Mononoke - Recommendations

tbkba says...

If you like a person who looks like a medicine seller, if you like a main character with charisma so big that it can kill an elephant, and if you think that there should be special people which hunt/destroy different [evil] spirits as well, these two anime are a good match. Mr. Medicine Seller and Ginko are twins in my mind.

Sure, Mononoke and Mushishi have drastic differences in their drawing and story-telling styles, and they accent different parts of people whose lives suffer from fighting with spirits; but the result is the same, while the techniques vary.

If you liked one of these anime, I'm sure you will like the other too.

ZenithAstrali says...

At first glance Mushishi and Mononoke seem quite different, but if you liked the story of the know-it-all medicine seller turning out to be an exorcist in one, then the other is a perfect match.

styln says...

Do not let the difference in visuals blind you from the similarities of Mononoke and Mushishi. Both have a mysterious character who travels to different places in search of spirits, and puts many of the spirits to rest in many ways. If you liked one you may enjoy the other.

Idaemean says...

Mushishi and Mononoke have differend graphic styles, but they both tell stories about a travelling person who puts spirits to rest (and have quite unique way of behaving and dealing with people). Mononoke may be a little more drastic sometimes, but in general both series are really good math.

cassiesheepgirl says...

Both Mushishi and Mononoke focus on lone travellers who solve supernatural problems that they encounter, be they mysterious beings called Mushi or Spirits. If you enjoyed this aspect of one then, try the other.

puolukankukka says...

Mushishi and Mononoke are both crafted together from a selection of neat and touching supernatural detective-stories, acted out in the Japan of days gone by, combining magic and human drama.

stingreis says...

Well, mushishi and mononoke both have an interesting main character who hunts ghosts of different sorts, they are both Horror type, episodic anime's though my personal opinion is that Mononoke is more suspenseful than Mushishi. Even still I think if you enjoy a horror / ghost hunter type anime, and enjoyed either of these two anime's you are sure to enjoy the other.

solrm122 says...

Mononoke and Mushishi both tackle the supernatural with a feel of suspence and a dash of fright. Not only are the themes very similar but also the main character in both is a wandering "shaman" if you will. These are both excellent anime for those of us that like a little suspence and a great ghost story told with the lights turned off.

VivisQueen says...

Mononoke and Mushishi involve a dispassionate traveller solving various paranormal mysteries. While Mononoke takes a more horror/mystery approach that occasionally gets quite spastic, Mushishi is far more delicate and genteel. However, differences in style aside, if you liked one, you are bound to like the other for its creative and sensitive storytelling.

Kernoll says...

The common thing about Mononoke and Mushishi is that main protagonist is traveling like medicine seller and helping people in feudal japan. Both are slow-spaced shows and the main characters have misterious past.

kenikki says...

Both are pretty dark fantasy anime with colorful main characters that has either episodic or arc based format. Perfect recommendations in my opinion.

ShiWeiLi says...

Mushishi and Mononoke are both great series for people that enjoy a lot of psychological or philosophical quandries in their anime.  Both of these anime also are episodic and focus on a wandering medicine man, who solves problems that usually have to deal more with human nature than actual medicine.  Mushishi is the more laid back of the two; Mononoke has a more psychadelic flavor to it.  Both series stand out by having deep and concise arcs that effectively create intrigue around their mysterious protagonists.  Both series are very thought provoking.

Kantayra says...

In both series, the main 'character' is the universe itself and the conflict that ensues when supernatural elements (Mushi or Mononoke) encounter humans. The actual cast consists solely of a medium who comes in to resolve this conflict (Ginko or the Medicine Seller) and the humans-in-peril of the week.

Both series also have formulaic standalone episodes (2-3 episodes together for one arc in Mononoke; 1 ep per arc in Mushishi). The traveller comes to town, learns about the local supernatural problem and the humans involved, and then resolves the problem using the universe's specific rules.

Both series also rely heavily on their style for atmosphere - even though their styles are almost completely different. Mushishi uses a minimal, naturalistic style to create suspense and a sense of the unknown in nature. Mononoke uses bright colors and jarring music to convey the sense that the world is deeply unnatural and wrong.

