Gegege no Kitaro: The Appeal and Evaluation of Chisogane - Looking Back at the Masterpieces of the 70s

"GeGeGe no Kitaro: Chisougan": A masterpiece where Shigeru Mizuki's worldview and Toei Animation's technique intersect

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

July 12, 1980 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Distributor: Toei

■Frequencies

12 mins

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

・Original work: Shigeru Mizuki ^{"GeGeGe no Kitaro" series ・Mizuki Productions}

■ Production

Animation Production: Toei Animation Production: Toei ^{Toei Animation} , Fuji TV

■Works

© Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation

■ Story

Yasui has become the president of a large company after obtaining the secret treasure "Chisogan" that can reveal the geology of the earth. However, the worm monster that controls the Chisogan forces Yasui to choose between offering up his son's life or his own. Driven to the brink, Yasui turns to Kitaro for advice, but...

■Explanation

This is a re-edited version of episode 37, "Chisogan," from the second TV series "GeGeGe no Kitaro" for a theatrical short film. It was shown at the Toei Manga Festival in the summer of 1980. It was shown alongside "Denziman" and "Magical Girl Lalabel: The Sea Calls Summer Vacation."

■Cast

・Kitaro / Masako Nozawa ・Eyeball Dad / Isamu Tanonaka ・Ratman / Norio Otsuka ・Cat Girl / Yoko Ogushi ・Yasui / Joji Yanami

■ Main staff

・Direction: Yoshikatsu Kasai ・Planning: Yu Saito ・Original story: Shigeru Mizuki ・Screenplay: Yonaka Shibata ・Chief animation director: Akinori Ohrai ・Art: Hidenobu Hata

■ Main Characters

A monster who fights with Kitaro's father, Medama-oyaji, to create a world where monsters and humans can coexist. He has a strong sense of justice and cannot leave people in trouble alone. He has a variety of weapons and abilities, including remote-controlled geta and hair pins.

・Medama Oyaji Kitaro's father, he has a very unique appearance with an eyeball and a human body. He has traveled the world and has a wealth of knowledge about monsters. His hobby is taking baths, and he likes to pour hot water into a teacup.

Ratman: A half-demon with a face resembling a mouse and wearing only a single piece of cloth like a robe. He is basically a friend of Kitaro, but he loves money and is easily drowning in his greed, and is often manipulated by evil demons to betray Kitaro.

・Cat Girl A yokai who usually has the appearance of a young girl, but when excited or when she sees a mouse, she turns into a cat. She is a friend of Kitaro, and secretly has feelings for him. She has a tomboyish personality, and often looks after Kitaro.

・President of Yasui Dai Company. In the chaos of the postwar period, he acquired the ability to see the earth and amassed a huge fortune.

■ Related works

TV anime "GeGeGe no Kitaro" (1971-72)

The appeal and evaluation of "GeGeGe no Kitaro: Chisogan"

Gegege no Kitaro: Chisogan is a short film produced by Toei Animation based on the original work by Shigeru Mizuki, and was screened at the Toei Manga Festival in 1980. In just 12 minutes, it condenses the charm of the original work and the skill of the animation. This work is one of the most highly rated episodes in the Kitaro series, and we will explain in detail why below.

Depth of story

The story of "Jisogan" begins with a tense turn of events, as Yasui, who has obtained the treasure "Jisogan," is pressured by a worm monster to offer up either his son or his own life. This situation symbolizes Shigeru Mizuki's theme that humans ultimately pay a heavy price for what they obtain through their greed. Yasui's suffering and his plea for Kitaro's help evoke deep empathy in the viewer. Kitaro's struggle to save Yasui also shows his sense of justice and deep compassion for humanity.

Character Appeal

Each character in the Kitaro series is unique and charming. Kitaro is the protagonist with a strong sense of justice, and his determination to do everything he can to help those in need leaves a strong impression on viewers. The unique characteristics of each character, such as Medama-oyaji's vast knowledge and humor, Nezumi-Otoko's desires and betrayal, and Nekomusume's tomboyish personality and affection for Kitaro, enrich the story. Yasui's character in particular is portrayed realistically as he is torn between his desires and his love for his family, deeply moving viewers.

