First Impression: Gegege no Kitarou

Synopsis

Set modern-day Japan, the people have just about forgotten the existence of youkai or no longer believe in them. However, that doesn’t mean that strange phenomena aren’t happening. With people unable to explain them with science, many are left rushing around in confusion.

Amidst the confusion and panic however, 13-year-old girl Mana Inuyama is informed by a neighbour of the “Yokai Post”, though not fully believing him she sends a letter and as a result ends up summoning Kitaro. Thus, begins Mana’s adventures as she enters into the world she had been unable to see before.

The Good

For fans of the series, they will find a nice surprise for this reboot work. It’s has practically all the elements of the original series but manages to update itself just right. Basically, the original series was given a new coat of paint and it’s giving a solid good first impression. There is some well done exposition that didn’t give too much but laid down a solid introduction and the overall story has all kinds of interesting elements. Just the way that the episode was able to introduce the classic supernatural series and merge it with the anime style of today.

On the note of style, the art and animation also work as a combination of new and old without clashing with one another. From how the people transformed into trees to the Kitaro’s fight scenes, the anime’s style is rather refreshing. Another point of interest for the series is on the hints of character updates such as how Kitaro seems more solemn and Neko’s growth. Then there is the mystery of the ending with the reveal of a new character.

The Bad

There is not much negativity that can be said against the episode, but there are certain points that could have been improved on. One of the things that could have been taken out would be the little preview in the beginning of the episode. The whole old film filter was nice to see but didn’t really work well with the rest of the episode. Then there was the whole dramatic ending, on one hand it was interesting, on the other, it was just a smidge dramatic. It’s minor but there are certain scenes that come off a little on the exaggerated side but for the most part can be ignored.

Conclusion

This is not only a great piece for old fans to dive into, but this a great update on the series to introduce to new fans. It had points both new and old that matched well together and while there were certain moments that seem slightly wacky, the flaws of the episode can be mostly ignored. What really makes the episode a good hook into watching more of the series though is how it handled the characters, mystery and supernatural aspects. So, if you’re looking for a supernatural series that has something refreshing but with a classic touch? This is it.

Rating: 8/10