1 | [[quoteright:293:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_great_yokai_war.jpg]] |
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3 | ''The Great Yokai War'' is a fantasy-horror film directed by Creator/TakashiMiike, which tells the tale of a young boy caught in a war between traditional Japanese folklore creatures known as ''{{Youkai}}''. Young Tadashi Ino is declared the "Kirin Rider" at a local festival, not knowing that the title will soon become literal. He becomes a [[ResignedToTheCall reluctant hero]] in a war between the traditional ''Youkai'', and a new, mechanical version created by the evil [[Literature/TeitoMonogatari Yasunori Kato]] to destroy humanity. The film is an homage to the ''Yokai Monsters'' series of films, created in the 1960s by Creator/{{Daiei}}. |
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5 | Received a sequel ''The Great Yokai War: Guardians'' in 2021, which includes the character Film/{{Daimajin}}. |
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7 | Noted for its similarities to ''Film/TheNeverendingStory''. |
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9 | ---- |
10 | !!This movie contains examples of: |
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12 | * AllPartOfTheShow: [[spoiler:The ''yokai'' congregate at Tokyo and fight the ''tsukumogami'' to more than a standstill, but don't seem to realize or care that there's a genuine danger.]] |
13 | * AlwaysChaoticEvil: All ''Tsukumogami'' seem to share a similar, all-consuming interest: KILL. [[spoiler:Even Sunekosuri is not immune.]] |
14 | * BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler:When practically every ''yokai'' in Japan shows up for the "festival".]] |
15 | * BittersweetEnding: The day is saved, and Kato is stopped. [[spoiler:Years later, Tadashi grows up, and can no longer see ''yokai'', including his old friend Sunekosuri. Also, Kato is NotQuiteDead...and tracked Tadashi down.]] |
16 | %%* BrainwashedAndCrazy: The Tsukumogami. |
17 | * ChekhovsGun: The beans and rice that Tadashi got from becoming the Kirin Rider [[spoiler:protect his family from the Tsukumogami.]] |
18 | %%* TheChosenOne: The Kirin Rider. |
19 | %%* DarkActionGirl: Agi. |
20 | * DistantFinale: In the epilogue, we see Tadashi all grown up and heading off to work. |
21 | * DontTryThisAtHome: At one point, Tadashi and his youkai friends are clinging on to the wing of a Boeing 747, screaming in terror, the action freezes and a message appears on screen in Japanese and English: [-DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME, KIDS!-] |
22 | * TheDreaded: Yasunori Kato. He's so greatly feared that most of the yokai will come up with any excuse to not face this majin. |
23 | * EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Agi specifically points out that the end of her and Kato's project is for them to be reforged into one being. [[spoiler:And then he kills her just to break her heart as the final step.]] |
24 | * EvilMakesYouUgly: All of the Tsukumogami are twisted assemblies of wreckage and sharp pieces. [[spoiler: Even Sunekosuri.]] |
25 | %%* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The title. |
26 | * GodhoodSeeker: Kato's purpose for creating the Tsukumogami is to destroy humanity and make himself the god of a new world. |
27 | * GrowingUpSucks: Because it comes with losing the ability to see the yokai [[spoiler:unless you drink lots of alcohol.]] |
28 | %%* KidHero: Tadashi.%%ZCE |
29 | * {{Kirin}}: At the start, Tadashi is bitten during a street festival by the dancer's kirin head, which according to local custom makes him the next "kirin rider", a hero fated to defeat malevolent {{Youkai}}; in the climax, he is seen riding the kirin through the sky. |
30 | * LivingStructureMonster: One of the {{Youkai}} featured is a talking, limbed wall. Just picture an extremely wide WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants with a disproportionately huge body. Guy's just a literal LivingProp though, and does nothing much in the story other than being literally part of the background. |
31 | * AMythologyIsTrue: Set in a world of Japanese folklore. |
32 | * NiceJobBreakingItHero: Maybe Agi would still have been able to [[spoiler:break the sword without Tadashi throwing it away]]. But it sure didn't help. |
33 | %%* {{Obake}} |
34 | * ThePowerOfHate: The Yomotsumono, the hatred felt by all things used and discarded. |
35 | * ReforgedIntoAMinion: The Tsukumogami are made by smelting together a yokai and some human refuse, e.g. parts of a sign, or a motorcycle. |
36 | * RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Sunekosuri, who resembles a guinea pig wearing a shirt. |
37 | * SpannerInTheWorks: Kato's goal is undone by [[spoiler:a single azuki bean falling in with him. Since azuki beans are full of positive energy, it negates the Yomotsumono, leaving Kato with nothing.]] |
38 | * SwissArmyTears: [[spoiler:Tadashi's tears restore Sunekosuri after the latter has been defeated.]] |
39 | * TheTokyoFireball: Downplayed. After the battle is won, Kato's factory goes up in a giant explosion that blows away all the yokai in what looks like a WorldWreckingWave - but nobody gets hurt, the yokai think getting blown away is fun, and no further damage happens to Tokyo. |
40 | * TragicMonster: [[spoiler:Tsukumogami!Sunekosuri.]] |
41 | * TransplantedCharacterFic: In a sense. Kato is the only character from the ''Literature/TeitoMonogatari'' series (though he still acts the same). The movie avoids being an InNameOnly installation, however, as it's not billed as being part of ''Literature/TeitoMonogatari''. |
42 | %%* TitleDrop: During the final battle.%%How? |
43 | * UnwillingRoboticisation: The yokai that are turned into tsukumogami. [[spoiler:Including Sunekosuri.]] |
44 | * VileVillainSaccharineShow: While not SugarBowl levels of sweet, the movie is largely a lighthearted fantasy romp with youkai. However, it quickly becomes very dark whenever Kato and his minions show up. Justified, as Kato is a very vile villain [[Literature/TeitoMonogatari even in his own series]]. |
45 | * YouDontLookLikeYou: Kato received a major makeover, removing his CommissarCap and replacing his dark green military uniform with a black suit and a BadassLongcoat. His pentagrams were removed from his hands and placed on his coat collar. |
46 | * YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: A major theme of the movie, as things that humans throw away because they find them useless created the Yomotsumono. |
47 | * {{Youkai}}: As the title suggests, most of the cast is yokai. |
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