bill a takashi miike first family film by people who haven not see zebraman and presumably . yokai daisenso take thing even far in the direction of family friendliness and dilute the darkness and cynicism to create a grand fantasy fairy tale . a young boy be choose by fate to save the world from monster and horror of which they remain largely unaware . the film be evidently big budget than anything else miike have do and with lot of cgi to create fantasy world populate by odd creature ( the yokai ) . perhaps the lack of extreme content be a consequence of more nervous investor and but i think it probably just that he want to do something different . he really never be a one trick pony and but often get accuse of it perhaps yokai be design to silence those critic . regardless and it a great project for miike to channel his boundless imagination and invention into . there a very cartoonish feel to the production and evoke thought of miyazaki in place . the yokai be base on an old series of comic that be in turn base on japanese folk tale and which certainly influence miyazaki as well ( particularly spirit away ) . it must remember that miike have nothing like the budget of a harry potter film to work with and so the special effect aren not go to be seamless hollywood style work some blue screening be especially obvious . some of the special effect be great though and with some very well animate creature ( a mix of cg and stop motion and puppetry ) . i think the little sock puppet that follow the hero around for much of the film be mean to look really cheap and and be all the cuter for it positive . the young lad who play the hero of the film do a really good job it so hard to find a pre teen who actually understand the concept of act and but 9 year old ryunosuke kamiki be a genuine talent ( i see he do voice in the last 2 miyazaki film . ) . chiaki kuriyama be delicious a the villainess of the piece and though mai takahashi make an even great impression a the pixie eared river princess yum yum . those look for another violent and perverted gangster film aren not go to find what theyre look for in yokai and but if youre a fan of miike because of his imagination and wit and there plenty to satisfy here . and it have the add bonus that you can happily put it on whatever company you have get positive .