Furthering the possibility that Yuki somehow factors into “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is the fact that her likeness is directly inspired by a mythological Japanese spirit called the Yuki-onna — “yuki” meaning “snow,” and “onna” translating to “woman.”
The Yuki-onna is a type of yokai, which is a term that refers to oftentimes horrific supernatural entities, each with their own associated folktales and signature behaviors. Depictions of the Yuki-onna are relatively common in Japanese pop culture and include one of the four stories in the 1964 film “Kwaidan,” Hiei’s sister Yukina in old-school anime “Yu Yu Hakusho,” and the fourth-generation Pokemon Froslass.
Just like the “Frozen Empire” villain, the Yuki-onna’s defining characteristic is her ability to freeze her victims. Since she’s arguably among fiction’s most iconic ice spirits, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that classic Japanese folktales about her might have at least inspired the new ice-heavy “Ghostbusters” film. For now, fans may just have to wait until “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” premieres in theaters on March 29, 2024 to find out its villain’s true identity.
