Nezumi-Otoko: An Analysis By Version
I’ve been absent here quite a lot, mostly because I didn’t think I’d have anything “useful” to contribute here, but then I realized I couldn’t keep vomiting my analysis thoughts to my twitter.
So from since the last time I’ve seriously posted, I’ve finished the entirety of the 2007 Gegege no Kitaro series, and I’m currently watching the 1985, 1996, and 2018 versions, all pretty much at the same time because I REALLY wanna observe the differences of characterization between versions. So far I’m about 20-ish episodes into 1985 and 1996 since I’m watching them side by side, and 13 episodes into 2018.
Every adaptation of Gegege no Kitaro is basically a seperate universe. The characters are basically the same, but they also differ between versions in both designs, and more subtly, by personalities. It’s why the Japanese fandom treat each of the Kitaros as if they were different people altogether, and refer to them based on their seiyuus last names. For example, 2007 Kitaro voiced by Minami Takayama is often referred to as “Takayama-kun” (this was usually for fanfic purposes so people can get them to interact with each other)
Many people focus on the differences between the Kitaros and Neko-Musumes (the latter of which is far more drastic) but this time I wanna talk about my observations between the different Nezumi-Otokos. I used to think that the character was among the most consistent characters in the main cast, being driven by greed and willing to mooch up to the bad guys as long as he turns a profit, but now I’ve realized it’s not quite cut and dry.
So here I am, presenting my ameteurish findings on Nezumi-Otoko no. 3,4,5, and 6′s personalities, based on what I have seen so far. Though do note that I still have not touched the 1968/1971 versions, so I am not familiar with the first/second Nezumi-Otoko (they’re basically the same character though right?). I’ll also be uhhhhhhh referring to each of them based on their Seiyuu’s last names like how the Japanese fandom does it. I’ll post pics so it doesn’t get too confusing hopefully.
Anyway, here’s more below the cut, slightly modified from a thread I made on twitter
Very good analysis my dude, very good job
I won't add much beside saying you should add more to it after finishing the 2018 series cause it does add more to Nezumi's character without butchering it
something I will note is that there is a probable struggle in keeping Nezumi a conman and a likable goofball, in Spongebob (this is relevant, also I bet you will like Squidward's expressions... Enough said) at times the writers lean a lot towards the happy go lucky persona and it makes him feel...artificial I think? Something like that, generally it's not acceptable when it crosses a certain line, and I believe Nezumi is in the same danger of crossing a line to the point that the audience just can't like, for a villain that's normal but for a recurring character it's not
I got an interesting idea writing this, what about a version where Nezumi is a constant villain?