‘Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain’ Review: Netflix’s Animated Hidden Gem

Netflix’s animated films continue to be on a hot streak as Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain proves to be a great film. It is an ambitious, visually stunning film that, considering its rich artistry and stunning aesthetics, is woefully under-recognized. Based on the acclaimed anime series Mononoke, the movie is an avant-garde journey into the supernatural that’s directed by Kenji Nakamura, who was also in charge of the original series. Read the full Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain review below.

For all its brilliance, Netflix criminally under-promotes it compared to their other animated titles like Orion and the Dark, Spellbound, and Ultraman: Rising, and it flew right under most people’s radars. Still, even though it is not mainstream, Mononoke the Movie still proves to be one of the most awe-inspiring animated films of 2024, and I think is the best among Netflix’s animated titles.

Mononoke the Movie‘s grand, colorful, and explosive animation is one of it’s best features. A work of art with every frame beautifully hand-crafted to give out a sense of otherworldly beauty and unease. The colors in the film are psychedelic and almost hallucinatory — a coloristic movie that has come alive by swirling rich tones and vibrant patterns that certainly enthralls your imagination.

The film’s full-on avant-garde visuals pay off richly, as the shifting, surreal backgrounds and intricate character designs make the film transcend beyond what other traditional animes have offered. With their constantly changing surreal backgrounds and landscapes and intricately drawn character designs, Kenji Nakamura managed to raise this from run-of-the-mill anime into a movie blending in the styles of ukiyo-e with today’s animation style, making the visual effect comes out as both timeless and innovative.

Another great aspect about this movie is its confusing and feverish editing. It was almost like a dream; fluid and logical at times, jarring and fragmented at some, but still perfectly fitting for the story’s supernatural themes. The experimental pacing and transition are unlike anything seen in mainstream animation as every cut and sequence feels intentional but unpredictable, creating a rhythm mirroring the chaotic and mysterious narrative. 

The film’s greatest strength and perhaps some might say it’s biggest weakness is that it requires an intelligence and attentiveness from the audiences, rewarding those willing to engage deeply with the themes and visuals presented throughout the narrative. At the same time, it’s overwhelming in the sheer amount of things happening at any given moment and sometimes is just pure chaos. Audiences who are not accustomed to reading subtitles might have a difficult time following the movie. Nevertheless, it still does convey a sense of direction with its complex plot that makes you want to explore more of the story for its next chapter, The Ashes of Rage.

Perhaps the saddest thing about The Phantom in the Rain is its direct-to-streaming release. This film screams so much for a theatrical experience. The visuals, with all the intricate details and explosive vibrant colors would have been stunning to see on a big screen, and the sound design could have enveloped an audience in a way no home setup can. Watching this film on Netflix, as beautiful as it is, unfortunately feels like a compromise.

This is another reason why the movie has not been well-known. It is no secret that Netflix time and time again fails to market some of its own lesser-known original content, and Mononoke the Movie was no different. The fact that it is one of the year’s best-animated movies doesn’t help it in receiving any sort of recognition since most of the viewers do not know of its existence.

It’s astonishing that such a visionary film as The Phantom in the Rain remains relatively ignored. Netflix is partly responsible with its poor marketing strategy, but so is the flooding of streaming services and endless content. Even within niche anime enthusiasts, the movie has not picked up any traction at all, is it because of the avant-garde style and dense narrative that may make it too much for certain viewers to digest? maybe, but I think it’s definitely because of Netflix’s incompetent marketing strategy.

Even though only a handful of people have seen this movie, people who watched this gem are certainly rewarded with a fulfilling and unforgettable experience. It’s one of those films that refuses to be mainstream and will go against all conventions, taking what is possible with animation to its limits. 

Overall, Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain is a triumphant mixture of avant-garde’s unique aesthetics with a deeply complex narrative. This makes for a movie that, in equal parts, both aesthetically and visually impressive even though it’s difficult to follow at times for it’s experimental direction. While this does mean it won’t click to everyone’s taste, whoever finds his or her groove and lets its unique vision strike will surely be ensnared by one of the most visual masterpieces of this year.

Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain is written and directed by Kenji Nakamura based on the Mononoke anime television series. The film stars Hiroshi Kamiya, Tomoyo Kurosawa, Aoi Yuki, Mami Kuyama, Kana Hanazawa, and more. Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain is now streaming on Netflix. Mononoke the Movie: The Ashes of Rage will be streaming on Netflix next year.

Thank you for reading, if you liked this review of Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain check out more reviews here at Feature First!