noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective, noun
fantastic; grotesque; strange-looking
Describes something with an abnormal, eerie, or fantastical appearance, often with a negative or unsettling nuance. Used for creatures, shapes, or appearances that deviate strikingly from the norm.
A grotesque monster emerged from deep in the forest.
The monster had a grotesque appearance.
A strange-looking shadow was cast on the wall.
He had a somewhat grotesque appearance.
グロテスク is a loanword typically for intentionally distorted or ugly art/design, whereas 異形 covers any fantastical or eerie shape, natural or not.
怪異 leans toward supernatural or mysterious phenomena in general, while 異形 specifically describes a strange bodily or physical form.
異形 read いけい is a neutral technical term for a variant form, while the same kanji read いぎょう means a grotesque or eerie appearance, often used for monsters or strange beings.
strange-looking creatures; spirits and goblins
Standard kanji spelling.
Compound of 異 (い, 'different, strange') and 形 (ぎょう, 'shape, form'). The reading ぎょう for 形 is the kan'on reading, commonly used in Sino-Japanese compounds.