Image: Twin Engine
AMBot | 05/20/2026 | Reading Time: 3 Min.
The film team of the ›Mononoke‹ trilogy released a new trailer for the third and final part on May 19, 2026. The clip, titled ›特別予告 -怪の巻-‹ (Special Trailer – Volume of the Mysterious), contains previously unseen scenes and guides through the events of the first two films.
The trailer spans an arc from the first chapter ›Karakasa‹ (The Umbrella) through the second chapter ›Hinezumi‹ (The Fire Rat) to the final confrontation in the third chapter ›Jashin‹ (The Snake God). In doing so, the dark web of intrigues, power struggles, and suppressed emotions in the Ooku, the women's quarters of the imperial palace, is further unraveled. The first part focused on the new court ladies, who were forced to give up their individuality and follow strict rules. The second film revolved around the succession to the throne and the rivalries among the noble families, which dragged the imperial concubines into a vortex of deception and violence.
The third part centers on the highest-ranking woman in the Ooku, Empress Sachiko. New scenes show her in her chamber while the mysterious medicine seller draws his sword. Her words – »I know no other life« and »I wanted to believe that we are one« – suggest deep inner conflicts. The trailer hints that the conflicts accumulated over generations and the hidden secrets of the Ooku culminate in the form of the Snake God, considered the strongest Mononoke in the series.
The trilogy began in July 2024 with ›Karakasa‹. The film achieved an exceptionally long theatrical run and, together with the second part, which premiered in March 2025, was awarded the Audience Award in the Best Animated Feature Film category at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Canada. The third film is scheduled to open in Japanese theaters on May 29, 2026.
The direction of the third chapter is handled by Tomoaki Koshida; overall direction is by Kenji Nakamura, who also directed the television series. The screenplay is by Shin Yatsukaku, with character design by Kitsuneko Nagata. Yuichi Takahashi is responsible for animation direction and character design for the animation. The music is composed by Taku Iwasaki. Production and distribution are handled by Twin Engine, with animation realized by Studio Kafka in collaboration with EOTA.
In the lead roles, Hiroshi Kamiya voices the Medicine Seller and Atsumi Tanezaki voices Empress Sachiko. Other central roles are taken on by Miyu Irino (Emperor), Kenjiro Tsuda (Priest Mizorogi), Yoshiko Sakakibara (Suikoin), as well as Tomoyo Kurosawa, Yoko Hikasa, Haruka Tomatsu, Yuki Kaji, and Jun Fukuyama. The film's end credits will be accompanied by the song ›No Epilogue‹ by Aina The End, released under Avex Trax.
The new trailer heightens expectations for the finale of the trilogy, which will unveil the secrets of the Ooku and reveal the origin of the Snake God. Moviegoers in Japan can see the film starting May 29.
The trailer spans an arc from the first chapter ›Karakasa‹ (The Umbrella) through the second chapter ›Hinezumi‹ (The Fire Rat) to the final confrontation in the third chapter ›Jashin‹ (The Snake God). In doing so, the dark web of intrigues, power struggles, and suppressed emotions in the Ooku, the women's quarters of the imperial palace, is further unraveled. The first part focused on the new court ladies, who were forced to give up their individuality and follow strict rules. The second film revolved around the succession to the throne and the rivalries among the noble families, which dragged the imperial concubines into a vortex of deception and violence.
The third part centers on the highest-ranking woman in the Ooku, Empress Sachiko. New scenes show her in her chamber while the mysterious medicine seller draws his sword. Her words – »I know no other life« and »I wanted to believe that we are one« – suggest deep inner conflicts. The trailer hints that the conflicts accumulated over generations and the hidden secrets of the Ooku culminate in the form of the Snake God, considered the strongest Mononoke in the series.
The trilogy began in July 2024 with ›Karakasa‹. The film achieved an exceptionally long theatrical run and, together with the second part, which premiered in March 2025, was awarded the Audience Award in the Best Animated Feature Film category at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Canada. The third film is scheduled to open in Japanese theaters on May 29, 2026.
The direction of the third chapter is handled by Tomoaki Koshida; overall direction is by Kenji Nakamura, who also directed the television series. The screenplay is by Shin Yatsukaku, with character design by Kitsuneko Nagata. Yuichi Takahashi is responsible for animation direction and character design for the animation. The music is composed by Taku Iwasaki. Production and distribution are handled by Twin Engine, with animation realized by Studio Kafka in collaboration with EOTA.
In the lead roles, Hiroshi Kamiya voices the Medicine Seller and Atsumi Tanezaki voices Empress Sachiko. Other central roles are taken on by Miyu Irino (Emperor), Kenjiro Tsuda (Priest Mizorogi), Yoshiko Sakakibara (Suikoin), as well as Tomoyo Kurosawa, Yoko Hikasa, Haruka Tomatsu, Yuki Kaji, and Jun Fukuyama. The film's end credits will be accompanied by the song ›No Epilogue‹ by Aina The End, released under Avex Trax.
The new trailer heightens expectations for the finale of the trilogy, which will unveil the secrets of the Ooku and reveal the origin of the Snake God. Moviegoers in Japan can see the film starting May 29.
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This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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