Gegege no Kitaro: Ghost Train 3D - Review of Season 5 Episode 19

"GeGeGe no Kitaro: Kitaro's Ghost Train 3D": A story of travel and growth across time and space

■Overview of the work

"GeGeGe no Kitaro: Kitaro's Ghost Train 3D" is a short animated film released in 2009, based on Shigeru Mizuki's masterpiece "GeGeGe no Kitaro." This work is the first 3D CG animation in the Kitaro series, and was produced after the end of the fourth series of the TV anime. It was released on October 3, 2009, and distributed by Toei. It depicts a profound theme in a short 14-minute episode.

■ Story

After getting a zero on a test, Santaro complains that he wishes he could go back to yesterday and do the test again. Ratman appears and urges Santaro to write a letter with his wish in it and send it to Kitaro. After sending the letter, Santaro ends up boarding a ghost train that travels to the past. On the ghost train, Santaro comes face to face with his past self, and upon seeing the bad things he had done, he begins to reform. This is the story of Santaro's growth and remorse over this short period of time.

■Explanation

"GeGeGe no Kitaro: Kitaro's Ghost Train 3D" was the first 3D CG animation in the Kitaro series. This work, which was produced after the fourth series of the TV anime ended in 1999, attempts new expressions by making full use of CG technology. It is directed by Mamoru Hosoda, scripted by Mitsuru Shimada, and animated by Toei Animation. Based on the original work by Shigeru Mizuki, it depicts the growth of Santaro while making use of the fantastical setting of a ghost train.

■Cast

The cast of this production is as follows:

• Kitaro: Yoko Matsuoka
• Eyeball's Dad: Isamu Tanonaka
• Rat Man: Shigeru Chiba
• Santaro: Noriko Hidaka

These voice actors bring excitement to the series with their performances that make the most of the individuality of the characters. In particular, Yoko Matsuoka's Kitaro and Shigeru Chiba's Ratman are well-represented characters who have been loved throughout the series.

■ Main staff

The main staff of this work are as follows:

• Original author: Shigeru Mizuki
• Directed by: Mamoru Hosoda
• Screenplay: Mitsuru Shimada
• Animation production: Toei Animation

Based on the original work by Shigeru Mizuki, the combination of Mamoru Hosoda's direction and Mitsuru Shimada's script allowed for a deep theme to be depicted in a short time. Combined with Toei Animation's technical capabilities, the film has been highly praised for its perfection as a 3D CG animation.

■ Main Characters

The main characters of this work are as follows:

• Kitaro: A boy of ghostly descent. He is usually laid-back, but when evil spirits appear, he fights them using his spiritual powers, including hair barbs, a spirit net chanchanko, and remote-controlled wooden clogs.
• Medama no Oyaji: Kitaro's father. He lives with Kitaro in Gegege no Mori and has a wide range of knowledge about monsters, legends, and even common sense in human society. He is a living dictionary. He loves teacup baths.
• Ratman: Self-proclaimed best friend of Kitaro. He is weak in desire, and sometimes betrays his best friend Kitaro for money. His desires often cause trouble and incidents.
• Santaro: After getting a zero on his test, he wants to go back to yesterday and retake the test, so he decides to ride the ghost train.

These characters support Santaro's growth in the fantastical setting of a ghost train. In particular, the contrast between Ratman's desires and Santaro's regrets adds depth to the story.

■ Related works

Gegege no Kitaro: Kitaro's Ghost Train 3D was produced as part of Shigeru Mizuki's Gegege no Kitaro series. Related works include the TV series Gegege no Kitaro. This TV series has been loved for many years, with six series produced between 1968 and 2020. Each series features different stories and characters, making it a must-see for fans.

■ Theme songs and music

The theme songs for this work are as follows:

• TM1: Gegege no Kitaro
• Lyricist: Shigeru Mizuki
• Composer: Izumi Taku
• Arrangement: Yuukadan
• Sung by: Yuukadan

The theme song for Gegege no Kitaro, Gegege no Kitaro, is well-known and adds to the atmosphere of the series. The lyrics by Shigeru Mizuki, the music by Izumi Taku, and the vocals by Yuuta Dan combine to firmly express the worldview of the work.

■ Evaluation and impressions

"GeGeGe no Kitaro: Kitaro's Ghost Train 3D" has been highly praised for its deep themes in a short amount of time. In particular, the story of Santaro's growth and remorse has touched a wide audience, from children to adults. It has also been praised for its technical prowess as a 3D CG animation, and has become a work that shows new possibilities for the Kitaro series.

The appeal of this work lies in the combination of the fantastical setting of a ghost train and the story of Santaro's growth. The contrast between Nezumi-Otoko's desires and Santaro's regrets adds depth to the story, and it contains many elements that make the viewer think. Also, don't miss the action of familiar characters such as Kitaro, Medama-no-Oyaji, and Nezumi-Otoko.

■ Recommendation points

The reasons we recommend "GeGeGe no Kitaro: Kitaro's Ghost Train 3D" are as follows:

• The fact that it depicts a profound theme in a short period of time
• High technical capabilities as a 3D CG animation
• The fantastical setting of a ghost train is appealing.
• The story of Santaro's growth and reflection is moving.
• The fact that you can see characters from the Kitaro series in action

For these reasons, "GeGeGe no Kitaro: Kitaro's Ghost Train 3D" is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the Kitaro series, but also to those who like fantasy anime and coming-of-age stories. Please give it a watch.

■ Additional Information

"GeGeGe no Kitaro: Kitaro's Ghost Train 3D" is a film based on the original work by Shigeru Mizuki, but the story unfolds differently from the original. In particular, the setting of a ghost train is not in the original work, and can be enjoyed as an original element of the film. In addition, the combination of Mamoru Hosoda's direction and Mitsuru Shimada's script has resulted in a film that firmly expresses the worldview of the original work while adding a new interpretation.

This is a short animated film that was released in 2009, but can still be viewed on DVD and streaming services. For fans of the Kitaro series, this is an essential piece for learning about the series' history. It's also valuable as a work that lets you feel the evolution of CG technology.

Conclusion

"GeGeGe no Kitaro: Kitaro's Ghost Train 3D" has been highly praised for depicting a profound theme in a short amount of time. The combination of the fantastical setting of a ghost train with a story depicting the growth of Santaro has created a work that moves viewers. It has also been praised for its technical prowess as a 3D CG animation, demonstrating new possibilities for the Kitaro series. Please watch it and experience its charm for yourself.