In short, if you like episodic horror of the suspense variety (and not the gore variety) and you value the universe strongly over character development, both series will appeal to you.

PurpleCatAngel says...

Like Mononoke, Mushishi is about a man who travels around feudal Japan exorcising evil spirits and helping people in need.

ReIIy says...

Both series follow a mysterious main protagonist as they aim to solve others' supernatural problems.  The two are not similar in animation or visual style, and Mononoke is more fantasy-feeling than Mushishi, but they have a similar overall atmosphere.  Overall, Mushishi is much more of a relaxing show with almost meditative music and a wandering storyline while Mononoke is more bewildering and dramatic.

LadySnuggles says...

They're both about a character who's sort of neutral in the situation going around to different places with strange occurances due to strange creatures and taking care of the problem or explaining it to the afflicted people and they both have neat art styles 

TheMobius says...

Both are rather etherial. They dive into Shinto a little more than most Anime. It's almost like having a little lesson on animism.

TarantulaLeGuin says...

Slow paced supernatural anime about an enigmatic traveler who uses the contents of his medicine box to help humans with their problems with the spirits, ultimately weaving very human tales along the way. Mushi-Shi is gentle, melancholy, and more optimistic about human nature than the bleak Mononoke. 

Nandasan93 says...

Both Mushishi and Mononoke are centered around a wonderer with mystical abilities who helps people and entites wherever they go. If you love folklore, love learning about Japanese myths and spirituality, and love beautifully artistic shows, these two are indispensable! They both are truly a whole experience.

kumoyume says...

even though the art style in completely different, these two anime center around a guy who wonders the area solving issues, giving medicine and advice to one and all.  if you're interested in folk lore, myths, legends and other aspects found within Japanese history then consider checking these two out.

Enju says...

Both Mononoke and Gankutsuou have extraordinary, jaw-dropping colours, and have a really mysterious and unique character in the main role. If you liked one of these series you should give the other a try.

tasanime says...

Via the use of beautiful art nouveau animation styles, Mononoke influenced more so by classical Japanese designs and Gankutsuou using photoshop textures, a similar end result is found. Here we have two uniquely designed visual delights, completely contradicting some of the horrific themes explored, but somehow making it work that bit better. Although Mononoke is based in the past and horror themed, Gankutsuou a thriller set in the distant future, they both revolve around striking fear into those guilty of sins in a round about way. You can also find similarities in the main characters, the Medicine seller & The Count have a sinister mysteriousness about them, intriguing to watch bring out the worst in people using very well executed, psychological manipulation.

Rhesian says...

Both utilize similar texture styles to make a stunning visual effect.  Clothing patterns stay fixed throughout a character's fluid motion.  Background animation for both is extraordinary with CGI in Gankutsuou and Edo period-style paintings in Mononokie.

stingreis says...

The artwork that both these anime's display are both unique and original. In both anime's the colors in the background almost stay still and flow through the characters and their wardrobe's. Mononoke actually takes in the appeal of the eyes with moving the entire setting at once, and Gankutsuou takes CG and incorporates it with a still background that is vivid and spectacular to watch. If you enjoyed the artwork in one of these, you will enjoy the arwork in the other.

Kusuriurisama says...

Art style. Because if you liked either, you won't be able to get enough of the sight :D. The mysterious nature of the protagonists and the attention they get by their excessive power is also the same, while they both only care about their "sacred goal" (of slaying Mononoke/revenge).

LilMayar says...

Both animes have superb animation styles. Mononoke is shorter and more symbolic and takes place in Japan while Gankutsuo takes place in the future in Europe. Both series are abstract and superb.

Nicknames says...

Both shows have a very unique art style that gives them a surreal feel. They also feature very interesting and mysterious lead characters so if you watched one give the other a try, even if the plot of each show is different.

OkamiHime95 says...

Both anime have amazing visuals/animation, a mysterious & unique main character, and pretty good music to boot.

sansaii says...

