Rise Of The Yokai Clan Anime

Okay, let's talk yokai! You know, those supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore. They're everywhere, right?

Anime loves them. Manga loves them. I secretly suspect my neighbor *is* one (don't tell her!).

The Yokai Boom: My Hot Take

Lately, I've been seeing more yokai shows than I can shake a stick at. And I have sticks! Many, many sticks!

Is anyone else feeling this? Or am I just imagining tiny, adorable kappa invading my streaming queue?

I'm not hating. But... maybe we're hitting peak yokai? Dare I say it?

Rise of the Yokai Clan: Guilty Pleasure?

Let's zoom in on one offender... I mean, example: Rise of the Yokai Clan! You've seen it, haven't you? If not, why not?!

Okay, maybe I'm being dramatic. It's got a cool protagonist, Rikuo Nura, trying to balance human life with his yokai heritage. Intrigue!

And the yokai designs are pretty rad. I'd totally hang out with some of those guys (from a safe distance, of course).

But... (there's always a but!) ... does it fall into the same traps as other yokai anime? You know the ones.

The power creep, the endless battles, the slightly confusing family tree of yokai lords... Sound familiar?

The "Unpopular Opinion" Zone

Here's where I might lose some of you. Buckle up! It's going to get spicy!

I think... I think sometimes yokai anime rely *too much* on the cool factor of the creatures themselves. Gasp!

The plots can get a bit... thin. Like paper. Like origami paper! Decorative but not particularly strong.

Am I alone in this? Please tell me I'm not alone! Throw me a bone (preferably not a yokai bone).

"But the lore is so rich!" - Probably you, right now.

I hear you! And I appreciate the rich lore. I really do!

But sometimes, it feels like the lore is used as a crutch. Like, "Look at this cool yokai! Isn't it awesome?" Instead of, "Here's a compelling story with well-developed characters."

Still Watching, Though...

Despite my gripes, I still watch Rise of the Yokai Clan. And other yokai anime. I'm a hypocrite, I know!

Why? Because those yokai designs are *so cool*! And sometimes, you just want to turn your brain off and watch cool monsters fight.

Plus, there's always that tiny chance of learning something new about Japanese folklore. Bonus!

The Verdict

So, what's my final verdict on the yokai anime boom, and Rise of the Yokai Clan in particular?

It's complicated! It's a love-hate relationship. It's like that one food you know isn't good for you, but you can't stop eating it.

Maybe we need more yokai anime that try something different. More character-driven stories. More surprising twists.

Or maybe I should just embrace the cool monster fights and stop overthinking things. That's probably the easier option. But where's the fun in that?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go check if my neighbor has suddenly developed glowing red eyes. Just in case!