Movie
Description
Kitarou is the main protagonist of this story, a yokai boy who serves as a mediator between the human and spirit worlds. His origins are deeply entwined with tragedy and the supernatural; he was born in a cemetery, emerging from the womb of his deceased mother after she succumbed to illness. This event forged his profound connection to the afterlife from the very beginning. As one of the last surviving members of the Ghost Tribe, Kitarou carries the weight of his heritage, often feeling a sense of duty to uphold the balance his ancestors once protected. Physically, he appears as a young boy of short stature, typically missing his left eye, a feature usually concealed by his hair.
In this particular anime film, Kitarou's personality reflects his established character from the sixth anime series, where he is often portrayed as aloof, blunt, and somewhat antisocial, particularly regarding his interactions with humans. He rarely displays overt emotions or changes his facial expression, preferring to observe situations with a calm and collected demeanor. Despite this exterior, he possesses a powerful sense of justice and a deep-seated passion for protecting those who cannot protect themselves. While he generally believes that humans should keep their distance from the yokai world for their own safety, he cannot ignore the plight of innocent people or yokai who are threatened by evil forces. He is easily moved to anger by morally reprehensible actions and is known to be ruthless when punishing malicious beings, whether they are human or yokai.
Kitarou's primary motivation is the pursuit of peace and balance between the human and yokai realms. He intervenes in conflicts where malevolent spirits threaten this harmony, viewing it as his responsibility as a powerful yokai and a de facto leader among his kind. He lives a simple life in a modest treehouse located deep within the GeGeGe Forest, alongside his father, Medama-Oyaji. Medama-Oyaji, who appears as a tiny, sentient eyeball, is the reincarnation of Kitarou's deceased father and serves as his primary guardian, mentor, and advisor. Their relationship is one of deep mutual respect and care, with Medama-Oyaji's wisdom often guiding Kitarou's actions. Kitarou's circle of key relationships includes a group of loyal yokai allies such as Neko-Musume, a cat-like girl who shares a close bond with him, and the often unreliable but persistent Nezumi-Otoko, a rat-like trickster whose selfish schemes frequently create problems that Kitarou must solve.
Across the many interpretations of the character, Kitarou has shown minimal development in his core values, remaining a steadfast champion of coexistence and a rejector of prejudice. He has stated that he hates those who cannot accept others that are different from them. In the 2018 film Yōkai Tokkyū! Maboroshi no Kisha, his role is to confront a Western yokai witch who threatens his world by attacking his ally Ittan-Momen and kidnapping Nezumi-Otoko. He is portrayed as the strongest yokai in Japan, a reputation that causes other spirits to seek his guidance and protection in times of crisis.
Kitarou possesses a vast and formidable array of supernatural abilities, making him an exceptionally powerful fighter. One of his most iconic techniques is the use of hair needles, where he hardens his hair and fires it as projectiles at his enemies. He can also generate and discharge powerful electrical currents from his body to incapacitate opponents. His body possesses incredible vitality and regenerative properties; he can survive extreme attacks, including being caught in an atomic bomb or falling into lava, and he can even detach body parts like his hand, control them remotely to fight, and then reattach them. He also has the ability to produce potent gastric juices from his mouth that can melt through almost any substance.
In addition to his inherent powers, Kitarou wields several heirloom weapons. His most famous is the remote control geta, a pair of magical wooden clogs he can throw and control with his mind to strike enemies from afar before returning to him. He also wears a yellow and black striped vest known as the spirit vest, or chanchanko, which is woven from the soul thread of his ancestors and serves as a powerful protective item that can also be used as a weapon to trap or strike foes. He uses a yokai ocarina for various purposes, from summoning his ally Ittan-Momen, a flying cloth creature, to using it as a bladed weapon or a whip in close combat. His hair also acts as a yokai antenna, standing upright to alert him to the presence of nearby spirits.
In this particular anime film, Kitarou's personality reflects his established character from the sixth anime series, where he is often portrayed as aloof, blunt, and somewhat antisocial, particularly regarding his interactions with humans. He rarely displays overt emotions or changes his facial expression, preferring to observe situations with a calm and collected demeanor. Despite this exterior, he possesses a powerful sense of justice and a deep-seated passion for protecting those who cannot protect themselves. While he generally believes that humans should keep their distance from the yokai world for their own safety, he cannot ignore the plight of innocent people or yokai who are threatened by evil forces. He is easily moved to anger by morally reprehensible actions and is known to be ruthless when punishing malicious beings, whether they are human or yokai.
Kitarou's primary motivation is the pursuit of peace and balance between the human and yokai realms. He intervenes in conflicts where malevolent spirits threaten this harmony, viewing it as his responsibility as a powerful yokai and a de facto leader among his kind. He lives a simple life in a modest treehouse located deep within the GeGeGe Forest, alongside his father, Medama-Oyaji. Medama-Oyaji, who appears as a tiny, sentient eyeball, is the reincarnation of Kitarou's deceased father and serves as his primary guardian, mentor, and advisor. Their relationship is one of deep mutual respect and care, with Medama-Oyaji's wisdom often guiding Kitarou's actions. Kitarou's circle of key relationships includes a group of loyal yokai allies such as Neko-Musume, a cat-like girl who shares a close bond with him, and the often unreliable but persistent Nezumi-Otoko, a rat-like trickster whose selfish schemes frequently create problems that Kitarou must solve.
Across the many interpretations of the character, Kitarou has shown minimal development in his core values, remaining a steadfast champion of coexistence and a rejector of prejudice. He has stated that he hates those who cannot accept others that are different from them. In the 2018 film Yōkai Tokkyū! Maboroshi no Kisha, his role is to confront a Western yokai witch who threatens his world by attacking his ally Ittan-Momen and kidnapping Nezumi-Otoko. He is portrayed as the strongest yokai in Japan, a reputation that causes other spirits to seek his guidance and protection in times of crisis.
Kitarou possesses a vast and formidable array of supernatural abilities, making him an exceptionally powerful fighter. One of his most iconic techniques is the use of hair needles, where he hardens his hair and fires it as projectiles at his enemies. He can also generate and discharge powerful electrical currents from his body to incapacitate opponents. His body possesses incredible vitality and regenerative properties; he can survive extreme attacks, including being caught in an atomic bomb or falling into lava, and he can even detach body parts like his hand, control them remotely to fight, and then reattach them. He also has the ability to produce potent gastric juices from his mouth that can melt through almost any substance.
In addition to his inherent powers, Kitarou wields several heirloom weapons. His most famous is the remote control geta, a pair of magical wooden clogs he can throw and control with his mind to strike enemies from afar before returning to him. He also wears a yellow and black striped vest known as the spirit vest, or chanchanko, which is woven from the soul thread of his ancestors and serves as a powerful protective item that can also be used as a weapon to trap or strike foes. He uses a yokai ocarina for various purposes, from summoning his ally Ittan-Momen, a flying cloth creature, to using it as a bladed weapon or a whip in close combat. His hair also acts as a yokai antenna, standing upright to alert him to the presence of nearby spirits.