New Trailer Released for Third Mononoke Film
The film opens in Japan on May 29.
About the Film
Twin Engine unveiled a new trailer for Gekijōban Mononoke Dai-San-Shō: Hebigami (Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3: Snake God). This is the third installment of the Mononoke franchise’s film trilogy.
Release Details
- Debut in Japan: May 29
- Theme song: “No Epilogue” performed by Aina The End
New Cast Members
- Miyuki Sawashiro as the Third Empress
- Fumi Hirano as Tokiwai
- Mariko Honda as Kawa
- Yukana as Amanotsubone
- Eiji Takemoto as Saku Mizorogi
Story Synopsis
After two major incidents involving Mononoke—a deadly battle between a medicine seller (Hiroshi Kamiya) wielding a demon‑slaying sword and a Karakasa umbrella, and the subsequent showdown with the Fire Rat—peace seemed to have returned to the inner palace. Yet the medicine seller still sensed a lingering presence of “something” and remained vigilant.
Empress Sachiko (Tanezaki Atsumi), wife of the ruling emperor (Irino Miyu), finally gives birth to a long‑awaited baby boy, but her joy is cut short when she dies despite the hopes and prayers of those around her.
Hoping to change her formal marital relationship with the emperor by bearing an heir, Sachiko hits rock bottom and becomes entangled in a terrifying plot that threatens the very existence of the Ooku. Her regret over not being rewarded for her sacrifice and her anger with nowhere to go soon turn into resentment.
Mizorogi Hokuto (Tsuda Kenjiro), a priest of the Ooku’s faith “Omizu‑sama,” watches events unfold with a solemn expression. Meanwhile, unnatural earth tremors (earthquakes) occur frequently within the Ooku.
A mysterious incident begins with the creepy movement of a gigantic, crawling creature and the falling of triangular scales. This is followed by a maid being twisted, crushed, and strangled to death. The medicine seller rushes to the scene, only to confront a giant snake‑shaped Mononoke called the Snake God. After a standoff, he repels the monster with a talisman but must discover its three characteristics—form, truth, and reason—before he can draw the demon‑slaying sword and slay the Snake God.
Where does the Snake God come from? Why has it become so angered that it threatens to consume the Ooku? And why has it now reared its head and begun to move? The answers lie hidden 150 years ago, in the true story of the birth of the Ooku.
What is the shocking truth that will shake the nation, never before revealed? The medicine seller risks everything to confront the Mononoke, the very essence of the Ooku’s dark history. However, he finds himself cornered in an unprecedented situation, facing a snake god fueled by years of resentment and unimaginable strength. As his life is threatened, even more unpredictable and extraordinary events unfold. What will become of the medicine seller as he faces his greatest crisis?
Production Team
- General Director: Kenji Nakamura (returning from the second film)
- Director: Tomoaki Koshida at Studio Kafka and EOTA
- Medicine Seller: Hiroshi Kamiya reprises his role, with other returning cast from the previous two films.
Background on the Franchise
- The first film, Mononoke The Movie: Phantom in the Rain (Gekijōban Mononoke: Karakasa), premiered in Japan in July 2024 and is streamed on Netflix. It won the Axis: Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation at the 2024 Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal. Its theme song “Love Sick” was performed by Aina The End.
- The second film, Mononoke the Movie Trilogy: Chapter 2: The Ashes of Rage (Gekijōban Mononoke Dai-Ni-Shō: Hinezumi), opened in Japan in March 2025, with the theme song “Hana Musō” also by Aina The End.
- The original Mononoke anime aired in 2007 for 12 episodes. It is a spinoff of the Ayakashi – Samurai Horror Tales anime, following the medicine seller from the “Bakeneko” (Goblin Cat) arc. The series contains five arcs, the last of which is titled “Bakeneko.”
- The television anime was directed by Kenji Nakamura at Toei Animation, with character design and chief animation direction by Takashi Hashimoto. Music was composed by Yasuharu Takanashi.
Source: Press release
