An artistically ambitious new animated feature from Japan is ready to enchant U.S. audiences when Netflix debuts Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain. The film will make its Stateside premiere at the Animation Is Film festival in Los Angeles (October 18-20). The official Netflix trailer has been released and is already generating positive buzz thanks to its vibrant and enchanting visuals for this “coming soon” release.
The supernatural period drama is brought to life in a unique animation technique which blends the textures of traditional Japanese paper with computer graphics technology. The tale is centered in the women’s quarters of Edo Castle, where a myserious figure known as the Medicine Seller seeks to exorcise the troublesome mononoke, apparitions formed by the merging of intense emotions and otherwordly spirits. The film follows on the popular Mononoke anime series (2007) — itself inspired by the “Goblin Cat” segment of the horror anthology Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales (2006).
Synopsis: The Ōoku — a harem swirling with intense emotions.
The Ōoku is where beautiful and talented women are gathered from all across the land to bear the heir of His Majesty, the ruler. At the same time, it is an important place that plays a crucial bureaucratic function. Stepping into this unusual society with its own rules are young newcomers Asa and Kame. Blessed with both intelligence and beauty, Asa aims to improve her standing, while Kame searches for a sense of belonging in this place she has always dreamed of. On the day of their induction, these two girls of opposite personalities are forced to participate in a ceremony to become part of the group by sacrificing their most cherished belongings to the Water Goddess, a deity worshiped within the Ōoku. As a result of this event, a bond forms between the two girls.
The elder Utayama oversees the women while prioritizing the prosperity and continuation of the Ōoku, but she conceals something behind her stony facade. Slowly, over time, something uncanny begins to envelop the women. As their powerful emotions accumulate each night, the strange sound of a spinning paper umbrella echoes from the shadows and the maidservants begin to lose their minds, as though they are possessed.
Eventually, a pivotal tragedy occurs. The Medicine Seller proceeds to the heart of the Ōoku, but he cannot draw the Sacred Sword to exorcise the mononoke unless he learns the being’s “Form,” “Truth” and “Reason.” When the Medicine Seller uncovers the frightening and heartbreaking truth hidden in the Ōoku, the ceremony of exorcism and redemption begins.
Mononoke series director Kenji Nakamura helmed the production, which was carried out by Twin Engine and EOTA studios. The movie’s creative team also included animation character designer & chief animation director Yuichi Takahashi,art directors Akira Kuramoto and Yoko Saito, color designer Kunio Tsujita, producers Kimiaki Sato and Yuki Sudo, and composer Taku Iwasaki.
The Japanese voice cast is led by Hiroshi Kamiya as the Medicine Seller, Tomoyo Kurosawa as Asa, Aoi Yuki as Kame, Mami Koyama as Utayama, Kana Hanazawa as Kitagawa, Haruka Tomatsu as Botan Otomo, Yuki Kaji as Saburomaru, Jun Fukuyama as Hiramoto, Yukana as Mugitani and Yuhko Kaida as Awashima.
