The Great Yokai War
The Great Yokai War | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Directed by | Takashi Miike |
Produced by | Fumio Inoue |
Written by |
Novel: Hiroshi Aramata Screenplay: Takashi Miike Mitsuhiko Sawamura Takehiko Itakura |
Starring |
Ryunosuke Kamiki Hiroyuki Miyasako Mai Takahashi |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Tokyo Shock (United States) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 124 minutes |
Country | Japan |
Language | Japanese |
Box office | $15,787,492[1] |
The Great Yokai War (妖怪大戦争 YÅkai DaisensÅ) is a 2005 Japanese fantasy children's film directed by Takashi Miike and produced by Kadokawa Pictures. It was released under the international English title The Great YÅkai War by Tokyo Shock.
The film focuses largely on creatures from Japanese mythology known as YÅkai (妖怪, variously translated as "apparition", "goblin", "ghoul", "spirit", or "monster"), which came to prominence during the Edo period[2] with the works of Toriyama Sekien.[3] It also draws inspiration from Aramata Hiroshi's Teito Monogatari, with the novel's antagonist KatÅ Yasunori appearing as the main antagonist in the film.[4]
The film is considered a loose remake of a 1968 film of the same name, but also draws influence from Mizuki Shigeru's GeGeGe no KitarÅ manga series of the same name. All three are retellings of the famous Japanese tale of MomotarÅ, which features the titular character driving a group of demons away from Kikaigashima with the help of native animals.[5] While these previous adaptations have been read mostly as nationalist narratives, with the native YÅkai driving out invading forces,[6] The Great YÅkai War has been read instead for the clash between Japan's traditional landscape and its modern culture.[7] This is largely due to the film's use of Kikai (機械, lit. "machine monsters"), created by KatÅ fusing the YÅkai with machines, and the absence of invading Western or otherwise foreign forces.[8]
Mizuki Shigeru, whose work is considered an important part of YÅkai discourse and culture due to his contributions in pop culture and academic study, acted as an advisor for the film and even made an appearance as the Great Elder YÅkai.[9] The cameo is not only a nod to Mizuki's status as a YÅkai expert, but his closing words also resonate closely with the theme of his manga of the same name.[10] Similarly, his role as a peace-keeper is one referenced throughout his work, and is born of his own experiences from real war.[11]
Story
A young boy named Tadashi Ino moves to a small town after his parents' divorce. At a local festival, he is chosen to be that year's Kirin Rider, referring to the legendary Chinese chimera, the Qilin:[lower-alpha 1] a protector of all things good. He soon discovers that his new title is quite literal, as a nefarious spirit named Yasunori KatÅ appears. KatÅ - a demon whose mystical powers are born of his rage at the annihilation of Japan's local tribes - desires vengeance against the modern Japanese for their actions against the YÅkai.[10] To carry out his revenge, KatÅ allies himself with a YÅkai named Agi, summoning a fiery spirit called Yomotsumono: a creature composed of the resentment carried by the multitudinous things mankind has discarded. KatÅ feeds YÅkai into Yomotsumono's flames, fusing them with the numerous discarded tools and items to form Kikai. These Kikai - under KatÅ's control - capture other YÅkai to build their numbers while killing humans. One such YÅkai, a Sunekosuri[lower-alpha 2] escapes and befriends Tadashi who attempts to obtain the Daitenguken[lower-alpha 3] from the mountain as a right of passage for the role of Kirin Rider. Scared by the tales told of the mountain, Tadashi falters upon his arrival at the mountain and tries to flee. However, tricked by the sea spirit ShÅjÅ,[lower-alpha 4] who picked Tadashi out, he manages to overcome a test to prove his worth. Accompanied by ShÅjÅ, Kawahime,[lower-alpha 5] and KawatarÅ,[lower-alpha 6] Tadashi makes his way to the Daitengu[lower-alpha 7] who gives him the sword before being taken away by the Kikai. In spite of Tadashi's attempts, the sword is broken as Agi takes Sunekosuri as her captive before the boy is knocked unconscious.
When Tadashi comes to his senses, he finds himself among YÅkai as they discuss how to fix the sword; they ultimately decide to request the aid of the blacksmith Ippondatara.[lower-alpha 8] Upon learning that Ippondatara was also captured, General Nurarihyon[lower-alpha 9] and his group leave. Kawataro restrains an Ittan-momen,[lower-alpha 10] praising the bumbling Azukiarai,[lower-alpha 11] unaware that he only remained behind due to his foot getting numb. When KatÅ's industrial fortress takes flight towards Tokyo, Tadashi and company pursue it. They arrive shortly after the fortress ingests Tokyo's Shinjuku Capital Building, finding Ippondatara who reforges the sword. Ippondatara refuses to talk about how he escaped, ashamed that the Sunekosuri took his place in becoming a Kikai. Donning new attire, Tadashi and company go into battle. They are greatly outnumbered until they receive unlikely aid from thousands of YÅkai who believe they are coming to a party; their festival brawl with Kikai allows Tadashi and Kawahime to enter the fortress safely, followed by a YÅkai-obsessed reporter named Sata whom Kawahime saved in the past.
