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Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe

Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe (Japanese: 鬼太郎誕生 ゲゲゲの謎, Hepburn: Kitarō Tanjō: GeGeGe no Nazo) is a 2023 Japanese animated dark fantasy film,[3] directed by Gō Koga and written by Hiroyuki Yoshino; the film is based on the GeGeGe no Kitarō manga series by Shigeru Mizuki. Produced by Toei Animation and distributed by Toei Company, Birth of Kitarō commemorates Mizuki's 100th birthday, and is the 4th film in the franchise. It is a prequel to the 2018 anime series, which tells the story of Kitarō's birth, focusing on a salaryman named Mizuki (based on Shigeru Mizuki himself) and Kitarō's father. However, unlike the main series, it was made as a horror story aimed at adults.[4]

Birth of Kitarō:
The Mystery of GeGeGe
Kanji鬼太郎誕生 ゲゲゲの謎
Revised HepburnKitarō Tanjō: GeGeGe no Nazo
Directed byGō Koga
Screenplay byHiroyuki Yoshino
Based onGeGeGe no Kitarō
by Shigeru Mizuki
Produced byKeisuke Naito[1]
Starring
CinematographyTomoyuki Ishiyama
Music byKenji Kawai
Production
company
Distributed byToei Company, Ltd.
Release date
  • November 17, 2023 (2023-11-17)
Running time
104 minutes[2]
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

The film stars the voices of Toshihiko Seki, Hidenobu Kiuchi, Atsumi Tanezaki, Yumiko Kobayashi, and Toshio Furukawa, with Miyuki Sawashiro, Umeka Shōji, and Masako Nozawa reprising their roles from the 2018 anime series. Birth of Kitarō was released in Japan on November 17, 2023,[5] and an uncut version, titled True Birth Edition,[a] on October 4, 2024.[6]

Synopsis

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Set in the 1950s, a salaryman and war veteran named Mizuki visits a village that is the source of a mysterious medicine "M". He encounters a strange white haired man, the superstitious family that runs the village, and then a series of bizarre deaths.

Voice cast

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Character Japanese voice cast[7]
Kitarō's father Toshihiko Seki (human form)
Masako Nozawa (Medama-oyaji)
Mizuki Hidenobu Kiuchi
Kitarō Miyuki Sawashiro
Neko Musume Umeka Shōji
Nezumi Otoko Toshio Furukawa
Sayo Ryūga Atsumi Tanezaki
Tokiya Yumiko Kobayashi
Tokisada Ryūga Tetsu Shiratori
Tokima Nobuo Tobita
Otome Yoko Soumi
Hinoe Yuko Minaguchi
Yamada Masaya Matsukaze
Kenji Nagata Akira Ishida
Kanako Nagata Rie Kugimiya
Katsunori Kazuhiro Yamaji
Kōzō Kazuya Nakai

Production

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In March 2021, it was announced that Gegege no Kitaro manga series was to receive an anime film adaptation,[8] and in November of that year, it was announced that Gō Koga was directing the film at Toei Animation, with Hiroyuki Yoshino providing the screenplay, Tōko Yatabe designing the characters, and music composed by Kenji Kawai.[9] In September 2023, it was announced that Toshihiko Seki was cast as Kitarō's father and Hidenobu Kiuchi as Mizuki, with Atsumi Tanezaki, Yumiko Kobayashi, and Toshio Furukawa joining the ensemble cast, while Miyuki Sawashiro, Umeka Shōji, and Masako Nozawa were reprising their respective roles as Kitarō, Neko Musume and Medama-oyaji from the 2018 anime series.[5][10]

Release

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The film was released in theaters in Japan on November 17, 2023,[5] and an uncut version, subtitled True Birth Edition on October 4, 2024, which featured re-edited contents and new dialogues.[6] It was also released via Neofilms in theaters in Hong Kong on March 7, 2024,[11] and is set to release in Malaysia and Indonesia.[12]

Reception

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Box office

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The film opened at number 2 out of top 10 in the Japanese box office in its opening weekend,[13] and dropped to number 4 in its second week, but rose to number 3 a week after.[14]

The True Birth Edition debuted at number 3 in the box office in its opening weekend, and later dropped to number 5 in its second week.[15]

Accolades

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Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe was nominated at the 47th Japan Academy Film Prize for "Best Animation Film" category.[16][17] The film won the Animage's Anime Grand Prix poll, with Mizuki and Kitarō's father taking first and second best character awards.[18]

Notes

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  1. ^ 鬼太郎誕生 ゲゲゲの謎 真生版, Kitarō Tanjō: GeGeGe no Nazo Shinseiban, lit. "Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe - True Birth Edition"

References

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  1. ^ Cayanan, Joanna (February 19, 2024). "Godzilla Minus One Live-Action Film, Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo Anime Film Producers Win Fujimoto Award". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  2. ^ 鬼太郎誕生 ゲゲゲの謎 [Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe]. eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  3. ^ 『八つ墓村』や『犬神家の一族』を彷彿とさせるおどろおどろしさ100倍のダークファンタジー『鬼太郎誕生 ゲゲゲの謎』など週末観るならこの3本！ (in Japanese). Movie Walker Press [ja]. November 18, 2023. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  4. ^ Gō Koga (November 25, 2023). "『鬼太郎誕生 ゲゲゲの謎』大ヒット記念！古賀豪監督単独インタビュー！映画オリジナル・グッズ「鬼太郎_目玉おやじアイマスク」を抽選で３名様にプレゼント！". cowai (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by 福谷修. ゼリコ・フィルム. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Pineda, Rafael (April 26, 2023). "Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo Film's Teaser Visual Reveals November 17 Opening". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (August 23, 2024). "Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo Anime Film Gets New Screenings in October With Retaken Cuts, R15+ Rating". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  7. ^ Pineda, Rafael (September 6, 2023). "Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo Anime Film's Trailer Reveals Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 7, 2021). "2018 Gegege no Kitaro Anime Gets Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo Film". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  9. ^ "「鬼太郎誕生 ゲゲゲの謎」メインスタッフ発表、古賀豪・吉野弘幸・谷田部透湖が参加". Comic Natalie (in Japanese). November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  10. ^ Saabedra, Humberto (September 6, 2023). "Kitaro Tanjou - GeGeGe no Nazo Anime Film Reveals New Trailer, Cast". Crunchyroll. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  11. ^ Pineda, Rafael (February 9, 2024). "Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo Anime Film Opens in Hong Kong on March 7". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  12. ^ Pineda, Rafael (February 9, 2024). "Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo Anime Film to Open in Malaysia, Indonesia". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  13. ^ Pineda, Rafael (November 22, 2023). "Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo Anime Film Opens at #2 With 160 Million Yen". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Pineda, Rafael (December 6, 2023). "Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid Anime Film Opens at #4". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  15. ^ Pineda, Rafael (October 16, 2024). "Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo Shinsei-ban Drops to #5, Wonderful Precure! Film Stays at #8". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  16. ^ Mateo, Rafael (January 24, 2024). "The Boy and the Heron, Godzilla Minus One, Detective Conan: Kurogane no Submarine, Blue Giant Nominated for Japan Academy Film Prizes". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  17. ^ "第47回日本アカデミー賞：優秀アニメーション作品賞に「鬼太郎誕生 ゲゲゲの謎」「君たちはどう生きるか」「窓ぎわのトットちゃん」「名探偵コナン 黒鉄の魚影」「BLUE GIANT」". Mantan Web (in Japanese). January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  18. ^ 第46回アニメＧＰ. www.chikimato.net. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
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