History Main / Oni

* ''[[Animation/KihachiroKawamotoShorts Oni]]'' by Kihachirō Kawamoto. Two brothers who go hunting are attacked by a oni, and a much nastier surprise awaits them...

* Oni randomly appear[[note]]Well, not so randomly since it's always at the same places, rather the places have nothing special[[/note]] as enemy assassins in ''VideoGame/GuildWars: Factions''. They serve the greater demon Kanaxai who dwells in [[DugTooDeep The Deep]].

* ''[[Animation/KihachiroKawamotoShorts Oni]]'' by Kihachirō Kawamoto. Two brothers who go hunting are attacked by a oni, and that's just the beginning.

* Oni appear as enemy assassins in ''VideoGame/GuildWars: Factions''. They serve the greater demon Kanaxai who dwells in [[DugTooDeep The Deep]].

* ''VideoGame/BlueArchive': Chise Waraku is an [[TheDitz adorably dopey version of this.]]

* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'',, the titular "demons" are actually oni and are referred to as such in Japanese. While they do have some of the typical traits of oni from folklore (claws, fangs, horns, possessing both great physical strength and magic powers), [[CallAPegasusAHippogriff they otherwise have more in common]] with [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]] (likely a reference to how the Japanese word for "vampire", ''kyūketsuki'', literally means "blood-sucking oni"): they infect humans with their blood and turn them into beings like themselves, they're weak to sunlight, and the only sure way to kill them aside from exposing them to the sun is by [[DecapitationRequired decapitation]] with a special kind of steel.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Sawk and Throh are based on these, with one being red and one blue. They originally had horns but lost them because it was feared that they'd be confused with the Kami trio of legendaries.

* ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'': Tager is called "Red Oni" in Japan because of his big red body and big fangs. Interestingly, [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot he's also a]] {{Cyborg}}, and he was a normal human before both traits are given by his master, Professor Kokonoe, after he's mortally wounded in the past.

* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'', the titular "demons" are actually oni and are referred to as such in Japanese. While they do have some of the typical traits of oni from folklore (claws, fangs, horns, possessing both great physical strength and magic powers), [[CallAPegasusAHippogriff they otherwise have more in common]] with [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]] (likely a reference to how the Japanese word for "vampire", ''kyūketsuki'', literally means "blood-sucking oni"); they infect humans with their blood and turn them into beings like themselves, they're weak to sunlight, and the only sure way to kill them aside from exposing them to the sun is by [[DecapitationRequired decapitation]] with a special kind of steel.

* ''Manga/GeGeGeNoKitaro'' often features Oni amongst the many Yokai of the story, usually serving as the guards of Hell. Recurring Oni antagonists include the Raijin-like Kaminari, the Kubireoni and the Kido (Demon Child) Ibukimaru, son of Shuten Doji. According to the flashback and credits seen in episode 49, [[spoiler: ArcVillain Nanashi is half-human half-oni, taking the form of a giant four-eyed baby and manipulating grudge and hatred from the shadows.]]

** Suika Ibuki and Yuugi Hoshiguma are powerful oni based on the legendary [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuten-dōji Shuten-douji]] and Hoshiguma-douji respectively, who once worked together as part of a group called the Big Four of the Mountain. The two are heavy drinkers, with Suika having never been seen sober in 700 years, and Yuugi being unable to be intoxicated. [[Manga/TouhouIbarakasenWildAndHornedHermit Kasen Ibaraki]] is heavily implied to be another member of their group, based on Ibaraki-douji, who has chosen to disguise herself as a human for unclear reasons. [[spoiler: Kasen's identity as an oni is confirmed in Chapters 49 and 49.5 of ''Wild and Horned Hermit'']]. A notable trait of oni in ''Touhou'' is their honesty; they WillNotTellALie and they hate liars.

* Many {{youkai}} in ''VideoGame/YokaiWatch'' are oni. Oni even appear during Terror Time. In ''Yo-Kai Watch 3'' (which takes place in America), they're replaced with zombies.

* [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuten-dōji Shuten-douji]] was a leader of the oni of Mt. Ooe, and considered one of the Three Great Evil Youkai of Japan (alongside Emperor Sutoku/Ōtakemaru and Tamamo-no-Mae). While generally depicted as a human who transformed into an oni, [[MultipleChoicePast there are multiple stories as to how this happened]], including being cursed for spurning the love of his female admirers, or performing the taboo of wearing an Oni costume after drinking sake.

