A Legendary Anime Has Returned , And It'll Make You Want to Revisit the Original '00s Series
Mononoke is back with a new video and movie
Right now, there has never been a better time to be an anime fan. From original shows to returning hits, the industry is giving us everything. Now, it seems a classic anime is about to return. Mononoke, one of the most visually striking anime of the '00s, is making its return with a new feature film. The upcoming release of Mononoke the Movie: Ashes of Rage in Japan is the perfect occasion to revisit the 2007 series as it is seen as an artistic triumph, making it a cult classic of its era.
Earlier this week, Mononoke the Movie: Ashes of Rage dropped a special music video to drum up excitement around its return. Featuring all-new animation, the clip offers a sneak peek at the upcoming film and showcases the haunting theme song âHanamusouâ by Aina the End, lead vocalist of the Japanese idol group BiSH. This latest installment of Mononoke promises to build on the legacy of the original anime while introducing fresh elements to dazzle both longtime fans and new audiences.
The Origins of Mononoke, a Quiet Anime GiantFrom Late-Night TV to the Silver ScreenOriginally, Mononoke began its anime journey in 2007 as a spin-off of the anthology TV anime series Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales. Created as another type of anthology tale, Mononoke focuses on a mysterious Medicine Seller, a wandering exorcist who is tasked with eliminating malevolent spirits across the land. Every encounter with these supernatural beings, which are known as mononoke, requires the Medicine Seller to uncover their Form, Truth, and Reason âa process that often involves unraveling the darker aspects of human nature. Simply imagine Demon Slayer but with a more profound and philosophical angle, and then youâve got something a bit like Mononoke.
Although Mononoke aired on Japanese TV during a late-night slot, the original 12-episode series proved captivating enough to eventually make the leap to the silver screen. In 2024, Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain was released globally to top reviews, and it is currently available to stream on Netflix. Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain is the first of a planned trilogy as Mononoke the Movie: Ashes of Rage serves as the second entry.
Mononoke Is A Visual Feast Like No OtherThe Anime Is a Work of Art in Every FrameBack in 2007, the thing that truly set Mononoke apart from other anime was its stunning visual style. The series draws heavily from traditional Japanese art forms such as ukiyo-e woodblock prints and kabuki theater, creating a surreal and otherworldly mood all its own. There is no mistaking Mononoke once you see its distinct art style, and that kind of visual identity is hard to negotiate in a busy industry.
Mononokeâs use of vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and painterly compositions gives the anime an impressive sense of high quality. Indeed, you could take any frame of animation from Mononoke, hang it on your wall, and call it a breathtaking work of art. Much of the credit goes to art director Takeshi Waki and Toei Animation who can now count Mononoke among their most impressive achievements.
Who Is The Visionary Behind the Series Of Mononoke?Kenji Nakamura Brings Characters (and Spirits) to LifeAmazingly, the original Mononoke was the first anime series directed by Kenji Nakamura although he had directed various anime episodes beforehand. With Mononoke, he quickly established himself as a master stylist, skillfully blending drama, the supernatural, and history across the seriesâ original run.
Read More: New Netflix Anime Movie is Staggeringly Beautiful in Jaw-Dropping Trailer
Additionally, the character design by Takashi Hashimoto, a veteran of Naruto and One Piece, gave life to the enigmatic Medicine Seller and the haunting spirits he encountered. The collaborative effort of these skilled creators ensured Mononoke stood out not just for its knockout visuals but also for its compelling, multilayered approach to storytelling.
Mononoke Is A Cult Classic Worth RevisitingTake the Invitation to Explore Mononokeâs WorldDespite its critical acclaim, Mononoke remains one of the more underappreciated anime series of the '00s. While its art style and unconventional storytelling have been widely praised, its niche appeal kept the anime from becoming a massive hit. However, thatâs okay. Over time, Mononoke has garnered a dedicated cult following â one that deserves to grow with the release of the new movie later this year.
