バイリンガル版の「ゲゲゲの鬼太郎」を読みました。
世代を超えて読み継がれている、水木しげるさんの作品の英語版です。
この作品は「紙芝居」から始まり「貸本マンガ」そして「少年向けマンガ雑誌」に連載されて大人気を得たようです。
タイトルもその当時は「墓場の鬼太郎」だったそうで、私が読んだ第一巻に収められているのは、この頃の二作品「ゆうれい電車」と「大怪獣」です。
どちらにも妖怪は出てきませんし、鬼太郎くんは私が知っているアニメのキャラクターとは違って、幻術で傲慢な人間を懲らしめる、怖がられる存在でした。
鬼太郎くんと彼を取り巻く個性的な妖怪さんたちは、皆さんもよくご存知だと思いますが、英語名とキャラクター説明がとても面白かったのでご紹介したいとおもいます。
松竹で実写映画が製作されているようですので、その映画での配役も併せてお楽しみください！
Kitaro （鬼太郎役：ウエンツ瑛士)
The blood of the noble Ghostly Tribe runs in our boy-hero’s veins. Kitaro works
day and night to help make the world a place where goblins and humans can
thrive in peaceful coexistence.
Daddy Eyeball （目玉のおやじ：CG)
Once a normal-looking man, he died before his son Kitaro was born.
Perhaps it was his concern for the boy that enabled him to rise from the dead
in the form of the eyeball of his own rotting corpse. With his encyclopedic
knowledge of goblins, Daddy Eyeball serves as Kitaro’s adviser and frequently
helps the boy out of sticky situations.
Ratman （ねずみ男役：大泉洋)
Half goblin and half human, Ratman is an often lovable but cold and scheming fellow
who would calmly betray his best friend for money.
Catchick （ねこ娘役：田中麗奈）
As kitaro’s reliable, courageous girlfriend. Catchick always willing to risk her
own life confronting his enemies. Her true, feline nature emerges when she is
angered.
Old man Crybaby （子泣き爺役：間寛平）
Old Man Crybaby originally hunted the mountains of Shikoku. He appears to travelers
as a crying infant. When picked up to be comforted, he becomes heavy and ends up
squashing his victim.
The Sand Witch （砂かけ婆役：室井滋）
A bamboo forest in Nara was the former haunt of this witch who blinds her enemies by
throwing sand in their faces. Like Old Man Crybaby, Rollo Cloth, and Wally Wall,
the Sand Witch is a figure from Japanese folklore and kitaro’s staunch ally.
Rollo Cloth （一反もめん役：不明）
A former inhabitant of Kagoshima, Rollo, as his name implies, is a roll of cotton
cloth. He unrolls and wafts through the air to entwine himself around his foes.
Wally Wall （ぬりかべ役：伊集院光）
Wally hails from the mountains of northern Kyushu. Resembling a stone wall with
arms and legs, he emerges from the earth unexpectedly and is capable of growing
as high and wide as he pleases. In addition to acting as a barrier to hostile
attacks, he can engulf and immobilize his enemies.
The blood of the noble Ghostly Tribe runs in our boy-hero’s veins. Kitaro works
day and night to help make the world a place where goblins and humans can
thrive in peaceful coexistence.
Daddy Eyeball （目玉のおやじ：CG)
Once a normal-looking man, he died before his son Kitaro was born.
Perhaps it was his concern for the boy that enabled him to rise from the dead
in the form of the eyeball of his own rotting corpse. With his encyclopedic
knowledge of goblins, Daddy Eyeball serves as Kitaro’s adviser and frequently
helps the boy out of sticky situations.
Ratman （ねずみ男役：大泉洋)
Half goblin and half human, Ratman is an often lovable but cold and scheming fellow
who would calmly betray his best friend for money.
Catchick （ねこ娘役：田中麗奈）
As kitaro’s reliable, courageous girlfriend. Catchick always willing to risk her
own life confronting his enemies. Her true, feline nature emerges when she is
angered.
Old man Crybaby （子泣き爺役：間寛平）
Old Man Crybaby originally hunted the mountains of Shikoku. He appears to travelers
as a crying infant. When picked up to be comforted, he becomes heavy and ends up
squashing his victim.
The Sand Witch （砂かけ婆役：室井滋）
A bamboo forest in Nara was the former haunt of this witch who blinds her enemies by
throwing sand in their faces. Like Old Man Crybaby, Rollo Cloth, and Wally Wall,
the Sand Witch is a figure from Japanese folklore and kitaro’s staunch ally.
Rollo Cloth （一反もめん役：不明）
A former inhabitant of Kagoshima, Rollo, as his name implies, is a roll of cotton
cloth. He unrolls and wafts through the air to entwine himself around his foes.
Wally Wall （ぬりかべ役：伊集院光）
Wally hails from the mountains of northern Kyushu. Resembling a stone wall with
arms and legs, he emerges from the earth unexpectedly and is capable of growing
as high and wide as he pleases. In addition to acting as a barrier to hostile
attacks, he can engulf and immobilize his enemies.