Visually stunning and engaging in story, both series utilize innovative methods of animation inspired by classic French cartoons which used cels of dynamic immobile texture overlapped by the moving line art it defined.

sothis says...

Hundred Stories and Mononoke are both visually obscure horror anime which focus on a variety of gruesome stories. If you liked the unique nature of one, check out the other.

neutrino says...

Both Requiem from the Darkness and Mononoke are focused on visual style, story telling and Japanese mythology. In my opinion, both are fascinating to watch, both in terms of style (it's like looking at paintings) and in content.

tasanime says...

Mononoke and Requiem both seem to revolve around this central theme of drawing out individual sinners through lots of horrific imagery and scenarios, advocating admission of their sins and then watching as they either punish themselves or are punished by the spirits of those they have done wrong. Great viewing for fans of the horror genre.

Idaemean says...

Both Mononoke and Requiem From the Darkness have quite unique graphics, and both of them deal with sins, exorcisms and have rather episodic structure. Stories in both series are not as simple, as they may seem to be, and the final judgment is left for viewers.

absolute says...

Requiem from the Darkness and Mononoke are someway very similar. Both these series are sperimental and deal with supernatural entities and hunt for them. While Requiem is darker and with one episode stories, Mononoke has more brilliant colours and scnenery and it is divided in two/three episodes arcs stories. Apart this you can see the protagonists hunting for "demons" in real world and trying to get rid of them.

I think that if you like one you could like the other because these two share a sperimental and horror component.

AardvarkRex says...

Same exact premise/setup and similarly stylized art. Both are episodic and with a "twist" in each ep. Mononoke has better directing overall while Requiem is more explicit.

Nocturnalgloria says...

Mononoke and Xxxholic are kindred souls. Thematically both focus on nefarious spirits and their interaction with inherently human flaws and in terms of style the two anime have a very edgy usage of colour that combined with highly original sets help give a truly surreal ambience. In both cases typically Japanese traditions are recreated artistically and the Asian imagery that permeates them is flawlessly is used as medium of communication to tell the story, as much as the dialogue. Mononoke is stranger and genuinely eerie while Xxxholic is perhaps more conventional but both push the envelope in terms of supernatural horror in anime.

LLORAtheLLAMA says...

The supernatural is what connects these two series. Spirits and otherwordly beings lurk around the characters' life causing mischief and horror. People are to be not as they seem and mysteries lie in the air, waiting to be picked up. If one of these two shows has picked up your interest, continue on to the next.

Yuelio says...

Probably just because of some the typical mythic creatures used by a Clamp story. Expect light humour, and cute characters

kenikki says...

xxxHOLiC has much more humor, but they both deal with supernatural stories in somewhat dark and sometimes horrific ways.

SadisticTendencies says...

Mononoke and XXXholic both deal with paranormal entities appearing in every day life. The main character in Mononoke bears several resemblances with Yuko from XXXholic, most prominently their shared knowledge and formidability when it comes to rid themselves of spirits. Furthermore, both shows carry eccentric but genuinely beautiful visual styles, and while the one found in Mononoke is far more sophisticated and original they are almost equally satisfying. If you've seen one, then make sure to check the other one out!

Nandasan93 says...

If you love learning more about Japanese folklore and traditions, these two shows are great for that.

They are colorful, artistic, and full of wonders.

Nocturnalgloria says...

 Mononoke and Bakemonogatari are unique. Both are horror anime that give an original spin to Japanese folklore while exploring the medium in novel ways. The visual artistry involved is stunning and matches a narrative style that impacts the viewer by being genuinely creepy. These efforts match a stunning artwork and fluid animation with a keen insight into the uncanny. Fans of one are strongly advised to check out the other, especially since this kind of anime is rare and hard to come by.

Howlorihara says...

These two animes actually have quite a bit in common.  They both deal with supernatural creatures and their affects on human beings.  In other words, in discovering more about the creatures, the main character also learns more about the people involved in the story.  They are both beautifully and uniquely animated.  These two are some of my favorite animes I have seen.

