Spooky Kitaro 4 (lost Animax Asia English dub of anime series; late 2000s): Difference between revisions

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'''''Spooky Kitaro 4''''', sometimes simply abbreviated to ''Spooky Kitaro'', is the name of the English dub of the fourth ''Gegege no Kitaro'' anime produced by the TV company Animax Asia. Despite airing on a popular network, very little is known about the dub, including the names of most voice actors and those who were involved during production. The entire dub is lost, with only a TV bumper and a few still images having surfaced online.
'''''Spooky Kitaro 4''''', sometimes simply abbreviated to ''Spooky Kitaro'', is the name of the English dub of the fourth ''Gegege no Kitaro'' anime produced by the TV company Animax Asia. Despite airing on a popular network, very little is known about the dub, including the names of most voice actors and those who were involved during production. The entire dub is lost, with only two TV bumpers and a few still images having surfaced online.


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
A synopsis of the anime is provided by Animax Asia’s official website:
A synopsis of the plot, from Animax Asia's official website:
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
"Kitaro is an adorable young boy who has returned from the dead as a "yokai". When he discovers that the human world is in peril from evil beings bent on destroying it, he embarks on a journey to help save the human world. Possessing special powers - needle hairs that act as weapons, antenna hairs for detecting spiritual activities, magic wooden sandals and no fear of death. Kitaro will travel to the human world whenever he receives a letter from a troubled human.
"Kitaro is an adorable young boy who has returned from the dead as a "yokai". When he discovers that the human world is in peril from evil beings bent on destroying it, he embarks on a journey to help save the human world. Possessing special powers - needle hairs that act as weapons, antenna hairs for detecting spiritual activities, magic wooden sandals and no fear of death. Kitaro will travel to the human world whenever he receives a letter from a troubled human.
Line 19: Line 19:


==Episodes==
==Episodes==
The fourth ''Gegege no Kitaro'' series finished with 114 episodes, with each running at 25 minutes long. Sources online claim that Animax Asia chose to skip nearly the entire first half of the series, and start dubbing at episode 48.<ref>[https://www.anisearch.com/anime/1673,spooky-kitaro-4/episodes Information on ''Spooky Kitaro 4'' episodes from Anisearch.] Retrieved 13 Jun '20</ref> Episodes 58, 101, 102, and 103 were also not dubbed due to unknown reasons. This would leave the series with 52 episodes, which other sources confirm is correct.<ref>[http://animeperson.com/anime/spooky_kitaro_4/ An anime website confirming that ''Spooky Kitaro 4'' only contained 52 episodes.] Retrieved 13 Jun '20</ref> Images have surfaced of episode 57 with the Animax Asia watermark in the top righthand corner, leaving more credence to this theory.
The fourth ''Gegege no Kitaro'' series ended with 114 episodes, each with a run time of approximately 25 minutes. Many theorized that Animax Asia decided to dub only the last half of the series, but this was later disproved. The series was split into two parts, with ''Spooky Kitaro 4 (Part 2)'' premiering on September 23rd, 2009. <ref>[https://azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-anime-series-in-animax-asia-this.html Information about ''Spooky Kitaro 4 (Part 2)''.] Retrieved 4 Dec '21</ref> Part 2 had a schedule date of Mondays to Fridays at 7:30pm.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/animaxasiatv/videos/spooky-kitaro-4/170765071853/ A Facebook post by Animax Asia about ''Spooky Kitaro 4''.]</ref> Part 1 is believed to have premiered sometime in March of 2008. <ref>[https://www.scmp.com/article/630854/animation An article from the South China Morning Post discussing Part 1 of ''Spooky Kitaro 4''.] Retrieved 4 Dec '21</ref>


==Cast & Crew==
==Cast & Crew==
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==Availability==
==Availability==
The dub premiered on Animax Asia on September 23rd, 2009, and aired from Mondays to Fridays at 7:30pm.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/animaxasiatv/videos/spooky-kitaro-4/170765071853/ A Facebook post by Animax Asia about ''Spooky Kitaro 4''.] Retrieved 12 Jun '20</ref> Although no clips of the dub have surfaced online, a television bumper was uploaded by the official Animax Asia website on September 8th, 2009, and has been provided below.
Although no clips of the dub have surfaced online, a television bumper was uploaded by the official Animax Asia website on September 8th, 2009, and has been provided below. Due to the upload date, it's believed to be a promo for Part 2, rather than Part 1.
Rumors of episodes once being circulated online have surfaced, although it’s hard to confirm or deny these claims, as none of these episodes were archived.  
 
