>>50582019This whole question is a double edged sword.
In order to beat Pokemon in Japan, you need a strong kodomo appeal, which Yokai Watch had.
In order to beat Pokemon in the West, you need a VERY strong teenage-adult shounen-esque appeal, at least like Digimon or Professor Layton, hell even Persona, which Yokai Watch never had but Pokemon DID have, from the first anime, the first games, etc. Pokemon was always for kids but it also had room to easily grow into a teen thing given the lore, premise, etc.
American kids are never gonna relate to stuff like Japanese folklore since they're not really surrounded by it.
American teens/adults, however, CAN get into that stuff as seen with Inuyasha where most of the main console games were released in English.
Level5 placed their bet on the kodomo appeal, they got Japan but you can't get into the West with that.
