Ghost Stories (Japanese TV series)

2000 anime series

Ghost Stories

Cover art for the first DVD release

学校の怪談
Gakkō no Kaidan
Genre|

* Original:
* Horror[1][2]
* Supernatural[3]
* ADV English version:
* Black comedy[2]
* Horror comedy[2]

Created by| Tōru Tsunemitsu [ja]
Based on| School Ghost Stories
by Tōru Tsunemitsu
Written by| Hiroshi Hashimoto
Directed by| Noriyuki Abe
Voices of|

* Tomoko Kawakami
* Kumi Sakuma
* Takako Honda
* Makoto Tsumura
* Kurumi Mamiya
* Ryusei Nakao

Music by| Kaoru Wada
Opening theme| "Grow Up"
by Hysteric Blue
Ending theme| "Sexy Sexy"
by Cascade
Country of origin| Japan
Original language| Japanese
No. of episodes| 20 (list of episodes)
Production
Producers|

* Yuriko Nakamura
* Hideo Katsumata
* Ken Hagino

Cinematography| Toshiyuki Fukushima
Editors| Junichi Uematsu
Makiko Asano
Production companies|

* Fuji Television
* SPE Visual Works
* Studio Pierrot

Original release
Network| FNS (Fuji TV)
Release| 22 October 2000 (2000-10-22) –
25 March 2001 (2001-03-25)

Ghost Stories (Japanese: 学校の怪談, Hepburn: Gakkō no Kaidan; lit. "School Ghost Stories"), also known as Ghosts at School, is a Japanese series of children's novels written by Tōru Tsunemitsu [ja]. It was published by Kodansha, starting in 1990. The series is a collection of popular school ghost stories in Japan, rewritten specifically for a young demographic.[4] A four-part film series based on the books was produced from 1995 to 1999. Additionally, it was adapted into a television series in 1994 and an anime produced by Fuji Television, SPE Visual Works and Studio Pierrot in 2000.[5] A video game was also produced.[6]

The books were received positively in Japan upon release.[5] The first film received a nomination for Best Screenplay at the 19th Japanese Academy Awards. Sources conflict as to whether the anime's original run was successful or not, though there is evidence of it having a relatively successful run.[7] Nevertheless, it received notoriety in the succeeding years with its official English dub, which mostly replaced the original script for the series with pop culture references and dark humor.[4]

## Synopsis

[edit]

Ghost Stories follows Satsuki Miyanoshita, who moves with her family to the hometown of her deceased mother. On her first day of school, Satsuki, her brother Keiichirou (a first-grader), Hajime Aoyama (their neighbor), Momoko Koigakubo (an older schoolmate), and Leo Kakinoki (a classmate and friend of Hajime's with a penchant for the paranormal) visit the abandoned school building adjacent the current school complex and discover that the building is haunted.

It is soon after revealed that Satsuki's mother was responsible for sealing several ghosts who haunted not only the school but also the town, which are now inadvertently being released due to urbanization taking place in the surrounding area. Satsuki's mother left behind a book detailing how to exorcise the ghosts once and for all. In her first confrontation, Satsuki faces a demon called Amanojaku, but in the process, he is sealed within Satsuki's pet cat, Kaya. Although Amanojaku does not want to help Satsuki at first, the danger soon threatens to envelop the town and it is left up to Satsuki, her friends, and Amanojaku to stop the ghosts. With Amanojaku's help, the friends finally are able to exorcise the ghosts.

## Characters

[edit]

