is a supernaturalist multimedia franchise created by Level-5. The franchise is mainly known for its series of role-playing video games, which have been released for various different video game platforms. The franchise also includes several spin-off video games, anime and anime films, manga series, soundtracks, and strategy guides, among other media. The franchise's anime series are produced by OLM and the manga series are published by Shogakukan, who have serialized the series in various different magazines.
Yo-kai Watch was developed as a multimedia franchise, as Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino believed it to be one of the main factors that made an IP long-lasting. Installments in the franchise are usually set in the fictitious region of Springdale and follows Nathan "Nate" Adams, an 11-year-old average 5th grader student who acquires the titular Yo-kai Watch, allowing him to see supernatural entities, named Yo-kai.
Video games
Main series
Spin-offs
Other
Television and films
TV series Title Original run Episodes Studio Notes Yo-kai Watch January 8, 2014 – March 31, 2018 214 OLM, Inc. Ran for three seasons, and was broadcast on several different networks. Yo-kai Watch Shadowside April 13, 2018 – March 29, 2019 49 OLM, Inc. Ran for one season, and was broadcast via the TX Network.A follow-up of the fourth Yo-kai Watch film, Yo-kai Watch Shadowside: Oni-ō no Fukkatsu. Yo-kai Watch! April 5, 2019 – December 20, 2019 36 OLM, Inc., Magic Bus Ran for one season, and was broadcast via the TX NetworkA sequel to the 2014 Yo-kai Watch TV series. Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y: Close Encounters of the N Kind December 27, 2019 – April 2, 2021 63 OLM, Inc. Told from the perspective of Jinpei Jiba, the main protagonist of the Yo-kai Watch Jam the Movie: Yo-kai Academy Y - Can a Cat be a Hero? film.A follow-up of the sixth Yo-kai Watch film, Yo-kai Watch Jam the Movie: Yo-kai Academy Y - Can a Cat be a Hero? Yo-kai Watch♪ April 9, 2021 – March 31, 2023 98 OLM, Inc., Magic Bus Distributed by TV Tokyo, and is broadcast across six affiliated networks.A sequel to the 2019 Yo-kai Watch! TV series.
Films Title Initial release date Production company Yo-kai Watch: The Movie December 20, 2014 OLM, Inc. Notes: Shares elements with the Yo-kai Watch 2. First released in Western territories on October 15, 2016. Yo-kai Watch: Enma Daiō to Itsutsu no Monogatari da Nyan! December 19, 2015 OLM, Inc. Yo-kai Watch: Soratobu Kujira to Double no Sekai no Daibōken da Nyan! December 17, 2016 OLM, Inc. Notes: Split between both animated and live action scenes. Yo-kai Watch Shadowside: Oni-ō no Fukkatsu December 16, 2017 OLM, Inc. Notes: An animated horror comedy, set 30 years after the 2014 Yo-kai Watch, 2019 Yo-kai Watch! and 2021 Yo-kai Watch♪ TV series. Yo-kai Watch: Forever Friends December 14, 2018 OLM, Inc. Notes: Set in Tokyo in the 1960s, set 60 years before the 2014 Yo-kai Watch TV series and follows a new main protagonist named Shin Shimomachi. Yo-kai Watch Jam the Movie: Yo-Kai Academy Y - Can a Cat be a Hero? December 13, 2019 OLM, Inc. Notes: Focuses on a new main protagonist, named Jinpei Jiba. Released alongside the Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y: Close Encounters of the N Kind TV series. Yo-kai Watch♪ the Movie: How Nate and I Met Nyan!♪ M-Me Too~♪♪ November 12, 2021 OLM, Inc. Yo-kai Watch♪: Jibanyan vs. Komasan - The Big Amazing Battle, Nyan January 13, 2023 OLM, Inc.
