It is the 1950s. The war has ended and the economy is growing at an accelerating pace. While the rich become richer, a tremendous number of people are still at the bottom of social pyramid and have to work their fingers to the bone to survive.
On the other hand, the Ghost Tribe and spirit-monsters live in their own world. They have existed way longer than humans, but are forced to move deeper into the backwoods as urbanization progresses. In such a society, Kitaro was born in a graveyard as the last of the Ghost Tribe. His eerie appearance has made him known as Hakaba (Graveyard) Kitaro. With his father called Medama Oyaji (Eyeball Father), Kitaro observes insatiable human greed from the standpoints of the Spirit World and the human world.
What is hell? What is Life? “Original” Kitaro humorously satirizes pathetic human ego and expresses the real joy of being alive and the true human happiness.