6 Anime Like The Morose Mononokean [Recommendations]

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Many of us dream of living in a world that's far beyond the current one we reside in, with a wide variety of activities to choose from. We can behave anyway we chose, and communicate with just about anybody without any feeling of rejection. What if that happened to you this very instant? How would you respond to it? Would you take the chance to embark on a new adventure with wild and intriguing species? If so then you'll most definitely enjoy our six anime like The Morose Mononokean which is all about adventure and yokai, so let's hop right into all the fun!


Similar Anime to The Morose Mononokean

1. Hoozuki no Reitetsu

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: January 10, 2014 - April 4, 2014

Our first anime on our six anime like The Morose Mononokean is Hoozuki no Reitetsu. This fantastic yokai comedy follows the crazy yet composed Hoozuki as he spends his days troubleshooting the dark depths of hell. Most of his time is spent offering counsel to such famous folklore characters like Momotarou, or receiving diplomatic missions from hell under the supervision of Lord Enma. Hoozuki takes us on an adventure as he must deal with various characters who all pose some sort of challenge to him, and must use the right judgment when punishing each yokai that confronts him.

There's great similarity between both shows as they focus on the life of a yokai master who must cope with the many random encounters that they come across, using sound judgment with regards to dealing with the situation. Hoozuki is a lot like Abeno where the two have been giving huge responsibilities, and now must rely on the assistance of others to make sure their demands are met. They always find themselves in some sort of mishap, which leads them into performing clumsy acts, but make sure to maintain their cool under pressure from their subordinates, which in Abeno's case is Ashiya. It is a spectacular show with many laughs to keep you engaged, while also learning a large chunk about Japanese folklore!


2. xxxHolic

  • Episodes: 24
  • Aired: April 7, 2006 - September 29, 2006

xxxHolic follows the wild life of Kimihiro Watanuki, who harnesses the ability to see spirits and other assorted supernatural creatures, which is something he finds quite troublesome. One evening on the way home while being overwhelmed by some spirits, Kimihiro is inexplicably compelled to enter an eerie house. There, he's introduced to Yuuko, a mysterious woman who claims that she could dispel the ability to see and attract the troublesome creatures, but under one condition. Yuuko insists that he work at her store that supposedly grants wishes to people, and from that very moment begins Kimihiro's adventures through weird and crazy events.

Yumiko and Kimihiro share a very close relationship as the story progresses, much like Ashiya and Abeno. Initially the two find themselves in a tight bind as they try to understand one another, and through various random events they begin to form a better relationship. Yumiko shares her insight on how to deal with the spirits, while Kimihiro must use her instructions in order to dispel of the yokai that are becoming a bother. Both Yumiko and Abeno have this sort of “headquarters” that they use in order to conduct activities, with the latter being on school grounds, and Yumiko's taking place in a storefront. These shows are both light hearted in their jokes, and share a little insight on some Japanese folklore much like our previous entry.

xxxHolic Trailer


3. Natsume Yuujinchou (Natsume’s Book of Friends)

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: July 8, 2008 - September 30, 2008

Rolling in at number three is Natsume Yuujinchou. Main protagonist Takashi Natsume has a bizarre and ghastly secret involving yokai. He has been suffering due to his constantly being chased by these spirits for as long as he can recall. Natsume is then surprised to discover that his deceased grandmother Reiko had passed on to him the Yuujinchou, or "Book of Friends," which comprises of names of spirits whom she brought under her control many years ago. Now with the book in his possession, the book grants him the same power as his grandmother, which is why these enraged beings now haunt him in hopes of somehow attaining their freedom.

In our previous entry we compared Abeno to both Yumiko and Hoozuki, but now we're going to observe Ashiya and how he relates to Natsume. Both characters encountered a very chilling experience by being chased by yokai. Ashiya is haunted by them in his school and just can't seem to get them off him, and so much like Natsume, the two discover a solution that can help to rid them of the curse but with a new condition: they must now use the same powers that the yokai uses to solver their problems. They are both accompanied by a very adorable yokai that tries to help them whenever they find themselves in a tight bind. Each of them must come to terms with their new responsibilities with the assistance of other supporting characters who guide them along the way, in order to find success in their new job.

Natsume Yuujinchou Trailer



Any Anime Like The Morose Mononokean?

