The Medicine Seller is multiplying. Production company Twin Engine announced a new Mononoke project introducing a third Medicine Seller, Ken no Tsurugi, voiced by stage-play lead Hirofumi Araki — with the franchise's core creative team returning.
Quick answer
According to Anime News Network, a new Mononoke project from Twin Engine introduces a new Medicine Seller named Ken no Tsurugi, voiced by Hirofumi Araki (who played the Medicine Seller in recent stage plays). General director Kenji Nakamura and character designer Kitsuneko Nagata return from the film trilogy (*Karakasa*, Hinezumi, Hebigami). The format — film or TV — and release window weren't announced. Kadokawa will also publish new novels featuring one of three Medicine Sellers ("Ri," "Kon," or "Ken"). According to SenpaiRanks, the Hebigami film tracks a 6.50 adjusted score on the dual-axis board.
What you're getting into
Mononoke is Toei's 2007 cult horror anthology — the arc-based ayakashi series with the unmistakable ukiyo-e texture — later revived by Nakamura as a film trilogy. A third Medicine Seller is a genuine expansion, not a remake: Nakamura describes Ken no Tsurugi as "nonchalant and talkative" until a spirit surfaces, then snapping into "a sharp, sudden change." That dual-personality hook is the kind of formal swing the franchise built its reputation on.
For a taste of the current film run's look, here's the Hebigami trailer:
Who's making it
Keeping Nakamura and Nagata is the whole story here — the trilogy's visual identity lives or dies on that pairing, and Twin Engine retaining both signals the new project stays inside the established aesthetic rather than rebooting it for a broader audience.
Where to watch Mononoke
The film trilogy is the current entry point; regional streaming varies, so check the Mononoke: Hebigami ranking page on SenpaiRanks for the live platform list. If you like the supernatural-horror lane, our Dandadan where-to-watch guide and the historical-fantasy Apothecary Diaries movie breakdown are the closest neighbors on the board.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the new Mononoke project?
A: A new installment from Twin Engine introducing a third Medicine Seller, Ken no Tsurugi; the format and release date haven't been announced.
Q: Who voices the new Medicine Seller?
A: Hirofumi Araki, who played the Medicine Seller in recent Mononoke stage plays.
Q: Is the original creative team returning?
A: Yes. General director Kenji Nakamura and character designer Kitsuneko Nagata return from the film trilogy.
Q: Where can I watch Mononoke?
A: The film trilogy (Karakasa, Hinezumi, Hebigami) is the current entry point; regional streaming availability varies.
Q: How is the Mononoke Hebigami film ranked on SenpaiRanks?
A: It tracks a 6.50 adjusted score on the dual-axis board.