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Mononoke
The Mononoke theatrical trilogy concluded with Chapter 3 - Snake God, which opened in Japan on May 29, 2026, and is set for a Blu-ray and DVD release on October 21, 2026. The franchise is expanding with a new project featuring a third Medicine Seller and three novels.
Synthesized from 15
Yomimono stories · updated
Aug 19
The Mononoke movie trilogy reached its conclusion with Chapter 3 - Snake God, which opened in Japanese theaters on May 29, 2026. The film centers on the Medicine Seller confronting a giant snake-shaped Mononoke called the Snake God, and resolves the Ooku mystery built across the first two chapters. Kenji Nakamura returned as general director, with Tomoaki Koshida directing at Studio Kafka and EOTA. New cast members included Miyuki Sawashiro, Fumi Hirano, Mariko Honda, Yukana, and Eiji Takemoto, with Aina The End performing the theme song "No Epilogue."
The film opened at #6 at the Japanese box office with 117 million yen in its first three days. A web lottery launched the same day as the theatrical release, featuring newly commissioned illustrations of the Medicine Seller and Kamiyori. The home video release is set for October 21, 2026, and includes revival screenings, stage greetings, a promotional video collection, and a booklet with three newly written epilogues by screenwriter Shinpachi.
The franchise is not ending with the films. Twin Engine announced a new project on July 5, revealing a third Medicine Seller named Ken no Tsurugi, voiced by Hironori Araki. Three novels, each featuring one of the three Medicine Sellers, will be published by Kadokawa Bunko. The project also faced controversy: planning producer Koji Yamamoto retired after apologizing for the unannounced cameo of Takahiro Sakurai, who reprised the original Medicine Seller role without prior disclosure. The first two films, Phantom in the Rain and The Ashes of Rage, premiered in July 2024 and March 2025 and are streaming on Netflix.
Key facts
- Chapter 3 theatrical release
- Opened in Japanese theaters on May 29, 2026 ↗
- Chapter 3 home video release
- Blu-ray and DVD set for October 21, 2026 ↗
- Chapter 3 box office opening
- Opened at #6 with 117 million yen in first three days ↗
- Chapter 3 staff
- Kenji Nakamura as general director, Tomoaki Koshida as director at Studio Kafka and EOTA ↗
- Chapter 3 theme song
- "No Epilogue" performed by Aina The End ↗
- New project
- Twin Engine announced a new Mononoke project on July 5, revealing a third Medicine Seller named Ken no Tsurugi, voiced by Hironori Araki ↗
- Novels
- Three novels featuring each of the three Medicine Sellers will be published by Kadokawa Bunko ↗
- Producer retirement
- Planning producer Koji Yamamoto retired after apologizing for the unannounced cameo of Takahiro Sakurai ↗
- Prior films
- Phantom in the Rain and The Ashes of Rage premiered in July 2024 and March 2025, respectively, and are streaming on Netflix ↗
Timeline
- Aug 11, 2026 Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 - Snake God Blu-ray and DVD Set for October 21 Release
- Jul 20, 2026 We Are Aliens Anime Film Screens at Festivals in Canada, Australia, New Zealand in 2026
- Jul 15, 2026 Mononoke the Movie Chapter 3 Gets MAYLA Skirt with Two Designs
- Jul 10, 2026 Happinet Brings Three Titles to Tokyo Game Dungeon 13
- Jul 5, 2026 Mononoke New Project Launches With Third Medicine Seller Ken No Tsurugi
- Jun 28, 2026 Akihiro Miwa, Voice Actor for Howl's Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke, Dies at 91
- Jun 16, 2026 Mononoke the Movie Chapter 3 Gets MAYLA Skirt Collaboration
- Jun 14, 2026 Manga Up! Global Adds Venus in December and Paranormal Agent Adashino
- Jun 5, 2026 Mononoke Film Producer Koji Yamamoto Retires After Recasting Takahiro Sakurai
- Jun 4, 2026 Super Mario Galaxy Movie Stays at #2, Third Mononoke Film Opens at #6 in Japan
- Jun 1, 2026 Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu Holds No. 1 in Japan for Second Week
- May 31, 2026 Mononoke Film Chapter 3 Gets New Web Lottery With Original Art
- May 20, 2026 Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 - Snake God Drops Final Trailer Before May 29 Release
- May 17, 2026 Princess Mononoke Kabuki Play Reveals Cast in Costume
- May 17, 2026 Third Mononoke Film Streams New Trailer Ahead of May 29 Debut
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Announced
- new project · 2026-07-05
- Noted
- revealing the third Medicine Seller Ken no Tsurugi, voiced by Hironori Araki, in a new PV · 2026-07-05
- Release
- movie · 2026-06-04 · Japan · 2026-06-04
- Release
- movie · 2026-05-29 · Japan · 2026-06-01
Connections
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/mononoke.
