Mononoke Movie: Paper Umbrella

It has become increasingly rare for me to get excited about an anime feature these days. There are few left, and the ones that do turn up are usually simple extensions of existing TV series. Kenji Nakamura's Mononoke Movie: Paper Umbrella [Gekijouban Mononoke Karakasa] stems from an older TV series too, but there's nothing simple about this film. No cost nor effort was spared to turn this into a major anime release, a film that stands well on its own and isn't a mere cut-and-paste job of tired and familiar anime tropes.

Around the turn of the century, there was no lack of distinctive anime features, but the serious cost of production resulted in severe business risks and it proved a lot easier and safer to just stick to familiar concepts. That either meant relying on existing IP, or working within popular styles (read: making Ghibli clones). It has become increasingly difficult to find anime that pushes boundaries, but from time to time one will turn up, and those films have to be treasured. Even when they start spawning sequels right away (two more Mononoke films have been announced).

Mononoke's visual style is sure to cause a stir, but that's not all that sets this film apart. There's a deep love for traditional Japanese culture here, resulting in a setup that requires focus, which isn't trivial when the presentation is so overwhelming. The world of the yokai, the particularities of catching them, and the specific setting make this a relatively tricky film to follow, especially for people not fully up to speed with Japanese history and folklore. It's not that the film skimps on explanations, it's just that it's a lot to take in when there's already a lot going on.

Two young women join a school to become high-ranking maids. It's a place where no men are allowed and where hierarchy and submission are paramount. Something is off though, as the big parade has been postponed. A traveling medicine seller arrives in town and immediately suspects a yokai has taken hold of the school. He infiltrates and aims to flush the yokai out. The top maids are not very willing to assist him though, as they prefer to keep up the standings of the school. But the parade can't be postponed a second time, so they reluctantly accept his help.

The series became renowned for its particular art style, so it's only natural to see the movie continuing its signature style. It is made to resemble classic Japanese wood paintings, with much of the animation overlaid on wood-like patterns. The film sports more modern character designs and some unique sensory effects (smell and rain stand out), to make sure it doesn't become too old-fashioned. The colors pop and the editing/camera angles are quite dynamic, but whenever the film starts playing with the third dimension, things get properly intense. Make no mistake, Mononoke serves visual maximalism from start to finish, but it still manages to find levels within its colorful chaos and the finale is an all-out attack on the senses.

The score isn't quite as distinctive as the visuals, but it's by no means an afterthought. Mononoke goes for traditional Japanese sounds (it reminded me quite a bit of the Okami soundtrack), but makes sure to add some modern touches here and there. It does a great job setting the mood, but it's the way it goes crescendo during the more animated moments that leaves the biggest impression. There's no escaping the music here, it doesn't just linger in the background, instead, it puts its foot next to the visuals and combines to create an overwhelming experience. The dub is very good too, not the typical anime fare, but strong voice work that helps to build and distinguish the various characters.

There's quite a bit of cultural lore to wade through here. The setting has very particular rules, the characters are plentiful and behave according to Japanese tradition, and the yokai also needs to be dealt with in a very specific way. I guess it's okay to feel a little lost at times, even though the structure of the film is very basic. I'm still not entirely sure about some of the details, the ending in particular was such a sensory overload that it was tricky to keep on top of all the narrative beats. I guess this just leaves more reasons to revisit the film multiple times.

I miss the time when films like Mononoke were easier to come by. They've never been dominant, but at least you could count on the anime industry to deliver multiple ones each year. Now, having even one per year is exceptional (thank God China has stepped in to soften the blow). Luckily, Mononoke didn't miss the mark. It's an overwhelming sensory experience, sporting insane visuals, and a splendid score, bringing to life an elaborate and complex story that warrants multiple watches. I can't wait to see what the sequels bring, but no doubt this first film is poised to become a future classic.