Hi! I wanted to ask about a show you've listed as one you have a positive opinion on. As in I've never heard about them. What are the Mononoke Movies? And, what do you like about them the most?
Well there is a Mononoke show, which I have issues with because of an antiblack caricature in the first episode, but then there’s the Mononoke Movies!
That’s a trilogy with the first movie “Phantom in the Rain” having come out in 2024, the second movie “Ashes of Rage” came out in 2025, and I’m pretty sure the final one “Stone Serpent” has already come out back in May! The trilogy follows the character The Medicine Slayer, investigating an Ooku during the Japanese Feudal Era. He hunts these demon that are known as “Mononoke” which are intense restless spirits that form through heavy trauma in life.
And y’all. The first two movies were absolutely amazing, I watched them both several times and I still feel like I’m noticing little details with every rewatch. The visuals are absolutely stunning and the cinematography is so integral to the story telling, I just love it!! The voice acting is something that I think goes hard in the English and Japanese dubbing but there are pretty defining scenes that I feel should also be watched in English!
The topics and themes discussed are incredible; the politics of concubines in the feudal era, colorism, classism, internalized misogyny, women’s bodily autonomy, just to name a few. There’s so many nuanced, complex, beautiful female characters that I am just obsessed with!! Just to name some of my favorites: Botan, Fuki, and Owashima for sure~!!
I don't want to spoil the plots too much because I honestly feel like people should just check out the movies more. They are amazing.
