Those who are frequent with Japanese Occultism must know about Kitarou and Nurarhiyon because they have been famous for their anime adaptation. And those who love to dwell in Japanese Ghost stories must have heard of or watched Ge Ge Ge no Kitarou (Spooky Kitarou) in their life. So what is different between Hakaba Kitarou (Graveyard Kitarou)- HK for short - and Ge Ge Ge no Kitarou (Spooky Kitarou) - GKfor short? Well, GK has been serialized and reanimated from the 1960s till 2018 almost 5 to 6 times and every time it has been about the haunting ghosts creating problems for normal humans andKitarou will save the day by purging these 'Bad Ghost or Demon, Obāke. But what about HK? Well, it's a new concept by Shigeru Mizuki sensei, the mangaka of these anime's manga, who crafted a new Kitarou who is not your hero but the Ghost Child. Watching GK, I have always wondered... There are ghosts in this anime but why is it not 'Spooky' as the title suggests? Umm... It is for children who got scared easily by any horror tale or story. GK is like the friendly Ghost stories that any grandparents would like to tell their grandchildren. But HK is not like that because it redefines the Kitarou from his horrified beginning from his birth and how this newborn child with the blood of Ancient Ghost Descendant or Clan will bring some spooky phenomenon to this world.
For the story, I would like to give it - an 8, because it distinctly differs from the GK, and though some of the stories like Horror ride of the broken rail car, or Johnny the Vampire have been adapted from original work they hold their uniqueness in the retelling of the story and somewhat gloomy environment.
For art, I should've given 9 but 8 would be sufficient. To talk about art, I have watched the black and white version of the 1960s up to the vibrant colorful version of 2007, each adaptation has brought its individualism but what is most amazing about HK is that it doesn't follow the old pattern but it brings out the very eerieness in the background of the very story. The darkened screen with less vibrant but effectively dense colors gives HK its very own horror surroundings.
Sound... Well, it is 8 for me, again! Background music or Soundtrack gives you the spookiness of its own. You know, you're watching a horror anime but is it horror anime if there is no eerie sound of screeching door or heavy wind? HK gives you that pleasure.
Character.... I'll say 9!! Why? Because I liked it that much! By omitting the original group of Kitarou's team members like Ittan Mommen and 3 more ghosts, this anime didn't lack any proficiency. But it did include Nezumi Ōtoko and somewhat Neko Onna in their sense. Without Nezumi Ōtoko there will never be anime comedy in Kitarou. And this Child Kitarou was like the Kitarou you'll never imagine because he's selfish, non-reliable and a problem child and that makes the difference.
Enjoyment? Well, I enjoyed it very much that's why it's 8 from me, and you know why is that, right?
Overall it stands at 8. Well, nobody is perfect but still, it's worth a try to give a modern adaptation a chance because you don't know how different may your perspective may change...
Please give it a try...