The 2023 anime film Kitaro Tanjo: GeGeGe no Nazo (Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe) is available to stream on multiple Japanese platforms. As of October 2026, it can be watched with an unlimited subscription on DMM TV, U-NEXT, Amazon Prime Video, dAnime Store, and Hulu. Rental streaming is available on FOD and TELASA, while TSUTAYA DISCAS offers DVD delivery rental.

Streaming Platform Overview

• DMM TV — Unlimited streaming; ¥550/month; 14-day free trial + 550 points on first sign-up
• U-NEXT — Unlimited streaming; ¥2,189/month; 31-day free trial + ¥500 in points on first sign-up
• Amazon Prime Video — Unlimited for Prime members; ¥600/month; 30-day free trial
• dAnime Store — Unlimited streaming; ¥660/month; first month free
• Hulu — Unlimited streaming; ¥1,320/month; no free trial period
• FOD — Rental only (not included in monthly plan); 400 coins per title
• TELASA — Rental only (not included in monthly plan); ¥440 per title
• TSUTAYA DISCAS — DVD delivery rental; ¥2,200/month for the “Teigaku Rental 8 Double” plan

Note: Netflix carries only the revised Kitaro Tanjo: GeGeGe no Nazo Shinsei-ban (released October 2024) — the original 2023 version is not on Netflix. The film has also not been confirmed on the free streaming service TVer.

Recommended Platform: DMM TV

Among unlimited-streaming options, DMM TV stands out for its low monthly fee of ¥550 — the most affordable on the list. It suits viewers who want to rewatch the film multiple times without extra charges. New subscribers receive a 14-day free trial and 550 bonus points.

Story & Highlights

Kitaro Tanjo: GeGeGe no Nazo is a prequel to the GeGeGe no Kitaro franchise, depicting the origin of Kitaro himself. The film opens with Kitaro and Medama Oyaji (Eyeball Dad) visiting the ruins of Nakugura Village, prompting Medama Oyaji to recall events from 70 years earlier.

In Showa Year 31 (1956), Nakugura Village is under the grip of the powerful Ryuga clan. Mizuki, an ambitious salaryman working at a blood bank, arrives in the village following the death of clan patriarch Tokisada, carrying both personal ambitions and a secret mission. Around the same time, Kitaro’s father — a ghost-tribe man — comes searching for his missing wife. As a succession struggle tears the clan apart, a brutal murder at the village shrine sets off a chain of supernatural horrors.

The heart of the film lies in the evolving relationship between Kitaro’s father and Mizuki — two men from opposite worlds who gradually build trust while confronting the village’s darkness. The film blends period mystery with striking yokai battle sequences, and went on to win the Excellence in Animation Award at the 47th Japan Academy Prize. It also aired uncut on Fuji TV’s “Saturday Premium” slot for the first time on July 12, 2025.

Voice Cast

• Kitaro’s Father — Seki Toshihiko
• Mizuki — Kiuchi Hidenobu
• Ryuga Sayo — Tanezaki Atsumi (known for Frieren in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End)
• Nagata Tokiya — Kobayashi Yumiko
• Ryuga Tokisada — Shiratori Tetsu
• Ryuga Tokimaro — Tobita Nobuo
• Ryuga Kozo — Nakai Kazuya
• Ryuga Otome — Sawami Yoko
• Ryuga Katsunori — Yamaji Kazuhiro
• Ryuga Heie — Minaguchi Yuko
• Nagata (Ryuga) Koshi — Kugimiya Rie (known for Kagura in Gintama)
• Nagata Genji — Ishida Akira
• Nezumi (Rat) — Furukawa Toshio
• Kitaro — Sawashiro Miyuki (also voices Kitaro’s mother)
• Medama Oyaji — Nozawa Masako (known for Son Goku in Dragon Ball)

Production Details

• Original Work: GeGeGe no Kitaro manga by Mizuki Shigeru
• Release Date: November 17, 2023
• Director: Koga Go
• Screenplay: Yoshino Hiroyuki
• Character Design: Yatabe Toko
• Art Director: Ichioka Mai
• Music: Kawai Kenji
• Studio: Toei Animation
• Distributor: Toei
• Rating: PG12

The film was produced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of creator Mizuki Shigeru.

FAQ

Is it free on TVer?

The film has not been confirmed on TVer. To watch for free, consider using DMM TV’s 14-day trial or dAnime Store’s first-month-free offer.

What is the Shinsei-ban version?

Kitaro Tanjo: GeGeGe no Nazo Shinsei-ban, released in October 2024, features reworked animation across 327 cuts and a completely re-dubbed audio track. Its age rating was also changed from PG12 to R15+. This revised version is available on Netflix; the original 2023 version is not.