Satsuki Miyanoshita (宮ノ下 さつき, Miyanoshita Satsuki)
Voiced by: Tomoko Kawakami (Japanese); Hilary Haag (English)
Satsuki moves to the hometown of her deceased mother with her father and her little brother Keiichiro, where she finds that her mother confronted several evil entities that haunted the town, which included Amanojaku, and wrote all her supernatural experiences in a diary, which is entitled "The Ghost Journal". Satsuki is very strong, brave and determined within, but sometimes a bit moody, mostly because of Hajime's reckless behavior.
Momoko Koigakubo (恋ヶ窪 桃子, Koigakubo Momoko)
Voiced by: Kumi Sakuma (Japanese); Monica Rial (English)
Momoko is a sixth-grader and Satsuki's best friend. She seems to fear nothing, even in dangerous situations, and is very brave when it comes to helping Satsuki and the gang confront the ghosts. She also has a psychic connection with Satsuki's mother. In the ADV English dub, she is a born again Evangelical Christian from a posh family, and almost every sentence she utters contains a thinly-veiled reference to Christianity. She mentions that she was a heavy drug user and a sex addict prior to becoming a Christian.
Hajime Aoyama (青山 ハジメ, Aoyama Hajime)
Voiced by: Takako Honda (Japanese); Chris Patton (English)
Hajime is Satsuki's neighbor. He is strong and courageous but has cowardly tendencies. Despite this, he is one of the most reliable of Satsuki's friends. In the ADV English dub, Hajime is a stereotypical anime protagonist with a slightly horny streak.
Leo Kakinoki (柿ノ木 レオ, Kakinoki Reo)
Voiced by: Makoto Tsumura (Japanese); Greg Ayres (English)
Leo is Hajime's friend and has a big obsession with paranormal themes, and proclaims himself as a respected paranormal researcher. However, whenever Leo finds a clue pertaining to the existence of supernatural entities, it seems that it turns against him. Like Hajime, he tries to be brave, but most of the time shows cowardice. In the ADV English dub, he is portrayed as a dorky teenager from a Jewish family.
Keiichiro Miyanoshita (宮ノ下 敬一郎, Miyanoshita Keiichirō)
Voiced by: Kurumi Mamiya (Japanese); Christine Auten (English)
Keiichiro is Satsuki's younger brother. He is easily frightened, fooled, manipulated, and often cries, but on rare occasions shows courage in defeating the ghosts. Because of his weaknesses, he often creates situations that the other characters have to solve. He creates a special friendship with the ghost Amanojaku. In the ADV English dub, his incompetence is elevated to that of being mentally challenged. He is often referred to as having dyslexia and is seen applying to the Special Olympics. He will often respond with a non sequitur and in times of stress, his speech will turn into a childish babble. He behaves oddly and randomly bursts into laughter, tears, or squeals.
Amanojaku (天の邪鬼)
Voiced by: Ryusei Nakao (Japanese); Rob Mungle (English)
Amanojaku is a powerful entity that, long ago, was sealed by Satsuki's mother in a tree in the mountains, but was finally released from his magic prison when that tree was cut down during urbanization. However, he did not have his freedom long, as Satsuki accidentally sealed him in the body of her pet cat, Kaya. At first, Amanojaku is hostile toward the kids and takes great pleasure in seeing them in trouble, but throughout the series, he develops an attachment to them (especially Satsuki and Keiichiro) and starts helping them in giving clues and sometimes gives direct help to the kids. He is the typical tsundere anime character. In the ADV English dub, he retains his antagonism towards the kids and will often break the fourth wall complaining about the poor animation, lazy writing or not being paid enough.
Mr. Sakata (坂田)
Voiced by: Yutaka Aoyama (Japanese); Tommy Drake (English)
Mr. Sakata is the teacher of the class where Satsuki, Hajime, and Leo attend. Despite not believing in ghosts, he suffers as a victim of many supernatural incidents. Mr. Sakata is often possessed, cursed, and kidnapped by ghosts. A running gag in the ADV English dub has him exclaiming his hatred for an unseen teacher named Ms. Hadley.
Reiichirou Miyanoshita (宮ノ下 礼一郎, Miyanoshita Reiichirō)
Voiced by: Takehiro Murozono, Daisuke Sakaguchi (young) (Japanese); Illich Guardiola (English)
Reiichirou is Satsuki's father. He has no clue about his daughter's supernatural duties and does not believe in ghosts. In the ADV English dub, he is a largely absent and inattentive father. It is implied that he is a cross-dresser.
Kayako Miyanoshita (宮ノ下 佳耶子, Miyanoshita Kayako)
Voiced by: Kotono Mitsuishi (Japanese); Marcy Bannor (English)
Kayako is Satsuki's and Keiichiro's deceased mother. Through her diary, it is revealed that she was an avid exorcist during her childhood. She possesses Momoko two times throughout the series to aid Satsuki against the Piano Ghost and Kutabe, and once helped Satsuki and the others to escape from a powerful haunting called Anamnaneki. Her maiden name was Kamiyama. It was revealed that she is haunting The Ghost Journal that she made for Satsuki (this was proven when The Ghost Journal content disappeared after Satsuki exorcised all ghosts that she dealt with during her childhood) and assisting her through the diary or possessing Momoko. In the ADV English dub, she is either bisexual or lesbian.

