‘Mononoke the Movie: Chapter III – The Curse of the Serpent’ Dropping New Trailer And Key Visual

Mononoke is a very odd but highly compelling anime series. With its mix of horror and mystery themes combined with stunningly gorgeous art, this original anime series from director Kenji Nakamura and animation studio Toei Animation (One Piece, Digimon, Dragon Ball) has gathered a small but devoted cult following. It’s a big enough following that the original 12-episode anime series back in 2007 currently has two anime film sequels. And now, this anime will soon have a third anime film, which as you can tell by the title of this article, is the story for today.

Netflix is proud to announce Mononoke the Movie: Chapter III – The Curse of the Serpent with a brand new trailer and key visual. Both that trailer and the key visual reveal that we’ll get to see this third Mononoke anime film on September 29, 2026. As you might imagine, this will be a Netflix exclusive, so you will need a paid subscription to be able to stream it.

Now as for that trailer and key visual for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter III – The Curse of the Serpent? Well, you can watch that trailer on YouTube, or just look below for that and not only the new key visual, but also a very lengthy synopsis directly from Netflix:

Mononoke The Movie: Chapter Ⅲ – The Curse of the Serpent | Official Trailer | Netflix Anime

Synopsis

After the fierce battle between the Medicine Seller, wielder of the Sacred Sword, and the Karakasa, followed by the conflict with the Hinezumi — two major incidents born of Mononoke — peace appears, at last, to have returned to the Inner Chambers. Yet the Medicine Seller senses that something has not been laid to rest… and remains ever watchful.

Amidst this uneasy calm, Yukiko, the lawful wife of the Emperor, is blessed with a long-awaited male heir. But the joy is fleeting — the child is lost, despite all prayers offered.

Having wished to change her hollow marriage through the birth of an heir, Yukiko falls into despair… and is drawn into a conspiracy that threatens the very foundation of the Inner Chambers.

Grief without salvation. Rage without refuge. Such emotions begin to take shape. Hokuto Mizorogi, priest of the Inner Chambers’ faith known as “Omizusama,” watches in silence. At the same time, unnatural tremors begin to shake the Inner Chambers. As though something vast crawls beneath the earth, triangular scales drift down from nowhere… and soon, a series of grotesque deaths follows, bodies twisted, crushed, and strangled.

Before the Medicine Seller appears a Mononoke in the form of a great serpent, the snake god. Though it is temporarily driven back with talismans, the Medicine Seller cannot draw the Sacred Sword. To do so, he must uncover its “Shape”, “Truth”, and “Reason”. Only then can the sword be unsheathed, and the Mononoke cut down.

Where was the snake god born? Why does it harbor such overwhelming rage? And why has it risen now?

The answers lie 150 years in the past, in the hidden truth behind the creation of the Ōoku. Long ago, the Inner Chambers were established by Ama-no-Tsubone, wet nurse to the Third Emperor.

Its system sustained an era of peace, and in time came to be revered as “Omizusama”. Sensing a growing disturbance, the Medicine Seller makes his way to the shrine at the heart of the altar, and there, uncovers a truth that was never meant to be spoken.

The tangled fate between the third lawful wife and Ama-no-Tsubone, the secrets of the Mizorogi family, and the true reason behind the successive appearances of Mononoke in the Ōoku all come to light, connecting every thread into one.

Facing what can only be described as the embodiment of the Ōoku’s dark history, the Medicine Seller

prepares to stake everything in battle. But the snake god, empowered by centuries of accumulated hatred, possesses unimaginable strength, pushing him into an unprecedented crisis. As death closes in, even more unpredictable horrors unfold.

What fate awaits the Medicine Seller as he faces his greatest trial yet?

Third Mononoke Movie Coming to Netflix in September 29

For all Mononoke fans out there, this will be a treat for the ages. Especially since it took 17 years for the 2007 anime series to finally get these anime film sequels, starting with Mononoke the Movie: Phantom in the Rain in 2024. Fortunately, those anime films have premiered like clockwork every year since then, with Mononoke The Movie: Chapter Ⅲ – The Curse of the Serpent being the latest one of the ever-growing list of anime films. This one seems to be the current height of those movies, being very stylish in both its action and its horror. As you can tell by the key visual, there’s a lot of vividly contrasting colors on display here. As thought the movie is a painting in motion, actually. It will be interesting to see the finished art when it makes its Netflix debut.

What do you all think? Are you a Mononoke fan who’s interested in watching the third movie on September 29? Tell us your colorful thoughts in the comments section below.