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All coverage
Aug 19
The anime film Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3, The Serpent God, which opened in Japanese theaters in May 2026, will be exclusively streamed worldwide on Netflix starting Tuesday, September 29. This installment is the concluding chapter of a new theatrical trilogy based on the 2007 TV anime Mononoke, which itself originated from the Bakeneko arc of Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales. The trilogy is set in the Ooku, the inner chambers of the shogun's palace, and follows the Medicine Seller, voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya, as he exorcises vengeful spirits. Each chapter shifts perspective to a woman of higher status: a new maid in Chapter 1, The Phantom Rain; an elite senior maid in Chapter 2, The Fire Rat; and the Midaidokoro, the highest-ranking woman, in Chapter 3. The third film centers on Sachiko, voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki, whose newborn son dies, triggering a conspiracy tied to the Ooku's founding 150 years earlier. The theme song is No Epilogue by Aina The End. Chapters 1 and 2 are already streaming on Netflix, so the full trilogy will be available at once.
Aug 19
Netflix confirmed on Wednesday that it will stream Mononoke The Movie: Chapter III - The Curse of the Serpent, the third installment in the Mononoke franchise's film trilogy, on September 29. The film opened in Japan on May 29. The first film, Mononoke The Movie: Phantom in the Rain, premiered in Japan in July 2024, and the second, Mononoke the Movie Trilogy: Chapter 2: The Ashes of Rage, opened in March 2025. Netflix is already streaming the first two films. The trilogy follows the Medicine Seller, a wandering exorcist who confronts supernatural entities born from human emotions. The final chapter centers on Yukiko, the emperor's lawful wife, as her grief over her newborn son's death draws her into a conspiracy involving a massive serpent Mononoke. The film is directed by Tomoaki Koshida with Kenji Nakamura as chief director, and the screenplay is by Yasumi Atarashi. Studio Kafka and EOTA handled animation production, while Twin Engine produced and distributed the film. Before its Netflix premiere, the film will compete at the 50th Ottawa International Animation Festival, one of seven titles selected for the feature competition.
Aug 11
The Blu-ray and DVD of Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 - Snake God will release on October 21, 2026. The home video includes revival screenings of Karasu Tengu and Hi no Nezumi, a special Snake God screening, stage greetings, and a promotional video collection. Enclosed bonuses feature a booklet with three newly written epilogues by screenwriter Shinpachi, a washi-style tack sticker, and a visual card by Yuichi Takahashi. A first-come art board is also planned.
Jul 20
The We Are Aliens anime film will screen at the Ottawa International Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival, and New Zealand International Film Festival in 2026. The festivals also announced screenings for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 and the live-action film The Samurai and the Prisoner.
Jul 15
Fashion brand MAYLA has released a skirt inspired by 'Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 - Snake God,' available in Medicine Seller and Shingi models. Each features custom textiles and an obi-like ribbon. Reservations are open until July 16, 2026 at 17:00, priced at 28,600 yen each.
Jul 10
Happinet will exhibit three titles for trial play at the indie game exhibition Tokyo Game Dungeon 13 on August 8, 2026. The adventure game 'Tokyo Stories', developed by Dricom, uses pixel art and 3D visuals and is set in a deserted Tokyo. Also playable are the RPG 'Artis Impact' and the action ADV 'Mononoke no Kuni'. 'Artis Impact' launches on Switch on September 17, 2026, while 'Mononoke no Kuni' is planned for Steam in 2027.
Jul 5
Twin Engine announced a new Mononoke project on July 5, revealing the third Medicine Seller Ken no Tsurugi, voiced by Hironori Araki, in a new PV. Three new novels featuring each of the three Medicine Sellers-Ri no Tsurugi, Kon no Tsurugi, and Ken no Tsurugi-will be published by Kadokawa Bunko.
Jun 28
Akihiro Miwa, the singer, actor, and voice actor known for roles as the Witch of the Waste in Howl's Moving Castle and Moro in Princess Mononoke, died on June 20 of old age. He was 91. His agency announced his passing on Sunday, stating he had been convalescing at home after his health declined three months ago.
