• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Level-5: Yo-kai Watch anime to be aired worldwide

S

Sammy Samusu

Member
It's coming.

The mega-hit franchise's first feature film Yo-Kai Watch: Tanjyo no Himitsuda-Nyan! (The secret of the invention) is finally released in Japan today on December 20. At the premiere event, LEVEL-5 president and CEO, Akihiro Hino revealed that the TV anime will be soon aired worldwide, including the U.S. and Europe.

He also confirmed that Jibanyan and Whisper's names will stay the same, while other yokais' will be changed. It's the same case with Pikachu in the Pocket Monster/Pokémon series, who is keeping its original name in the international versions. Hino then asked Etsuko Kozakura (voice actress for Jibanyan) and Tomokazu Seki (Whisper) to learn English for the expected international expansion of the Yokai boom.
Click to expand...

http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-ne...e-aired-worldwide-including-the-us-and-europe

You-kai Watch 3DS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dy2oDCuPuM

3b7D4Yi.jpg
Click to expand...
 
B

BY2K

Membero Americo
Hino then asked Etsuko Kozakura (voice actress for Jibanyan) and Tomokazu Seki (Whisper) to learn English for the expected international expansion of the Yokai boom.
Click to expand...

Yup, the games are coming.
 
B

Busaiku

Member
Hino then asked Etsuko Kozakura (voice actress for Jibanyan) and Tomokazu Seki (Whisper) to learn English for the expected international expansion of the Yokai boom.
Click to expand...
This is a horrible idea.
Why in the world would they use the Japanese VA for an English track.
 
D

Danthrax

Batteries the CRISIS!
I don't think this property is gonna work internationally.

Also, "Jibanyan" is not nearly as cute-sounding as "Pikachu."
 
Deft Beck

Deft Beck

Member
This property is steeped in Japanese culture and history. Unless there is a fantastic localization, it will not go over well at all.
 
S

Sir_Crocodile

Member
Are the Yokai Watch games any good gameplay wise? The last good game I played by them was Rogue Galaxy, which is quite a long time ago now.

Really hoping it's not like Ni no Kuni, that was awful.
 
N

Nightengale

Member
Deft Beck said:
This property is steeped in Japanese culture and history. Unless there is a fantastic localization, it will not go over well at all.
Click to expand...

It's stylised enough to not be 'off-putting', so I wouldn't necessarily jump to that conclusion.

They don't look like this, for one.

youkait_b1.jpg


Nor is the game set in feudal Japan, where normally stuff with youkai motif takes place.
 
P

Pennywise83

Banned
Deft Beck said:
This property is steeped in Japanese culture and history. Unless there is a fantastic localization, it will not go over well at all.
Click to expand...

They said the same exact thing when Pokémon came out (and also before, Nintendo was skeptical). Not saying that YW will be as successful as Pokémon, of course.
 
Deft Beck

Deft Beck

Member
Pennywise83 said:
They said the same exact thing when Pokémon came out (and also before, Nintendo was skeptical). Not saying that YW will be as successful as Pokémon, of course.
Click to expand...

I have heard that. Still, I will be skeptical until I see some concrete effort of the localization.
 
B

Busaiku

Member
Pennywise83 said:
They said the same exact thing when Pokémon came out (and also before, Nintendo was skeptical). Not saying that YW will be as successful as Pokémon, of course.
Click to expand...

How is Pokemon so steeply entrenched in Japanese culture/history?
Some are, there's no doubt, but most of the designs are more general in nature, related to animals and objects most of the world are familiar with.

The setting is also in a completely fictional world.
While the map itself (of the initial regions) may be based on Japan, each location aren't really too much like Japanese cities for the most part.
Yokai Watch takes place directly in Japan (which of course will get rewritten in the localization).
 