4. Gugure! Kokkuri-san

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: October 6, 2014 - December 22, 2014

Gugure! Kokkuri-san stars the self proclaimed doll Kohina Ichimatsu, who calls out the fox yokai Kokkuri-san with a unusual incantation. However it was a story of the strange past where Kokkuri-san was able to answer any inquiry you had in mind. Nowadays, it relies on a certain search engine, but is not very tech savvy and ends up causing more harm than usual. He had decided to possess Kohina, but got worried about her living all alone, and decides to devote himself to do chores as if he was her mother. On top of that, the dog yokai Inugami who is infatuated with Kohina and the old supernatural raccoon dog Shigaraki decide to root themselves with her as well causing all sorts of mishaps.

Kohina decides to follow her heart and summon a yokai who can help her. Much to her dismay, once she summons Kokkuri-san a lot of random problems start to occur around her. Similarly, Ashiya decides to get too close to one friendly yokai and ends up having to deal with a handful of issues since the yokai becomes infatuated with him. At first they both find their scenario to be very taxing, but over time they begin to show signs of compassion for the yokai and build a close relationship with them. The shows are very funny in their animations, while really warming your heart with wonderful displays of love and commitment.

Gugure! Kokkuri-san Trailer


5. Kyoukai no Rinne

  • Episodes: 25
  • Aired: April 4, 2015 - September 19, 2015

As a child, Mamiya had wandered into the woods behind her grandmother's house, and ended up disappearing. Sakura can't recall the events that occurred, but she's been seeing dead people ever since that strange day. She encounters ghosts at home, ghosts at school, and even ghosts wandering the streets. Fast forward to her life in high school, another strange thing has happened in her life. A desk next to her that had been vacant all year is suddenly filled by an odd looking boy named Rokudou Rinne. Rinne seems to be capable of seeing the same things Sakura does but other people in the vicinity can't even see him. Another world exists alongside the one that they live in and thanks to Rinne, Mamiya will get to know this world and the crazy characters that inhabit it.

Mamiya is exactly like Ashiya where the two are completely unaware of what adventures lie ahead of them. The two find themselves surrounded by new creatures that are foreign to them, but must now build a relationship with them in order to understand everything. Both are accompanied by a very cute yokai that behaves sort of like their mascot, and whenever they're in a tight bind they make sure to protect them. Rinne is the very level-headed leader of the pack much like Abeno, but will lash out when their helpers make clumsy mistakes that put them in bad predicaments. Both shows take place in a yokai universe with a slice of life feel to them to keep you educated and entertained at all times.


6. Uchouten Kazoku

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: July 7, 2013 - September 29, 2013

Uchouten Kazoku follows the trials and tribulations of the Shimogamo brothers as they struggle to avoid their own terrible demise while coming ever closer to discovering the truth behind their father's untimely death. Kyoto has been populated by groups of tanuki and tengu for years, who live alongside humans who are completely unaware to their existence. Yasaburou Shimogamo is the third son of a prominent tanuki family who spends his cheerful days taking care of an old tengu, observing humans through his special ability to shapeshift, and dealing with Benten, who is an eerie and mysterious woman.

The world of Uchouten Kazoku is all about dealing with yokai that tend to cause trouble in the real world, and so the main protagonists must travel back and forth between two worlds while unraveling the truth behind all that's happening. Both stories are very lighthearted and fun, with the protagonist showing us the reality that everyone has problems, and sometimes we require the help of others to solve them despite how strong we think we are. Ashiya and the Shimogamo brothers must avoid death at all times since one false move in the yokai world could spell trouble for them later, so every step they make must be taken with precaution.

Uchouten Kazoku Trailer


Closing Statement

If we had the opportunity to travel into a world and learn about yokai, we would surely take the chance right away. Learning about a new environment is one of the best ways to really understand yourself and those around you, since it provides a better perspective of what's really out there. We suggest that if you haven't traveled in a while, please do so because it can truly be inspiring once you do! Just be sure not to run into any suspicious yokai when you do decide to travel! If you have any other anime like The Morose Mononokean that you feel should make the list, be sure to let us know in the comments section down below! And also follow us on twitter for the latest article updates and tweets!

As always for all of your sweet anime needs, keep it locked here on Honey's Anime.

fukigen-na-mononokean-Wallpaper-300x413 6 Anime Like The Morose Mononokean [Recommendations]

Editor/Writer

Author: Rob "NualphaJPN" B.

A passionate fan of gaming, writing, journalism, anime, and philosophy. I've lived in Japan for many years and consider this place to be my permanent home. I love to travel around Japan and learn about the history and culture! Leave a comment if you enjoy my articles and watch me play on twitch.tv/honeysgaming ! Take care!

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