Soundtracks Title Release date Length Label Yo-kai Watch Original Soundtrack December 17, 2014 3:38:29 Frame Notes: Features music from the first two Yo-kai Watch video games. Composed by Kenichiro Saigo, with a feature from King Cream Soda. Peaked at 34 on the Oricon Albums Chart. Completely Preserved Edition! Geragerapo Athletic Meet and Bon Odori May 20, 2015 33:10 Frame Notes: Features renditions of various tracks from the Yo-kai Watch anime. Composed by Tomoki Kikuya, Yoichi Murata, and Goyo Sato. Yo-kai Watch Theme Song ~ Christmas Version ~ November 18, 2015 41:41 Frame Notes: Features Christmas renditions of tracks from the original Yo-kai Watch anime series. Composed by Tomoki Kikuya and Goyo Sato. Yo-kai Watch Music Best - First Season January 20, 2016 49:16 Frame Notes: Features the opening and ending themes to the first season of the original Yo-kai Watch anime. Includes tracks by King Cream Soda, Dream5, and NyaKB. Peaked at 20 on the Oricon Albums Chart. Yo-kai Watch Original Soundtrack Movie December 21, 2016 43:39 Frame Notes: Features music from Yo-kai Watch: The Movie. Composed by Kenichiro Saigo. Yo-kai Watch Music Best - Second Season January 25, 2017 43:47 Frame Notes: Features the opening and ending themes from the second season of the original Yo-kai Watch anime series. Includes tracks by King Cream Soda, Kotori with Stitchbird, and LinQ. Peaked at 88 on the Oricon Albums Chart. Yo-kai Watch Original Soundtrack TV Anime and Game (Yo-kai Watch Busters) January 25, 2017 59:19 Frame Notes: Features music from the original Yo-kai Watch anime series and the spin-off Yo-kai Watch Blasters video game. Composed by Kenichiro Saigo. Yo-kai Watch Original Soundtrack Game (Yo-kai Watch 3) March 22, 2017 1:34:17 Frame Notes: Features music from the Yo-kai Watch 3 video game. Composed by Kenichiro Saigo. Yo-kai Gakuen Y - Can a Cat be a Hero? (Original Soundtrack) January 20, 2021 1:00:04 Universal Sigma Notes: Features music from the Yo-kai Watch Jam the Movie: Yo-Kai Academy Y - Can a Cat be a Hero? film. Composed by Kenichiro Saigo. Yo-kai Gakuen Y ~ Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu ~ (Original Soundtrack) January 20, 2021 1:30:00 Universal Sigma Notes: Features music from the spin-off Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y - Yeah-Yeah School Life video game. Composed by Kenichiro Saigo.
Printed media
Manga Title Release date / original run Volumes Publisher Yo-kai Watch December 15, 2012 – April 21, 2023 23 Shogakukan Notes: Written and illustrated by Noriyuki Konishi. Serialized in CoroCoro Comic in Japan. Published by Viz Media in North America, by Kazé in Spain and France, and by Shogakukan Asia in Singapore. Won the award for best children's manga at both the 38th Kodansha Manga Awards and the 60th Shogakukan Manga Awards. Yo-kai Watch: Nyanderful Days December 27, 2013 – July 22, 2016 3 Shogakukan Notes: Illustrated by Chikako Mori, and serialized in Ciao in Japan. Published by Panini Comics in Mexico, by Norma Editorial in Spain, and by Elex Media Komputindo in Indonesia. Follows the love interest of Nathan "Nate" Adams, Katie Forester. Yo-kai Watch 4-Panel Pun Club June 18, 2015 – December 5, 2018 5 Shogakukan Notes: Authored by Santa Haruzaka. Yo-kai Watch Busters September 28, 2015 1 Shogakukan Notes: Illustrated by Atsushi Ohba, and serialized in CoroCoro Comic. Based on the Yo-kai Watch Blasters spin-off game. 4-koma Yo-kai Watch - Geragera Manga Gekijo November 28, 2015 – July 27, 2018 3 Shogakukan Notes: Illustrated by Runba Kokonasu, and serialized in CoroCoro Comic Special. Published by Elex Media Komputindo in Indonesia. Komasan 〜A Time for Fireworks and Miracles〜 December 11, 2015 1 Shogakukan Notes: Illustrated by Sho Shibamoto, and serialized in the Hibana magazine. Yo-kai Gakuen Y December 13, 2019 – January 28, 2021 3 Shogakukan Notes: Written and illustrated by Noriyuki Konishi, and serialized in CoroCoro Comic. Based on the spin-off anime Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y: Close Encounters of the N Kind.
