is a 2023 Japanese animated dark fantasy film, directed by Gō Koga and written by Hiroyuki Yoshino; the film is based on the GeGeGe no Kitarō manga series by Shigeru Mizuki. Produced by Toei Animation and distributed by Toei Company, Birth of Kitarō commemorates Mizuki's 100th birthday and is the fourth film in the franchise. It is a prequel to the 2018 anime series, which tells the story of Kitarō's birth, focusing on a salaryman named Mizuki (based on Shigeru Mizuki himself) and Kitarō's father. However, unlike the main series, it was made as a horror story aimed at adults.
The film stars the voices of Toshihiko Seki, Hidenobu Kiuchi, Atsumi Tanezaki, Yumiko Kobayashi, and Toshio Furukawa, with Miyuki Sawashiro, Umeka Shōji, and Masako Nozawa reprising their roles from the 2018 anime series. Birth of Kitarō was released in Japan on November 17, 2023, and an uncut version, titled on October 4, 2024.
Synopsis Set in the 1950s, a salaryman and war veteran named Mizuki visits a village that is the source of a mysterious medicine "M". He encounters a strange white haired man, the superstitious family that runs the village, and then a series of bizarre deaths.
Voice cast Character Japanese voice cast Kitarō's father / Gegerō / Medama-Oyaji Toshihiko Seki (human form)Masako Nozawa (yōkai form) Mizuki Hidenobu Kiuchi Kitarō Miyuki Sawashiro Neko Musume Umeka Shōji Nezumi Otoko Toshio Furukawa Sayo Ryūga Atsumi Tanezaki Tokiya Yumiko Kobayashi Tokisada Ryūga Tetsu Shiratori Tokima Nobuo Tobita Otome Yoko Soumi Hinoe Yuko Minaguchi Yamada Masaya Matsukaze Kenji Nagata Akira Ishida Kanako Nagata Rie Kugimiya Katsunori Kazuhiro Yamaji Kōzō Kazuya Nakai
Production In March 2021, it was announced that Gegege no Kitaro manga series was to receive an anime film adaptation, and in November of that year, it was announced that Gō Koga was directing the film at Toei Animation, with Hiroyuki Yoshino providing the screenplay, Tōko Yatabe designing the characters, and music composed by Kenji Kawai. In September 2023, it was announced that Toshihiko Seki was cast as Kitarō's father and Hidenobu Kiuchi as Mizuki, with Atsumi Tanezaki, Yumiko Kobayashi, and Toshio Furukawa joining the ensemble cast, while Miyuki Sawashiro, Umeka Shōji, and Masako Nozawa were reprising their respective roles as Kitarō, Neko Musume and Medama-oyaji from the 2018 anime series.
Release The film was released in theaters in Japan on November 17, 2023, and an uncut version, subtitled True Birth Edition on October 4, 2024, which featured re-edited contents and new dialogues. It was also released via Neofilms in theaters in Hong Kong on March 7, 2024, and is set to release in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Reception Box office The film opened at number 2 out of top 10 in the Japanese box office in its opening weekend, and dropped to number 4 in its second week, but rose to number 3 a week after.
The True Birth Edition debuted at number 3 in the box office in its opening weekend, and later dropped to number 5 in its second week.
Accolades Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe was nominated at the 47th Japan Academy Film Prize for "Best Animation Film" category. The film won the Animages Anime Grand Prix poll, with Mizuki and Kitarō's father taking first and second best character awards.
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