Line #24 Film/TheGreatYokaiWar


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.

Context Film / TheGreatYokaiWar