Oni are brutish mountain {{Youkai}} superficially similar to [[AllTrollsAreDifferent Trolls]] and {{O|urOgresAreHungrier}}gres, [[HornedHumanoid with either one or two horns]] (which in some depictions are the source of their power). The word is almost always translated into English as "demons" or mistranslated (by tradition) as "ogres". Contrary to the common mistranslation, Oni starkly differ from traditional depictions of Western ogres. While still large, strong, and often brutish, Oni are known for possessing powerful magic and being far smarter than ogres. Further, certain types are very calm and introspective, and female oni, being very beautiful, can get along well with (and sometimes marry) humans. They are sometimes depicted as good and sometimes as bad, but are usually [[ChaoticNeutral morally neutral and interested in their own affairs]] rather than the usually outright malevolent ogres. They prefer huge [[CarryABigStick bludgeoning weapons (iron clubs called kanabō being the most common)]] and hide loincloths (usually tiger-striped). They are also shown to really love their alcohol, which can make them even more rowdy. Sometimes blamed for streaks of misfortune or violent weather. Others work jobs in FireAndBrimstoneHell as {{big red devil}}s.

"Oni" originally referred to misfortune, bad vibes and evil spirits, which were traditionally said to come from the northeast. Under the EasternZodiac this is known as the "ox-tiger" direction, so these forces came to be [[AnthropomorphicPersonification anthropomorphised]] as beings with features of oxen and tigers [[note]] Namely, horns as of the ox and tiger skins (in addition to tiger-like claws) [[/note]]. Because they're MadeOfEvil (or at least Made of [[OrderVersusChaos Chaos]]), supernatural powers used by oni are often classified as ''jujutsu'' ([[BlackMagic "hexes", "maleficium" or "witchcraft"]]) even when they're overt or harmless.

Particularly powerful oni may be described as ''kishin'' (literally "oni god"; the "ki" is an AlternateCharacterReading of "oni"), a term used in Japanese Buddhism to refer to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrathful_deities Wrathful Deities]], while in some istances the term "Akki" (literally Evil Oni) specifically design evil-minded, man-eating oni. Incidentally, the Japanese word for [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire]] (''kyuuketsuki'') can be translated as "blood-sucking oni"; [[OurVampiresAreDifferent/AnimeAndManga see here for details.]]

Compare HornedHumanoid. For the Oni's Western counterparts, see OurOgresAreHungrier and AllTrollsAreDifferent (and occasionally OurDemonsAreDifferent).

See also SmashMook (and some Oni in video games will be that kind of enemy).

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'', the Bokoblins are given a design resembling traditional depictions of Oni (outward-jutting fangs, loincloths made from big cat skins, etc.), in contrast to the PigMan designs they usually have.

* The creature referred to as "[[OurOgresAreHungrier Ogre]]" in ''LightNovel/GoblinSlayer'' is otherwise clearly an oni. It has the appearance, complete with horns, the iconic iron club, and magic, which regular ogres usually lack. It also has [[HealingFactor rapid regeneration]].

* In ''Literature/{{Tinker}}'', "Oni" is a catchall term for the inhabitants of a dimension bent on the conquest of Earth and Elfhome. {{Tengu}} and [[AsianFoxSpirit kitsune]] are included under this term but only one true Oni is seen, Lord Tomtom portrayed as a large, whitefurred apelike creature who is brutal but of high inteligence. [[OurOrcsAreDifferent There are also lesser Oni who look like very large, red headed humans and function as Lord Tomtom's mooks.]] The kitsune, tengu, and lesser Oni have all been created through [[{{Magitek}} magical gentic engineering]] to serve the true Oni.

* Momi from ''Manga/MononokeSharing'' looks like woman with GagBoobs and horns, and is a [[{{NEET}} lazy shut-in]] who spends all her time browsing the internet, though it's hinted that she is far stronger than she looks. [[spoiler:The end of the series reveals that she helped the gods in the creation of the planet and [[TheMaker personally created the entire mononoke race]].]]