Jun 16
Fashion brand MAYLA has released a skirt collaboration for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 - Snake God, with two designs inspired by the Medicine Seller and Shingi. Reservations opened June 16 at 17:00 and run through July 16. The skirt costs 28,600 yen.
Jun 14
Manga Up! Global released Haru Ogawa's Venus in December on Thursday and Kiri Wazawa's Paranormal Agent Adashino on Friday. Venus in December is a completed two-volume BL series about an illustrator and a novelist. Paranormal Agent Adashino, a supernatural action manga, finished at three volumes. Wazawa also created The Morose Mononokean.
Jun 5
Koji Yamamoto, planning producer for the Mononoke film trilogy, announced his retirement from producing on Friday and apologized for the handling of Takahiro Sakurai's unannounced cameo in the third film. Sakurai, who was replaced after a 2022 scandal, reprised the original Medicine Seller role without prior disclosure, sparking controversy among fans.
Jun 4
In its sixth weekend, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie remained at #2 at the Japanese box office, earning 205 million yen. Detective Conan: Highway no Datenshi held at #4 in its eighth weekend, while the third Mononoke film, Gekijōban Mononoke Dai-San-Shō: Hebigami, opened at #6 with 117 million yen in its first three days.
Jun 1
The weekend box office rankings for May 29-31, 2026, show 'Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu' retaining the top spot with 243,000 admissions and 425 million yen. Three new entries debuted in the top 10: Hirokazu Kore-eda's 'The Sheep in the Box' at No. 5, the final 'Mononoke' film at No. 6, and 'TOKYO BURST - Crime City -' at No. 8.
May 31
A web lottery for the third and final chapter of the theatrical Mononoke trilogy, "Mononoke: Chapter 3 - Snake Goddess," launched on May 29, 2026, the same day the film opened in Japanese theaters. The lottery, offered through the online service "WEB Kuji" and at physical storefronts under the "WEB Kuji Shucchojo" banner, features prizes made from newly commissioned illustrations. The artwork includes two full-body depictions of the Medicine Seller and Kamiyori holding cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, as well as chibi-style character art paired with Japanese sweets. Prize tiers include a large wall hanging (A prize), an A3 clear poster (B prize), an acrylic stand (C prize), a wood key holder (D prize), an A5 illustration board (E prize), a shikishi board collection (F prize), and a large can badge (G prize). Store-exclusive last-win prizes include a large acrylic stand set. Online-exclusive last-win prizes are acrylic visual panels. Each lottery ticket costs 770 yen, and the sale period runs through July 10, 2026. The film series began with "Mononoke: The Phantom Chapter 1 - The Umbrella" in 2024, followed by "Chapter 2 - The Fire Rat" in March 2025. Both earlier films won the Audience Award for Best Animated Feature at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Canada.
May 20
Twin Engine released the final PV for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 - Snake God on May 19, condensing the Ooku's karma and horror from the trilogy's first two chapters. The concluding film opens nationwide in Japan on May 29, centering on the Ooku's greatest secret and the series' most terrifying mononoke.
May 17
The Super Kabuki stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke has released a video ad showing the main cast in costume. The play stars Danko Ichikawa V as Ashitaka, Kazutaro Nakamura as San, and Tokizo Nakamura VI as Eboshi Gozen. It runs from July 3 to August 23 at Tokyo's Shinbashi Enbujo Theatre, directed by Kensuke Yokouchi with a script co-written by Ghibli veteran Keiko Niwa.
May 17
Twin Engine released a new trailer for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3: Snake God on Thursday, ahead of its May 29 theatrical debut in Japan. The trailer shows more of the supernatural chaos in the inner palace, with the emperor and priest Hokuto Mizorogi playing larger roles. Aina The End performs the theme song "No Epilogue." New cast members include Miyuki Sawashiro as the Third Empress, Fumi Hirano as Tokiwai, Mariko Honda as Kawa, Yukana as Amanotsubone, and Eiji Takemoto as Saku Mizorogi. Kenji Nakamura returns as general director from the second film, while Tomoaki Koshida directs at Studio Kafka and EOTA. The story follows the Medicine Seller confronting a giant snake-shaped Mononoke called the Snake God. He must discover its three characteristics-form, truth, and reason-before he can slay it. The roots of the conflict lie 150 years in the past, in the true story of the inner palace's birth. The first two films in the trilogy, Phantom in the Rain and The Ashes of Rage, premiered in July 2024 and March 2025 respectively, and are streaming on Netflix.