Anime Review ~ Mononoke

Mononoke is a spin off from series of the anime Ayakashi - Samurai Horror Tales that encompasses classic tales from Japan. Just like how we have Ramayan and Mahabharatha in my Indian culture this is their version of classical tales. Each classical tales consists of elements of redemption and important lessons learned by each characters of the story. Though I really should have started with the first series which is the Ayakashi Samurai Horror Tales, the spin-off is worthy of it's own mention.

If there is one thing that would capture an audience to this anime is the breathtaking artwork that uses spectacular surrealism art. I have watched surrealism art animation only once and it belongs to the French people who made Fantastic Planet and I personally thought the Surrealism is nightmare fuel even for saints but with  Mononoke, you would have mouth agape with beautiful, colorful animation and symbolic elements that challenges its viewer to decipher them.

Mononokes or Ayakashi are unnatural creatures that simply come into being. Their existence roots from the malice stemmed from the heart of a person, much like a Poltergeist. A peddler, simply known and called as the Medicine Seller travels from place to place solely to 'cleanse' the world of Mononoke.

It is highly known that the Medicine Seller himself is not of human origin but it is not explained either how he came to the profession of eliminating Mononokes. One can only assume he had been doing this for a long, long time since he seems to be able to predict a Mononoke's fate upon meeting him.

The Medicine Seller does carry medicines in his medicine chest that he straps at his back but obviously it is a decoy to hide his true profession. He carried a sword, much to the surprise of the people he encounters. You see, back then in olden Japan, only Samurais were allowed to wield a sword and a lower-class citizen like merchant and peddler are forbidden yet this formidable Medicine Seller carried a very fanciful looking sword.

However, in order for him to use the sword, he need to extract Truth, Reasoning and Regret from the Mononoke he is about to slay. Each story is not the same as we get to see people he encounters and their suffering, their hopes and regret and their redemption, starting anew to good and honest life.

The Medicine Seller is indeed a very good person though he doesn't flaunt it. He does his job and leaves for the next. Although the anime display some cheekiness by giving remarks on how good-looking he is. Sometimes, the Medicine Seller displays his own mischievous side.

First story(2 episodes) - about a lone woman who sought shelter in an inn that holds a dark and unforgivable past.

Second Story( 3 episodes) - The Medicine Seller is on board of a beautiful ship with passengers who have their own dark histroy but only one is the root of the Mononoke that haunts the ship when it accidentally(you sure?) sailed to the terrifying Dragon's Sea. Why are they all here?
 
Third Story: A depressed woman who was abused by her husband is sentenced to death for killing him and the entire in-law family. The Medicine Seller thinks otherwise.

Fourth Story: Four men are vouching to marry Lady Ruri, the only sole heir to the almost-extinct incense expert. Among them is the Medicine Seller, who came disguised as another man also vying for her hand in marriage. But knowing him, is it really his intention? Something evil comes this way.

Fifth Story: This time, the story is set in 1920's modern Japan and many people are attending the opening ceremony of their renovated subway trains. Interestingly, only a few selected people ended up in the first coach and a girl murdered on the train track who seeks her vengeance may have something to do with it. But what does a waitress, a policeman, a widow, the mayor and a milkboy got anything to do with it?

Spoiler: You would hope to see the Medicine Peddler to don modern clothes as per time but regrettably, he still goes around wearing a blue-orange kimono carrying that strange medicine chest around.

:

Our hero.

These are some of the screen-captures I personally took whilst watching this anime. You judge for yourself if the surrealism art is indeed breathtaking or otherwise. 

And a little gallery of our hero due to my very obvious crush on him. <3 XD

Our hero showing his soft side to an injured kitten. Watch the anime to know how it came to be.

That where he keeps his 'medicines' and...

His unusual looking sword.

Rating:

Art: 11/10
Storyline: 10/10
Plot: 10/10

This deserves an award, dammit! Watch this anime for its pure aesthetic value combined with badass artwork and plot. DO NOT MISS IT.