Honestly, if you grew up thinking Kitaro was just a cute yokai kid with a remote-control geta sandal, this movie is going to wreck your childhood. The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of Gegege isn't just a prequel. It’s a brutal, rain-soaked noir that feels more like a Seinen horror film than a shonen adventure.
It’s heavy.
Released to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Shigeru Mizuki’s birth, this film finally peels back the layers on how the legendary Kitaro actually entered our world. Most fans know the basics: he’s the last of the Ghost Tribe. But the "how" and the "why" are buried under layers of post-war trauma, corporate greed, and some of the most unsettling family dynamics ever put to animation.
The Nagura Village Nightmare
The story kicks off in 1956. Japan is clawing its way out of the wreckage of World War II, fueled by a desperate, almost manic need for economic growth. Enter Mizuki. No, not the author, but a protagonist named after him—a salaryman working for the Bloodline Pharmaceutical company. He’s a social climber. He’s cynical. He’s exactly the kind of "modern man" that Shigeru Mizuki often critiqued in his manga.
Mizuki heads to the secluded Nagura Village. He’s there to secure the succession of the Ryoga clan, a family that basically controls the Japanese economy from the shadows. But Nagura isn't just a village; it’s a cage. It’s constantly raining, the colors are muted grays and sick greens, and the atmosphere is thick with the smell of rotting traditions.
Then there’s the "Mystery of Gegege" part.
While Mizuki is trying to play corporate politics, people start dying. Horribly. This isn't your "monster of the week" stuff. We're talking about blood-drenched ritual murders. Into this mess walks a mysterious, long-haired man looking for his missing wife. We know him as Medama-oyaji (Daddy Eyeball), but here, he’s still in his full, humanoid Ghost Tribe form.
The chemistry between Mizuki and the man who will become Kitaro’s father is the beating heart of the film. They’re an odd couple: a man who has lost his soul to capitalism and a supernatural being who has lost everything but his love for his partner.
Why the 1950s Setting Matters
You can't separate the horror in The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of Gegege from the era it depicts. Japan in 1956 was a place of deep scars. The film doesn't shy away from this. It explicitly references the horrors of the war, the PTSD of the soldiers, and the way the older generation sacrificed the younger one to build a "new" Japan.
The Ryoga family represents the rot of the old world. They’ve stayed powerful by exploiting something called "M-Drug." It's a miracle serum that gives people superhuman energy, but the source of it? It’s beyond ghoulish. It’s the ultimate metaphor for how the elite drain the lifeblood of the common people to stay on top.
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If you look at Shigeru Mizuki’s real-life history—losing an arm in the war, nearly dying of malaria, seeing his friends blown to bits—you realize this movie is the ultimate tribute to his worldview. It’s dark because the world he lived in was dark.
Understanding The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of Gegege and the Ghost Tribe
For decades, we’ve seen Kitaro as a hero who bridges the gap between humans and yokai. But this film reminds us that Kitaro is a miracle. He shouldn't even exist.
The Ghost Tribe was extinct. Or so we thought.
The film reveals that Kitaro’s father and mother were the absolute last survivors. They were being hunted and exploited by humans for their unique biology. When you see Kitaro's father in this movie, he’s a tragic figure. He’s powerful, yes, but he’s also tired. He’s a remnant of a world that humanity has decided it no longer needs.
The Visual Style: Not Your Average Anime
Director Go Koga and the team at Toei Animation made a very specific choice here. They went for a "Gekiga" style. It’s sharp, detailed, and gritty. If you compare it to the 2018 GeGeGe no Kitaro TV series, the difference is night and day. The character designs are more grounded, and the violence is visceral.
The action sequences are surprisingly kinetic for a mystery film. When Kitaro’s father fights, it isn't flashy magic. It’s desperate, heavy, and supernatural. The way the animators handle the "spectral hair" and the wooden clogs feels weighted. You feel every impact.
Decoding the Mystery of Gegege
So, what is the "Mystery of Gegege"? On the surface, it’s the whodunnit involving the Ryoga family. Who is killing the heirs? Who is pulling the strings? But on a deeper level, it’s the mystery of how humanity could be so cruel.
The film subverts the typical yokai trope. Usually, the yokai are the monsters. Here, the humans are the ones you should be afraid of. The Ryoga clan’s patriarch, Tokisada, is one of the most detestable villains in recent anime history. His crimes aren't just "evil"; they’re systematic and cruel.
