Twin Engine has released a new trailer for Gekijōban Mononoke Dai-San-Shō: Hebigami, also known as Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3: Snake God. The film is the third entry in the current Mononoke movie trilogy and is scheduled to open in Japan on May 29.
For Malaysian and SEA anime fans, this is one to keep on the radar, especially if you already caught the first film on Netflix. No Malaysia cinema or streaming date has been confirmed in the provided announcement, so for now, the Japan release is the main date to watch.
What is Snake God about?
The third film continues the Medicine Seller’s strange and dangerous journey inside the Ooku, the inner palace. After earlier incidents involving the Karakasa umbrella Mononoke and the Fire Rat, things seem calm for a moment — but the Medicine Seller, voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya, still feels that something is wrong.
The story then turns toward Empress Sachiko, voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki, who gives birth to a long-awaited baby boy. Instead of becoming a joyful turning point, the moment becomes tragic when Sachiko dies despite everyone’s prayers.
That grief, regret, and anger begin feeding into something far darker. Inside the Ooku, earthquakes start happening, triangular scales appear, and a maid is killed in a disturbing supernatural incident. The Medicine Seller arrives and faces a giant snake-shaped Mononoke known as the Snake God.
As usual for Mononoke, this is not just a simple monster fight. Before the Medicine Seller can use his demon-slaying sword, he needs to uncover the Mononoke’s form, truth, and reason. The film’s mystery appears to dig 150 years into the past, connecting the Snake God to the hidden origins and sins of the Ooku itself.
Basically, bro, this sounds like classic Mononoke: gorgeous horror, palace politics, emotional rot, and one very stylish supernatural investigation.
Returning staff and cast
Kenji Nakamura, who worked on the second movie, returns as general director. Tomoaki Koshida is directing the third film at Studio Kafka and EOTA.
Hiroshi Kamiya is back as the Medicine Seller, with other cast members from the previous two films also returning.
Where the trilogy stands now
The first movie, Mononoke The Movie: Phantom in the Rain, opened in Japan in July 2024 and is currently streaming on Netflix. That film also picked up the Axis: Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation for best animated feature at the 2024 Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal. Aina The End performed its theme song, Love Sick.
The second film, Mononoke the Movie Trilogy: Chapter 2: The Ashes of Rage, opened in Japan in March 2025. Aina The End also performed that film’s theme song, Hana Musō.
The wider Mononoke anime originally aired in 2007 for 12 episodes. It spun out from Ayakashi - Samurai Horror Tales, specifically the Bakeneko arc featuring the Medicine Seller. The TV anime had five arcs, with Bakeneko also serving as its final arc.
Why SEA fans should care
Mononoke has always been a bit of a cult favourite rather than mainstream shonen hype, but that is exactly why it hits different. Its art direction, horror atmosphere, and mystery format make it stand out from the usual seasonal anime flood.
With the first movie already on Netflix, Malaysian viewers have a pretty easy entry point before Snake God eventually gets wider availability. If the third film sticks the landing, this trilogy could become one of the more important modern anime horror releases to recommend to friends who want something darker, stranger, and more artistic than the usual comfort-watch lineup.
Source: Anime News Network