Rohjake says...

Bakemonogatari and Mononoke both deal with monsters from Japanese folklore. To defeat monsters the main characters need to learn how the monsters came to be in the first place.

If you liked one and crave for a similar series, the other is really worth checking out.

arrow1350 says...

Both series have a unique art style, editing technique, musical timing, and stilted dialogue. The combination creates a very atmospheric journey that is slightly unsettling and off-kilter.

Plot-wise, they share many similarities as well. Both deal in the supernatural where the main characters expel or help spirits and monsters. Unlike other series that deal with these subjects, the stories are little to do with the spirits and monsters themselves, but the humans that cause their existence. 

The episode format is also similar in that they focus on one spirit for a couple of episodes before moving to the next. 

tasanime says...

Jigoku Shoujo & Mononoke are great to watch for those who enjoy a more psychological slant on horror. Both host a variety of different characters that choose to sin or admit their sins. If you enjoyed one for the central theme, than I'm sure you'll like the other

argona says...

Both are dark series that reveal the ugly side of the human nature. They are focused on the suffering of humans who are responsible for theirown pain. In both ,viewer watches as the turth is revealed, as characters make mistakes that results in their punishment, either by their own hands or those they have damaged.

Peterpan97 says...

they both have the same type of horror with interisting charactors. the storytelling is kind of similer as both have the horror as an underling of the thriller

Ran says...

Both Mononoke and Pet Shop of Horrors give a glimpse of the japanese folklore through short horrific stories. Both anime also follow a guideline in the way the stories take place, although diferent for the two series, it gives a pattern to the plot that doesn't however take the suspense away, always making us wonder what will go wrong, and what will be the consequences of it.

argona says...

Both Mononoke and Petshop have main characters that are very charismatic and mysterious. They know almost everything from the beginningbut hide in the shadows and wait for the truth to reveal itself. You don't see them in action a lot but in reality, they are the ones pulling the strings.Every story has a lesson and explores the depth of human nature, the desires, temptations and sins!If you like dark stories with deep meanings,watch them both.

Yuelio says...

Both have a main character who summerges us into the horror of spooky folklore, animals and monoke are not far away when there are human feelings between them

sothis says...

Mononoke and Hakaba Kitaro are both horror anime with a twist: they have a very abstract appearance. However, keep in mind that Mononoke is more intelligent and serious, while Kitaro is far more comedic in a dark and dry sense.

valondar says...

Both series feature the same art director and the results are truly gorgeous to behold; though stylistically rather different they share a striking visual style that if you loved the look of one you really should consider the other a worthwhile watch as well.

They both also have a horror component though with no intent to scare; Hakaba Kitarou is a dry comedy while Mononoke is a bizarre surreal headtrip.

kenikki says...

They may have different structure and storytelling and HK is more humorous, but both have similarly original animation design and they're both dark and a bit twisted and deals with supernatural aspects.

argona says...

Ghost hunt and Mononoke are quite different but similar in some aspects. Mononke is much darker and has a greater sense of suspend withonly one main character while ghost hunt has a lighter atmosphere with an air of shoujo love and quite a few main characters but both stories revolve around Japanese monsters and spirits and exorcism. characters have to put the pieces ofpuzzle together and solve the mystery.

Taek says...

Both shows feature a similar premise, with someone investigating a rumour or a ghost story and then trying to solve it, they also share a similar story stucture in that when each arc ends, we reset to the next, with no clear story running through from start to finish.

However, they are quite different in execution, but I do believe a fan of one, may enjoy the other.

NatiBerry says...

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neutrino says...

Both are series about the main character's ability to exorcise demons, and offer a fascinating view of buddhist methods to do so. Also, SO adds a bit of true history, as Abe (the grandfather) is an actual historical onmyouji.

EibhilinRhett says...

Both of these shows are very heavy on Japanese mythology and are centered heavily around exorcising restless spirits and stuff. Also, the main character in both of these is an onmyouji. So anyone who's into that sort of thing should honestly check out both.