Bangkok--27 Sep--J-Bics FilmKITARO(Oroginal Title: GEGEGE NO KITARO)2007/JAPAN/---min/1:1.85/Dolby SRDDirected by Katsuhide Motoki (Free & Easy series, Drugstore Girl)Starring: Eiji Wentz (voice — Brave Story), Yo Oizumi (voice — Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away)KITARO to the rescue!!!A world of ghosts and monsters explode into reality on the big screen, as our hero comes to life.- Introduction — At last, a live-action of the immortal masterpiece of Japanese comics! Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro is an extremely popular Japanese manga (comic) by the genius manga artist Shigeru Mizuki that has been serialized in various comic magazines since 1965 and helped to popularize the Japanese folklore creatures/monsters/specters - known as Yokai. The fantastic story featuring Kitaro, the last living member of the Ghost tribe, his father Daddy Eyeball, and the many other Yokai with marked individualities has been made into several long-running animated series by Fuji Television, and has been loved by many over multiple generations. These unique characters have also been made into video games, toys and other merchandise. And now, forty years after the birth of the original comic, it has been adapted into a live-action film! While maintaining the essence of the original manga that has even influenced creators overseas, a totally new story will be told in the film version; Kitaro, who travels back and forth between the Yokai and human worlds, becomes entangled in his most difficult crisis ever, involving a certain “Yokai stone” with strong magical powers. Featuring the most advanced CG technology, a never before seen Yokai world will unfold before your eyes! Kitaro’s world is depicted through the full use of the latest in world-class VFX technology! The best crew from around the world has gathered for the special effects. Kitaro’s characteristic deadly weapons, such as the Spirit-Fur Vest (a magic vest that protects him from danger), Remote-Controlled Sandals, and Needle Hair (pin-like hairs that can be shot out), were handled by Centro Digital Pictures, the cutting edge CGI house in Hong Kong, creators of the CGI for “Kill Bill vol.1, 2” “Shaolin Soccer” and “Kung Fu Hustle.” Also, creators working in the forefront of the Japanese CG animation industry have given impressive credibility to such classic characters as Daddy Eyeball and the airborne The Cotton. Collaboration of incredible talents! Actors who are currently the up-and-coming stars of their generations are cast in the roles for this film, such as the popular young singer and actor Eiji Wentz as Kitaro; Yo Oizumi as Ratman, Kitaro’s friend/troublemaker; and Mao Inoue as the heroine. Also, other experienced actors who are known overseas such as Koyuki (The Last Samurai), Shido Nakamura (Letters from Iwo-Jima), and You (Nobody Knows), play the various Yokai that adorn this film. This extravagant cast and skilled crew, led by director Katsuhide Motoki, currently one of the most noteworthy young filmmakers in Japan, have resurrected Shigeru Mizuki’s Yokai world on the silver screen!STORYThe biggest battle in the history of the Yokai world erupts over an evil stone! The Yokai world exists beyond human knowledge. There, Kitaro (Eiji Wentz) lives peacefully with his father DaddyEyeball and his friends Cat-girl (Rena Tanaka), Old Crybaby (Kanpei Hazama) and Sand Witch (Shigeru Muroi). One day, he receives a letter in the Yokai mailbox. A grade school boy, Kenta Miura (Ruka Uchida), had written to ask for help. Ever since the Inari shrine in the mountain behind the housing complex that Kenta lives in with his father Haruhiko (Go Riju) and his sister Mika in high school (Mao Inoue) had begun to be dismantled to make way for a theme park, weird Yokai have appeared on a daily basis, punging the inhabitants into terror and chaos. Meanwhile, major trouble was brewing in the Yokai world as well! The “Yokai stone” that had been carefully sealed deep underground had disappeared without a trace. The Yokai stone possessed special powers due to the accumulation over thousands of years of the wicked desires of humans who caused earthshaking incidents in human history such as Nobunaga Oda and Shiro Amakusa, and the deep-seated grudges of exterminated evil Yokai. Legend has it that if it falls into the hands of a Yokai who has practiced asceticism for many years, then he will be blessed with incredible powers, but in the hands of someone with a weak heart, its enormous dark powers will possess