The Mononoke anime movie has revealed the casting of Hiroshi Kamiya as its protagonist, the Medicine Seller, and a summer 2024 Japanese premiere date. A visual and a new trailer were also released.
The movie had been postponed in February following the removal of Takahiro Sakurai from the lead role.
The Mononoke movie was announced last June at the 2007 anime series’ 15th anniversary event and was originally meant to be released this year. The Toei Animation-produced series is a spin-off of 2006’s Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales, which featured the Medicine Seller in three of its episodes. The series’ director Kenji Nakamura (Gatachman Crowds: Insight) is returning for the EOTA-produced movie.
Other staff include:
• Yuuichi Takahashi (Blue Giant) as animation character designer and chief animation director
• Youichi Senzui (Den-noh Coil assistant composite director) as visual director
• Akira Kuramoto (Danmachi 2016 OVA) as art director
• Youko Saitou (Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal the Movie) as art director
• Taku Iwasaki (Bungo Stray Dogs) as music composer
Crunchyroll describes the original show as:
In feudal Japan, evil spirits known as mononoke plague the countryside, leaving a trail of fear in their wake. One mysterious person has the power to slay the mononoke where they stand; he is known as the Medicine Seller, and he vanquishes the spirits using the power of his Exorcism Sword. In order to draw his sword he must understand the Form, Truth and Reason of the mononoke. Armed with a sharp wit, the Medicine Seller wanders from place to place, striking down the evil spirits in his wake.
Source: Press release
