Hakaba Kitaro Season 1 Episode 1 Kitarou's Birth

In the first episode of Hakaba Kitaro, titled "Kitarou's Birth," viewers meet Kitarou, a humanoid yokai (ghost) born from the spirit of a stillborn baby. Being the last surviving member of his clan, Kitarou dedicates his life to protecting humans and yokai alike from other malevolent supernatural beings.

The episode opens with a short backstory on Kitarou's origins, followed by a scene of him wandering aimlessly through a forest, pondering his existence. Suddenly, he is attacked by a group of yamawaro, mischievous yokai known for their pranks and thievery. Kitarou easily defeats them with his powers of regeneration, shape-shifting, and super-strength.

After the battle, Kitarou meets a young boy named Shota who is being bullied by a group of human children. Kitarou intervenes and helps Shota stand up for himself, revealing his true form and frightening the bullies away. Shota is initially afraid of Kitarou but quickly warms up to him when he realizes that Kitarou is a benevolent spirit who wants to help people.

Kitarou takes Shota to his home, a rundown western-style mansion in the middle of a junkyard, where he lives with his father, Medama-Oyaji, a floating eyeball from Kitarou's deceased human form. Medama-Oyaji serves as Kitarou's guide and mentor, teaching him about the ways of the yokai world and advising him on his missions.

The rest of the episode centers around Kitarou's first official job as a protector of both humans and yokai. He sets out to investigate a powerful yokai haunting a nearby mountain village, causing accidents and disasters. Kitarou encounters various other yokai along the way, some of whom are friendly and offer to help him, while others are hostile and try to kill him.

Kitarou learns that the culprit behind the mountain village attacks is a powerful yokai named Nurikabe, who is shaped like a large wall and blocks travelers' paths, causing them to fall and get injured. Kitarou manages to defeat Nurikabe by exploiting his weakness - he cannot move if someone paints an eye on his back.

In the end, Kitarou is hailed as a hero by the villagers, who offer him a reward. Kitarou refuses the reward, stating that helping others is its own reward. The episode ends with Kitarou walking off into the sunset, ready to take on his next mission.

Overall, "Kitarou's Birth" is an exciting introduction to the world of Hakaba Kitarou, which blends traditional Japanese folklore with modern themes of friendship, acceptance, and heroism. The show's animation style is unique, with a retro black-and-white aesthetic that adds to its spooky atmosphere. Viewers will be left eagerly anticipating Kitarou's next adventure.