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Yokai Watch Anime Debuts October 5

Movies and Shows No Responses » Tagged with: yokai watch

Sep 232015

When I’ve discussed yokai in the past, it’s usually been one of two topics: my yokai horror story or the Yo-kai Watch video game.

When Yo-kai Watch’s release date was announced, however, I referenced all of the other Yo-kai Watch media being localized, including the anime. At the time, we only had a fall release window for the anime, but the official date has been revealed.

Yo-kai Watch debuts on the Disney XD channel in just a few weeks, on October 5.

The Yo-kai Watch anime started airing in Japan in January 2014, as part of the Yo-kai Watch craze sweeping the country. When the anime movie was released, it had the highest grossing opening weekend of any Japanese movie since 2000.

Level-5 hasn’t said anything about the movie yet as far as I know, but if the game, manga, and anime (and toy line) does well in the West, it seems likely the rest of its media will follow.

Check out the first Yo-kai Watch anime trailer.

I’ve never really watched much anime, and I’m not even sure I get the channel this will be shown on. Maybe I’ll look into it later if it’s particularly well-received, but for now I’m most interested in the game.

The anime debuts on October 5, with the manga releasing on November 3 and the video game on November 6. Are you interested in Yo-kai Watch in any of its forms?

Enter the World of Yo-Kai Watch on November 6

Video games No Responses » Tagged with: rpg, yokai watch

Aug 212015

As announced back in April, Level-5’s hit 3DS game Yo-kai Watch is coming West. On Wednesday, Nintendo revealed the release date: November 6.

I’m pleased the release date isn’t far off, because I’ve been excited for a while about this one. An RPG with inspiration from Japanese mythology, created by the developer of some of my favorite games? Sign me up!

Yo-kai Watch became huge in Japan (it’s even getting a Just Dance game), and the franchise is coming West:

November 3 – the manga is launched
November 6 – the first game comes out for the 3DS
Fall (uncertain date) – the anime airs on Disney XD
January – toy line is introduced

We were worried Yo-kai Watch wouldn’t be localized, but it’s clear Level-5 hopes to take North America and Europe by storm. Yet despite all these plans, people still seem unclear about what Yo-kai Watch is.

It’s not a Pokémon clone. Here’s a helpful guide from someone who has played the Japanese games. Not all of the features mentioned are in the first game, but it should give you a better idea of the series’ style.

If that isn’t enough, why don’t we re-watch the Nintendo Treehouse footage?

Rather than a variation on Pokémon, it looks like a fun RPG in its own right. I’m looking forward to Yo-kai Watch. Are you? If you share my confidence, you can pre-order it before November.

And don’t forget to check out my horror story “Rokurokubi,” found in Wicked Words Quarterly, if you’d like a darker look at yokai.

Yo-kai Watch Localization Officially Confirmed

Video games No Responses » Tagged with: rpg, yokai watch

Apr 082015

Didn’t I already write about this?

Back in February, I was thrilled to see Level-5 announce that the Pokémon-esque franchise Yokai Watch would be making its way West, but the wording left some slight room for doubt. The announcement mentioned video games, but didn’t specifically reference the existing Yokai Watch for the 3DS.

As of yesterday, the impending release of the game has become official, and it looks like the translation “Yo-kai Watch” is now official, as well.

Yo-kai Watch, which came out in 2013 in Japan, has already received multiple sequels and spin-offs in addition to the rest of the franchise. As far as we know, it is the first game that is coming to the West in 2016, and its success will probably determine whether or not we get the others. However, some people believe we are getting the newly announced Yo-kai Watch 3, rebranded as Yo-kai Watch for the West. I’ll let you know if this is clarified.

Since it’s an RPG about a boy who captures monsters and uses them to battle other monsters, it’s hard not to draw comparisons to Pokémon. However, people who have played the Japanese versions say the similarities are not as strong as they appear on the surface, particularly when it comes to gameplay.

As for the creatures themselves, while I usually describe yokai as monsters from Japanese folklore, the press release defines them as:

They are not ghosts, monsters or creatures. Yo-kai are, quite simply, Yo-kai. They cannot be seen by the human eye, but they are everywhere. Whether born from the soul of a deceased human, or an everyday object discovering its higher purpose, their personalities are distinctly humanlike.

I don’t know how true to folklore Yo-kai Watch is, but if you’re interested in learning more about mythical yokai before the game launches in 2016, look up Matthew Meyer’s The Night Parade of 100 Demons: a Field Guide to Japanese Yokai, a 224-page illustrated guide to yokai. It’s been invaluable to my writing.

And for my own, darker take on yokai, check out “Rokurokubi”, a yokai-themed horror story published by Wicked Words Quarterly. (I’m sure Yo-kai Watch has a much more lighthearted approach.)

This has been a great time for localization news. Here’s hoping Ace Attorney is next!

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