Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II - Hinezumi Blu-ray + CD

Soon after his fierce battle with the paper umbrella spirit, the Medicine Seller returns to the inner chambers of the Ooku. The previous incident has shaken its hierarchy. Botan Otomo, a woman from an influential family who has replaced Utayama as chief attendant, imposes strict order in the name of discipline and balance. Her approach deepens a rift with Fuki, a woman who has risen through the ranks and won the ruler’s favor. While a guardian is being chosen for the child born to the ruler’s wife, Sachiko, Fuki’s own unexpected pregnancy becomes a threat to the interests of senior statesman Otomo. Schemes to extinguish that threat begin to spiral beyond control.

At the same time, a series of spontaneous combustions leaves victims reduced to ash. The Medicine Seller suspects a mononoke, but these elusive creatures move in groups and seem to be searching for something. They are the children of a fire-rat spirit, seeking a mother who refuses to appear. Why do they attack those who threaten a baby, and what anguish drives a mother whose passions endure even as she burns? To draw his sword, the Medicine Seller must uncover the spirit’s form, truth and reason, venturing further into the darkness within the Ooku.

Hiroshi Kamiya voices the Medicine Seller, with Yoko Hikasa as Fuki, Haruka Tomatsu as Botan, Miyu Irino as the ruler, Atsumi Tanezaki as Sachiko and Kenyu Horiuchi as Otomo. The cast also features Yuki Kaji, Daisuke Hosomi, Tomoyo Kurosawa, Yukana, Ruriko Aoki, Yu Serizawa, Himika Akaneya, Nanako Mori, Kenjiro Tsuda, Cho, Naomi Kusumi, Ryo Horikawa and Yoshiko Sakakibara. Kenji Nakamura serves as chief director, with Kiyotaka Suzuki directing, Yuichi Takahashi overseeing animation character design and animation direction, and Taku Iwasaki composing the music. AiNA THE END performs the theme “Hana Muso” and ending song “Katsubo.”

The 74-minute film includes Japanese Linear PCM 2.0 stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks, with Japanese and English subtitles. Video extras include a release-commemorative stage appearance, the first trailer, main trailer, special battle trailer, a 30-second commercial, and animated music videos for both theme songs.

The accompanying short-story drama CD contains “Ordinary Friends,” featuring Saburomaru Tokita and Saga, performed by Yuki Kaji and Jun Fukuyama, and “Those Waiting at the Seven Entrances,” featuring Sakashita, Sudo, Asanuma and Kimura, performed by Daisuke Hosomi, Koya Noda, Masaya Miyazaki and Shinya Takahashi. The set is housed in a foil-stamped slipcase and includes a special booklet, a washi-style adhesive sticker and a visual card newly illustrated by Yuichi Takahashi.