Watch Otome Yokai Zakuro
- 2010
- 1 Season
Otome Yokai Zakuro is a Japanese anime television series produced by ADK that first premiered on October 4, 2010. The show is set during the Meiji era in Japan and revolves around a group of half-spirit girls who work with the government to bridge the gap between humans and yokai, the supernatural creatures of Japanese folklore. The series features a star-studded voice cast, including Kana Hanazawa, Aki Toyosaki, Takahiro Sakurai, Satoshi Hino, Yui Horie, Mai Nakahara, Akihiko Ishizumi, Haruka Tomatsu, Kazue Komiya, Kikuko Inoue, Mutsumi Tamura, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Yuka Iguchi, Chiyako Shibahara, Kimiko Saito, Misaki Sekiyama, Sayaka Ohara, and Minako Kotobuki.
The central character of the series is Zakuro, a half-spirit girl with fox ears and tail who is part of a group of half-spirit girls known as the "Task Force Spirit Affairs." Her teammates are Susukihotaru, a half-spirit girl with butterfly wings, Bonbori, and Hozuki, twin half-spirit girls who have rabbit ears and twitchy noses, and Riken Yoshinokazura, a human soldier tasked with the protection of the girls. Together they form a formidable team that works to solve cases and prevent conflicts between humans and yokai.
The series is set in a world where humans and yokai coexist, but their harmonious relationship is threatened by the fact that the humans are quickly modernizing while the yokai are struggling to adapt. The government initiates the "Spirit Affairs" to reconcile the two groups and maintain peace. However, the half-spirit girls are initially resistant to working with the humans, as they have faced discrimination and mistreatment in the past. Zakuro, in particular, is skeptical of humans, having lost her mother to them.
Throughout the series, we see the characters undergo emotional growth and develop strong bonds as they work together on various cases. Each character has their own unique backstory, personality, and abilities, making them all interesting to watch. For example, Susukihotaru is the most timid of the group, but she is also the most gifted and is able to communicate telepathically with other yokai. Bonbori and Hozuki, on the other hand, have a playful and energetic demeanor that belies their deadly skills in battle.
The show does an excellent job of exploring themes of prejudice, discrimination, and acceptance. The attitudes of both the humans and the yokai towards each other are complex and multi-faceted, and the series does not shy away from showing the ugly side of their relationship. However, it also portrays moments of compassion and understanding, underscoring the message that coexistence is possible if both groups are willing to work towards it.
Beyond the main characters, the show has a vast and colorful cast of supporting characters, many of whom are yokai themselves. These creatures are based on real Japanese legends and add to the unique and immersive world-building of the series. The animation is also top-notch, featuring beautiful character designs and intricate backgrounds that evoke the era in which the show is set.
Overall, Otome Yokai Zakuro is a must-watch for fans of supernatural anime, with its compelling characters, intricate world-building, and powerful themes of acceptance and understanding. The series is a perfect blend of action, drama, and comedy that keeps viewers engaged from start to finish.
Otome Yokai Zakuro is a series that ran for 1 seasons (13 episodes) between October 4, 2010 and on ADK