On September 30th, 2021, YouTube user Gokumon Classic would upload a 30 second promo of ''Spooky Kitaro 4'' onto his channel. This second promo is for the premiere of Part 1. Some voice clips can be heard throughout the promo, but most are muffled by sound effects and other outside noises. For unknown reasons, the promo contains footage from the third Gegege no Kitaro anime series.
 
[[File:Spookykitaro3.jpg|thumb|right|With how little we know about ''Spooky Kitaro 4'', we know even less about ''Spooky Kitaro 5''.]]
[[File:Spookykitaro3.jpg|thumb|right|With how little we know about ''Spooky Kitaro 4'', we know even less about ''Spooky Kitaro 5''.]]


As of the time of writing, no episodes have surfaced online, and the dub is considered completely lost.
It was believed for awhile that full episodes of the dub used to be available online, but have since been taken down. Some credence to this theory comes from a tweet from Japanese Twitter user @himesyara1409. In one tweet, they link to a YouTube video titled "Spooky Kitaro 10 minutes  Switcheroo to Zero", and discuss the English dubbing.<ref>[https://twitter.com/himesyara1409/status/520210921168179201 A tweet by user @himesyara1409 that seems to reference a ''Spooky Kitaro'' episode.] Retrieved 4 Dec '21</ref> However, attempts to revive the YouTube link they've provided have not been successful. As of the time of writing, no episodes of ''Spooky Kitaro 4'' have surfaced, and the dub is considered completely lost.


==Spooky Kitaro 5==
==Spooky Kitaro 5==
''Spooky Kitaro 5'', Animax Asia’s dub of the fifth ''Gegege no Kitaro'' anime, has even less information provided online, and thus does not warrant its own article. However, it does deserve being mentioned here. It premiered on November 10th, 2010 in Malaysia and in the Philippines.<ref>[https://twitter.com/animaxasiatv/status/29359594305 A tweet from Animax Asia about the premiere of ''Spooky Kitaro 5''.] Retrieved 13 Jun '20</ref> Much like ''Spooky Kitaro 4,'' no clips of the dub have surfaced online. There’s no cast and crew information available, and all that has surfaced are promotional images.<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/popazrael/sets/72157625329872028 A collection of promotional images for ''Spooky Kitaro 5''.] Retrieved 13 Jun '20</ref> It’s unknown how many episodes were dubbed, and if any episodes were omitted from the dubbing process like with ''Spooky Kitaro 4''.
''Spooky Kitaro 5'', Animax Asia’s dub of the fifth ''Gegege no Kitaro'' anime, has even less information provided online, and thus does not warrant its own article. However, it does deserve being mentioned here. Like ''Spooky Kitaro 4'', it was divided into two parts. Part 1 premiered on November 10th, 2010 in Malaysia and in the Philippines,<ref>[https://twitter.com/animaxasiatv/status/29359594305 A tweet from Animax Asia about the premiere of ''Spooky Kitaro 5''.] Retrieved 13 Jun '20</ref> and Part 2 premiered on May 26th, 2011.<ref>[https://pdfslide.net/documents/to-infinity-and-beyond-56e5ff6217ce4.html A PDF containing scheduling information for ''Spooky Kitaro 5 Part 2''.] Retrieved 4 Dec '21</ref> No promos, clips, or full episodes for ''Spooky Kitaro 5'' have surfaced. In another tweet, user @himesyara1409 provides a YouTube link that contains a preview for the dub.<ref>[https://twitter.com/himesyara1409/status/323770967702765568 A tweet by user @himesyara1409 that seems to reference a preview for ''Spooky Kitaro 5''.] Retrieved 4 Dec '21</ref> But once again, trying to retrieve this link has been unsuccessful. There's very little cast and crew information available, and all that has surfaced are promotional images.<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/popazrael/sets/72157625329872028 A collection of promotional images for ''Spooky Kitaro 5''.] Retrieved 13 Jun '20</ref> It’s unknown how many episodes were dubbed.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Video|perrow  =1
{{Video|perrow  =2
   |service1    =youtube
   |service1    =youtube
   |id1          =wUTUgz_qN1s
   |id1          =wUTUgz_qN1s
   |description1 =A TV bumper for ''Spooky Kitaro 4''.
   |description1 =A TV promo for ''Spooky Kitaro 4''.
  |service2    =youtube
  |id2        =Cu1Xa5ysPDA
  |description2 =A compilation video featuring a promo for ''Spooky Kitaro 4'', uploaded by Gokumon Classic (2:55).
}}
}}
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>

Revision as of 23:22, 4 December 2021

SpookyKitaro1.png

An image from a TV bumper for Spooky Kitaro 4, provided by the official Animax Asia YouTube channel.

