Mononoke

I love this series and so glad I was able to get the DVD of it. I love the style of this show with not only the art but how the plot/stories of the episodes are done. I wish though they had included the original "Bakeneko" episode from Ayakashi Samurai Horror Tales into this DVD though, really loved that version.

A visual, mental, and emotional rollercoaster that shocks just as much as it amazes. The Moving Plaid art style is pretty rare among anime, and the rich colors and patterns are used in complimentary, contrasting, and eyecatching ways that will have you rewatching even small blink-and-you'll miss it scenes over and over. Plotwise, Mononoke could be summarized as a supernatural mystical detective story so you can explain it to anyone just passing by, but the fundamentals that move each of the story arcs makes it far more complex. Paired with superb voice acting, musical and sound effect accompaniment [you'll never get tired of the wood block clapping], Mononoke is a standout example of what kind of stories and experiences anime can express.Each of the five arcs covers a different encounter with a Mononke, and the Medicine Seller's quest to slay it. It may seem obvious from the start what must be done, or who the true culprit is, but what is shown is not always as it seems. If you watch them in order, by the time you get to Nue, you will probably be untrustworthy of even the most passive characters, waiting for the gruesome or tragic ends to unfold. While the endings can be dark, none are particularly depressing, but can be very ambiguous. Even years later I've watched this series again and again and still change my mind on how things ended up.I also personally find Medicine Seller's transformation sequences to be some of the most beautiful not just in similar genres of magical girls [and now magical boys], but in animation in general. The aforementioned Moving Plaid makes the unearthly, divine aspects of Medicine Seller's person more prominent, and even the briefest scenes of that form in action are worth waiting for the buildup of the rest of the episodes.I can't recommend the series enough.

Great anime, well packaged and rapidly delivered.Forgot how good this was.

Mononoke is an extraordinary anime series, memorable not only for its breathtaking and unique art but also for its look into the dark depths of human nature.Mononoke is a spinoff series based on the third story of Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales, also known as the Bakeneko (Goblin Cat) Arc. This 12-episode series features the hero of the Bakeneko Arc, the mysterious Medicine Seller.Set in the Edo Period, the Medicine Seller travels around Japan exorcizing "mononoke," or spirits left behind in the material world, usually because of an unsolved crime.As can be seen just from the DVD box set cover - the art in Mononoke is simply amazing. Taking traditional Japanese aesthetics and expanding on them with a profusion of colors, overlays of western themes, and fantastical imagery, the visuals in Mononoke create a universe unto itself.The visual color riot rivets one's gaze, while the stories break your heart. Mononoke is comprised of short stories, each 2-3 episodes long, and each taking the viewer into the darkest parts of the human heart. Occasionally there is redemption, but most of the stories leave you with a quiet sadness about the suffering that humans wreak upon each other.If you're new to anime, you may want to watch other more popular anime series before trying Mononoke. Mononoke's storytelling style is different and not easy to understand at first. Also, I would say Mononoke probably shouldn't be watched by anyone under 14 years old. These are horror stories with adult themes.

Don't get me wrong, the series itself is great and I LOVE it (which is why I'm giving this at least 3 stars). However, as a a few reviewers have already mentioned, the DVD production itself is HORRIBLE.I bought this DVD set specifically because I was mesmerized by the animation and graphics - the style is unique and almost disorienting-ly colorful. So when I got a physical copy of the series, I expected 1080p quality. To my surprise, and disappointment, it is not. From the looks of it, I'd say the quality is around 720p (maybe even less), so the outlines aren't sharp, and everything is a little blurry (especially the subtitles, the outlines are pixelated, which is a little distracting). Maybe I'm being a bit critical and that might not matter to some, but as someone who purchased it for the visuals, I'm very disappointed. I wish I could return it, but (being the stupid human I am) I waited way after the return period ended and am stuck with it.As another reviewer mentioned, it does say "Disc Made in Mexico", which is kind of...odd. The cover looks cheap (it has a gigantic recycle symbol on the inside) and the plastic holder that the first DVD sits on was broken off from the spine. Luckily, both DVDs were still on their holders, so the bottoms weren't scratched.If you don't care about visual quality, it does have all the episodes. It only has Japanese audio with subtitles, so keep that in mind when purchasing.