The recently released music video for Mononoke the Movie: Ashes of Rage serves as both a celebration of the franchiseâs legacy and a tantalizing preview of whatâs to come. As the Medicine Seller prepares to step onto the screen once more, itâs clear that Mononoke remains a vital and unforgettable part of anime history. If you havenât yet experienced this singular series, now is the time to immerse yourself in its strange and beautiful world. Mononoke is more than an anime: itâs a work of art, a philosophical exploration, and a testament to the boundless creativity of the medium.
Your RatingMononoke Release Date 2007 - 2006Mononoke is a Japanese mystery-horror anime series that follows the Medicine Seller, a wandering exorcist, as he travels through feudal Japan to detect, understand, and exorcise malevolent spirits known as Mononoke. Set against a backdrop of stylized art and intricate storytelling, the series delves deep into the dark corners of human emotion and supernatural phenomena.
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If there was a list of K-drama tropes that have been overused to the point where fans have started to dislike them, main-leads-having-a-past-or-childhood-connection would undoubtedly top that list. Seriously, can two adults not fall in love with each other without having any interactions in their childhood and/or past in general?
So, if you're tired of this trope and want some heart-fluttering romances where the male and female leads didn't know each other before falling in love in the present, you're in for a treat! Here are four K-drama romances with zero childhood or past connections.
Warning: while all of these dramas will make you giggle, some might also have you crying your eyes outâso, beware!
Summer Strike
Summer Strike, based on the webtoon I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything, is a slice-of-life romance revolving around the life of Yeo Reum (Seolhyun), a young woman living in Seoul and working at a publishing house. Her life might not be perfect, but she has a stable job and a boyfriendâuntil one day, everything goes south. First, she loses her job, then her boyfriend, and finally, tragedy strikes hardest when her beloved mother passes away.
After going through so much pain, Yeo Reum decides to go on a healing journey and moves to a small seaside town for a year, where she plans to do literally nothing and just spend her days idly. There, she meets a math prodigy-turned-librarian, Dae Bum (Yim Si Wan), and the chemistry just flows!
While most K-drama romantic comediesâor rom-coms in generalâfeature loud and eccentric characters that quickly grab your attention, Summer Strike is a K-drama that takes pride in its main couple being introverts. The male lead is so introverted that he doesn't speak for the entirety of the second episode, where he is first introduced. But even when words fall short, the chemistry between the couple is palpable and heart-fluttering.
Mostly a romantic comedy, Summer Strike also features a half-baked thriller subplot sprinkled throughout the show, which, thankfully, does not disrupt the flow of the story.
Start watching Summer Strike:
[viki-watchnow url=https://www.viki.com/tv/38861c-summer-strike]
Crash Landing on You
Crash Landing on You is one of those K-dramas that opened up the world of K-dramas to a newer audience during the start of the pandemic, so it's often thought of as a drama that everyone has already seen. But if you haven't, it's time to put it on your watch-later list.
The tvN drama begins with one of South Korea's richest heiresses, Yoon Se Ri (Son Ye Jin), paragliding during rough weather. The wind blows so hard that tractors are flying in the air. As she is near the North Korean border, she ends up flying to North Korea and gets stuck in a tree on the other side of the border, unable to get down. The night passes, and the next day, she meets the male lead, a North Korean soldier named Ri Jung Hyuk (Hyun Bin), and falls from the tree and crash lands on him, hence the name. Their story begins there: the soldier agrees to hide her in his house and help her return to South Korea, but somewhere along the way, they both fall in love.
While past connections in K-dramas have been overdone to death, they cannot compete with the star-crossed lovers trope. Nothing can come close to the longing and slow burn of Crash Landing on You, which keeps you on the edge of your seat. The romance between the main leads was so palpable that the actors ended up falling in love and got married in real life.