Strategy guides Title Release date ISBN Publisher Yo-kai Watch Official Strategy Guide August 30, 2013 Shogakukan Notes: Contains information on the original Yo-kai Watch video game. Written by Koichi Toshida, Masami Yamada, and Hiroken Mizuno. Yo-kai Watch 2: Original / Honke Official Strategy Guide August 22, 2014 Shogakukan Notes: Contains information on the Bony Spirits and Fleshy Souls versions of Yo-kai Watch 2. Written by Koichi Toshida and Masami Yamada. Yo-kai Watch Card Game Strategy Guidebook May 28, 2015 Shogakukan Notes: Contains information on the Yo-kai Watch collectible card game. Written by Koichi Toshida and Hiroshi Furushiro. Yo-kai Watch 2: Ganso / Honke / Shinhatsu Official Complete Strategy Guide January 31, 2015 Shogakukan Notes: Contains information on all three versions of Yo-kai Watch 2. Written by Koichi Toshida and Masami Yamada. Yo-kai Watch Standard Edition Guide November 6, 2015 Prima Games Notes: Contains information on the original Yo-kai Watch video game. Written by Ricka Barba and Michael Owen. Yo-kai Watch Busters: Akanekodan / Shiroinutai Official Complete Strategy Guide September 8, 2015 Shogakukan Notes: Contains information on the Red Cat Corps and White Dog Squad versions of Yo-kai Watch Blasters. Written by Michihiro Nagaoka, Koichi Toshida, and Masami Yamada. Yo-kai Watch Busters Official Complete Strategy Guide February 10, 2016 Shogakukan Notes: Contains information on both versions of Yo-kai Watch Blasters, and its expansion, Moon Rabbit Crew. Written by Michihiro Nagaoka and Koichi Toshida. Yo-kai Sangokushi Official Complete Strategy Guide June 2, 2016 Shogakukan Notes: Contains information on Yo-kai Sangokushi. Written by Michihiro Nagaoka, Koichi Toshida, and Masami Yamada. Yo-kai Watch: Official Guide June 28, 2016 Scholastic Notes: Contains information on the Yo-kai Watch universe. Written by Meredith Rusu. Yo-kai Watch 3: Sushi / Tempura Official Complete Strategy Guide September 17, 2016 Shogakukan Notes: Contains information on the Sushi and Tempura versions of Yo-kai Watch 3. Written by Koichi Toshida and Masami Yamada. Yo-kai Watch: Essential Handbook June 28, 2016 Scholastic Notes: Contains information on the Yo-kai Watch series' different Yo-kai. Written by Meredith Rusu. Yo-kai Watch 3: Sukiyaki Official Strategy Guide February 23, 2017 Shogakukan Notes: Contains information on the Sukiyaki version of Yo-kai Watch 3. Written by Koichi Tushida and Masami Yamada. Yo-kai Watch 2: The Definitive Yo-kai-pedia September 29, 2017 Prima Games Notes: Contains information on the Psychic Specters version of Yo-kai Watch 2. Written by Rick Barba. Yo-kai Watch Busters 2 Official Complete Strategy Guide February 26, 2018 Shogakukan Notes: Contains information on both version of Yo-kai Watch Busters 2: Secret of the Legendary Treasure Bambalaya. Written by Koichi Toshida and Masami Yamada. Yo-kai Watch World All-Round Guidebook July 31, 2018 Shogakukan Notes: Contains information on the Yo-kai Watch World mobile game. Yo-kai Watch 4 Official Strategy Guide June 23, 2019 Shogakukan Notes: Contains information on Yo-kai Watch 4. Written by Koichi Toshida and Masami Yamada.
Other Title Release date Media type Publisher Activity books July 22, 2014 – December 7, 2016 Paperback Shogakukan Notes: Since 2014, Shogakukan has published a total of 15 activity books on the Yo-kai Watch franchise, which have been authored by various different people. Yo-kai Watch for Toddlers September 10, 2014 – August 5, 2015 Paperback Shogakukan Notes: A two-part series of Yo-kai Watch children's novels, published by Shogakukan. Sticker books December 1, 2014 – December 14, 2018 Paperback Shogakukan Notes: A six-part series of Yo-kai Watch sticker albums based primarily on the Yo-kai Watch films. Yo-kai Watch: All Yo-kai Encyclopedia March 20, 2015 – November 18, 2016 Paperback Shogakukan Notes: A five-part book series of Yo-kai Watch encyclopedias, published by Shogakukan. Installments one through four were written by Akihiro Hino. Yo-kai Watch: Jibanyan Tojo no Maki July 24, 2015 Paperback Shogakukan Notes: A children's novel published by Shogakukan. Yo-kai Watch: Iza Shobu! Businyan Maki December 3, 2014 Paperback Shogakukan Notes: A children's novel published by Shogakukan. Yo-kai Watch: Pop-up Book April 22, 2015 Hardcover Shogakukan Notes: