Kibakichi Collection

The Kibakichi Collection comprises two films released in 2004 as part of the Yōkaiden series. This collection represents the second attempt at rebooting the Yōkai film series, which originally ran from 1968 to 1969 but subsequently shifted towards a more adult-oriented direction and is not considered a direct continuation. The Yōkaiden series is the second of three reboot attempts, following the direct-to-video Yōkai tengoku series (1986–1990) and preceding the Great Yokai War series (2005–2021), which is considered the most direct and family-friendly continuation. The two films in the Kibakichi Collection have a combined runtime of 177 minutes. The collection's total budget and revenue are both listed as zero. Kibakichi (2004) has an IMDb rating of 5.1, while Kibakichi 2 (2004) received an IMDb rating of 4.4. The Yōkaiden series, including the Kibakichi films, differs significantly from the original 1968-1969 series in its approach. It is not viewed as a direct successor and instead represents a distinct reimagining of the Yōkai mythology for a contemporary audience. The collection's release in 2004 places it within a specific period of attempts to revive the Yōkai film franchise.