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First Film Wins Prestigious Satoshi Kon Award at Fantasia International Film Festival

The team behind the Gekijōban Mononoke: Karakasa (Paper Umbrella) anime announced on Sunday that the Mononoke film project will include three films. The second installment, titled Gekijōban Mononoke Second Chapter: Hinezumi (also known as "Kaso," meaning "fire rat"), is set to premiere in Japan on March 14, 2025. Tickets for the second film will be available for purchase in Japan starting August 2, with the ticket design recently revealed:
 

Additionally, the staff revealed that Gekijōban Mononoke: Karakasa has won the Axis: Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation for Best Animated Feature at the 28th annual Fantasia International Film Festival, which runs from July 18 to August 4 in Montreal.

The Axis: Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation celebrates outstanding achievement in the animated feature category. This year's jury includes president Johane Matte, Jonathan Alvarez, and Elizabeth E. Schuch. Last year's award was won by The First Slam Dunk anime film.

Gekijōban Mononoke: Karakasa, which debuted in Japan on Friday, hinted at a continuation with "To be continued in second chapter Hinezumi" before the credits rolled. Voice actor Hiroshi Kamiya, who portrays the Medicine Seller, announced during a stage event on Saturday that he would begin recording for the second chapter titled "Hinezumi" on Sunday.

Initially scheduled to open last year, Gekijōban Mononoke: Karakasa faced delays. In February 2023, alongside the delay announcement, it was revealed that Takahiro Sakurai would not reprise his role as the Medicine Seller, with Hiroshi Kamiya taking over the role instead.

Kenji Nakamura returned to direct the Mononoke film, produced by Twin Engine. Kitsuneko Nagata served as the character designer, with Yūichi Takahashi adapting those designs for animation and acting as chief animation director. The film's music was composed by Taku Iwasaki, and the animation was handled by EOTA.

Singer Aina The End performs the film's theme song "Love Sick."

The Mononoke anime series, which aired for 12 episodes in 2007, is a spinoff of the Ayakashi - Samurai Horror Tales anime, focusing on the Medicine Seller from the "Bakeneko" (Goblin Cat) arc. The series comprises five arcs, with the final one titled "Bakeneko."

Kenji Nakamura directed the original TV anime at Toei Animation, with Takashi Hashimoto designing the characters and serving as chief animation director. Yasuharu Takanashi composed the music.

While the anime was previously streamed on Crunchyroll, it is now available on platforms like The Roku Channel and Netflix. 

Source: Press release