TV-Series
Description
Medama-Oyaji, also called "Daddy Eyeball," belongs to the Ghost Tribe. Before his son Kitarō's birth, he suffered from an incurable "melting disease" that decayed his body, necessitating bandages which gave him a mummy-like look. Living secluded with his pregnant wife Iwako, he sold blood for income, unintentionally causing transfusion recipients to appear ghostly. This attracted a blood bank employee, Mizuki. Medama-Oyaji explained their plight and asked for secrecy. Soon after, both he and Iwako succumbed to illness. Fueled by love for his unborn son, his spirit willed itself into his last intact body part—his eyeball—rebirthing him as a small, anthropomorphic entity with a diminutive body beneath the eye. Kitarō later emerged from Iwako's grave.
His origin timeline varies; most media place it in the early 1960s, while the second live-action film sets it during Japan's Edo period. Reborn, Medama-Oyaji retains extensive knowledge of yōkai, occult subjects, and global mythology gained during pre-death travels. This expertise aids Kitarō in mediating conflicts between humans and yōkai. He maintains a personal connection with Enma-Daiō, ruler of the afterlife, facilitating realm travel for righteous yōkai.
Physically, he manifests as a single giant eyeball with a tiny humanoid body, typically unclothed. The eyeball features an eyelid (drawn as a line over the pupil) that closes into a U-shape during sleep. A small, retractable mouth beneath the eye allows eating, though early adaptations rarely depicted this. Later series show him consuming cherries, plums, fish-eye soup, and morning dew. He lacks teeth but exhibits bronchial functions like sneezing mucus. Medama-Oyaji displays regenerative resilience, recovering from crushing, deep-frying, or dismemberment. Both he and Kitarō can survive a decade without sustenance.
Notable traits include cleanliness rituals, often bathing in small vessels like teacups, bowls, or unconventional liquids like sake, coffee, or cola. He occasionally wears clothing items, such as a silk hat from "English demons" or a shoe from Santa Claus. His personality blends wisdom and paternal devotion, frequently worrying about Kitarō's safety and scolding allies like the deceitful Nezumi-Otoko. However, adaptations alter his portrayal:
- Early manga and *Hakaba Kitarō* (2008) present him as more abrasive and verbally harsh, reflecting the series' darker tone.
- The third anime (1985) emphasizes matchmaking between Kitarō and human girls, contrasting later series where he opposes interspecies relationships due to human mortality.
- The fourth anime (1996) amplifies his anxious, doting nature, including comedic crying when Kitarō is endangered.
- The fifth anime (2007) adds mascot-like humor, showing him exercising, watching TV, and fearing fireworks. He ambiguously suggests Neko-Musume as a spouse for Kitarō but later calls her a "wife from hell" after witnessing her temper.
- The sixth anime (2018) explores his insecurity about his form, believing it robbed Kitarō of a strong father figure. A dream-sequence episode reveals a humanoid appearance—gray-haired, one-eyed, resembling Kitarō—via Makura-Gaeshi's powers. Sunakake-Babaa's description supports this as his pre-disease likeness.
Abilities beyond encyclopedic knowledge include body manipulation (stretching limbs), possession of objects or bodies, and specialized techniques like emitting light beams to reveal hidden text or viewing past events. He can also reside within Kitarō's empty eye socket.
His origin timeline varies; most media place it in the early 1960s, while the second live-action film sets it during Japan's Edo period. Reborn, Medama-Oyaji retains extensive knowledge of yōkai, occult subjects, and global mythology gained during pre-death travels. This expertise aids Kitarō in mediating conflicts between humans and yōkai. He maintains a personal connection with Enma-Daiō, ruler of the afterlife, facilitating realm travel for righteous yōkai.
Physically, he manifests as a single giant eyeball with a tiny humanoid body, typically unclothed. The eyeball features an eyelid (drawn as a line over the pupil) that closes into a U-shape during sleep. A small, retractable mouth beneath the eye allows eating, though early adaptations rarely depicted this. Later series show him consuming cherries, plums, fish-eye soup, and morning dew. He lacks teeth but exhibits bronchial functions like sneezing mucus. Medama-Oyaji displays regenerative resilience, recovering from crushing, deep-frying, or dismemberment. Both he and Kitarō can survive a decade without sustenance.
Notable traits include cleanliness rituals, often bathing in small vessels like teacups, bowls, or unconventional liquids like sake, coffee, or cola. He occasionally wears clothing items, such as a silk hat from "English demons" or a shoe from Santa Claus. His personality blends wisdom and paternal devotion, frequently worrying about Kitarō's safety and scolding allies like the deceitful Nezumi-Otoko. However, adaptations alter his portrayal:
- Early manga and *Hakaba Kitarō* (2008) present him as more abrasive and verbally harsh, reflecting the series' darker tone.
- The third anime (1985) emphasizes matchmaking between Kitarō and human girls, contrasting later series where he opposes interspecies relationships due to human mortality.
- The fourth anime (1996) amplifies his anxious, doting nature, including comedic crying when Kitarō is endangered.
- The fifth anime (2007) adds mascot-like humor, showing him exercising, watching TV, and fearing fireworks. He ambiguously suggests Neko-Musume as a spouse for Kitarō but later calls her a "wife from hell" after witnessing her temper.
- The sixth anime (2018) explores his insecurity about his form, believing it robbed Kitarō of a strong father figure. A dream-sequence episode reveals a humanoid appearance—gray-haired, one-eyed, resembling Kitarō—via Makura-Gaeshi's powers. Sunakake-Babaa's description supports this as his pre-disease likeness.
Abilities beyond encyclopedic knowledge include body manipulation (stretching limbs), possession of objects or bodies, and specialized techniques like emitting light beams to reveal hidden text or viewing past events. He can also reside within Kitarō's empty eye socket.