Toei Animation's hit animation properties, GEGEGE NO KITARO and HAKABA KITARO have been selected to screen at this year's Locarno International Film Festival, as part of the show's grand dedication to the highly acclaimed, cult anime figure -- Kitaro.
GEGEGE NO KITARO is scheduled to screen on August 16 at 11 a.m. and HAKABA KITARO will be show on August 16 at 2 pm.
These two TV series are based on the popular Japanese comics by Shigeru Mizuki. He created Kitaro, which became a beloved national icon, and GEGEGE NO KITARO has been televised as an animation series for kids five times thus far. HAKABA KITARO, the humanistic horror animation, is its origin. The production refocuses on the philosophy of Shigeru Mizuki, who has deeply contemplated on the happiness of life and depicts human nature in a sarcastic sense. This is for high target.
GEGEGE NO KITARO follows the adventures of Kitaro, a monster ("Yokai") with a strong sense of justice. He and his friends work together to fight the evil monsters threatening the people in the town. This new series is currently airing on Fuji TV. This version of GEGEGE NO KITARO is the fifth time since 1968 that the series has been produced in Japan.
HAKABA KITARO -- It is the 1950s. The war has ended and the economy is growing at an accelerating pace. While the rich become richer, a tremendous number of people are still at the bottom of the social pyramid and have to work their fingers to the bone to survive. On the other hand, the Ghost Tribe and spirit-monsters live in their own world. They have existed way longer than humans but are forced to move deeper into the backwoods as urbanization progresses.
In such a society, Kitaro was born in a graveyard as the last of the ghost tribe. His eerie appearance has made him known as "Hakaba (Graveyard) Kitaro". With his father called Medama Oyaji (Eyeball Father), Kitaro observes insatiable human greed from the standpoints of the spirit world and the human world. What is hell? What is life? "Original" Kitaro humorously satirizes pathetic human ego and expresses the real joy of being alive and the meaning of true human happiness.
The 61st annual Locarno International Film Festival runs through August 16, 2008 in Locarno, Switzerland. Throughout its 60 year history, the film festival has brought together the public, professionals and young creative talent from around the globe to celebrate the world of contemporary cinema.
