History Manga / HakabaKitaro

'''''Hakaba Kitarō''''' (墓場鬼太郎, ''Kitarō of the Graveyard'') began life as a manga written between 1960 to 1964 by Shigeru Mizuki. Originally published as a series of rental books, interest in the series allowed it to be picked up as a serialized manga (under the slightly changed name ''Hakaba no Kitarō'') in ''[[Magazine/ShonenMagazine Weekly Shonen Magazine]]'' in 1965. This revival would see wider release in 1967 under the name of ''Manga/GeGeGeNoKitaro'', as the word 'Hakaba' (graveyard) was considered too dark for audiences at the time. Since then, the series has been adapted for television a total of six times, not counting live-action works, all carrying the ''[=GeGeGe=]'' name. The manga would not be directly adapted into anime until the release of a 13 episode series in 2008, nearly 50 years later, which was animated by Creator/ToeiAnimation like the rest of the ''[=GeGeGe=]'' adaptations and ran concurrently with its 5th series.

'''''Hakaba Kitarō''''' (墓場鬼太郎, ''Kitarō of the Graveyard'') began life as a manga written between 1960 to 1964 by Shigeru Mizuki. Originally published as a series of rental books, interest in the series allowed it to be picked up as a serialized manga (under the slightly changed name ''Hakaba no Kitarō'') in ''[[Magazine/ShonenMagazine Weekly Shonen Magazine]]'' in 1965. This revival would see wider release in 1967 under the name of ''Manga/GeGeGeNoKitaro'', as the word 'Hakaba' (graveyard) was considered too dark for audiences at the time. Since then, the series has been adapted for television a total of six times, not counting live-action works, all carrying the ''[=GeGeGe=]'' name. The manga would not receive a direct anime adaptation until the release of the 2008 series, nearly 50 years later, and as such it's also covered here.

'''''Hakaba Kitarō''''' (墓場鬼太郎, ''Kitarō of the Graveyard'') began life as a manga written between 1960 to 1964 by Shigeru Mizuki. Originally published as a series of rental books, interest in the series allowed it to be picked up as a serialized manga (under the slightly changed name ''Hakaba no Kitarō'') in ''[[Magazine/ShonenMagazine Weekly Shonen Magazine]]'' in 1965. Chapters of the original run are also collected under the name ''Kitaro Yobanashi'' (鬼太郎夜話, ''Kitaro[='=]s Night Tales''). This revival would see wider release in 1967 under the name of ''Manga/GeGeGeNoKitaro'', as the word 'Hakaba' (graveyard) was considered too dark for audiences at the time. Since then, the series has been adapted for television a total of six times, not counting live-action works, all carrying the ''[=GeGeGe=]'' name. The manga would not receive a direct anime adaptation until the release of the 2008 series, nearly 50 years later, and as such it's also covered here.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness This Kitaro, and the Gegege No Kitaro that most know, share a similar grisly origin, background, and a few quirks but the similarities really end there. Whereas the Kitaro most know is generally benevolent and stands up for what's right, this Kitaro is sardonic and lackadaisical. While Gegege no Kitaro is a powerful fighter, using an array of often bizarre abilities, Hakaba Kitaro is more of a trickster, relying on illusions and cunning to defend himself...but he's otherwise not too tough. Gegege no Kitaro and his father don't feel the need to pursue money (although the temptation pricks at him every now and then.), but Hakaba Kitaro downright loves money and spends a good portion of the series trying to make a coin or two. Standard Kitaro treats Neko Musume like a sister and is oblivious to her advances, while Hakaba Kitaro is downright infatuated with her predecessor Neko in a total role reversal.

'''''Hakaba Kitarō''''' (墓場鬼太郎, ''Kitarō of the Graveyard'') began life as a manga written between 1960 to 1964 by Shigeru Mizuki. Originally published as a series of rental books, interest in the series allowed it to be picked up as a serialized manga (under the slightly changed name ''Hakaba no Kitarō'') in ''[[Magazine/ShonenMagazine Weekly Shonen Magazine]]'' in 1965. Chapters of the original run are also collected under the name ''Kitaro Yabanashi'' (鬼太郎夜話, ''Kitaro[='=]s Night Tales''). This revival would see wider release in 1967 under the name of ''Manga/GeGeGeNoKitaro'', as the word 'Hakaba' (graveyard) was considered too dark for audiences at the time. Since then, the series has been adapted for television a total of six times, not counting live-action works, all carrying the ''[=GeGeGe=]'' name. The manga would not receive a direct anime adaptation until the release of the 2008 series, nearly 50 years later, and as such it's also covered here.

''Hakaba Kitarō'' (''Kitarō of the Graveyard'') began life as a manga written between 1960 to 1964 by Shigeru Mizuki. Since then, the series has been adapted for television a total of six times, not counting live-action works, all under the name of ''Manga/GeGeGeNoKitaro'', as the word 'Hakaba' (graveyard) was considered too dark for television at the time of the first adaptation. The manga would not receive a direct anime adaptation until the release of the 2008 series, nearly 50 years later, and as such it's also covered here.