Animation quality

Toei Animation's technical capabilities are fully displayed in this short film. The character designs by animation director Akinori Ohrai faithfully reproduce the atmosphere of the original work while adding the movements and expressions that can only be achieved with animation. Scenes depicting Kitaro's special abilities, such as his remote-controlled geta and hair needles, are particularly visually appealing. Additionally, the background art by art director Hidenobu Hata realistically depicts the world of the monsters, drawing the viewer into the world of the story.

Music and Sound

Music and sound are also important elements that enhance the appeal of this work. The theme songs of the Kitaro series are familiar to the audience and enhance the tension and emotion of the story. In particular, the sound effects and background music in the scene where the monster worm appears frighten the audience and increase the tension of the story. Additionally, the music in the scene where Kitaro saves Yasui has the effect of warmly wrapping the audience's heart.

The historical background of "GeGeGe no Kitaro: Chisogan"

Gegege no Kitaro: Chisōgan was released in 1980, a time when Japanese society was transitioning from high economic growth to stable growth, and while many people pursued material wealth, there was also a growing tendency to seek spiritual fulfillment. In this historical context, Yasui's character, who was torn between desire and love for his family, evoked deep empathy from viewers. Kitaro's sense of justice and compassion for other people can also be said to reflect the values ​​that were desired in society at the time.

The influence and evaluation of "GeGeGe no Kitaro: Chisogan"

"GeGeGe no Kitaro: Chisogan" is one of the most highly acclaimed episodes in the Kitaro series, and has had a great influence. This work presented viewers with a condensed form of the charm of the Kitaro series, and gained many fans. In addition, by faithfully recreating Shigeru Mizuki's original work while adding the expressive power unique to animation, it has been highly praised not only by fans of the original work but also by anime fans.

Recommended points of "GeGeGe no Kitaro Chisogan"

"GeGeGe no Kitaro: Chisōgan" is a work that can be recommended for the following reasons.

1. A deep and moving story

The story depicts Yasui's character, who is torn between his desires and his love for his family, and Kitaro's sense of justice and compassion for humanity, deeply moving viewers. In particular, the scene where Kitaro saves Yasui has a warm and inviting effect on viewers' hearts.

2. The appeal of the characters

The characters in the Kitaro series are all unique and charming. Kitaro's sense of justice, Medama-oyaji's humor, Nezumi-Otoko's desire and betrayal, and Nekomusume's tomboyish personality - each character's unique characteristics enrich the story.

3. Animation quality

Toei Animation's technical prowess is on full display in this short film: the character designs by animation director Akinori Ohrai and the background art by art director Hidenobu Hata faithfully reproduce the atmosphere of the original work while adding the movements and expressions that can only be achieved through animation.

4. Music and Sound

Music and sound are also important elements that enhance the appeal of this work. The theme songs of the Kitaro series are familiar to the audience and enhance the tension and emotion of the story. In particular, the sound effects and background music in the scene where the monster worm appears frighten the audience and increase the tension of the story.

Related works and viewing methods for "GeGeGe no Kitaro: Chisogan"

"GeGeGe no Kitaro: Chisogan" is a re-edited version of episode 37, "Chisogan," from the TV anime "GeGeGe no Kitaro," which aired from 1971 to 1972. This TV series is based on the original work by Shigeru Mizuki, and you can fully enjoy the charm of the Kitaro series. You can also gain a deeper understanding of the world of Kitaro by watching other works in the Kitaro series.

"GeGeGe no Kitaro: Chisogan" is available on DVD and Blu-ray. It is also available on streaming services, so you can watch it easily. It is a must-watch for fans of the Kitaro series and anime fans in particular.

Conclusion

Gegege no Kitaro: Chisogan is a short film produced by Toei Animation based on the original work by Shigeru Mizuki. In just 12 minutes, it condenses the charm of the original work and the skill of the animation. This work is one of the most highly acclaimed episodes of the Kitaro series, and the reasons for this are the depth of the story, the charm of the characters, the quality of the animation, and the effects of the music and sound. This work combines a deeply moving story, unique and charming characters, and the technical capabilities of Toei Animation, and is highly recommended for fans of the Kitaro series and anime fans alike.