Ghost Stories - Reviews

Alt title: Gakkou no Kaidan

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Toonsword's avatar
Mar 11, 2016

I wouldn't normally review a dubbed version of an anime, but in this case the score would change depending on the version, and surprisingly, dubbed version by ADV is the one that I'd give an 8, while the original version would probably get a 6 at most. Let me explain.

THE ORIGINAL VERSION

Despite being based off of a popular book series, Gakkō no Kaidan didn't do very well, and it's hard not to see why. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't very good either. The series attempts to be a set of horror stories for children, but fails at being memorable because of its repetitive nature and cardboard cutout characters.

The series was actually quite good at building a somewhat creepy atmosphere in certain episodes, and often had pretty good setups. Heck, the previews for the next episode that always play at the end are probably the creepiest part of the series, being very vague and having terrifying sound effects. Unfortunately, these setups would mostly lead a rather tame climax or ghosts that were downright silly (with a special going to the ghosts from the other side of the mirror who possess people in our world and force them to wear glasses because they don't have eyes, and somehow get defeated by standing between two mirrors).

There isn't a lot of tension either as almost all of the ghosts get defeated the exact same way. There's only a couple exceptions, notably the Death Nurse, who couldn't be defeated the same way and had different intentions from what you'd expect. Consequently this made for probably the best episode. But aside from that, even the last episode, which was clearly trying to be a big finale, didn't really try to do anything different.

Add to that two-dimensional characters, sub-par animation and an opening song that doesn't fit the tone of the show at all, and you get a horror show that isn't particularly effectful. Its one saving grace is a very good cast of actors, though, but being a good actor doesn't always if your character isn't interesting or entertaining.

ADV SWOOPS IN

So, with the series not being very successful, the owners were rather desperate when they sold ADV the rights to distribute it in America and told them to whatever they deemed necessary to make it sell. ADV then decided to do whatever the hell they wanted with it.

From what I've heard. the American voice actors were not even given any script. They were only told essential plot elements and otherwise had to improvise the dialogue. The result truly has to be seen to be believed.

THE AMERICAN DUB

The American dub of Gakkō no Kaidan (called "Ghost Stories" in English) plays out like an "abridged" parody series like Dragonball Z Abridged, only official and not abridged at all. The voice actors are constantly joking, whether it be jokes about celebrities, adult references or ridiculing plot holes or the animation, or just being randwom, and... I'm not going to lie, this version is a lot more interesting. Not only because of some of the jokes being so out of left field you can't help but laugh despite how stupid or intentionally offensive they are, but also because the characters have so much more personality.

Easily the best of the series is Monica Rial as Momoko. In the original version, she was a constantly smiling unintentional medium with the personality of a rock, but Rial made her into an obsessive and narrow-minded christian. To be honest, I often find that Rial isn't very convincing when she tries to play a sweet and innocent character, but with Momoko she definitely plays that to her advantage, making the character constantly saying cynical things with a big smile on her face. Her comments about God and Jesus often come in such inappropriate or random moments that it's hard not to laugh.

I also appreciate how much they exaggerated Keiichirou, who was just a whiny and overly dependant kid in the original version (the only episodes that tried to give him any character development at all were the bloody sports festival episode and the previously mentioned death nurse episode, and even they were pretty muh forgotten because of the reset button at the end of every episode). In the dub they took that and exaggerated it to a comedic level often having him scream and speak gibberish in a way that's surprisingly entertaining (save for him screaming maybe a little too often in the first episode).

Obviously Greg Ayres, who plays Leo, takes every chance he gets to be funny as well. Maybe Hilary Haag, who plays Satsuki, doesn't add quite as much personality as the other actors (she makes her character more cruel and cynical, but the other actors do that too,) but she still has some very funny lines and an overall entertaining performance.

Honestly, one of the best parts is just how good and professional the cast is despite how crazy their dialogue is and how much they clearly don't take the show seriously. Heck, Rob Mungle, who plays the demon Amanojaku, would probably have been perfect for the role even if they did a faithful adaption. The supporting cast also does a wonderful job adding jokes of their own, with maybe the best one being Brittney Karbowski who plays the one-off character Mio, a loner whose only friend is a rabbit. Karbowski added some social awkwardness, a touch of insanity and a hint of possibly psycopathic tendencies. She made her episode quite possibly one of the best of the series.

Honestly, it's hard to even describe this dub without some direct quotes, so... here are some direct quotes:

"This will be the first R-rated bloodbath to ever be performed at an elemtantary school. Sweet!"
- Amanojaku

"I'm a sexually frustrated sixth-grader!"
- Hajime

"When this bitch kicks, I'm moving to Vegas."
- Grandpa

"Dabahaykoutu! Ahaha!"
- Keiichirou

"Nice ass!"
"Do not lust in-- JESUS, YOU'RE RIGHT!"
- Satsuki and Momoko

"Oh-my-god-what's-happening-these-are-the-fastest-lip-flaps-I've-ever-had-to-sync!"
- Leo

If you're fine with obscure horror stories that aren't that well made, but do kind of live in their own little world, then the original version of this series does have its enjoyable moments. But if a series that's practicly a parody of itself and has plenty of crazy jokes that are clearly not appropriate for the series they're in sounds attractive to you, or if you like abridged series, definitely check out the dub, because this an abridged series that's actually official.

6/10 story
5/10 animation
8/10 sound
8/10 characters
8/10 overall
japanlover4444's avatar
Aug 27, 2013

Tjis is the second funniest anime of all time,its just like a parody!i really love the demon trapped in the cats body

10/10 story
9/10 animation
9/10 sound
10/10 characters
10/10 overall
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AnimeLemon's avatar
Apr 9, 2021

The dub version is 100% better omg it's hilarious, it is a bit mature so be prepared but it's only because the subbed did so bad that they just said screw it for the dubbed. The entire dubbed is just people saying whatever, tho it does follow the story. 

10/10 story
8/10 animation
10/10 sound
10/10 characters
10/10 overall
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CaptainSlow's avatar
Sep 14, 2014

What I Liked: The English dub is amusing, with great comedic timing - it's practically the only selling point this series has.  

What I Didn't: Animation is all over the place but always below average, with flat colours and rather standard backgrounds. The plot itself borders on the banal, consisting of formulaic and episodic content that falls to pieces by the end. The CG is way too noticeable, albeit sparingly used. Weird choice in Ending theme. Overly peppy opening theme becomes grating quickly. Soundtrack is barely there. Jokes start to switch to predominately sexual by the last few episodes.

Final Verdict: This series is nothing to write home about, what with its awful animation and utterly boring plot. However, Ghost Stories really becomes something else when watched with ADV's notorious English dub - which essetially turns the banality of the series on its head and makes a mockery of itself and mid-2000's popular culture. Unfortunately, the hilarious dub doesn't entirely save the series from its lacklustre ending and the general mediocre feel of it all.

?/10 story
?/10 animation
?/10 sound
?/10 characters
5.5/10 overall
coolvibe's avatar
Mar 30, 2021

It's hilarious, if you can't take a joke then it's not for you. It was short wish there was more but it's better to be short and great than long and dragged on. 

10/10 story
10/10 animation
10/10 sound
10/10 characters
10/10 overall
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