Youkai: Difference between revisions

Supernatural creatures drawn from Western sources often turn out to seem more like youkai in Japanese works.<ref> Fun fact -- the Japanese word for vampire contains the character for oni.</ref> For instance, vampires. In the West you've got Nosferatu -- a grotesque, undead monster who burns in sunlight and murders to preserve his hideous unlife<ref>Notably, this may be used to refer both to the classic film character and to one of the clans in ''[[Vampire: The Masquerade (Tabletop Game)|Vampire: The Masquerade]]'', which features other kinds of vampires, with the same powers and weaknesses, but characteristics that set them apart into clans</ref>. In Japan you've got [[Cute Monster Girl|exceptionally cute]] [[Fan Service]] protagonist [[Rosario to Vampire|Moka Akashiya]], who is not undead, harbors no ill-will towards the sun, and drinks tiny amounts of blood that leave her "victim" light-headed at worst, but who has a [[Super -Powered Evil Side]] who can (and will if you look at her the wrong way) kick your ass thoroughly.

'''Nekomata''': A seemingly ordinary cat that develops magical nature through long life. It looks like an ordinary house cat, except for the tail, which splits into two at half-length. While much smarter than it used to be, a nekomata remains just as whimsical, which may be dangerous with its new found powers of illusion and [[Necromancy]]. It's said a cat will become a nekomata after turning 100 years old, where upon its tail splits, it starts using human speech, some how gains [[Voluntary Shapeshifting|transformation]] powers, a greater intelligence, and other [[Screw the Rules, I Have Supernatural Powers|odd abilities]]. The name is often used and confused for [[Catgirl|catgirls]]. May be a [[Mega Neko]].

* Jubei and {{spoiler|his daughter}} Kokonoe (a [[Catgirl]] version of this) in ''[[Blaz Blue]]'', although they're called 'Grimalkins' in-universe. Appropriately, the latter does bring people back from the dead, although since magic is commonplace in that world she uses science to keep the mysterious powers theme. [[Hollywood Cyborg|Iron]] [[Half -Human Hybrid|Tager]] is the result.

* This can be the only explanation for a good half of the [[So Bad ItsIt's Good|monstrosities]] strewn throughout Steve Moraff's [http://bimshwel.com/renk/moraff/unforgiven.htm Dungeons of the Unforgiven].

'''Oni''': These are mountain spirits that share some things in common with trolls and ogres. The word is almost always translated into English as "demons" or "ogres." They are sometimes depicted as [[Red Oni, Blue Oni|good or bad]], but are usually morally neutral and interested in their own affairs. They prefer huge bludgeoning weapons and hide loincloths. Sometimes blamed for streaks of misfortune. Others work jobs in [[Fire and Brimstone Hell]]. [[Red Oni, Blue Oni|Know the different kinds!]]

* ''[[Dark Cloud (Video Game)|Dark Cloud 2 / Dark Chronicle]]'' features a mini-boss in Starlight Canyon called the Memo-Eater, an obese monster with a tapir's nose that possesses a girl and [[Laser -Guided Amnesia|eats her memories]].

* The Mink Noise from ''[[The World Ends With You (Video Game)|The World Ends With You]]'' are based on Kamaitachi. All of them have long claws and a tendency to [[EverythingsEverything's Better With Spinning|make themselves into whirlwinds]]. There's even a pair fought together as an [[Optional Boss]].

'''Rokurokubi and Nukekubi''': These two creatures are [[What Measure Is a Non -Human?|Humanoid]] monsters, the Rokurokubi are human by day but have extremely elastic necks during the night, while nukekubi can detach their heads from their necks and float away in search of human flesh.

* ''[[Inu X Boku SS]]'', revolves around a bunch of [[Half -Human Hybrid|Half Human Hybrids]] actually descendants of demons.

* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' has two [[Half -Human Hybrid|hanyou (human-youkai hybrids)]] among Negi's [[True Companions]], Setsuna (mentioned above under ''tengu'') and Koutaro who is half dog youkai.

* ''Petopeto-san'': Most of the cast are youkai of one kind or another, if not [[Half -Human Hybrid|Half Human Hybrids]].

* ''[[The Great Yokai War]]'', [[What Do You Mean ItsIt's Not for Kids?|a kids movie]] by [[Takashi Miike]] is [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin]].

* ''[[Touhou Project]]'': Almost every known character, apart from the four[[Half -Human Hybrid|-and-a-half]] human protagonists and a handful of goddesses, is some form of youkai.