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It’s been a while  since I had craved for even one more episode of any anime series, for example, Trigun, Azumanga, or Escalayer, and this time, it’s the same feeling. Mononoke amazes us with excellent storytelling, superb storyboards and a nice BGM; all this suited excellently to the horror genre. Lotsa surprises after the jump!

Done by TOEI Animation Studio in  2007, this 12 episode anime goes straight into the Horror genre with some Fantasy.

STORY:

We are suited in a feudal Japan, where there is not a sign of technology around, but there are samurais, “magicians”, monks, and our protagonist. . .a medicine seller. Or so he says, because he is not only selling medicines, he is on a journey to exorcise certain demons roaming the world, called Mononoke.

The story revolves around various 2-episode sagas, and how the Mononoke are causing mischief in the human world.

GRAPHICS:

Although the character design for the protagonist is very well defined, all the other characters’ designs aren’t; they just put the essential facial features, or, as I suspect, the necessary to make you, the viewer, try to decipher what kind of attitude and history they have. 

Then come the colors. Oh yeah, following the steps of Gankutsuou, we sometimes have textured backgrounds and clothes, many times shining, other times rugged, and whenever they please, changing colors. Although it resembles Gankutsuou in this aspect, Mononoke isn’t very precise with the coloring. You can say that Mononoke’s painting style is more free than the one in Gankutsuou, nevertheless, they’re both kick-ass!

SOUND & MUSIC:

The OP song is something to comment. It’s a mixture between some kind of Italian and adding to that some Japanese traditional instruments and harmonies. I can say that this song made me stay through the OP song almost everytime (which is a surprise, normally I just watch it the first time and then I fast forward).

The ED song, on the other hand, is calm, subtle. . . and cliché. Fast-forward that bitch, it’s not worthy of being in Mononoke.

From time to time, there is a nice, sometimes creepy bgm that really suits the atmosphere of the story, but it’s not very predominant. . .

To show you that the OP is really awesome, here it is in its youtubized form:

OVERAL:

A great series for the anime connoisseur who wants something more than a common plot with common music and normal graphics. Mononoke gets to your brain and stays there as something you can always remember as awesome.

STORY:10

GRAPHICS: 9.5

SOUND & MUSIC:9

OVERAL:  

9.5 /10 Diamonds

Awesome, you must give this one a watch!