Youkai Watch Movie 2: Enma Daiou to Itsutsu no Monogatari da Nyan!

Preface: It is Youkai Watch! What else do you need to know? If you are reading this you probably have either an interest in the movie or the series so I will keep this short. Story 8/10: Compared to the first movie, I felt like this one had a more engaging story/stories. The movie has four separate stories that ultimately lead to the fifth story which is the climax of the movie. Each story is about the length of a normal episode and has more or less the level of depth you are used to in the series. Though for long time fans it tugs a bit more on the heart strings with the inclusion of a certain lady tied to Jibanyan's past. Everything is what you would expect from a kids movie and has a cute little message of Yokai and Humans coming together to prove that they can exist together. Art 7/10: Nothing spectacular here, but the animation is noticeably better in certain places then you would get in your typical episode, especially during the action oriented scenes. I was not a big fan of the use of 3D in this movie but it is pretty negligible and easy to overlook but it does stand out a lot more than it probably should. Sound 8/10: Same old soundtrack, same old pleasant little songs. The movie ending theme is a nice little song and it reuses the at the time current ending theme of the anime for the proper ending credit scene. If you like the upbeat and plucky tunes of the series you will feel right at home here. Character 9/10: The strongest point of the series and the big favorites are here: Jibanyan, USApyon, Komasan, Fuyunyan and Whisper with Keita and Inaho to round out the cast. They act like their predictable selves but that isn't a bad thing at this point is it? We finally get to Komasan's larger than life mother and to be honest it was well worth the wait even if she is only in the film briefly. Lord Enma plays the role of cool new character and demonstrates his role as the current leader of the Youkai Watch with Nurarihyon playing the villain steeped in his old ways of doing things. Enma and Nurarihyon don't get much development but they are nice addition to overall cast of characters the series brings. Enjoyment 9/10: While your mileage may vary on how much you may like this movie but I found it fun for the time being. You can definitely go without seeing it but with how much advertising the show did for this movie, you would really be doing yourself a disservice not to give about 90 minutes of your time for this film. It won't change your life or make you rethink anything but I can say it will brighten up your day, even if just for a tiny second. Overall 9/10: Give it a shot you might just enjoy it. Certainly not the best film out there but certainly not the worst film either. Everyone can benefit from a little cuteness that Youkai bring into this world.

Yokai Watch Movie 2 plays out more like a very long episode of the show as it is various segments instead of an entire plot and its such good fun, and a Christmas movie to a degree. The anime had gained some very miss segements within its tv episodes, so its very good to see they bring their A game for the movie cause all the segments are clever and well executed, and especially the point of them to round it out in the 5th act. Theres fun ones like Keita's and Komasan's. I don't think Komasan has ever moved like he has in the tv show, at least for a while. Good new facial expressions to boot. The 3D enviroment death trap sequel for the baby was amazing to watch. And Keita as a yokai, was very much as silly as you'd think. But then there's such heartwarming segments like Jbanyan's and Inaho's. Yokai Watch does very good with melancholy because its a show about spirits. Really hitting in the feels of both adults and children. Was very fun to see Usapyon and Inaho deliver presents. And of course the long awaited Keita and Inaho interaction, it is just as good as you'd expect when a plain guy meets an otaku cause the 5th and final segment rounds it up with great character moments. The two new yokai who are the forefront of this movie, Zazel/Nuraruyhyon and Lord Enma are such good characters bringing seriousness to the comedy hijinx of the world. Gives it all a really cool finish, especially when we know Jibanyan will probably be called to fight the nose picking Yokai again, much to his dismay. Humans and Yokai. The dead and living. Memories and dreams. Komasan's mom is a weird giant mass?!?!? This movie was a good child friendly rumination of all that.