First Thoughts: GREAT YOKAI WAR

[Shonokin]

[Gwangi]

[MouthForWar]

[MouthForWar]

[tylerpistol]

[MouthForWar]

[JimPV]

[Shonokin]

(post fixed now)
So there is finally some real news about the new movie version of Gegege no Kitaro, and it all sounds like good news to me.

Kitaro Anime Goes Live Action
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
By: Ryan Ball for
After thrilling and chilling fans in animated productions over the years, manga creator Shigeru Mizuki’s Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro is set to become a live-action motion picture, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The production is being spearheaded by Japanese production company Shochiku and Hong Kong vfx studio Centro Digital Pictures, which created effects for both of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill movies and the international hit, Shaolin Soccer.

Created by Mizuki in 1954, Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro is a supernatural series about a one-eyed orphan boy who was born in a graveyard and has the power to communicate with spirits. Dedicated to helping humans and goblins live together in peace, Kitaro is looked after by his dead father’s eyeball, who resides in the boy’s empty left eye socket. The manga first appeared in Shonen Magazine in 1966 and Toei Animation’s cartoon series was broadcast on Fuji Television at various times between 1968 and 1998.

The live-action film is being directed by Katsuhide Motoki (Drugstore Girl) and stars Eiji Wentz and Yo Oizumi, whose voices can both be heard in Hayao Miyazaki's animated features Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away. Central Digital Pictures will use CG animation to bring the movie’s many monsters and spirits to the screen as Kitaro tries to save a pair of siblings who have come in possession of a mysterious stone with catastrophic powers. Filming has reportedly begun with Shochiku aiming for an April 2007 release.

[MouthForWar]

Hey Miike fans, Zebraman fans and/or Yokai fans. I just saw this.



Yes, in the background, to the guys left is none other than the crab headed villain from Takashi Miike's Japanese Super Hero spoof Zebraman!! How awesome. It wouldn't surprise me if Zebraman himself was back there somewhere. There are like a million creatures in this movie. If you haven't seen Zebraman, see it. It rules. And if you liked Yokai War, you'll love it.

[Shonokin]

The Media Blasters 2 DVD set of The Great Yokai War is showing up on . I haven't found much about the extras but according to Twitchfilm.com it'll mirror all of the .
amazon.com states that it's shipping September 12.

[klen7]

SO i had never seen this movie even though i remember wanting to see it when it came out.. so i went in expecting something pretty family friendly like Gamera the Brave but with some slapstick Kappa action... i don't think it was particularly "family friendly" (i agree with the PG-13 rating) but i did think it was wildly imaginative and a lot of fun. I am planning to recommend it to a few friends that aren't genre fans.

[lhb412]

I should really get around to seeing this. I love the old Yokai films. The '68 version of Yakai Daisenso is one of my favorite Japanese monster films. I love Shigeru Mizuki (who has a cameo in this).

[MouthForWar]