History Manga / GeGeGeNoKitaro

''[=GeGeGe=] no Kitarō'' is a well-known (in Japan) manga and anime that is largely credited for bringing back knowledge of traditional [[{{Yokai}} yōkai]] and folktales to modern generations. Written by Shigeru Mizuki, it was originally known as ''Manga/HakabaKitaro'' (Kitaro of the Graveyard). The story focuses on the adventures of the yōkai boy Kitaro, who fights for peace between the yōkai and humans using a variety of strange abilities and tools. "Ge ge ge no ge" is a sound effect meant to represent ghostly laughter.

The series is finally available in English, courtesy of [[https://www.drawnandquarterly.com/kitaro Drawn and Quarterly]].

* AdaptationalHeroism: Most of the Kitaro Family, in the japanese lore, are human-killing monsters or nuisances. Nurikabe is meant to block travelers, preventing them from following their path and causing them to lose their bearings, Sunakake Baba, like the occidental ''Sandman'' is a witch scattering sand around and causing sleepyness and red eyes, Konaki-Jijii disguises himself as child and then uses his weight-altering powers to crush the human coming to help, Ittan Momen wraps himself around people, strangling them and Neko Musume, while being an original creation of the author, is meant to be a female Bakeneko, a murderous cursed cat spirit. In the manga and anime continuity they are, collectively, a close knit "family" of friendly yokai defending humanity.

* EldritchAbomination: Backbeard is a giant ball with a big eye in the centerthat wants to {{Take Over The World}} and [[{{Fantasticracism}} dislikes japanese yokai]]

* LighterAndSofter: Progressively. The 1996 and 2007 anime in particular, which made the few times someone actually ''died'' in those versions much more shocking. Slightly averted with the 2018 anime which is considerably darker and outright becomes a Horror anime at times, as well as the TruerToTheText ''Hakaba Kitaro'' mini-series, though they are still lighter than the original picture show.

* LighterAndSofter: Progressively. The 1980s and 2007 anime in particular, which made the few times someone actually ''died'' in those versions much more shocking. Subsequent adaptations made the 1980s anime seem grimdark. Averted with the 2018 anime which is considerably darker and outright becomes a Horror anime at times, as well as the TruerToTheText ''Hakaba Kitaro'' mini-series, though they are still lighter than the original picture show.

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: The 80s anime brought a human girl to the main cast as the Girly Girl Counterpart to the rather boyish Neko Musume.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/c7e514a1_2b5f_422e_b8f3_0a11eb43d54d.png]]

* AdaptationalVillainy: Miage Nyudo was originally just portrayed as a supernatural GrumpyOldMan, whose main goal was simply punishing disrespectful children. His 2018 counterpart banished thousands of people to the netherworld, with he ultimate goal to TakeOverTheWorld.

To commemerate Shigeru Mizuki's 100th birthday, a movie, ''Manga/KitaroBirthTheMysteryofGegege'' was announced. The movie brings back the writers for the sixth anime series and tells a story of the early years of Kitaro.

To commemerate Shigeru Mizuki's 100th birthday, a movie, ''Kitaro Birth: The Mystery of Gegege'' was announced. The movie brings back the writers for the sixth anime series and tells a story of the early years of Kitaro.

To commemerate Shigeru Mizuki's 100th birthday, a movie, ''Manga/Kitaro Birth: The Mystery of Gegege'' was announced. The movie brings back the writers for the sixth anime series and tells a story of the early years of Kitaro.

To commemerate Shigeru Mizuki's 100th birthday, a movie, ''Anime/Kitaro Birth: The Mystery of Gegege'' was announced. The movie brings back the writers for the sixth anime series and tells a story of the early years of Kitaro.

To commemerate Shigeru Mizuki's 100th birthday, a movie, [[''Kitaro Birth: The Mystery of Gegege'']] was announced. The movie brings back the writers for the sixth anime series and tells a story of the early years of Kitaro.

To commemerate Shigeru Mizuki's 100th birthday, a movie, ''Kitaro Birth: The Mystery of Gegege'' was announced. The movie brings back the writers for the sixth anime series and tells a story of the early years of Kitaro.

* PowerWalk: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fofqmP4dAjs The second ending]] of the 2018 anime ends with Kitaro and his companions doing this.

* PeekABangs: Kitaro. It's because he's only got one eye.

The original manga ran for about ten years, between 1960 and 1969, and multiple versions and adaptations have been written since, developing a rather different canon as the series progressed. (Kitaro especially is much weirder and much less child-friendly in the original.) The different anime versions have been running more or less from 1968 to the present, with the sixth adaptation beginning in 2018. It has also been adapted into multiple live-action versions and video games, as well as earning a place in several theme parks, like Fujikyu Highland. The creator's hometown of Sakaiminato has also been marked with multiple statues of the various characters in recognition of the series' influence.

* LuckyTranslation: Sunakake Baba, as a sand throwing old women, has a name that translates perfectly to Sand Witch.