him. Unexpectedly, Kitaro’s mostly friend but sometimes betrayer Ratman (Yo Oizumi) comes across the Yokai stone. Being greedy by nature, Ratman mistakes the Yokai stone for an expensive gem and immediately pawns it. But around that same time, Kenta’s father Haruhiko, who happens to be nearby, becomes blinded by the stone’s magical powers and steals it without thinking. When he comes to his senses, he entrusts the stone to his son Kenta. “Don’t ever speak of this stone to anyone. It’s a man-to-man promise.” A dreadful enemy is preparing to pounce on Kenta and his sister Mika, who are hiding the Yokai stone. Kuuko (Satoshi Hashimoto), an evil Yokai of a fox, schemes to take over both the Yokai and human worlds as dictator. In order to obtain the enormous magical powers of the freed Yokai stone, Kuuko attacks Kenta savagely. However, Kitaro and Mika appear in the nick of time, sailing through the air on The Cotton. Kitaro takes on Kuuko to protect Kenta and Mika and to save the Yokai world. “Good” against “Evil” - the biggest battle in history is about to begin, one that will change Kitaro’s fate, involving various Yokai along the way.[ Kitaro and his Allies ] Kitaro the Ge Ge Ge (Gegege no Kitaro - Eiji Wentz) Kitaro is the last living member of the Ghost Tribe (Yureizoku), which had developed a civilization long before humans were born. He is 350 years old, and a dropout from Under-the-Grave (Hakanoshita) Junior High. Normally, he lives peacefully in the Ge Ge Ge Woods in the Yokai world with his father Daddy Eyeball, but due to his pure, strong sense of justice, whenever he receives a letter from a troubled human he travels to their world to solve the problem. He has an assortment of useful weapons at his disposal, including the Needle Hair, Remote-Control Sandal, and Yokai Antenna (another hair that becomes an antenna for detecting spirit activity). The striped Spirit Fur Vest (reimo chanchanko) that he wears was made by weaving the hairs left behind by his Yureizoku ancestors; the powers of his ancestors dwell in it, and when Kitaro is in danger it becomes animated to protect him. Daddy Eyeball (Medama oyaji -Voice: Isamu Tanonaka) Daddy Eyeball is Kitaro’s father. In the past he used to be a Yureizoku man with an appearance like a mummy, but when Kitaro was about to be born he contracted an incurable disease and his body disappeared. But because he was so worried about his son, he was reborn as an anthropomorphic form of his own eyeball. He traveled extensively around the world before Kitaro was born and is extremely knowledgeable about all kinds of Yokai, and he often gives Kitaro sound advice. His hobby is taking baths in a rice bowl. Cat-girl (Neko musume - Rena Tanaka) Cat-girl is a strong-minded but dependable half-Yokai girl. She and Kitaro are childhood friends and she regularly takes care of Daddy Eyeball at Kitaro’s house. She harbors a slight crush on Kitaro, but he is oblivious to her feelings. When she must fight, her usually hidden true nature as a cat surfaces, and she confuses her opponents with her swift movement and claws them. Her favorite food is, of course, dried bonito. Ratman (Nezumi otoko - Yo Oizumi) Ratman was born on Rat Island, a half-Yokai who claims to be a graduate of University of the Bizarre (Kaiki Daigaku), Department of Filth. He and Kitaro have been stuck with each other for a long time, but whenever Ratman is threatened by an evil Yokai or money becomes involved, he won’t hesitate to betray his companions. Because he is a Yokai-human half-breed, his powers are limited to minor annoyances such as bad breath and farting, and is weak. Old Crybaby (Konaki jijii - Kanpei Hazama) When Old Crybaby clings to a person or Yokai, he turns into a rock, and while crying like a baby he gradually increases his weight until his carrier is unable to move. Also, although he does not look it, he has power to clobber his opponent with the cane he holds in his hand. He is a good Yokai who is like Kitaro’s guardian, and although he and Sand Witch are not exactly husband and wife, they go back a long way. Sand Witch (Sunakake babaa - Shigeru Muroi) Sand Witch manages an apartment building in the Yokai world for Yokai who have lost their homes. She is loved by the weaker Yokai, and is like a guardian to them. She is short-tempered but has a strong sense of justice, and sometimes sacrifices herself to save others. She can control sand at will, and shoots sand from her fingernails at her opponents. She is conversant with fortune telling and magic.