Last Sunday, a new Mononoke project was revealed by Twin Engine with a new Medicine Seller (薬くすり売うり- Kusuriuri). Voicing the new Kusuriuri, named ‘Ken no Tsurugi’ is Araki Hirofumi, whom you might recognise from the Mononoke stage-plays. Designing the new Kusuriuri is Nagata Kitsuneko, the character designer of the Mononoke film trilogy. However, we have yet to learn if it’ll be a film series or television series.
Ken no Tsurugi (“Ken” for short), is described as having dual personalities by Nakamura Kenji, the film trilogy’s general director. When spooky things happen around him, Ken displays an aloof and chatty behaviour. However, this’ll change when in the face of evil entities. To what degree and in what ways will he change? Only time will tell.
Additionally, Twin Engine also announced Kadokawa’s plans of publishing novels featuring one of the three Kusuriuris. For those unaware, the Kusuriuri in the anime, films and this upcoming project are different persons, named ‘Ri’, ‘Kon’, and ‘Ken’ respectively.
About Mononoke
The Mononoke anime series and film series operate on the same premise. They follows the Kusuriuri, travelling medicine sellers, as they hunt for ayakashi. Ayakashi are supernatural entities born of negative feelings, causing mayhem and chaos wherever they manifest. To vanquish them, the Kusuriuri must learn their shape (Katachi), truth (Makoto), and reasoning (Kotowari).
The topics covered by the Mononoke series can be very heavy. The films for example address the psychological toll of repressing emotions, systemic oppression, and human nature, amongst other things. If these topics or Mononoke are something you like watching, then follow us when more information is available!
