Mononoke Movie: Karakasa

Asa and Kame strike up an immediate friendship when they arrive at the same time for their first day of duty at the Ooku, the splendid pleasure palace housing the harem of Lord Tenshi. The two young women are there to join the many hundreds of other maidservants—men are barred from entering, with immediate beheading the price of trespassing. It soon becomes clear that behind the luxurious lifestyle and ritualized routines of the Ooku lie sinister schemes and cynical rivalries. Meanwhile, a mysterious wandering potion-peddler known only as the Medicine Seller subtly insinuates himself into the Ooku, just as an uncanny, otherworldly menace begins to reveal itself.

(Source: Fantasia Festival)

Kusuriuri Main

Kamiya, Hiroshi Japanese

Asa Supporting

Kurosawa, Tomoyo Japanese

Kame Supporting

Yuuki, Aoi Japanese

Tenshi Supporting

Irino, Miyu Japanese

Tokita, Fuki Supporting

Hikasa, Youko Japanese

Mizorogi, Hokuto Supporting

Tsuda, Kenjirou Japanese

Futsukazuki Supporting

Watada, Misaki Japanese

Ootomo, Botan Supporting

Tomatsu, Haruka Japanese

Mikazuki Supporting

Hiratsuka, Sae Japanese

Saga, Heiki Supporting

Fukuyama, Jun Japanese

Satou, Kimiaki Producer

Sudoku, Yuuki Producer

Nakamura, Kenji Director, Screenplay

Nagasaki, Yukio Sound Director

Reviews

Apr 5, 2025

MoiraCarey

Recommended

The film's predecessor is one of the most aesthetically striking anime series. However, the only real similarity between the two Mononoke installments is that both are masterpieces. Even if it initially seems like the same morally grey, observant, and mysterious Medicine Seller has returned, this one is fundamentally different. He acts more like a romantic, nameless hero - because, in fact, they’re not the same person.

The original Mononoke was alienating because you could feel the deep cultural heritage behind it - something you instinctively know you could never fully understand. The new Mononoke, on the other hand, feels like it was made with Netflix as ... the target audience: it's alienating because it deliberately exoticizes itself. The plot structure and pacing are very Western; the self-revealing monologue at the climax was a bit too much for me, but I did enjoy the shounen-style boss fight, for instance.

What still makes this film unique is that Nakamura manages to sabotage the act of reception itself. All the focus is on the dazzling, overly ornate visuals, which - unlike in the original - are starting to lose their soul. And that's intentional: it draws attention to the downsides of new animation techniques and methods (just watch a comparison video on YouTube between the original Sailor Moon and the Eternal movie - Karakasa problematizes the same phenomenon).

Also, the pacing often feels like it's on 2x speed, or it cuts abruptly to backgrounds during dialogue for no apparent reason - it keeps you on the surface, never letting you truly sink in. Karakasa is a conceptual masterpiece because of how it plays with the act of viewing itself. The focus is not on narrative development, but on how aesthetics can overwhelm, disorient, and ultimately shape the viewer’s experience. Through its excessive ornamentation and fragmented pacing, it raises unspoken questions about the growing disconnect between form and content - a tendency that is becoming increasingly common in contemporary mainstream cinema.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Apr 1, 2025

Litora

Mixed Feelings

It's been quite a few years since I watched the Anime Series Mononoke and the original 3-episode story from Ayakashi. From my understanding the Kusuriuri from these movies are different from the one in the anime. Just to note. This review will be comparing heavily based on the anime, since that's where much of the love of the series come from.
As for animation, I believe the artwork and general character designs nailed the vibes from the anime. It's very intricate and colorful with familiar art direction. It's more similar to the first 3 episodes of the anime, with heavily kabuki-inspired art. It can be a ... bit much for the eyes, especially during the first half of the movie where the scenes are constantly switching with no breathing room, I feel this issue relaxes a bit in the later half, but I wouldn't want to ask anyone to suffer a headache to get to the good parts. The camera work is honestly the main drawback for the show for any fan or non-fan.
The story was pretty alright, much of the living characters were fleshed out; but the story of the ghost was left a bit stale only being explained during the end. Much of the enjoyment of the original series was that each ghost was played out as a detective story, with the living cast being key components to revealing the Form, Truth, and Reason bit by bit. This version of the concept doesn't leaned so much into the mystery aspect of things and rather feels as a story of personal growth of the main character of this arc. This can be a bit decisive for fans, but for a first time viewer this may not matter as much.
Now for the big elephant in the room, is the characterization of Kusuriuri. The original anime was marked as mystery and horror. The main part of the horror anime was how the ghosts would take revenge and the uncaringness of the "hero" that was suppose to save them. The original Kusuriuri did not take a super active part in saving those who are affected by the ghosts, his main goal was to solve the mystery and cut down ghosts. So the arrogant people who messed about and found out, got what they deserved. It made it feel more otherworldly, there was no warnings, things just happened and sometimes mister medicine man just let it happen. This Kusuriuri is a different guy, as far as I know, so his character wouldn't be the same. It's a lot more hero like and he seems to care if those around him die or not, it's a weird sort of subtle but not subtle difference how he explains his power. And someone it affects a lot in a story not about him lmao.
Overall it's still a good movie, it has charm and solid foundation. But it's missing just a bit of this and that to make it outshine the original anime. Would still watch again, but i'm not in love with the movie itself, i'm in love with the franchise.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Jan 17, 2025

Sengir

Not Recommended

Funny

I watched the previous Mononoke anime and it seemed like a wonderful series with an incredible aura. It was captivating, mysterious, serene, intriguing. The main character Kusuriuri was mesmerizing, and the rest of the supporting characters in each story all have their own original looks, personalities and background. This movie has none of that, it's a nonsense, a complete waste of time.

The studio in charge of making it isn't the same as before and hasn't understood anything about the magic of the previous work. They thought that putting in lots of colors and constant flashy scenes was enough. All aspects seem much worse to me ... in comparison. I had to make an effort not to drop the movie before finishing it.

To have made such a poor continuation I would have preferred that they did nothing, honestly. I feel that this movie tarnishes the general quality of the series.

Also, as an extra detail, they changed the previous seiyuu of the main character Kusuriuri (Takahiro Sakurai) whose previous voice in that character hypnotized you in every sentence. And even without taking that into account, Kusuriuri here seems like a completely different character acting in a way that doesn't match the personality he had before. Now he seems like a quirky random character taken from Naruto filler chapters. Another very negative point from my point of view.

The aura is totally lost, this movie is a colorful empty shell.

Reviewer’s Rating: 1

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