## Media

[edit]

Main article: List of Ghost Stories (Japanese TV series) episodes

Fuji TV, who owned the series' Western distribution rights, approached ADV Films to produce an English dub.[8] Fuji TV gave the ADV Films staff very few constraints when writing the new version, the only rules were "don't change the character names (including the ghosts); don't change the way the ghosts are slain (a reference to Japanese folklore) and, finally, don't change the core meaning of each episode".[4]

The English dub deviates significantly from the original script. While preserving the basic plot structure and storyline, the new script revolved around topical pop-culture references, politically incorrect gags, and fourth wall breaking jokes about the original show's low animation quality, anime clichés, and poor lip-sync.[8]

The English script was written by Steven Foster and Lucan Duran and allowed for ad-lib by the English voice actors.[8][9] According to Foster, whoever showed up to the recording studio first for any given episode could improvise anything they wanted, those that came later had to build upon the tone and jokes established earlier.[4]

On the weekend of 19 August 2005, at the 2005 Otakon anime convention, ADV Films announced a North American DVD release of Ghost Stories for the following October.[10] The original Japanese audio and literal subtitle translation are also included. Volume 1 was released on 22 October 2005.

On 28 August 2013, Discotek Media announced that they acquired the series' license and would release it in 2014 with the ADV dub and the Japanese audio with English subtitles.[11] The complete series was released on a three-disc set on 25 March 2014.[12] Ghost Stories and its dub were also released on the anime streaming platform RetroCrush in February 2021.[13]

## Reception

[edit]

The anime's original run was overly successful in terms of audience and readership ratings. According to Animedia, the series was ranked 9th out of 10 by readers as the most anticipated anime of 2000.[14] It peaked in the magazine's top 10 anime at least twice: it was given the ninth highest audience rating of 11.8% for December 2000, and was given the seventh highest readership rating of 37.3% for episode 8.[6] The series had an overall top audience rating of 14%, which placed it 12th out of 30 when it comes to anime (2000s era) with a rating of 11% and above.[15]

The English language dub has also received feedback from critics in the field. Dhruv Sharma of Screen Rant praised the characters of Ghost Stories and their developments as "well-written", though he wrote that the animation style was "a bit dated".[16] /Film's Hoai-Tran Bui called the dubbed version of Ghost Stories the "best and worst anime dub", describing it as "raunchy, wildly inappropriate, [and] self-aware".[17]

## Music

[edit]

* Opening theme "Grow Up"
* Music and lyrics: Takuya
* Arrangement: Sakuma Masahide, Hysteric Blue
* Artist: Hysteric Blue
* Ending theme "Sexy Sexy"
* Lyrics: MASASHI, TAMA
* Composer: MASASHI
* Arrangement: CASCADE, Cozy Kubo
* Artist: CASCADE

## See also

[edit]

* School Ghost Stories, the film from which the series was adapted
* List of ghost films

