Kami-no-Sei (紙の精 Kami-no-Sei, lit. Paper Spirits) are spirits summoned through Paper Magic.[1]
Description[]
The Kami-no-Sei take on the form of whatever their summoner desires.
In the manga, Qi summons a group that took the forms of several Japanese Yōkai including Iso-Onna, Ippon-Datara, Umi-Nyōbō, and Kanayama-Sama or Kainan-Hōshi.[1]
In the 1971 anime, Qi made a group of Kami-no-Sei that took the forms of generic monsters. The first one has a face of a man with light blue skin, pointy ears, wild black hair, and a teal fish body. The second has a vulture head with a yellow beak, light blue skin, white neck feathers, and a gray serpent body. The third is a large, dark magenta reptilian creature, with clawed hands, hoofed feet, and a light blue underside. The last is a large spherical being with black hair covering its body, leaving its eye exposed.[2]
Since the 1985 anime movie GeGeGe no Kitarō: Saikyō Yōkai Gundan! Nippon Jōriku!!, Yōjin has appeared as a prominent example.
Behavior[]
They are loyal to their summoners and follow their commands.
History[]
Manga[]
Qi creates them to chase after Kitarō and his allies, making them take the forms of Japanese Yōkai. However, they are soon defeated as Kitarō burns them.[1]
1971 Anime[]
Witnessing Kitarō and his allies approaching his castle, Qi summons the Kami-no-Sei to attack them. Kitarō's Hair Needles pass right through them, forcing him and the others to flee the Kami-no-Sei and retreat into a cave. When Nezumi-Otoko mentions that they used to be paper drawings, Kitarō realizes that that is why his Hair Needles had no effect on them and summons a group of Tsurube-Bi to incinerate them.[2]
1985 Anime[]
Early designs of Kami-no-Sei for the 1986 movie.
In the trailer and a poster for the movie, some of the paper spirits seen in the manga were seen as well.
1996 Anime[]
2007 Anime[]
In 2007 anime, Gahi creates three to take on the form of Kitarō. They nearly defeat him, but Neko-Musume douses them with water, dissolving them.[3]
Powers and Abilities[]
Paper Physiology: They are spirits summoned through paper drawings, as such they are unaffected by Kitarō's Hair Needles. However, they are also easily susceptible to burning from fire[1] and dissolving from water.[3]
Flight: No matter what form they take they are able to fly above the ground.[1][2]
Hair Manipulation: The Kitarō copies are able to use hair-based techniques much like the original.[3]
- Hair Needles (髪の毛針 Kami no Kehari): Gahi's Kitarō copies are able to use the Hair Needle technique, making their hair as hard as steel and firing the strands out like bullets from a machine gun.[3]
Equipment[]
Remote Control Geta (リモコン下駄 Rimokon Geta): Each of the Kitarō copies possesses their own pair of Geta, able to kick them off to send them flying at their target.[3]
Chanchanko (ちゃんちゃんこ Chanchanko): The Kitarō copies also have their own Chanchanko, which they use to bind their target.[3]
List of Notable Paper Spirits[]
References[]
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| Classes | Akuma • Ghost • Gods • Tsukumogami • Vampire • Yōkai |
| Animal-Based | Kappa • Karasu-Tengu • Werewolf |
| Animals | Bat • Dragon • Bake-Garasu • Gaikotsu-Garasu • Iyake-Mushi • Kōmori-Neko • Kitsune • Maken • Nekiri-Mushi • Neko-Mata • Nobusuma • Tanuki • Whale |
| Element-Based | Dorotabō • Mabi • Yuki-Onna • Yuki-Otoko |
| Humanoid | Kinoko • Rokuro-Kubi • Witch • Zashiki-Warashi |
| Undead | Dorotabō • Funa-Yūrei • Mōrei-Yassan • Mummy |
| Forest Spirits | Aguri • Kijimuna • New Guinea Forest Spirits |
| Object-Based | Kami-no-Sei • Shikigami • Tsukumogami |
| Plants | Mammoth Flower • Pumpkin • Vampire Cactus • Yōka • Yōkai Cactus • Yokai-Dake |
| Tsukumogami | Bake-Tōrō • Chōchin-Obake • Kasa-Bake • Nurikabe |
| Vampires | Kyūketsuju • Nobusuma • Penanggalan • Ustrel • Vampire Cactus • Yasha |