* [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuten-dōji Shuten-douji]] was a leader of the oni of Mt. Ooe, and considered one of the Three Great Evil Youkai of Japan (alongside Emperor Sutoku and Tamamo-no-Mae). While generally depicted as a human who transformed into an oni, [[MultipleChoicePast there are multiple stories as to how this happened]], including being cursed for spurning the love of his female admirers, or performing the taboo of wearing an Oni costume after drinking sake.
* Otakemaru was another extremely powerful Oni sometimes recognized as one of the Three Great Evil Youkai in lieu of Sutoku, a master of sorcery in possession of three enchanted swords which made him invincible. Eventually he was tricked by the goddess he was wooing and defeated by an heroic general (after trying to [[TakingYouWithMe have his severed head bite his skull off]]), but he reformed in a far away continent and returned with vengeance, only to be quelled again.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* The Empire of the Rising Sun in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'' has the [[HumongousMecha King Oni]]. Fittingly, they resemble giant hulking brutes, though their main form of attack are EyeBeams. They do however have a [[RammingAlwaysWorks bull rush ability]] which causes them to rush forward and knock away anything unlucky enough to get in their way.
** [[spoiler: And The Emperor has the [[SuperPrototype original prototype]] of it. It's [[LawOfChromaticSuperiority red]], [[BiggerIsBetter bigger]], has [[MacrossMissileMassacre shoulder-mounted missile pods]] and [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking The Emperor]] is gonna kick your ass with it.]]

* One set of ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' featured various Oni. They were classified as Demon Spirits and looked vaguely ogre-like, but they were also served by actual Ogres.

"Oni" originally referred to misfortune, bad vibes and evil spirits, which were traditionally said to come from the northeast. Under the EasternZodiac this is known as the "ox-tiger" direction, so these forces came to be [[AnthropomorphicPersonification anthropomorphised]] as beings with features of oxen and tigers. Because they're MadeOfEvil (or at least Made of [[OrderVersusChaos Chaos]]), supernatural powers used by oni are often classified as ''jujutsu'' ([[BlackMagic "hexes", "maleficium" or "witchcraft"]]) even when they're overt or harmless.

Oni are brutish mountain {{Youkai}} superficially similar to [[AllTrollsAreDifferent Trolls]] and {{O|urOgresAreHungrier}}gres, [[HornedHumanoid with either one or two horns]] (which in some depictions are the source of their power). The word is almost always translated into English as "demons" or mistranslated (by tradition) as "ogres". Contrary to the common mistranslation, Oni starkly differ from traditional depictions of Western ogres. While still large, strong, and often brutish, Oni are known for possessing powerful magic and being far smarter than ogres. Further, certain types are very calm and introspective, and female oni being very beautiful who can get along well with (and sometimes marry) humans. They are sometimes depicted as good and sometimes as bad, but are usually [[ChaoticNeutral morally neutral and interested in their own affairs]] rather than the usually outright malevolent ogres. They prefer huge [[CarryABigStick bludgeoning weapons (iron clubs called kanabō being the most common)]] and hide loincloths (usually tiger-striped). They are also shown to really love their alcohol, which can make them even more rowdy. Sometimes blamed for streaks of misfortune or violent weather. Others work jobs in FireAndBrimstoneHell as {{big red devil}}s.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* The ''VideoGame/Pokémon'' Sawk and Throh are based on them, with one being red and one blue. They originally had horns but lost them because it was feared they’d be confused with the Kami trio of legendaries.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Zenki and Goki (lit. Preceding Oni and Following Oni) are the archetypal RedOniBlueOni which can apparently be summoned by Shinto priests to serve as familiars or bodyguards. Zenki is a massive, musculare male Oni with red skin, two horns and AnAxeToGrind, while Gouki is a female blue Oni with a single horn carrying a stone jug with her.

* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', the [[FantasyCounterpartCulture quasi-Japanese nation]] of Hoshido has a BarbarianHero class known as "Oni Savage", which [[PrestigeClass promotes]] to "Oni Chieftain".[[note]]In the original Japanese release, they are known as ''Kijin'' ("oni man") and ''Shura'' ("Asura").[[/note]] While they aren't actually oni, they still invoke the imagery of them; they wear oni masks and wield [[CarryABigStick clubs]] (The Hoshidan equivalent of the [[AnAxeToGrind axe]]) in reference to ''oni-ni-kanabou'' ("oni with an iron club").

[[folder:Light Novels]]
* In ''LightNovel/ReZero'', oni are normally born with two horns that serve as the source of their powers. [[spoiler:[[RedOniBlueOni Rem and Ram]] are an exception due to being twins, who are born with a single horn each. In the present day, Ram is much weaker than Rem due to losing her horn.]]
* In ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'', six of them become close servants and advisors of the protagonist, although after being named they evolve into Kijin and go through the BishonenLine, looking like humans with horns and FacialMarkings.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]