GROWING UP WITH ANIME

GE...GE...GEGEGE NO GE...

40 th anniversary of the beginning of this year "GeGeGe Kitaro mark in any one animated kids TV series" Supernatural that has become a Japanese company.

Japan's focus on low folklore 'GeGeGe not' Kitaro 1958 and since has been a favorite TV animation artists including Oscar affected, Hayao Miyazaki won.
Japan's focus on low folklore "GeGeGe no Kitaro" 1958 has since been a favorite TV animation artists including Oscar affected, Hayao Miyazaki won.

His position as an institution, not necessarily because of his longevity. In fact, the program, which can be seen on Fuji TV every Sunday morning has not been aired continuously since 1968. Lasted from 1969 through '72 before the '71 season with the second, third '85 to '88, '98 and fourth in '96. Current season began last year.

, A family restaurant in Tokyo's Okubo neighborhood during a recent interview, one of the program makers Hiroyuki Sakurada, says, "I'm not sure why starts and stops like this." "The official reason is that every 10 years or so, yokai and the Japanese people want to come out."

TV's usual production Sakurada dynamic opposite - characters who shot that says, no producer is - without an understanding of the unique nature of the characters can be difficult to catch. Yokai spirits are not enough, but not all demons ghosts, who play an important role in Japanese folklore. They are site-specific: each region is related to his yokai and legends.

The hero of "no Kitaro GeGeGe" invented by cartoonist are yokai Shigeru Mizuki to Kashi in 1959 (rental - comic book) Hon market. Original series "called Hakaba Kitaro (cemetery Kitaro). Was a "child of the title character has two mothers as members yurei zoku (Ghost Tribe), who live in Japan as the 1950s, was just scrape the food tax. (Yes, yokai to eat, so too - in this case, "frog eyes.), they decompose and are starting to bury their children, son Kitaro, one eye out with just crawled out of the grave. He is one eyeball that his father and sprouts hands and feet, sometimes for his son's missing orb emerged as filling is rotten.

"GeGeGe no Kitaro" "Hakaba follow-up was on." It was written for the magazine Shonen Mizuki began in 1966, and still writing today. The first time was in 1968 turned into a TV program by Toei Animation Studio. "Although Hakaba sick 'was," GeGeGe "TV show aimed at children, especially the 3-5 year primary school students. Perhaps for this reason, Mizuki commercial entertainment like the freedom to always allow for Studio given that children's appeal. Kitaro and his father's excitement in my class with other yokai, netherworld of the Justice League, formed a kind, especially to human and create trouble for the peace between his yokai .

'From Hakaba Kitaro', 'original GeGeGe not' Kitaro manga anime version of a recent
"Hakaba Kitaro," original "GeGeGe no Kitaro manga 'A recent anime version

, Sakurada says "Usually, when a construction company, one animated series, the original author's work plan will be how to decide." "Since the series started but never, manufacturers told Mizuki-san. That they're going to do and he just gives his blessing is a very broad-minded."

The manufacturers say that they do not want to feel free. Sakurada admits that "we really have not left Mizuki hand," can one old adage about being in the hands of Buddha is always context. Everyone involved in GeGeGe no Kitaro "understand" that they should be right in terms Mizuki, though some die hard fans of-manga considered child-friendly TV show a traitor.

This philosophy is a certain death. During World War II, Shigeru Mizuki in the jungles of Papua New Guinea has lost one arm and one in hell and returned to Japan with firsthand experience. For a while, he made a living as a kami, shibai itinerant storyteller who uses illustrated card, but when he started Comedy Boom off through this new, scary stories, stories based on expertise in Tottori As a boy in the province by one elderly woman said to him that non-called non-BA, which is believed fervently in the past.

DVD 'Hakuba Kotaro cover version of the anime,' Shigeru Mizuki's original manga, 1959 Created
DVD cover of the anime version "Hakuba Kotaro," Shigeru Mizuki's original manga, 1959 Created

Although its subject sordid aspects Mizuki did not shy away, as his immature and childish features to appear in yokai provides an affection. Title "GeGeGe 'refers to sound funny to insects and worms around Kitaro follow. Kitaro is such that hair can be plucked out and the enemies needles, or a detachable, remote control arm as well throw the strange privilege is. His father, Medama-oyaji (father eyeball), mop of hair for Kitaro bath when he is not in a small bowl, hide in is. Nezumi Otoko (Rat Man), On the other hand, a 300 yokai who has not bathed in years and feel like it.