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Gakko no Kaidan". Pierrot. Archived from the original on 9 March 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
2. ^ a b c Theron, Martin (19 June 2006). "Ghost Stories DVD 3-5 - Review". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2018. "the Japanese subtitled version offers up a "horror lite" story about children dealing with ghosts, while the English dubbed version is a dirty-minded topical comedy with horror overtones."
3. ^ Theron, Martin (12 January 2006). "Ghost Stories DVD 2 - Review". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2018. "Without the alterations you're watching a run-of-the-mill family-oriented supernatural series which is unlikely to be fully appreciated by anyone who didn't grow up in Japan"
4. ^ a b c d Gramuglia, Anthony (25 January 2020). "The Most Offensive Anime Dub Ever Has to be Heard to be Believed". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
5. ^ a b "School Ghost Stories". WebJapan. 1999. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
6. ^ a b Thomas, Deshawn (10 December 2021). "Why Everyone Thinks The Cult Classic Anime Ghost Stories Bombed In Japan — When It Didn't". Slashfilm. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
7. ^ Thomas, Deshawn (10 December 2021). "Why Everyone Thinks The Cult Classic Anime Ghost Stories Bombed In Japan — When It Didn't". Slashfilm. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
8. ^ a b c Collins, Hannah. "The Story Behind 'Ghost Stories:' The Funniest (And Most Offensive) Anime Dub Ever Made". Ranker.com. Ranker. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
9. ^ "Vic Mignogna and Greg Ayres Q&A at Ai-kon 2007". HikaruRyuu. 2007. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
10. ^ "ADV LAUNCHES GHOST STORIES OCTOBER 25". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
11. ^ "Discotek Licenses Ghost Stories TV Anime". Anime News Network. 28 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
12. ^ "Ghost Stories: Complete Collection". Discotek Media. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
13. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (27 January 2021). "RetroCrush Adds More City Hunter Anime, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, More". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
14. ^ "Most anticipated anime". Animedia. Gakken Holdings. October 2000.
15. ^ 2000年代 ※最高視聴率が11%以上のものを抜粋. animesityouritsu1999 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
16. ^ Sharma, Dhruv (1 June 2021). "10 Best Not-So-Scary Horror Anime For Genre Beginners". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
17. ^ Bui, Hoai-Tran (13 April 2021). "The Quarantine Stream: No Thoughts, Head Empty, Just Watching Clips Of 'Ghost Stories,' The Most Outrageous Anime Dub Ever". /Film. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.

## External links

[edit]

Wikiquote has quotations related to Ghost Stories (Japanese TV series).

* Ghost Stories official website at Pierrot (in Japanese)
* Ghost Stories official website at Pierrot (in English)
* Ghost Stories at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
* Ghost Stories at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Gakkō no Kaidan by Tōru Tsunemitsu

Film series
School Ghost Stories (1995)
Gakkō no Kaidan 2 (1996)
School Ghost Stories 3 (1997)
Gakkō no Kaidan 4 (1999)
Anime series
Ghost Stories (2000) (Episodes)

* v
* t
* e

Works directed by Noriyuki Abe

Anime series|

| 1990s|

* Yu Yu Hakusho (1992–1994)
* Ninku (1995–1996)
* Midori no Makibaō (1996–1997)
* Flame of Recca (1997–1998)
* Great Teacher Onizuka (1999–2000)

|

2000s|

* Ghost Stories (2000–2001)
* Tokyo Mew Mew (2002–2003)
* Detective School Q (2003–2004)
* Bleach (2004–2012)

2010s|

* Black Butler: Book of Circus (2014)
* The Heroic Legend of Arslan (2015)
* Divine Gate (2016)
* The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance (2016)
* Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017–2019, 2022–2023)
* Kochoki (2019)

2020s|

* Arad Senki: The Wheel of Reversal (2020)
* Ōoku: The Inner Chambers (2023)
* My New Boss Is Goofy (2023)
* TsumaSho (2024)

Films and OVAs|

* Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie (1993)
* Ninku: Tomb of Knives (1994)
* Ninku: The Movie (1995)
* Hunter × Hunter – Jump Super Anime Tour (1998)
* Bleach: Memories of Nobody (2006)
* Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion (2007)
* Bleach: Fade to Black (2008)
* Bleach: Hell Verse (2010)
* Black Butler: Book of Murder (2014)
* Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic (2017)
* The Seven Deadly Sins the Movie: Prisoners of the Sky (2018)
* Yu Yu Hakusho: Two Shot & All or Nothing (2018)
* The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh (2022–2023)

