracting.
Wordbuilding: I can't find any flaws in…
Read at the sourceLemonadeSamurai
Mononoke is a horror themed anime anthology consisting of 5 stories split into 2 or 3 episodes each
Our main character is the medicine seller who may or may not be based off Abe no Semei the famous Onmyoji as he has a fox like appearance
Is the medicine seller human? Its never revealed who he is.
Mononoke takes place between the end of the Edo period(1600s - 1860s) and Meiji era of Japan (1860s - 1900s) as such the culture and clothing is shown thoughout.
The premise revolves around the medicine seller entering a place and finding it plagued with a Mononoke, basically a ghost. He must first find the form of the mononoke (what it looks like) then the truth of it (what is actually is) and finally the regret of it (how it came to be) only then can he exorcise it.
The show is not for…
Read at the sourceJastereich
Mononoke has distinct story arcs. The Medicine Seller is the main character and he helps people with their psychological problems while battling monsters with his sword. It's a horror show, but not only about scaring the audience. It's also bizarre and enigmatic. The Umibozu arc is quite emotional highlighting that humans are indeed uncaring. The show is very symbolic, yet the story is never lost. It is also visually beautiful with traditional Japanese design and every detail intricate enough. The animation is not always perfect but it is still great. The music is just right. The Medicine Seller is a multifaceted character, being on one hand cruel and cunning and on the other playful. The show has an eclectic group of characters, all with their own foibles and imperfections, which makes th…
Read at the sourceXOArama
This was quite an enjoyable watch, each mystery was good and each was better than the last in my opinion. While lacking an overarching narrative it managed to create an enjoyable main character to link each mystery together. The writing in each story had good progression and had me interested to see what the answer, or "shape, truth and reasoning" would be. The art style in this is definitely one of the most unique I've seen in an anime with a traditional Japanese style its a joy to watch, and with the final culminating scene of each story being a feast for the eyes,. While I thought it was a bit on the shorter side and I would like to see more it didn't make what I watched any less enjoyable.
Read at the sourcePanda_Roll
In 2006 a short series called (Ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror) aired with only 11 episodes and consisted of three stories. The first two were classic Japanese plays by notable authors, The last story however was an original tale about a mysterious medicine seller that goes around exorcising mononoke / evil spirits.
The writers of the show must have been proud of their creation because a year later we got Mononoke. A spin off staring that same medicine seller and with the same art style.
While the show itself is fine the SUPER busy art style, combined with the aggressively bright colors and the jump-cut style of animation... This show was just not for me, half way through a single episode I'd get severe headaches and rather nauseated because of it.
Plot wise this was rather formulaic.…
Read at the sourceCayusashi
Mononoke is an anthology series following the Medicine Seller's side hustle of exorcizing demons. Each of the mononoke are pulled from Japanese folklore and are only dispatched after the Medicine Seller discovers their shape, truth, and reason.
Being an anthology series, there's obviously no overarching plot. Each arc is 2-3 episodes and introduces an entirely new cast except for the Medicine Seller. The stories within the episodes follow mostly the same formula where the setting gets possessed by a mononoke and 1-2 people die when the Medicine Seller mysteriously involves himself and figures out what's going on. Trying to follow some of these episodes as they're happening is genuinely impossible. There's so much symbolism, metaphors, and dialog and they can all give different interpretat…
Read at the sourceCujosCastle
Mononoke was a beautiful mess that has stuck with me in my everyday life, one of the few anime's that I would claim has transcended the genre as a whole.
Façade, façade, façade.
The medicine seller would be the mediator of the river of lies if there was one. The characters were extremely fleshed out and very purposeful. Everything you see plays a part. This is one of the MUST WATCH titles for supernatural genre fans. The art-style is an extreme but fitting choice for the intended emotion.
The Anime >The Manga
Mononoke has been playing through my head reel for nearly 4 years now, the only other shows to "stain" me in this way were Texhnolyze and Paranoia Agent. All masterpieces in my honest opinion.
That opening song is hot too, at the very least go check that out.
Read at the source
