You are here:
The Great Yokai War: Guardians

The Great Yokai War: Guardians

2021

Director

Takashi Miike

Runtime

118 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Fifth grader Kei Watanabe has inherited the hunter's blood to hunt yōkai. To save the world from destruction, Kei challenges a war against the yōkai.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.0/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film follows a traditional fantasy structure centered on supernatural conflict. There is no discernible presence of LGBTQ+ characters or narratives addressing non-cisnormative identities.

Gender Representation

Fair

The cast includes both male and female Yokai entities. While the protagonist follows a standard 'chosen one' path, the supernatural beings offer a departure from human-centric gender hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

The story immerses viewers in Japanese folklore and mythology. By centering Yokai as sentient protagonists, the film explores 'otherness' and grants agency to beings outside the human social order.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The narrative subverts the 'hero vs. monster' trope by framing Yokai as peaceful beings defending themselves. This presents the perceived outsiders as victims of systemic human aggression.

Disability Representation

Fair

Yokai possess diverse physical forms that deviate from human norms. However, these variations appear rooted in mythological tradition rather than a deliberate portrayal of physical disability or neurodivergence.

Strengths

  • Subverts traditional tropes by framing supernatural entities as peaceful victims rather than villains.
  • Provides a deep immersion into Japanese folklore and cultural mythology.
  • Grants high agency to non-human characters, exploring the concept of 'otherness' through Yokai.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisnormative narratives.
  • Does not provide clear evidence of female characters driving the plot through intellectual or physical superiority.
  • Physical variations in Yokai appear to be aesthetic fantasy elements rather than meaningful disability representation.

AI Analysis

The film functions as a genre-bending fantasy that uses folklore to recontextualize the concept of the 'other.' It moves away from human supremacy to focus on the preservation of a marginalized, non-human ecosystem. While the movie lacks explicit modern identity politics regarding LGBTQ+ or disability narratives, it achieves progressive storytelling by deconstructing traditional hierarchies. The strength lies in its narrative shift toward protecting a supernatural world. Ultimately, the film's diversity is found in its metaphorical exploration of outsiders through the lens of Japanese mythology.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.