TV-Series
Description
Kamaitachi debuts in the Shonen Magazine story "Yōkai Castle," collaborating with Tantanbō and Futakuchi-Onna to abduct children for transformation into yōkai. Operating from Yōkai Castle, the group is defeated and petrified after Kitarō compels Nezumi-Otoko to seal the castle with a rope. He later aids Kitarō in "Yōkai Mannen-Dake," chopping down yōkai bamboos until his sickles break against Mannen-Dake's true form, and participates in the final battle.
In the 1968 anime's third episode, "Yōkai Castle," he reprises his role in child abductions. The 1985 anime shows his unsealing when a stone shrine is overturned during construction. He causes machinery malfunctions, kidnaps a child actress, and instigates panic by flying over crowds. Inside the resurrected Yōkai Castle, he scolds Nezumi-Otoko and helps turn kidnapped children into stone statues. After Futakuchi-Onna's defeat, he attacks Kitarō and Sunakake-Babaa but is restrained by Ittan-Momen, who forces him to reveal how to sink the castle. He also features in episode #74 ("Yōkai Mannen-Dake") and battles Qi in Movie 3, where he is subdued and transformed into a Yōkai Cloth.
The 1996 anime includes him in episodes #66 and #67 ("Ominous Clouds! Yōkai Castle"), introducing his sickle arm ability. A related lost 1996 short film, "Ominous Sky! Yokai Castle," features him alongside Tantanbō and a redesigned Futakuchi-Onna, adding the villain Miage-Nyudo; this short diverges from the main series' plot.
The 2007 anime introduces him as a freelance assassin in episode #39 ("Nurarihyon's Last Day"). He initially refuses Kyūso's request to free Nurarihyon due to boredom but is bribed with a rare shōjo manga by Nezumi-Otoko. During Nurarihyon's transport, he attacks Tengu officers and fights Kuro-Karasu. Discovering the manga is a forgery, he tries to kill Nezumi-Otoko with a tornado attack, only to be thwarted by Kitarō. Humiliated, he joins Nurarihyon's faction for revenge and reappears in episode #61 ("Tantanbō of the Yōkai Castle").
The 2018 anime depicts him and Yōkai Castle sealed within a mountain stone, later fragmented and used in construction, including a stadium. Revived by Nanashi, he helps abduct children as sacrifices to resurrect Yōkai Castle. He and Futakuchi-Onna capture Mana for the final sacrifice. After the castle revives, he mocks the entombed children and battles Kitarō's group, using wind slashes to disorient them. Sliced in half by Ittan-Momen, he regenerates and rejoins the fight. When a child destroys a castle pillar, he attacks but is struck by a petrified Konaki-Jijii, dissipating. Months later, Nanashi resurrects him again, and he teaches math at an Obake School, using jars of blood and liver. He later attempts to use students as yōkai fodder, threatening to gouge Hiroto's eyes before being defeated by Neko-Musume.
Kamaitachi's design varies: Shigeru Mizuki's original features an elongated mouth and robe. The 2007 anime gives him blond hair, pink skin, and a light green kimono with a black haori. The 2018 anime depicts light purple skin, orange hair, a dark brown robe, facial scratch marks, and later a dark inverted pentagram on his forehead after resurrection. Video games often portray him as a traditional animal-like yōkai.
Personality-wise, the 2007 iteration emphasizes self-centeredness and pride; he rejects tasks deemed boring but is swayed by personal interests like shōjo manga. Deception enrages him, driving vengeful alliances. The 2018 series shows sadistic tendencies, gleefully threatening violence against children while adopting a deceptive teacher persona at the Obake School.
His primary ability is wind manipulation, generating tornadoes for flight and directing high-speed wind slashes. His sickle arms are weaponized for combat, though they break against powerful foes like Mannen-Dake. Regenerative capabilities allow recovery from bisection.
In the 1968 anime's third episode, "Yōkai Castle," he reprises his role in child abductions. The 1985 anime shows his unsealing when a stone shrine is overturned during construction. He causes machinery malfunctions, kidnaps a child actress, and instigates panic by flying over crowds. Inside the resurrected Yōkai Castle, he scolds Nezumi-Otoko and helps turn kidnapped children into stone statues. After Futakuchi-Onna's defeat, he attacks Kitarō and Sunakake-Babaa but is restrained by Ittan-Momen, who forces him to reveal how to sink the castle. He also features in episode #74 ("Yōkai Mannen-Dake") and battles Qi in Movie 3, where he is subdued and transformed into a Yōkai Cloth.
The 1996 anime includes him in episodes #66 and #67 ("Ominous Clouds! Yōkai Castle"), introducing his sickle arm ability. A related lost 1996 short film, "Ominous Sky! Yokai Castle," features him alongside Tantanbō and a redesigned Futakuchi-Onna, adding the villain Miage-Nyudo; this short diverges from the main series' plot.
The 2007 anime introduces him as a freelance assassin in episode #39 ("Nurarihyon's Last Day"). He initially refuses Kyūso's request to free Nurarihyon due to boredom but is bribed with a rare shōjo manga by Nezumi-Otoko. During Nurarihyon's transport, he attacks Tengu officers and fights Kuro-Karasu. Discovering the manga is a forgery, he tries to kill Nezumi-Otoko with a tornado attack, only to be thwarted by Kitarō. Humiliated, he joins Nurarihyon's faction for revenge and reappears in episode #61 ("Tantanbō of the Yōkai Castle").
The 2018 anime depicts him and Yōkai Castle sealed within a mountain stone, later fragmented and used in construction, including a stadium. Revived by Nanashi, he helps abduct children as sacrifices to resurrect Yōkai Castle. He and Futakuchi-Onna capture Mana for the final sacrifice. After the castle revives, he mocks the entombed children and battles Kitarō's group, using wind slashes to disorient them. Sliced in half by Ittan-Momen, he regenerates and rejoins the fight. When a child destroys a castle pillar, he attacks but is struck by a petrified Konaki-Jijii, dissipating. Months later, Nanashi resurrects him again, and he teaches math at an Obake School, using jars of blood and liver. He later attempts to use students as yōkai fodder, threatening to gouge Hiroto's eyes before being defeated by Neko-Musume.
Kamaitachi's design varies: Shigeru Mizuki's original features an elongated mouth and robe. The 2007 anime gives him blond hair, pink skin, and a light green kimono with a black haori. The 2018 anime depicts light purple skin, orange hair, a dark brown robe, facial scratch marks, and later a dark inverted pentagram on his forehead after resurrection. Video games often portray him as a traditional animal-like yōkai.
Personality-wise, the 2007 iteration emphasizes self-centeredness and pride; he rejects tasks deemed boring but is swayed by personal interests like shōjo manga. Deception enrages him, driving vengeful alliances. The 2018 series shows sadistic tendencies, gleefully threatening violence against children while adopting a deceptive teacher persona at the Obake School.
His primary ability is wind manipulation, generating tornadoes for flight and directing high-speed wind slashes. His sickle arms are weaponized for combat, though they break against powerful foes like Mannen-Dake. Regenerative capabilities allow recovery from bisection.