''Hakaba Kitarō'' (''Kitarō of the Graveyard'') began life as a manga written between 1960 to 1964 by Shigeru Mizuki. Since then, the show has been adapted for television a total of six times, not counting live-action works, all under the name of ''Manga/GeGeGeNoKitaro'', as the word 'Hakaba' (graveyard) was considered too dark for television at the time of the first adaptation. The manga would not receive a direct anime adaptation until the release of the 2008 series, nearly 50 years later, and as such it's also covered here.

Kitaro's sole joy is Cat Neko, a girl who turns into a cat when she smells or sees rats and fish. She has a beautiful singing voice which lands her a place on a local talent show when Kitaro suggests she become a singer.

* BizarroUniverse: Primarily with Kitaro more than anything else. This Kitaro, and the Gegege No Kitaro that most know, share a similar grisly origin, background, and a few quirks but the similarities really end there. Whereas the Kitaro most know is generally benevolent and stands up for what's right, this Kitaro is sardonic and lackadaisical. While Gegege no Kitaro is a powerful fighter, using an array of often bizarre abilities, Hakaba Kitaro is more of a trickster, relying on illusions and cunning to defend himself...but he's otherwise not too tough. Gegege no Kitaro and his father don't feel the need to pursue money (although the temptation pricks at him every now and then.), but Hakaba Kitaro downright loves money and spends a good portion of the series trying to make a coin or two. Standard Kitaro treats Neko like a sister and is oblivious to her advances, while Hakaba Kitaro is downright infatuated with her in a total role reversal. The examples go on, although it's interesting to note that since this Kitaro came first, in a way the more well known Kitaro is the bizarro one.

* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:Cat-Girl doesn't realize the real Kitaro has only one good eye before following the fake Kitaro!]]

''Hakaba Kitarō'' (''Kitarō of the Graveyard'') began life as a manga written between 1959 and 1969 by Shigeru Mizuki. Since then, the show has been adapted for television a total of six times, not counting live action works, all under the name of ''Manga/GeGeGeNoKitaro'', as the word 'Hakaba' (graveyard) was considered too dark for television at the time of the first adaptation. The manga would not receive a direct anime adaptation until the release of the 2008 series, nearly 50 years later, and as such it's also covered here.

* TruerToTheText: The 2008 anime is a straightforward adaptation of the manga of the same name is a more straightforward adaptation of the manga than ''Manga/GeGeGeNoKitaro''.

''Hakaba Kitarō'' (''Kitarō of the Graveyard'') began life as a manga written between 1959 and 1970 by Shigeru Mizuki. Since then, the show has been adapted for television a total of six times, not counting live action works, all under the name of ''Manga/GeGeGeNoKitaro'', as the word 'Hakaba' (graveyard) was considered too dark for television at the time of the first adaptation. The manga would not receive a direct anime adaptation until the release of the 2008 series, nearly 50 years later, and as such it's also covered here.

''Hakaba Kitarō'' began life as a manga written between 1959 and 1969 by Shigeru Mizuki. Since then, the show has been adapted for television a total of six times, not counting live action works, all under the name of ''Manga/GeGeGeNoKitaro'', as the word 'Hakaba' (graveyard) was considered too dark for television at the time of the first adaptation. The manga would not receive a direct anime adaptation until the release of the 2008 series, nearly 50 years later, and as such it's also covered here.

''Hakaba Kitaro'' began life as a manga written between 1959 and 1969 by Shigeru Mizuki. Since then, the show has been adapted for television a total of six times, not counting live action works, all under the name of ''Manga/GeGeGeNoKitaro'', as the word 'Hakaba' (graveyard) was considered too dark for television at the time of the first adaptation. The manga would not receive a direct anime adaptation until the release of the 2008 series, nearly 50 years later, and as such it's also covered here.

* TruerToTheText: The 2008 anime is a straightforward adaptation of the manga of the same name is a more straightforward adaptation of the manga than ''Manga/GeGeGenoKitaro''.

''Hakaba Kitaro'' began life as a manga written between 1959 and 1969 by Shigeru Mizuki. Since then, the show has been adapted for television a total of five times, not counting live action works, all under the name of ''Manga/GeGeGeNoKitaro'', as the word 'Hakaba' (graveyard) was considered too dark for television back then. The manga would not receive a proper anime adaptation until the release of the latest in 2008, nearly 50 years later.

* AntiHero: Kitaro's main distinction between himself in this series, and his more heroic counterpart in ''Gegege'' is this. The Kitaro most know protects humans, or at worst plays scary pranks on the more foolish ones. Kitaro in ''Hakaba'' however [[spoiler: drives a couple to hang themselves, presumably out of madness.]] A detail in the manga that's somewhat glossed over in the animation however, [[spoiler: is that these two were serial killers.]] Kitaro doesn't seem to go after the innocent at all, and even [[spoiler: spares a manga artist's life in aforementioned hanging episode, as he wasn't guilty of anything.]] He can however, play cruel jokes with an equally cruel twist of fate on the foolishly greedy or arrogant. He does show occasional concern or altruism for certain characters as well, although this dissipates as the series progresses or in other cases is backed by an ulterior motive.

