Nate is a just a regular boy struggling to be above average at school. One day when he receives the Yo-kai Watch, he gets the chance to see and communicate with these mischievous Yo-kai. With the Yo-kai Watch on his wrist, Nate starts to form friendships with them and learn of the things that make life so complicated. There’s just one problem… they’re everywhere and they love to cause mischief! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ethan P. comments, “I like this DVD because this animation kind of looks like Pokemon. This show is a combination of anime cartoons and Pokemon like characters, except that a watch is used instead of the red, white and black ball. And instead of Pokemon, the creatures (or spirits in this case) are named Yo-kai.” Elizabeth T. adds, “. The show offers examples of kindness and consideration of others, particularly when dealing with clashing personalities, and there are legitimate examples of love shown, particularly for those closest to young people such as their parents, siblings, and friends.” See their full reviews below.
By Ethan P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11
I like this DVD because this animation kind of looks like Pokemon. This show is a combination of anime cartoons and Pokemon like characters, except that a watch is used instead of the red, white and black ball. And instead of Pokemon, the creatures (or spirits in this case) are named Yo-kai.
The Yo-kai Watch DVD includes two disks of Season 1, Volume 2, episodes. Each disk is approximately 145 minutes long, for a total of 290 minutes. That’s a lot of cartoons! Each disk has a variety of different episodes, that are not necessarily in order. For example, disk 1 has episodes 3, 4, 5, 6, 2, 3 and 4, which was a little confusing to me.
The storyline on this DVD is about a kid named Nate, who is an average boy that struggles to be popular at school. His parents are somewhat fun, but to him they are also rather weird. He has a special watch with different Yo-Kai’s, which are invisible spirit-like entities responsible for annoying situations that make Nate’s life to not be the same. One particular Yo-kai is his best friend. His name is Whisper and he teaches Nate about all the different types of Yo-kai and what they are capable of doing.
The theme song is catchy and appropriate for this show. The animation is very neat; the colors are bright and the background is colorful and well drawn. The episodes are kind of confusing because they don’t follow a sequence. It’s a mix of different situations. There are also two other story lines. One is about the great (Dog) escape, the other is about two Yo-Kai brothers in the city trying to learn how to live in the city.
My favorite episode of all is Spring Break Present. This episode is about a package that Whispers gives Nate as a Spring Break present. Inside the package is a card for Nate to use as a Yo-Kai repellent, so he can take a break from all the trouble that these spirits are causing him. The whole episode is really funny; that’s why it’s my favorite.
I give this DVD 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 15. The Yo-Kai Watch DVD is available now. If you are an anime fan, you might really enjoy this DVD, so look for it!
Yo-Kai Watch, Season 1, volume 2
By Jennifer V, KIDS FIRST! Reviewer
The Yo-kai are invisible spirit-like entities that take many forms and are liable for your daily troubles. Nathan Adams (Nate), is a normal boy who one day receives the Yo-kai watch and is able to see the Yo-kai. These mischievous entities show up unexpectedly and you never know what is going to happen. This series has good production quality and the story lines flow well. It captures the audience’s attention with catchy music, bright colors and true-to-life adventure mixed with imaginative themes. The series highlights the ability to problem-solve as Nate and his Yo-kai have to discover a way out of silly and chaotic situations. Some of the jokes are more grown up and the story lines are more suited for more mature kids. For example, the Yo-kai talk about being hot, as in attractive. An older child would enjoy this series due to its catchy theme songs and familiar story lines. The story-lines flow well, are easy to follow and draw you in. When Nate is overcome by handsomeness, his classmates respond as normal teenagers would and tell him that he is creeping them out. The material is accurate and is suitable for its target audience. The series uses vocabulary that is more suitable for teens with words such as narcissist and sketchy. It’s visually appealing with lots of bright colors, the music is catchy. The DVD cover design is appealing, showcasing the main characters and listing several of the episodes. The series is high in entertainment value and does invite the viewer to question, probe and problem-solve. For example, in The Legend of Dandoodle, Nate is overcome by handsomeness and his Yo-kai must find a way to help.
The message is to be careful what you wish for. Although the Yo-kai Watch allows you to see the Yo-kai, once they are in your life, things can be chaotic.
Yo-Kai Watch Season 1, volume 2 is a highly entertaining DVD series, totaling 290 minutes of fantastical adventure. The menu offers the option to play all episodes or watch them individually. Each episode has a run time of 20-22 minutes of non-stop action. I recommend it for ages 12 to 18 and give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. It is available now, so check it out.
