Saturday, November 9, 2013

GeGeGe no Kitarō (Sea Monster Transformation)

Though unknown in America, Kitarō  is one of Japan's most beloved fictional characters. He started life in a 1959 manga series by Shigeru Mizuki. This was adapted into the anime GeGeGe no Kitarō in 1968 and followed by another anime adaptation in 1971, followed by another in 1985 and others 1996, 2007, and 2008.

Kitarō is a yōkai (demon) boy with only one eye, and has various adventures involving the conflict between his fellow yōkai and humans. Many of these involve him getting transformed into various creatures, as the next few posts on this blog demonstrate...

One of Mizuki's manga stories features Kitarō being transformed into a gigantic sea monster (I think it's supposed to be a whale, but why is it covered in hair?). This story was adapted multiple times by the various anime over the decades.

Let's start with the 1968 series, episode 5, "Large Sea Creature." This is in black and white and I've combined the transformation with the reversion scene from the next episode.



Next comes a version of the same scene from episode 67 of the 80s series, "Large Sea Creatures of the Jungle":



The last version is from the 1996 animated movie, "The Great Sea Beast," which takes considerable liberties with the original story. But it does preserve the transformation and reversion:



Lastly, here are scans from the original manga, showing Kitaro's original sea monster metamorphosis and his reversion.


GeGeGe no Kitarō (Cow Monster Transformation)

Some further transformations from GeGeGe no Kitarō. The original manga featured a story where Kitaro was turned into a cow-demon-monster, and this was adapted by three versions of the anime.

I've combined the three transformations into one clip. Here's the breakdown.
TF #1 is from episode 15 of the 1971 show--"Cow Demon":

TF #2 is from episode 42 of the 1985 show, "Cattle Demon Ghost Story." This starts a brief reversion of a previous victim of the cow demon curse reverting to humanity:

TF #3 if from  episode 14  from the 1996 show, "Cow Demon Resurrection." Unfortunately the transformation is interrupted by bumpers for the commercial break.

GeGeGe no Kitarō (Rat, Cat, Raccoon Dog, and Dinosaur Transformations)

Here are some miscellaneous transformations from the later series of GeGeGe no Kitarō.
The first three are courtesy of the 1996-98 series.

Here's a quick rat transformation from episode 103, "Cornered Rat Specter":



Next comes a brief cat transformation from episode 28, "Ticket Tan Town Cat Fantasy." Nekomachi, nekomachi!



The third transformation is the best in this post--a raccoon dog (tanuki) transformation from episode 110, "Revolt of the Eight hundred and Eight Raccoon Dogs." The clip runs slightly long, since I was unable to clip the middle bit, but there's a reversion scene at the end:



Lastly, from episode 28 of the 2007 series, Kitaro is changed into a Tyrannosaurus Rex. The transformation is regrettably obscured by a flash of light, but you can see his intermediate forms within the glow.

Hakaba Kitarō (Werewolf Transformation)

After the first five anime series of GeGeGe no Kitarō, it was decided to make a show more faithful to the  the original manga. The result was 2008's Hakaba Kitarō. In episode 7 there happens to be a werewolf transformation (though in human form the werewolf looks a lot like a vampire).

"Life is Short" (Age Progression Transformation)

A reader named Smee suggested featuring the X-Box commercial "Life is Short." Many thanks, because the commercial, though over a decade old, features some excellent age progression morphing:



The commercial was apparently banned in the UK at the behest of idiots. The message is certainly bleak and nihilistic, but all I object to is the conclusion: if life is short, don't spend it playing video games.

Sunlight (Werewolf Transformation)

This short hand-animated Twilight parody features a werewolf transformation at the 1:05 mark:



Because the TF is quick, I decided to include a collage for your benefit:


Now that I've learned to make these, expect them more often!

Artboy Design (Werewolf Transformation)

Here is a Halloween-themed webcomic featuring a nicely drawn-out "werewolf" metamorphosis. Thanks to Mike for the alert!

Jinrou Chronicle (Werewolf Transformation)

The plot synopsis for this manga reads: "When the full moon rises, the sleeping beast's blood awakens. Which of fated twins will the Wolf God choose?"
I won't say which twin it is, because I don't care, but his transformation begins here.

Monster Soul (Werewolf Transformation)

Monster Soul is a fantasy manga starring a group of monsters. Aki, the main protagonist, transforms into a "DiaWolf" (a werewolf with horns) whenever he gets emotional. The transformation begins  here.

Pan's Grotto (Goat and Satyr Transformations)

This comic by the TF artist Navetsea was clearly inspired by the man-to-satyr-to-goat transformation in the "Blind Pilots" music video (which can be seen in an earlier post). But unlike the music video, it has a more upbeat and...orgiastic ending (making it not safe for work). Read it here.

As a bonus for satyr lovers, here's a link to Navetsea's similarly-themed comic "Cleon and the Cursed Flute."

EDIT: Someone reported encountering malware while accessing Navetsea's site. Though I had no problems, I felt I should report this.

"Métamorphose" and "Eyline" (Cat and Monster Transformations)

Here are two short comics I found on a hentai website, which means they're not safe for work. The transformations aren't strong enough to merit individual posts, so I've grouped them together.
In "Eyline," a dude transforms into a hulking monster, beginning here.
In "Métamorphose", a bored housewife's cat tranforms in order to her please his mistress. Read it here. Hot comic, but I wish it was longer.