The film trilogy is coming to an end next year.
The official website and social media accounts of the anime Mononoke have unveiled new updates for its last film entry to its trilogy of movies. The update includes a new trailer, a new teaser visual, additional cast announcements, and a premiere date of 29 May, 2026 in Japanese theatres.
The movie, titled “Mononoke Movie 3: Hebigami” (Mononoke Movie 3: Snake God) picks up right after the stories of the first and second film, “Mononoke Movie 1: Phantom in the Rain” and “Mononoke: Chapter II-Fire Rat”. It follows the mysterious Medicine Seller as he faces off against the titular malevolent Snake God dead set on destroying the Ooku (the “inner residence” of the Imperial Palace where women of rank live).
The trailer:
The new visual:
“Mononoke Movie 3: Hebigami” reveals additional cast, other information
The voice actors joining the cast are:
- Mariko Honda as Kawa
- Miyuki Sawashiro as Sandaime Midaidokoro
- Fumi Hirano as Tokiwai
Hiroshi Kamiya reprises his role as the Medicine Seller.
Tomoaki Koshida steps in to direct the third film at Studio Kafka and EOTA. Takashi Kurahashi is taking over as art supervisor, with Kenichi Shirai coming in as the new 3D director.
The rest of the staff includes:
- Chief director: Kenji Nakamura
- Screenplay: Yasumi Atarashi
- Character design, chief animation director: Yuuichi Takahashi
- Art director: Youko Saitou, Akira Kuramoto
- Art design: Youichi Katoono
- Color design: Kunio Tsujita
- Editing: Shigeru Nishiyama
- Music: Taku Iwasaki
- Sound director: Yukio Nagasaki
The story of “Mononoke Movie 3: Hebigami” is officially described as:
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—it seemed as though peace had finally arrived in the inner palace. However, the medicine seller still sensed a lingering presence of "something" and remained vigilant. Meanwhile, Empress Sachiko (Tanezaki Atsumi), the wife of the ruling emperor (Irino Miyu), is blessed with a long-awaited baby boy, but her joy is short-lived as she passes away despite the hopes and prayers of those around her.
Hoping to change her formal marital relationship with the emperor by giving birth to an heir, Sachiko finds herself at rock bottom and becomes embroiled in a terrifying plot that threatens to overturn the very existence of the Ooku. Her regret at not being rewarded for her irreparable sacrifice and her anger with nowhere to go soon begin to turn into resentment. Mizorogi Hokuto (Tsuda Kenjiro), a priest of the Ooku's faith, "Omizu-sama," watches events unfold with a solemn expression. At the same time, 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 mysterious incident in which a maid is twisted, crushed, and strangled to death. A medicine seller rushes to the scene, only to be confronted by a giant snake-shaped mononoke called the Snake God. After a standoff, the seller manages to repel the monster with a talisman, but he must discover its three characteristics—form, truth, and reason—before he can remove 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 roots of these questions 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, which is the very essence of the Ooku's dark history. However, he finds himself cornered in an unprecedented situation, confronted by a snake god who harnesses 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?