On Wednesday, the official website for the upcoming anime film “Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo” unveiled an exciting new trailer and visual, providing a glimpse into the film’s cast.
At the heart of this remarkable cast, we have Toshihiko Seki (positioned center-left in the image above) portraying Kitarō’s father, who will ultimately transform into the iconic Medama Oyaji. On the center-right, we have Hidenobu Kikuchi, who takes on the role of Mizuki, a diligent salaryman embarking on a mysterious journey to a cursed village, driven by clandestine directives.
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Completing this ensemble, we find an array of talented actors and actresses (positioned clockwise from the upper left in the outer portion of the image above). Their participation promises to bring depth and authenticity to the intriguing world of “Gegege no Nazo.”
- Akira Ishida as Kenji Nagata, Kanoko’s husband
- Atsumi Tanezaki as Sayo, Otome and Katsunori’s daughter
- Tetsu Shiratori as Tokisada Ryūga, the head of the Ryūga family that secretly manipulates politics
- Nobuo Tobita as Tokima, Tokisada’s eldest son
- Masaya Matsukaze as Yamada, a journalist that is chasing after Kitarō’s past
- Yoko Soumi as Otome, Tokisada’s third daughter
- Kazuya Nakai as Kōzō, Tokisada’s second son
- Yuko Minaguchi as Hinoe, Tokisada’s second daughter
- Rie Kugimiya as Kanoko Nagata, Tokisada’s third daughter
- Umeka Shouji as Neko Musume (returning from the TV anime)
- Kazuhiro Yamaji as Katsunori, Otome’s husband
- Yumiko Kobayashi as Tokiya, Kanoko and Kenji’s son
The eagerly anticipated film is set to make its debut in Japan on November 17. Helming the project is Gou Koga, known for his work on “Gegege no Kitarō: Nippon Bakuretsu!!” and “One Piece Episode of Sabo,” as the director at Toei Animation.
Accompanying him is Hiroyuki Yoshino, the acclaimed screenwriter responsible for projects like “Macross Frontier,” “World Trigger,” and 13 episodes of the 2018 series “GeGeGe no Kitarō.” The character designs, a crucial element of the film’s visual appeal, are crafted by Touko Yatabe, recognized for her role as the unit director for the third ending sequence of the 2018 “GeGeGe no Kitarō” and as an assistant director for “Evangelion: 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time.”
This cinematic venture is part of a quartet of “big projects” commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the legendary Shigeru Mizuki’s birth. Mizuki, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 93, left an indelible mark on the world of manga and anime. Another project in this celebration is a brand-new “Akuma Kun” anime, slated for release on Netflix on November 9.
The most recent installment of the “GeGeGe no Kitarō” anime, its sixth television adaptation, made its debut in April 2018, taking over the timeslot previously occupied by “Dragon Ball Super.” This highly successful series concluded its 97-episode run in March 2020, with Crunchyroll providing streaming access to its dedicated fanbase.
Notable voice talents Miyuki Sawashiro and Masako Nozawa are set to reprise their roles in the upcoming film. Sawashiro will return as the iconic Kitarō, while Nozawa, credited as “Kitarō’s Father” instead of Medama Oyaji, continues her legacy within the franchise.
Shigeru Mizuki’s influential manga, which initially took shape in 1959 under the title “Hakaba Kitarō,” has left an enduring legacy. Its impact extends to seven television series, including a “Hakaba Kitarō” anime, multiple animated movies, and two live-action adaptations.
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At its core, the stories revolve around a remarkable, otherworldly boy who navigates the delicate boundary between the human and supernatural realms.
Sources | Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo film’s website, Comic Natalie
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