There’s been plenty of buzz outside of Japan for the Yo-Kai Watch franchise lately. After registering a trademark in the United States for the name, Level-5 asked gamers via Twitter if they would be interested in the Nintendo 3DS title making its way to Europe and North America. While there’s still no news on a localization of the game, Dentsu Entertainment USA has announced they will be representing the successful Yo-Kai Watch anime series in the Americas.
It’s still too early to say when or where the series will air, since Dentsu USA is still looking for broadcasting and merchandising partners. But in their press release, the company mentions there has been a strong interest in North America regarding the show. “Several American companies that keep their eye on Japanese content and ratings success have already expressed interest in the title,” says Marc Harrington, Senior Vice-President of Global Strategy Development for Dentsu Entertainment USA. “We look forward to presenting this property, repackaged suitably for the Americas, to broadcasters this Spring.”
The franchise’s Pokémon-esque vibe will no doubt appeal to some big names in American territories, so it will be interesting to see how things pan out for Yo-Kai Watch. For those unfamiliar with the game and anime, the story focuses on a young boy who accidentally releases a yo-kai named Whisper from a very, very long imprisonment. As a thank-you, Whisper gives the boy a device called a Yo-Kai Watch that allows him to see other yo-kai. As he befriends more of the creatures, the boy is able to summon them in order to stop more malevolent yo-kai from causing trouble.
Although this might not be the first bit of news RPG fans were hoping to hear, this is still great news that bodes well for the Yo-Kai Watch game’s eventual localization, and the anime looks fun in its own right. Would you tune in if the Yo-Kai Watch anime were to air on TV? Or are you saving your excitement for a game localization announcement? Let us know in a comment!
