Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari

Hyoma Kunato carries a burning grudge against the tsukumogami, spirits that animate everyday objects. To temper his outlook, he's sent to live with Botan Nagatsuki, a member of a clan sworn to ferry these vessels back to their own realm using sacred power. The two come from different ends of the same tradition: he has suffered a loss that makes mercy hard to reach, she carries the memory of a life saved by the very beings he despises. As they spend time under the same roof, their clashes and quiet moments reveal how much their worlds diverge and how hard it is to let someone else steer your fate. Can Botan reach him without breaking the rules of their order?

Released in 2023 as an anime series, Malevolent Spirits Mononogatari is the brainchild of Keiichiro Ochi and Onigunsou. The show features Takeo Otsuka voicing Hyoma Kunato, Yuuki Takada as Botan Nagatsuki, and a strong supporting cast including Reina Ueda.

At its core the show tests how anger and grief shape a partnership. Hyoma's thirst for vengeance clashes with Botan's hope that trust can bloom between rival worlds, a tension that drives the drama while letting warm moments between them breathe, giving the series emotional texture. Its art direction helps set the mood in tense exchanges.

Awards: As of now there are no major nominations or awards listed for this title. The show is still relatively new on the scene, and any recognition may come later as audiences and critics weigh its ambitions and the risks it takes with mythic material in the year ahead.