Twin Engine teased a new ‘Mononoke’ project after the trilogy film’s finale, further expanding the franchise’s supernatural lore.
The lore expands with the third Medicine Seller in a yellow and purple kimono, voiced by Hirofumi Araki.
Twin Engine has marked the conclusion of the Mononoke movie trilogy with a surprise teaser video confirming a new project that expands the anime’s universe. Originally celebrated for its cult‑favorite 2007 TV series – renowned for blending avant‑garde Japanese paper textures with psychological horror – the franchise returned in 2024 with a three‑part film series. The new promotional video introduces another incarnation of the Medicine Seller, the enigmatic protagonist and storyteller central to the franchise’s identity.
According to established lore, there are 64 Medicine Sellers, each wielding one of 64 distinct Exorcism Swords. This project unveils the third iteration: the Medicine Seller of Ken, distinguished by an ornate yellow‑and‑purple kimono layered over a vibrant red undershirt, voiced by Hirofumi Araki. Ken follows the lineage of Ri, the original protagonist from Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales (2006) and the Mononoke TV series (2007), voiced by Takahiro Sakurai, and Kon, the central figure of the recent film trilogy, voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya. The trailer blends familiar motifs with updated surreal visuals, highlighting the Medicine Seller’s exorcism sword and charms while hinting at new narrative directions. Its atmosphere leans into experimental animation roots while adopting a modernized palette and pacing, signaling a bold new chapter for the franchise.