* AuthorAvatar: There are no less than 3 different men with the name Mizuki in this series, one of them being ''Shigeru'' Mizuki. [[spoiler: None of them however, have one arm; a quality Kitaro's creator is somewhat famous for.]]
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: It seems years later (or possibly another reality, if you look at it from a metaphysical perspective) after the 10th episode. It's implied that Kitaro has had a sort of falling out with his father, as he addresses him dismissively, Oyaji expresses both concern and disappointment in regards to his son in turn, and the two are never seen on screen together for the duration of the episode. Kitaro himself, presumably adapting to an increasingly modernized world, is now as manipulative and ambitious as Nezumi Otoko, running an afterlife insurance scam on naive humans. On top of that, a metaphysical monologue is formed around those who foolishly threw their lives away to this scam, and reflect in hell with Oyaji about how life is squandered and the whole thing becomes a statement about how human life is more frightening than anything the Youkai come up with. But hey, at least Kitaro and Nezumi still have their unusual friendship.]]
* BizarroUniverse: Primarilly with Kitaro more than anything else. This Kitaro, and Gegege No Kitaro that most know share a similar grissly origin, background, and a few quirks but the similarities really end there. Whereas the Kitaro most know is generally benevolent and stands up for what's right, this Kitaro is sardonic and lackadaisical. While Gegege no Kitaro is a powerful fighter, using an array of often bizzare abilities, Hakaba Kitaro is more of a trickster; relying on illusions and cunning to defend himself...but he's otherwise not too tough. Gegege no Kitaro and his father don't feel the need to pursue money (although the temptation pricks at him every now and then.), but Hakaba Kitaro downright loves money and spends a good portion of the series trying to make a coin or two. Standard Kitaro treats Neko like a sister and is oblivious to her advances, while Hakaba Kitaro is downright infatuated with her in a total role reversal. The examples go on, although it's interesting to note that since this Kitaro came first...in a way the more well known Kitaro is the bizzaro one.

* CelestialBureaucracy: Kitaro mentions King Enma in the last episode.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Very much, compared to the previous Kitaro series.
* EvilDebtCollector: Kitaro tries, and fails to collect debts for a loanshark in "The Water God."

* UncleanlinessIsNextToUngodliness: Half and half with Nezumi Otoko, who serves as an antagonist sometimes, but eventually becomes a strange source of consistency for the increasingly outcast Kitaro through the changing times. He's nonetheless however, legendary for his filth; a trait that he can even defend himself with!

!!Tropes exhibited by this series include:
* AfterlifeExpress: Played with. The train is a[[spoiler:hallucination that Kitaro creates to mess with Nezumi Otoko and the werewolf]].
* AnyoneCanDie: Including some very surprising characters of note for anyone used to ''Gegege No Kitaro''.

* EvilDebtCollector: Kitaro tries, and fails to collect debts for a loanshark in "The Water God".

* LastOfHisKind: Kitaro is the last surviving member of the Ghost Tribe, not counting his father.

''HakabaKitaro'' began life as a manga written between 1959 and 1969 by Shigeru Mizuki. Since then, the show has been adapted for television a total of five times, not counting live action works, all under the name of ''GeGeGeNoKitaro'', as the word 'Hakaba' (graveyard) was considered too dark for television back then. The manga would not receive a proper anime adaptation until the release of the latest in 2008, nearly 50 years later.

* AudioErotica: The sound of Miss Toad's zipper mouth is this to Nezumi Otoko.

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: Just watch the series, there's several examples.

[[quoteleft:379:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Hakaba_Kitarou1_7594.jpg]]

This joy is no long-lived. Through a series of tragic events, Kitaro finds himself heartbroken, homeless, and broke.

* AntiHero: Kitaro's main distinction between himself in this series, and his more heroic counterpart in ''Gegege'' is this. The Kitaro most know protects humans, or at worst plays scary pranks on the more foolish ones. Kitaro in ''Hakaba'' however [[spoiler: drives a couple to hang themselves, presumably out of madness.]] A detail in the manga that's somewhat glossed over in the animation however, [[spoiler: is that these two were serial killers.]] Kitaro doesn't seem to go after the innocent at all, and even [[spoiler: spares a manga artsits' life in aforementioned hanging episode, as he wasn't guilty of anything.]] He can however, play cruel jokes with an equally cruel twist of fate on the foolishly greedy or arrogant. He does show occasional concern or altruism for certain characters as well, although this dissipates as the series progresses or in other cases is backed by an ulterior motive.

* WhoWantsToLiveForever: YourMileageMayVary on whether this bothers Kitaro or not in this series...as Kitaro's outlook on humanity is quite a bit more detached than that of his more benevolent counterpart. However, this does restrict Kitaro from even having a chance at developing any sort of friendship with any human if he wanted to; and unlike his Gegege counterpart, Kitaro doesn't have a closely knit pack of Youkai friends to hang out with aside from his father and perhaps Nezumi Otoko. By the end of the series, Kitaro seems to live a pretty lonely existence.