Kitaro's huge influence Sakurada says. "Every Japanese person Kitaro and other characters, even if they have never seen the TV shows he knows," says. "The idea of yokai popular series in Japan, and other anime was influential in this process."

Mizuki building is without this kind of Oscar as Hayao Miyazaki, whose own cartoons, it is difficult to imagine the huge success victory "spirited away" in the world are establishing alternative preposterous and a huge stylistic and thematic lending to "No Kitaro GeGeGe."

At the same time, TV series as a traditional superhero adventure fantasy, a factor that is live action film version, which was emphasized in a box-office hit last summer (this summer sequel caused). But insist that Sakurada show is both impacted and differ from traditional stand-anime centered hero.

"Kitaro common sense is not a superhero," he says. "Because they yokai a dark hero, Kamen riders (60 of the decade as a popular live action hero), which started out as a villain. Another difference is that Kitaro often eaten or beaten or one type or flat.'s for other heroes. Sometimes he is a yokai, he always comes back. "

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The story's main character, Kitaro, 2007 live action "GeGeGe" feature film in danger. MIZUKI PRO / fuji TV / TOEI Animation

Affected children and one with invincibility both Kitaro is spoiling for a rest in terms of dramatic development: the secret is knowing where the hero can never be killed? But as Sakurada explains, the very notion yokai drama has been created.

"I grew up watching the second series - the first time in one color - when I was in elementary school and junior high when I third one," he says, was in. "I like it because it's scary, but it was strange."

He says that today's children may be afraid of a series, and a recent incident in which one yadokai, or "spirit Sarai," a deal with a guy helps her cram school in the academic rankings shows up in. He can not do it smart guy or a magical change order, but the murder of her students above all.

"Twenty years ago," Addressing the entrance examination - stories informed that it was difficult to compete for students, "Sakurada hell says' Show. "Ten years ago, telling a story line that might harm competition, but the last 10 years, people think that relationships between children as strong as they used are not taken in the event . they really do not care what happens to his classmates, only yourself, and whether we wanted to show in this case. we adapt traditional yokai time limit. "

However, sometimes it is useful to go back in time, and this year's original "Hakaba Kitaro" tale, as part of Fuji TV's adults from March to January, the first animated adaptation fled - themed, late-night animation series See "Noitamina (" Animation "spelled backward)., Sakurada, who was not involved with the series, says," I think that they always wanted to produce it, but there was no real audience. "Now as adults enjoy anime just as more children, whether they felt the right time."

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Hiroyuki Sakurada, current anime "GeGeGe serie 'one of the architects of

Perhaps because many of the adults grew up watching "GeGeGe no Kitaro," and that producers Sakurada these old fans "of the new season look GeGeGe values" with their children, thus creating a cult that both the past spread in the future.

He says, "Mizuki made some of these yokai, but in each case guests from all over Japan yokai are great creatures." "They, they spring their wishes and concerns of Japanese products of imagination, so when they see this show, these yokai, they think they know. This is a type of nostalgia."

This may explain why, unlike other shows, Toei Animation, this Dragonball 'as, "" GeGeGe no Kitaro "is a tough sell abroad., Sakurada says' No, we tried to sell it to foreign broadcasters , but he believes that it is possible from now. "Mizuki book is about alcohol non BA (2007 Angouleme International Comics Festival in) has won an award in France, so can a new audience. Can Yokai fairies or monsters. Are not they are more like spirits, and once people understand that they can like it more. "

Admits that he and his team Sakurada mainly focusing on making the current series are entertaining for myself. One thing they are enjoying with the theme song, which is just as famous as the series. Two weeks ago, a new version of the song performed by garage rock band Kaitenz 50 (interview on this page) by veteran folk singer Shigeru Izumiya replace the previous version. In addition, a different poem each week day during the week based on the story portrayed as subject to open will be used. Today's show we used poetry evening. "Next week this week morning afternoon poetry and poetry, which, however, never been used on TV shows will be after."

Sakurada means that "an endless capacity for invention and permanent popularity of the series mean to go on forever, but the current series may likely be just over the last four. The question is when?

"It is on yokai," smile.