Gakkou no Kaidan, also known as Ghost Stories, is a 19-episode anime series that aired in 2000-2001. It is a horror series that follows a group of schoolchildren who are threatened by a different ghost or evil spirit in each episode. The anime is based on a novel by Toru Tsunemitsu, and it features a variety of Japanese folklore and urban legends.
The anime centers on Satsuki Miyanoshita, a fifth-grader who moves to her mother’s hometown with her father and brother Keiichirou. She enrolls in the local elementary school, where she meets her classmates Momoko Koigakubo, Hajime Aoyama, and Reo Kakinoki. She also finds out that the school is haunted by the ghosts of the former students and teachers who died there. With the help of her pet cat Amanojaku, who is possessed by the spirit of an ancient demon, Satsuki and her friends try to exorcise the ghosts using an old book of spells that belonged to her mother.
The anime has a mix of horror, comedy, and mystery. The horror aspect involves scary and suspenseful scenes with various supernatural phenomena and creatures. The comedy aspect comes from the humorous and sarcastic dialogue, especially from Amanojaku, who often mocks and insults the other characters. The mystery aspect involves solving the mysteries behind the ghosts’ origins and motives, as well as uncovering the secrets of Satsuki’s mother and the book of spells.
The anime has a simple and straightforward style that suits the genre and the target audience. The animation is decent and consistent, using dark and gloomy colors to create a spooky atmosphere. The music is fitting and effective, using eerie and dramatic tunes to enhance the mood and tone of the scenes. The voice acting is decent and expressive, using different accents and tones to distinguish the characters.
The anime has a small and basic cast of characters, each with their own personality, role, and development. Satsuki is the main protagonist, but she is not a typical heroine. She is brave, smart, and loyal, but also stubborn, bossy, and emotional. She wants to protect her friends and family from the ghosts, but she also wants to learn more about her mother and her legacy. Amanojaku is the main supporting character, but he is not a typical sidekick. He is sarcastic, rude, and selfish, but also helpful, knowledgeable, and powerful. He helps Satsuki and her friends with his abilities and information, but he also causes trouble and chaos with his attitude and actions.
The anime also features other characters who have their own stories and roles in the plot. Some of them are friends or enemies of Satsuki’s group; some of them are ghosts or evil spirits; some of them are based on historical or mythical figures. They all add variety and interest to the anime.
Gakkou no Kaidan is an anime that will scare and amuse you. It has an entertaining plot that combines horror and comedy; it has an appealing style that portrays reality and fantasy; it has an intriguing theme that explores folklore and urban legends. It is an anime that I recommend to anyone who likes spooky and funny stories.