S

SilverLunar

Member
Pennywise83 said:
They said the same exact thing when Pokémon came out (and also before, Nintendo was skeptical).
Click to expand...
Not really.
Pokemon are mostly based of real Animals, they automatically have global appeal, the skepticism came from their cuteness, not their ''too japanese'' baseline.
 
M

Mpl90

Two copies sold? That's not a bomb guys, stop trolling!!!
Busaiku said:
How is Pokemon so steeply entrenched in Japanese culture/history?
Some are, there's no doubt, but most of the designs are more general in nature, related to animals and objects most of the world are familiar with.

The setting is also in a completely fictional world.
While the map itself (of the initial regions) may be based on Japan, each location aren't really too much like Japanese cities for the most part.
Yokai Watch takes place directly in Japan (which of course will get rewritten in the localization).
Click to expand...

It'll be an ever weirder Los Angeles to look at than Ace Attorney's, won't it?
 
B

Blue-kun

Member
I'm ready for the games! Been really excited to get a new game that's like Pokemon-but-not-really since, as much as I love Pokemon, at this point it's not going to change dramatically. So something that's similar but does its own things at the side seems incredibly appealing to me.

Come on, L-5!

Also, on the Jibanyan debate, I like the name, but more than that, I think the cat is incredibly cute, haha. So much that I keep thinking my party in Youkai Watch will be full of cats. Help!
 
D

DNAbro

Member
I am extremely curious if it will have Western appeal. Personally I think it looks pretty unappealing but I said the same thing about Skylabders so what should I know about what kids would like.
 
P

Pennywise83

Banned
SilverLunar said:
Not really.
Pokemon are mostly based of real Animals, they automatically have global appeal, the skepticism came from their cuteness, not their ''too japanese'' baseline.
Click to expand...

Busaiku said:
How is Pokemon so steeply entrenched in Japanese culture/history?
Some are, there's no doubt, but most of the designs are more general in nature, related to animals and objects most of the world are familiar with.

The setting is also in a completely fictional world.
While the map itself (of the initial regions) may be based on Japan, each location aren't really too much like Japanese cities for the most part.
Yokai Watch takes place directly in Japan (which of course will get rewritten in the localization).
Click to expand...

Nintendo thought Pokémon was too Japanese for the Werstern public.
 
K

Kouriozan

Member
Omnistalgic said:
did Nintendo buy the rights to this too so the only system it'll ever come to is there consoles?
Click to expand...

Nope.
Level 5 is free to release their games on any platform, for example Layton had an iOS game and another one is coming (Layton 7)
Nintendo did publish the Inazuma Eleven games in Europe though.
 
mrmickfran

mrmickfran

Member
If they want to bring overseas, they're gonna have to change some names.

I don't see something with the name "Yo-kai" taking off well in America.
 
N

Nightengale

Member
Sammy Samusu said:
And yet "Tomodachi Life" sold millions.
Click to expand...

No lies, I was skeptical when Nintendo chose to keep the Tomodachi name. The cynic in me whould had renamed it 'Friend's Life' and the even more cynical side of me would've gone with "Nintendo Friend's Life"

A lot of (delicious) crow was eaten. =)
 
O

Oregano

Member
Omnistalgic said:
did Nintendo buy the rights to this too so the only system it'll ever come to is there consoles?
Click to expand...

Obviously because if a game is exclusive to a Nintendo platform they must have paid for it. It's not like the 3DS is the dominant console in Japan or anything...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Level-5’s CEO hopes to make erotic and violent games someday
Game Dev
40
2K
GreenAlien replied
Interview with Shuji Utsumi (SEGA Co-COO) by Japanese media outlet Seizo-Trend
Business Game Dev
1
1K
Unknown? replied
Rumour: Yo-kai Watch 1 Coming to Switch
7
893
IbizaPocholo replied
Yo-kai Watch 4 coming west
7
1K
ShikabaneHime13 replied
These bugs come out at nighttime, and attacking victims, they silently kill or leave them with a lifelong infection
33
3K
Happosai replied
Top Bottom