Status: Lost

Spooky Kitaro 4, sometimes simply abbreviated to Spooky Kitaro, is the name of the English dub of the fourth Gegege no Kitaro anime produced by the TV company Animax Asia. Despite airing on a popular network, very little is known about the dub, including the names of most voice actors and those who were involved during production. The entire dub is lost, with only two TV bumpers and a few still images having surfaced online.

Synopsis

A synopsis of the plot, from Animax Asia's official website:

"Kitaro is an adorable young boy who has returned from the dead as a "yokai". When he discovers that the human world is in peril from evil beings bent on destroying it, he embarks on a journey to help save the human world. Possessing special powers - needle hairs that act as weapons, antenna hairs for detecting spiritual activities, magic wooden sandals and no fear of death. Kitaro will travel to the human world whenever he receives a letter from a troubled human. Fortunately, Kitaro is not alone on this journey. Standing with him in his battles is his father, a human struck by a strange disease that caused his body to wither away, reducing him to simply an eyeball with a tiny body, as well as his friends and loyal companions, who lend him a helping hand in his adventures. Watch the mystery unfold as Kitaro strives to stop the evil beings from harming the human world."[1]

One notable change is that both Kitaro and his father were once human and were transformed into yokai, which differs from the original source material. It is unknown why this change was made, though it may have been for localization purposes.

The top right-hand corner of this image signifies that this episode was dubbed by Animax Asia.

Episodes

The fourth Gegege no Kitaro series ended with 114 episodes, each with a run time of approximately 25 minutes. Many theorized that Animax Asia decided to dub only the last half of the series, but this was later disproved. The series was split into two parts, with Spooky Kitaro 4 (Part 2) premiering on September 23rd, 2009. [2] Part 2 had a schedule date of Mondays to Fridays at 7:30pm.[3] Part 1 is believed to have premiered sometime in March of 2008. [4]

Cast & Crew

Many of the cast and crew involved with the dub are unknown. Sarah Hauser is credited as the voice of Kitaro, with Michael Pizzuto credited as Kitaro’s father, Medama Oyaji. (Though his name is shortened to simply Oyaji)[5] Voice Actress Emily Woo Zeller has a voice credit for Spooky Kitaro listed on her website, but it is unknown what character she voiced.[6]

Availability

Although no clips of the dub have surfaced online, a television bumper was uploaded by the official Animax Asia website on September 8th, 2009, and has been provided below. Due to the upload date, it's believed to be a promo for Part 2, rather than Part 1.

On September 30th, 2021, YouTube user Gokumon Classic would upload a 30 second promo of Spooky Kitaro 4 onto his channel. This second promo is for the premiere of Part 1. Some voice clips can be heard throughout the promo, but most are muffled by sound effects and other outside noises. For unknown reasons, the promo contains footage from the third Gegege no Kitaro anime series.

With how little we know about Spooky Kitaro 4, we know even less about Spooky Kitaro 5.

It was believed for awhile that full episodes of the dub used to be available online, but have since been taken down. Some credence to this theory comes from a tweet from Japanese Twitter user @himesyara1409. In one tweet, they link to a YouTube video titled "Spooky Kitaro 10 minutes Switcheroo to Zero", and discuss the English dubbing.[7] However, attempts to revive the YouTube link they've provided have not been successful. As of the time of writing, no episodes of Spooky Kitaro 4 have surfaced, and the dub is considered completely lost.

Spooky Kitaro 5

Spooky Kitaro 5, Animax Asia’s dub of the fifth Gegege no Kitaro anime, has even less information provided online, and thus does not warrant its own article. However, it does deserve being mentioned here. Like Spooky Kitaro 4, it was divided into two parts. Part 1 premiered on November 10th, 2010 in Malaysia and in the Philippines,[8] and Part 2 premiered on May 26th, 2011.[9] No promos, clips, or full episodes for Spooky Kitaro 5 have surfaced. In another tweet, user @himesyara1409 provides a YouTube link that contains a preview for the dub.[10] But once again, trying to retrieve this link has been unsuccessful. There's very little cast and crew information available, and all that has surfaced are promotional images.[11] It’s unknown how many episodes were dubbed.

Gallery

A TV promo for Spooky Kitaro 4.

A compilation video featuring a promo for Spooky Kitaro 4, uploaded by Gokumon Classic (2:55).

References