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Is the Anime Finished?
Is the Anime Finished?
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Is Yo-kai Watch Finished? The Ultimate Watch Order and Guide

Comedy Supernatural Ghosts Ongoing Anime Manga
Table of Contents

What is Yo-kai Watch?
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If you are looking for a blend of comedy and supernatural antics, Yo-kai Watch is a fantastic choice. The story follows Keita, a young boy who happens to free Whisper, a ghost-like yōkai, from 190 years of imprisonment. In exchange for his freedom, Whisper pledges to protect Keita from supernatural dangers and provides him with a special watch. This device allows Keita to see other yōkai, leading him and his twin-tailed cat spirit companion, Jibanyan, into a series of supernatural problems that they must solve together.

Whether you want to watch the anime on Prime Video or collect some Yo-kai Watch merchandise to bring the ghosts home, this series offers a lighthearted and imaginative world.

Is the Anime Really Finished?
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Determining if Yo-kai Watch is “finished” is a bit complex because the franchise has evolved through several different iterations and sequels. The series began in 2014 and has transitioned through various versions, including Yo-kai Watch! (2019) and Yōkai Watch ♪ (2021).

While certain manga adaptations have concluded—such as Noriyuki Konishi’s manga, which ended with its 23rd volume in 2023—the anime presence remains active with theatrical specials. For example, a theatrical screening for Yo-kai Watch ♪ Jibanyan VS Komasan Monge Daikessen da Nyan was released in January 2023.

Because of the sprawling nature of the sequels and the addition of different “eras” like Shadowside, viewers who only watch the initial series may feel they have missed out on the broader evolution of the characters. To get the full experience, it is highly recommended to follow the progression of the sequels rather than stopping after the first run.

Audience and Appeal
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Yo-kai Watch is best suited for audiences who enjoy supernatural comedies. Its primary appeal lies in the “monster-of-the-week” style problem solving and the humorous interactions between Keita and the various yōkai he encounters. If you enjoy themes involving ghosts and the hidden supernatural world existing alongside everyday life, this is the series for you.

If you find this guide helpful in deciding your next binge-watch, consider supporting us on Ko-fi to keep the lights on!

Recommended Watch Order#

Navigating the Yo-kai Watch universe can be tricky due to the number of movies, sequels, and spin-offs. You can refer to the relationship tree at the bottom of this page for a detailed visual map, but here are our suggested paths:

Release Order
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For those who want to experience the franchise as it aired, start with the original 2014 anime and the 2014 movie, then move through the 2015 sequel, following the timeline into the Shadowside era (starting with Oni-ō no Fukkatsu), and eventually reaching the modern iterations like Yo-kai Watch! and Yōkai Watch ♪.

Recommended Order for Newcomers#

We suggest focusing on the main series progression to understand the core plot:

  1. Original Series (2014) and its 2015 sequel.
  2. Yo-kai Watch! (2019).
  3. Yōkai Watch ♪ (2021).

The Completionist Order
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If you want every single piece of content, you must incorporate the movies and spin-offs:

  • The Main Arc: Original Series $\rightarrow$ 2015 Sequel $\rightarrow$ Yo-kai Watch! $\rightarrow$ Yōkai Watch ♪ (including the 2021 compilation film and 2023 theatrical special).
  • The Movie Arc: The Movie (2014) $\rightarrow$ Enma Daioh to Itsutsu no Monogatari da Nyan! (2015) $\rightarrow$ Sora Tobu Kujira to Double Sekai no Daibōken da Nyan! (2016).
  • The Shadowside Arc: Shadowside: Oni-ō no Fukkatsu $\rightarrow$ Yo-kai Watch: Shadowside $\rightarrow$ Yo-kai Watch: Forever Friends.
  • The School Spin-off: Yo-kai Watch! Jam: Yo-kai Gakuen Y - Neko wa Hero ni Nareru ka followed by its sequel Yo-kai Gakuen Y: N to no Sōgū.

For Those Open to Source Material
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If you don’t mind reading to fill in the gaps, you can supplement your viewing with the Yo-kai Watch manga. There are multiple manga versions, including the early 2012 and 2013 releases, as well as a specific manga adaptation for the Shadowside arc.

Yo-kai Watch • anime • 2014-01-08
  └─(related)→  Yo-kai Watch: The Movie • anime • 2014-12-14
   └─(sequel)→   Yo-kai Watch: Enma Daioh to Itsutsu no Monogatari da Nyan! • anime • 2015-12-06
    └─(sequel)→    Yo-kai Watch: Sora Tobu Kujira to Double Sekai no Daibōken da Nyan! • anime • 2016-12-17
     └─(sequel)→     Yo-kai Watch Shadowside: Oni-ō no Fukkatsu • anime • 2017-12-16
      └─(sequel)→      Yo-kai Watch: Shadowside • anime • 2018-04-13
       └─(adaptation)→       Yo-kai Watch: Shadowside • manga • 2018-04-13 to 2019-04-15 (CoroCoro Comic, May 2018 - May 2019)
      └─(sequel)→      Yo-kai Watch: Forever Friends • anime • 2018-12-14
       └─(related)→       Yo-kai Watch! Jam: Yo-kai Gakuen Y - Neko wa Hero ni Nareru ka • anime • 2019-12-13
        └─(sequel)→        Yo-kai Gakuen Y: N to no Sōgū • anime • 2019-12-27
  └─(sequel)→  Yo-kai Watch • anime • 2015-07-10
   └─(sequel)→   Yo-kai Watch! • anime • 2019-04-05
    └─(sequel)→    Yōkai Watch ♪ • anime • 2021-04-09
     └─(compilation)→     Yo-kai Watch ♪ Keita to Orecchi no Deiai-hen da Nyan ♪ • anime • 2021-11-12
     └─(related)→     Yo-kai Watch ♪ Jibanyan VS Komasan Monge Daikessen da Nyan • anime • 2023-01-13 (theatrical screening)
  └─(related)→  Yo-kai Watch • manga • 2012 (serialized in Corocoro Comic)
   └─(related)→   40-Shūnen da yo! Coro Coro All-Star Shōgakkō • anime • 2017-07-15 to 2017-11-15
  └─(related)→  Yo-kai Watch • manga • 2013-06-28

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