Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain is a 2024 feature set in the supernatural world of Kenji Nakamura’s Mononoke anime. It follows newcomers Asa and Kame into the women’s quarters of Edo Castle, where a deadly disturbance draws the Medicine Seller into a mystery he cannot solve by force alone. The film begins a larger story set in the Ooku, while also working as a new entry in a franchise that began with a 2006 anthology episode.
What is Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain about?
The film moves the Medicine Seller into the Ooku, the women’s quarters of Edo Castle, a world with its own social hierarchy and bureaucracy. New arrivals Asa and Kame must take part in a ceremony honoring the Water Goddess, sacrificing cherished belongings as they enter their new lives. Their friendship develops amid rivalry, private burdens and strange disturbances.
A tragic event brings the Medicine Seller into the crisis. The Japanese Film Database describes his investigation as the uncovering of a frightening and sorrowful hidden truth. The film is a horror-animation feature, released theatrically in Japan on July 26, 2024, with a runtime of 89 minutes. Japanese Film Database
How does the Medicine Seller’s exorcism work?
The Medicine Seller confronts mononoke—apparitions that Netflix describes as forming when intense human emotions merge with a supernatural spirit. He carries the Sacred Sword, but cannot draw it until he discovers three things about the entity:
#1 Best Overall
- Form: what the mononoke is.
- Truth: the circumstances and hidden reality behind its appearance.
- Reason: the motive or emotional cause that brought it into being.
That structure makes the investigation central to the action. The supernatural threat is entangled with human experience, so understanding what happened matters as much as confronting the apparition. Netflix’s film announcement
Is this connected to the 2007 Mononoke anime?
Yes. The feature returns to the world of the 2007 television series, which grew out of the “Bakeneko” episode in Fuji TV’s 2006 anthology Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales. The Phantom in the Rain tells a new theatrical story rather than simply retelling that earlier episode.
Rank #2
- Features exclusive content from: AKIRA, 1988
- Patlabor: The Movie, 1989
- Patlabor 2: The Movie, 1993
- Ghost in the Shell, 1995
- Metropolis, 2001
Knowing the series gives viewers franchise context, but the available official descriptions do not establish that watching it is a prerequisite. The film introduces its Ooku setting, newcomers and supernatural crisis through its own story. Japanese Film Database
Who made the film, and what does it look like?
Kenji Nakamura directed the feature. The principal Japanese voice cast includes Hiroshi Kamiya as the Medicine Seller, Tomoyo Kurosawa as Asa and Aoi Yuki as Kame. Netflix also lists Kana Hanazawa, Mami Koyama, Haruka Tomatsu, Yoko Hikasa, Yuhko Kaida, Yukana and Yuki Kaji among the cast. Production credits include character designer Kitsuneko Nagata, animation character designer and chief animation director Yuichi Takahashi, composer Taku Iwasaki, and studios Twin Engine and EOTA. Netflix’s production announcement
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
Netflix and Twin Engine describe the imagery as inspired by painted handscrolls, combining computer graphics with Japanese paper textures. That is the production’s own description of its visual approach, not an independent critical assessment. Official film site
Where can you watch the film?
Netflix’s title page lists the film as a 2024 anime with Japanese original audio. Dub and subtitle options vary by region, so check the title page available in your country for the languages currently offered.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is there a Blu-ray or DVD?
The official film site lists Japanese Blu-ray and DVD editions released on December 18, 2024. The documented release includes Japanese audio, Japanese and English subtitles, bonus video and a booklet; the site also identifies an Amazon.co.jp limited-edition Blu-ray. This is evidence for the Japanese edition, not confirmation of an English-language physical release in other territories.
| Edition listed by the official film site | Documented details |
|---|---|
| Blu-ray | Japanese audio; Japanese and English subtitles; bonus video and booklet. Japanese release listing; check region compatibility and current availability. |
| DVD | Japanese audio; Japanese and English subtitles; bonus video and booklet. Japanese release listing; check region compatibility and current availability. |
To look for the listed limited edition, search for “Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain Blu-ray” on Amazon.co.jp, then confirm the specific seller’s listing, stock, included features and playback compatibility before ordering. Official film site and release information
Best Value
How does the film fit into the Ooku story?
In an August 2026 announcement, Netflix described the film as the first chapter in a trilogy set in the Ooku. The announced progression shifts from a newly arrived maid in Chapter I to elite concubines in Chapter II, then to the highest-ranking woman in the Ooku in Chapter III. The announcement scheduled Chapter III for September 29, 2026; that announced date has passed, and the announcement alone does not establish its current release status. Netflix’s trilogy announcement
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
