Let this be a reminder that when it comes to love, it’s better to relax than be desperate. And maybe not do any magical summoning rituals.
What it's about
Wishing to find a girlfriend, lonely gamer and university student Hachi accidentally summons a demonic spirit out for revenge, one that can only sustain himself on the mortal plane through sex. Nicknaming her Izzy, Hachi struggles to keep her from killing, while also having a successful love life.
The take
Some people can get totally desperate when it comes to their love life, but rarely does this desperation end up with summoning an ancient warrior princess spirit. My Undead Yokai Girlfriend plays on this desperation, hilariously juxtaposing modern day love troubles with an ancient demonic revenge plot, and the mix plays out in a fun and cutesy way, with Hachi understandably over-the-top stressed out over the fact he accidentally summoned and bonded with a yokai spirit that can drain his life force. As Hachi tries to solve this through smartphone technology and research, Izzy learns more about modern day Japan, all while they both evade Hachi’s police father assigned to investigate Izzy’s victims. It’s silly, but it’s fun, and surprisingly introduces Japanese mythology in an engaging way.
What stands out
Having an undead significant other isn’t a new trope, nor is lovers coming from different points in time, but this horror dynamic is rarely played in a comedic way. If we had to give a better example of this relationship dynamic, it’s something more akin to Thor and Jane Foster, or Steve Trevor and Diana Prince, in which an ordinary love interest has to introduce modern day living to their superpowered, ancient protagonist, albeit with a severed head, demonic magic, and a forbidden spirit bond.