* v
* t
* e

Studio Pierrot television series

1980s|

* The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (1980–1981)
* Miss Machiko (1981–1983)
* Urusei Yatsura (1981–1984)
* The Mysterious Cities of Gold (1982–1983)
* Mrs. Pepper Pot (1983–1984)
* Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel (1983–1984)
* Chikkun Takkun (1984)
* Persia, the Magic Fairy (1984–1985)
* Star Musketeer Bismarck / Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs (1984–1985 / 1987–1988)
* Magical Emi, the Magic Star (1985–1986)
* Ninja Senshi Tobikage (1985–1986)
* Pastel Yumi, the Magic Idol (1986)
* Anmitsu Hime: From Amakara Castle (1986–1987)
* Ganbare, Kickers! (1986–1988)
* Kimagure Orange Road (1987–1988)
* Norakuro-kun (1987–1988)
* Osomatsu-kun (1988–1989)
* The Burning Wild Man (1988)
* Magical Hat (1989–1990)

1990s|

* Heisei Genius Bakabon (1990)
* Musashi, the Samurai Lord (1990–1991)
* Tasuke, the Samurai Cop (1990–1991)
* Chiisana Obake Acchi, Kocchi, Socchi (1991–1992)
* Marude Dameo (1991–1992)
* Yu Yu Hakusho (1992–1994)
* Tottemo! Luckyman (1994–1995)
* Ninku (1995–1996)
* Fushigi Yûgi (1995–1996)
* Midori no Makibaō (1996–1997)
* First Human Gon (1996–1997)
* Baby & Me (1996–1997)
* Hyper Police (1997)
* Clamp School Detectives (1997)
* Flame of Recca (1997–1998)
* Takoyaki Mantoman (1998–1999)
* Fancy Lala (1998)
* Neo Ranga (1998–1999)
* Dokkiri Doctor (1998–1999)
* Yoiko (1998–1999)
* Microman, The Little Giant (1999)
* Power Stone (1999)
* I'm Gonna Be An Angel! (1999)
* Great Teacher Onizuka (1999–2000)
* Rerere no Tensai Bakabon (1999–2000)

2000s|

* OH! Super Milk Chan (2000)
* Gensomaden Saiyuki (2000–2001)
* Ceres, Celestial Legend (2000)
* Ghost Stories (2000–2001)
* Super Gals! Kotobuki Ran (2001–2002)
* Kaze no Yojimbo (2001–2002)
* Hikaru no Go (2001–2003)
* Kogepan (2001)
* Tokyo Underground (2002)
* Tokyo Mew Mew (2002–2003)
* The Twelve Kingdoms (2002–2003)
* Naruto (2002–2007)
* E's Otherwise (2003)
* Detective School Q (2003–2004)
* Saiyuki ReLoad (2003–2004)
* Hikaru no Go: Journey to the North Star Cup (2004)
* Saiyuki Reload Gunlock (2004)
* Midori Days (2004)
* Bleach (2004–2012)
* Emma – A Victorian Romance (2005)
* Sugar Sugar Rune (2005–2006)
* Naruto: Shippuden (2007–2017)
* Blue Dragon (2007–2008)
* Blue Dragon: Trials of the Seven Shadows (2008–2009)
* Hanasakeru Seishōnen (2009–2010)
* Yumeiro Patissiere (2009–2010)

2010s|

* Yumeiro Patissiere SP Professional (2010)
* Level E (2011)
* Naruto: Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals (2012–2013)
* Polar Bear Café (2012–2013)
* Kingdom (2012–present)
* Gaist Crusher (2013–2014)
* Baby Steps (2014–2015)
* The World Is Still Beautiful (2014)
* Tokyo Ghoul (2014)
* Yona of the Dawn (2014–2015)
* Tokyo Ghoul √A (2015)
* Mr. Osomatsu (2015–2021)
* Divine Gate (2016)
* Twin Star Exorcists (2016–2017)
* Onigiri (2016)
* Puzzle & Dragons X (2016–2018)
* Tsukiuta. THE ANIMATION (2016)
* Soul Buster (2016)
* ĒlDLIVE (2017)
* Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017–2023)
* Convenience Store Boy Friends (2017)
* Black Clover (2017–2021)
* Dynamic Chord (2017)
* Sanrio Boys (2018)
* Tokyo Ghoul:re (2018)

2020s|

* Akudama Drive (2020)
* Play It Cool, Guys (2022–2023)
* Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War (2022–present)
* Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master (2024)
* Magical Sisters LuluttoLilly (2026)

Category

Portals:

* Anime and manga
* Speculative fiction/Horror
* 2000s

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