The unique Japanese horror anime "Mononoke," which captivated fans with its distinctive style, originally aired from July to September 2007 as the eighth series in Fuji TV's "noitaminA" programming block.
Last July saw the release of "Mononoke the Movie: Karakasa," which garnered significant praise. Following its success, the official team announced the sequel, "Mononoke the Movie: Hinezumi," set to hit Japanese theaters on March 14, 2025. Yesterday (January 22), the official animated music video for the theme song, "Hana Musou," created by singer-songwriter Aina the End, was unveiled, featuring a plethora of new scenes.
"Mononoke" first aired as a TV anime in July 2007. The story follows the mysterious Medicine Seller (originally voiced by Takahiro Sakurai, replaced by Hiroshi Kamiya for the movie due to a scandal) as he travels across various locations, wielding his Exorcism Sword to slay "Mononoke." Wherever the Medicine Seller and his sword appear, supernatural entities emerge. "Mononoke the Movie: Hinezumi" continues the series' signature "washi texture" art style and its breathtaking, scroll-like world, further deepening the enigmatic charm of the Medicine Seller and the rich, delicate visual aesthetics.
This time around, the theme song "Hana Musou" was specially crafted by Aina the End, a former member of the idol group BiSH. She also performed "Love Sick," the theme song for "Mononoke the Movie: Karakasa," making this her second time contributing to the series' soundtrack.
Aina the End commented, "The film features women with expressions that seem as if their souls have been pulled out. Those understated yet deeply impactful scenes left a lasting impression. It's a film brimming with human warmth." The song weaves a soaring piano melody with delicate strings into a band arrangement, creating a magnificent ballad that perfectly complements the world of the film.
▼ "Mononoke the Movie: Hinezumi" Theme Song "Hana Musou" Animated MV
Based on the official announcements, "Mononoke the Movie" is planned as a trilogy, and it's highly anticipated that a new installment will be released each year, with the third part likely arriving in 2026.
While "Mononoke the Movie: Karakasa" didn't initially get a theatrical release in Taiwan, it quickly became available on Netflix just four months after its debut. For those interested, keep an eye out for its eventual streaming release.
via： 劇場篇《物怪》官方 X