A new music video has been released for the second film in the Mononoke anime movie trilogy, featuring “Hana Musou,” the theme song performed by Aina the End. The film, titled Mononoke the Movie: The Ashes of Rage, is set to premiere in Japan on March 14, 2025, continuing the story of the enigmatic Medicine Seller from the original 2007 Mononoke TV anime series.
‘Mononoke’ Film Trilogy: A New Chapter
The Mononoke film project was announced in June 2022, commemorating the 15th anniversary of the original 2007 anime series. Initially planned as a single film, the project expanded into a trilogy. The first film, Mononoke the Movie: Phantom in the Rain, was released in 2024. The second film, Mononoke the Movie: The Ashes of Rage ( Gekijōban Mononoke Dai-Ni-Shō: Hinezumi), focuses on the hinezumi (fire rat). A third film is also planned to conclude the trilogy.
Aina the End’s “Hana Musou”: A Haunting Theme
Aina the End, a Japanese singer, actress, and former member of the idol group BiSH, performs the theme song “Hana Musou” (“Peerless Flower”) for Mononoke the Movie: The Ashes of Rage. Aina the End is known for her distinctive husky voice and emotional performances. She began her solo career in 2021, releasing her first album, THE END. Since then, she has contributed songs to various films and television dramas, including “Love Sick,” the theme song for the first Mononoke film, Mononoke the Movie: Phantom in the Rain.
The World of ‘Mononoke’
Mononoke is a spin-off of the “Bakeneko” arc from the 2006 horror anthology series, Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales. The series follows the Medicine Seller as he confronts and destroys mononoke, malevolent spirits that attach themselves to negative human emotions. To defeat these spirits, the Medicine Seller must uncover their Form (Katachi), Truth (Makoto), and Reasoning (Kotowari). The anime is known for its unique visual style, drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese art.
Production Details
Mononoke the Movie: The Ashes of Rage is directed by Kenji Nakamura at animation studio Twin Engine Eota. Kitsuneko Nagata provides the original character designs, while Yuuichi Takahashi serves as the animation character designer and chief animation director. Taku Iwasaki is responsible for the music. Hiroshi Kamiya reprises his role as the Medicine Seller, with new cast members including Chō as Yoshimichi Tokita and Kenyuu Horiuchi as Rōjū Ōtomo.