The "Gegege" refers to the sound of Kitaro’s name, but it also evokes the eerie, unsettling laughter of the forest. It’s the sound of nature reacting to human greed.
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Mizuki and Kitaro’s Father: A Brotherhood of the Damned
The most moving part of the film is the bond that forms between the human Mizuki and the Ghost Tribe man. They start as enemies, or at least suspicious strangers. But they find common ground in their shared trauma. Mizuki is a man who was told his life didn't matter in the war; Kitaro’s father is a man whose entire race was told they didn't matter.
There’s a scene where they share a drink and a smoke. It’s quiet. It’s simple. And it’s one of the best moments in the movie. It’s a brief flash of humanity in a village filled with monsters.
The Ending: Heartbreak and Hope
Without spoiling the absolute final frames, let’s just say that The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of Gegege earns its emotional payoff. The way it loops back to the very first episode of the original 1960s Hakaba Kitaro (Graveyard Kitaro) is masterfully done.
It explains why Daddy Eyeball is just an eyeball.
It explains why Kitaro is missing an eye.
It explains why Kitaro, despite everything humanity has done to his family, still chooses to protect them.
Kitaro isn't a hero because he loves humans. He’s a hero because he was born from an act of love and sacrifice between two people—one human, one yokai—who decided to be better than the world around them.
Is it worth watching if you don't know Kitaro?
Actually, yeah. Maybe even more so. If you’re a horror fan or a fan of historical dramas like In This Corner of the World, this hits those same notes. You don't need fifty years of lore to understand that a corrupt family in a spooky village is a recipe for a bad time.
The film stands on its own as a piece of folk-horror. It’s a "Japanese Gothic" story.
Why Fans Are Still Talking About It
Since its release, the film has become a bit of a sleeper hit. It didn't have the massive marketing budget of a Demon Slayer movie, but it found its audience through word of mouth. People were shocked by how "adult" it was. It wasn't just for kids.
In fact, it’s rated PG-12 in Japan, but the themes are much more mature than that suggests. It deals with:
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- Forced labor and human experimentation.
- The psychological toll of war.
- The destruction of nature for profit.
- Incestuous family dynamics (implied but very present).
It’s a lot.
But it’s also beautiful. The backgrounds are lush and haunting. The music, composed by Kenji Kawai (who did the legendary Ghost in the Shell soundtrack), is haunting. It uses traditional instruments to create an atmosphere that feels ancient and threatening.
How to Approach the Movie
If you're planning to dive into this, go in expecting a slow burn. It’s a mystery first, an action movie second. Pay attention to the background details. The film uses visual storytelling to show the hierarchy of the village—who sits where, who speaks first, who is ignored.
Also, keep a box of tissues handy. The final act is a gauntlet of emotions.
The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of Gegege is a reminder that Kitaro didn't come from a place of whimsy. He came from the graveyard. He came from the mud. He came from a world that tried to erase him before he was even born.
That he turned out to be a protector of the weak is the greatest mystery of all.
Actionable Next Steps
To truly appreciate the depth of this film, you should consider these follow-up actions:
- Watch "Hakaba Kitaro" (2008): This 11-episode series is the closest in tone to the new movie. It follows the original "Graveyard Kitaro" manga which is much darker and more cynical than the later "GeGeGe" versions.
- Read "Showa: A History of Japan" by Shigeru Mizuki: If the historical elements of the movie intrigued you, this autobiographical manga series provides the real-life context of the era Mizuki lived through. It helps explain his skepticism toward authority and his empathy for the "outcasts."
- Visit the Mizuki Shigeru Road in Sakaiminato: If you ever find yourself in Japan, this street is dedicated to his creations. Seeing the statues of these characters in the real world adds a layer of tangible history to the folklore.
- Look for the "Easter Eggs": On a second viewing, watch the character of Mizuki closely. His reactions to the supernatural elements are a direct reflection of how the author reportedly felt when he encountered the "unknown" during his time in the South Pacific.
The film is currently available on various streaming platforms depending on your region, often listed under its Japanese title Kitaro Tanjo: Gegege no Nazo. It’s a essential viewing for anyone who wants to see how anime can tackle complex, painful history through the lens of the supernatural.