Mouryou no Hako

Mouryou no Hako, or Box of Goblins, was produced by Madhouse in 2008 as a direct adaptation of Natsuhiko Kyogoku’s celebrated 1995 mystery novel. Set in the immediate post-World War II era of 1950s Japan, the narrative is deeply rooted in the cultural anxiety and psychological fragmentation of the time, weaving together folklore, philosophy, and forensic science into a complex police procedural.

The visual design of the series was heavily influenced by the distinct art style of CLAMP, who provided the character designs. Their work aimed to capture the ethereal, melancholic, and gothic atmosphere essential to the story’s themes of memory and madness. Upon its release, the series was received as a challenging and atmospheric work, praised for its dense intellectual pacing and stylistic commitment to the source material's surrealist tone.