Because This Is My First Life
Because This Is My First Life is a 2017 K-drama featuring the marriage-of-convenience or contract-marriage trope. The story revolves around Se Hee (Lee Min Ki), an academically gifted man working in tech in his late 30s, with a personality as dry as sandpaper. Unlike most people his age in Seoul, he owns a house of his own, though he has a lot of mortgage to pay off. His plan? Get a housemate and use the rent to pay off the debt. The only problem? He's extremely picky about his tenants. His other quirk? He doesn't want to get married and is tired of his mother trying to set him up with a new girl every week.
On the other side is Ji Ho (Jung So Min), a K-drama writer in her early 30s who hasn't had her big break yet and works as an assistant writer. Though Ji Ho's biggest desire is to be loved, she has never dated anyone. One thing leads to anotherâJi Ho loses her job and her place, and she is about to move back in with her dysfunctional family in her hometown, leaving her dream of becoming a writer behind. Before she leaves, Se Hee offers a unique proposal: marry him so he can stop his mother's pestering, and she can live in Seoul at a cheaper rent than the market rate. And she accepts the offer, of course!
Because This Is My First Life is similar to Summer Strike in that both K-dramas feature main couples who are introverts. However, while Yeo Reum and Dae Bum communicate healthily despite their shyness, the main leads in Because This Is My First Life are awkward and don't open up until the final episodes. This lack of communication is frustrating at times and makes viewers want to pull their hair out. However, the trope is used effectively, is entertaining, and makes the ending all the more satisfying.
Start watching Because This Is My First Life:
[viki-watchnow url=https://www.viki.com/tv/35630c-because-this-is-my-first-life]
Twinkling Watermelon
Twinkling Watermelon is the only K-drama on this list that doesn't exclusively belong to the romance or rom-com genre. Although this drama focuses more on family, friendship, and music, the love plot is so heart-fluttering that it's a must-watch!
The story of Twinkling Watermelon begins in 2023 with Eun Gyeol (Ryeoun), a high school student who is also a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). During the day, Eun Gyeol is a diligent student working hard to get into a medical university as his father Yi Chan (Choi Hyun Wook) wishes. However, by night, he takes to the streets with his electric guitar, busking the night away under the city lights.
When his father discovers his nighttime routine, a major argument ensues, prompting Eun Gyeol to run away from home. In a twist of fate, he is magically transported to the pastâa time when his father was a high school student himself. Initially, Eun Gyeol is focused on returning to the future, but he soon realizes that, in this timeline, his father has fallen for another girl and hasn't even met his mother, Chung Ah (Shin Eun Soo). To prevent his existence from vanishing, Eun Gyeol takes on the mission to make his parents fall in love again.
While childhood or past-life connections are overdone in K-dramas, Twinkling Watermelon stands out due to its time-travel element, which introduces a future connection. Some viewers might consider it similar, but even without Eun Gyeol's interference, Chung Ah and Yi Chan had fallen for each other in the original timeline.
What makes their relationship so endearing is Yi Chan's dedication to learning Chung Ah's language from the moment he realizes she is deaf, just so he can communicate with her better. This was long before he fell in love with herâhe simply wanted to connect with and understand a friend, who he later grows to love.
Start watching Twinkling Watermelon:
[viki-watchnow url=https://www.viki.com/tv/40131c-twinkling-watermelon]
Hello Soompiers! What is your favorite K-drama romance with no past connections? Let us know in the comments section below!
Javeria is a binge-watching specialist who loves devouring entire K-dramas in one sitting. Good screenwriting, beautiful cinematography, and a lack of cliches are the way to her heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to multiple artists across different genres and stans the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You can talk to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.
Currently watching:Â Namib, Love Scout, and Motel California.
Looking forward to:Â Reborn and Weak Hero Class 2.
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Twitter (X), Inc. was an American social media company based in San Francisco, California, which operated and was named for its flagship social media network prior to its rebrand as X. In addition to Twitter, the company previously operated the Vine short video app and Periscope livestreaming service
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