Despite some unclear character motivation and visual excess, Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain delivers a tale worth experiencing. Its mystery and characters will draw viewers into a unique world that they won’t soon forget.

I will recommend giving Mononoke a watch before dipping your toes into The Phantom in the Rain so that, at the very least, you have an idea of the vibe. If you love the show already, then I don’t think you need my approval to watch the film.

But Mononoke's biggest merit is not to fall into the easy trap of delivering style over substance. As gorgeous as it looks, the animated feature also delivers a heck of a compelling story.

If the original series was cool, with its deliberate pacing, ironic detachment and dry humor, and that swinging theme song by jazz singer Charlie Kosei, the film version is hot: overwhelming, in-your-face, nonstop and loud.