Tadashi is forced to slay the Kikai that Sunekosuri became, restoring it to its original form yet leaving it gravely injured. In a rage, Tadashi battles Agi before she is called back by KatÅ to begin the final phase by joining with Yomotsumono. Despite Tadashi's attempts, KatÅ outmatches him. Kawahime attempts to protect the boy, stating that while she hates humans due to them abandoning her, she has no desire for revenge as she considers it a human emotion. Unfazed, KatÅ takes the two out as Azukiarai awkwardly arrives. KatÅ calls Agi to join him. However, her love for him is a hindrance to the process, so KatÅ kills her instead before entering the oven to become one with Yomotsumono. However, due to Sata's actions, one of Azukiarai's Azuki beans ends up in the mix with KatÅ, causing a chain reaction of positive emotion that destroys Yomotsumono. After the YÅkai take their leave, Tadashi and Sata find themselves on the street and the boy tells his first white lie to the reporter about Kawahime's feelings towards him. Years later, Tadashi is a grown man who lost the ability to see YÅkai, even Sunekosuri. The film ends with Sunekosuri being confronted by an Azuki-pupiled KatÅ.
Cast
Role | ![]() | English Language Dubbing |
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Tadashi Ino | Ryunosuke Kamiki | ???? |
Sata | Hiroyuki Miyasako | ???? |
Kawahime | Mai Takahashi | ???? |
ShÅjÅ | Masaomi Kondo | ???? |
Kawataro | Sadao Abe | ???? |
Azukiarai | Takashi Okamura | ???? |
Ippon-datara | Hiromasa Taguchi | ???? |
Yasunori KatÅ | Etsushi Toyokawa | ???? |
Agi, The Bird-Catching Sprite | Chiaki Kuriyama | ???? |
Shuntaro Ino | Bunta Sugawara | ???? |
Youko Ino | Kaho Minami | Stephanie Sheh |
Tataru Ino | Riko Narumi | |
General Nurarihyon | Kiyoshiro Imawano | ???? |
Abura-sumashi | Naoto Takenaka | ???? |
Ou Tengu | Kenichi Endo | ???? |
Great YÅkai Elder (cameo) | Shigeru Mizuki | ???? |
American dubbing staff
- Dubbing director: Unknown
- Dubbing studio: Unknown
- Media: DVD/Blu-ray Disc
Some YÅkai that appear in this film
- Sunekosuri
- Kirin
- Bakeneko
- Noppera-bÅ
- Chochinobake
- Rokurokubi
- Mokumokuren
- Futakuchi-onna
- Hitodama
- Karakasa
- Nurikabe
- Yuki-onna
- Kitsune
- Kyonshi
- Ookubi
- Tanuki
- Yama-uba
- Hitotsume-kozÅ
- Kappa
- Otoroshi
- Ohaguro-bettari
- Nuri-botoke
- Amazake-babaa
- Kejoro
- Wanyudo
- Kudan
- Tengu
See also
Related Media
- Teito Monogatari - The bestselling historical fantasy work which spawned the villain Yasunori KatÅ
- Gamera the Brave (2006) - Kadokawa's revival of another Daiei tokusatsu film series
- GeGeGe no KitarÅ - Mizuki's major manga work featuring many traditional YÅkai
Reviews
- Scott, A.O. The New York Times (June 30, 2006), p. B6: "A Motley Crew of Spirits Recruit a Boy to Be Savior"
- Lovece, Frank. Film Journal International (review)
- 2005 Film Review
Translations
- ↑ 麒麟, usually translated as "unicorn"
- ↑ 脛擦り, lit. "shin rubber"
- ↑ 大天狗剣, lit. "great Tengu sword"
- ↑ 猩々, lit. "heavy drinker" or "orangutan"
- ↑ å·å§«, lit. "river princess"
- ↑ å·å¤ªéƒŽ, lit. "river-boy"
- ↑ 大天狗, lit. "great Tengu"
- ↑ 一本è¸éž´, lit. "one-legged bellows"
- ↑ 滑瓢, lit. "slippery gourd"
- ↑ 一å木綿, lit. "one tan (a unit of measurement) of cotton"
- ↑ å°è±†æ´—ã„, lit. "bean washer"
Notes
- ↑ Boxofficemojo
- ↑ Suzuki 2011, p. 232.
- ↑ Shamoon 2013, p. 277.
- ↑ Papp 2009, p. 233.
- ↑ Papp 2009, p. 227.
- ↑ Papp 2009, p. 230.
- ↑ Papp 2009, p. 233-234.
- ↑ Papp 2009, p. 234.
- ↑ Foster 2008, p. 9.
- 1 2 Lukas & Marmysz 2010, p. 139.
- ↑ Foster 2009, p. 173-174.
References
- Foster, Michael Dylan (2008-11-05). "The Otherworlds of Mizuki Shigeru". Mechademia 3: 8–28.
- Foster, Michael Dylan (2009-11-11). "Haunted Travelogue: Hometowns, Ghost Towns, and Memories of War". Mechademia 4: 164–181.
- Lukas, Scott A.; Marmysz, John (2010). Fear, Cultural Anxiety, and Transformation: Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy Films Remade. Plymouth: Lexington Books. p. 139. ISBN 9780739124895.
- Papp, ZÃlia (2009). "Monsters at War: The Great YÅkai Wars, 1968–2005". Mechademia 4 (1): 225–239. doi:10.1353/mec.0.0073. ISSN 2152-6648.
- Shamoon, Deborah (2013). "The YÅkai in the Database: Supernatural Creatures and Folklore in Manga and Anime". Marvels & Tales 27 (2): 276–289. ISSN 1536-1802.
- Suzuki, CJ (Shige) (2011). "Learning from Monsters: Mizuki Shigeru's YÅkai and War Manga". Image & Narrative 12 (1): 229–244. ISSN 1780-678X.
External links
- The Great Yokai War
- The Great Yokai War at the Internet Movie Database
- The Great Yokai War at AllMovie
- YÅkai gallery