I was so excited to own this series, but had the biggest let down. The video quality of the episodes is horrifically grainy. I've watched episodes of anime on youtube in the 2010s with higher video quality. Overall a huge disappointment, especially for the price.

It arrived on time, quickly, and in perfect condition. I love this anime, I'm so glad to have it!

I watched this show years ago and recently remembered so I had to add it to my collection. This DVD is only in subtitles so it may not be to your liking if you prefer dub, but I recommend you give it try if you enjoy horror and or Japanese folklore. 10/10 would recommend!

Pues veamos, Momononoke es una serie espectacular y esta edición es muy sencilla, tanto que raya la cutrez. Sí, es cutre, los subtítulos en inglés están hechos sin ningún tipo de estilo visual, blancos y robóticos. La calidad de imagen ni de broma es de HD, aunque claro, algo mejor se ve que por internet. Pero si pones el dvd en un pantallon de los modernos prepárate para los pixeles. No incluye tampoco el episodio de Demon Cat o algo parecido, que es el primero que se hizo de Mononoke, en Akyakashi: samurai horror tales. Evidentemente, no debe incluirse pues no pertenece como tal a la serie, pero para un aficionado a Mononoke esta es una falta de cortesía grave. Se agradece no tener que pagar 100 euros para tener un dvd con los capitulos, pero vamos, que se nota que no los estás pagando.

I can watch this over and over again and never get bored of it. You'll always find details that you missed the first time. The storytelling and OST always keeps viewers at the edge of their seat. It's really exciting to watch Mononoke because the story line is so unpredictable. It really forces you to think. The medicine seller is such a unique, charismatic yet mysterious character. I wish they would delve into his personal history, but that just enhances the allure of Mononoke -- his history is up to the viewer's imagination. The other super unique point about Mononoke is the artwork -- for those of you who haven't seen this before, it's totally different from convention. According to other reviews (myanimelist.net/anime/2246/Mononoke), the artwork is best described to resemble "Japanese "ukiyo-e", filled with vibrant and colorful backgrounds, textures and designs."Just FYI if you have seen the entire series before: it's missing the last story/arc about the "train" (won't get into any details. I do wonder why this wasn't included), but it has the Goblin Cat story, which you would have had to buy separately. For negatives (not much of a negative for me though), it doesn't have much special features other than an art segment about the train story I mentioned. As other reviewers have said, there's no English dub either (also not a big deal for me).

Ich bin eher durch Zufall auf Mononoke gestoßen und es brauchte auch etwas Überrednungskunst, bis die DVDs dann endlich liefen. Ich war zwar darauf vorbereitet, dass es sich um NTSC Format handelt, jedoch wollte die X-Box diese dann doch nicht abspielen, was mich etwas verwunderte. Habe sie dann über den PC geguckt. Also hier vor der Bestellung überlegen, ob man ein Gerät besitzt, welches die DVDs auch abspielt.Zu den Kurzgeschichten selbst:Sie sind wirklich schräg, aber sehr gut. Der Zeichenstil ist wirklich gewöhnungsbedürftig, ebenso wie das Charakterdesign der Personen, aber es ist mal etwas anderes und hebt sich sehr von Animes ab. Die Geschichten beziehen sich auf japanische Folklore und sind stellenweise wirklich ergreifend.Ein Kauf lohnt sich alle mal!

I haven't watched it yet. My discs say made in Mexico.. It does work in the PlayStation so I need to try my region free player... Just a word of caution here.

Bella grafica. Ottima qualità. Materiale molto interessante! Una intera serie riassunta in un'edizione agilissima.Una storia non comune che affonda le sue radici nel folklore giapponese (storie di mostri e fantasmi) e un'animazione caratterizzata da un'estetica d'eccezione. Divertente, poetico, straniante.