The Ghosts Among Us

The Ghosts Among Us (Japanese: 田舎の怪談, Hepburn, Inaka no kaidan, lit: 'Countryside Ghost Story ') is a 1982 Japanese animated supernatural horror film written and directed by Moshi Kawara, his first film in the genre and his first professionally made film. Produced by Toei Animation, the story focuses on a group of Japanese high school seniors whom on the eve of their final school year, vacation to an isolated home on the countryside. After they find an old book that, when opened, releases a legion of ancient demons and spirits that go on a violent killing spree.

Following The Degenerate Spy, US distributor New Line Cinema saw an interest in the young animator and agreed to distribute his next film, with this in mind, Kawara decided to go more mainstream, collaborating with Toei Animation for the project. The film was influenced mainly by British gothic horror films from Hammer Films and more recent American productions such as Halloween, The Fog and Poltergeist along with elements from Japanese horror folklore such as Yōkai. This was Kawara's first film made without his frequent collaborator Akira Hamashi due to scheduling conflicts with Season 2 of The Ballad of Tobio.

Released in Japan on December 17, 1982 and in the US on May 20, 1983, the film grossed $3.4 million in both countries against a ¥234 budget, Both early and later critical reception were universally positive; in the years since its release, the film has developed a reputation as one of the most significant cult and anime films and further launched Kawara into mainstream success.

Plot
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Voice cast
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Production
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Home Media (US)

 * 1984 Media Home Entertainment VHS/Betamax (under license from New Line Cinema)
 * 1995 New Line Home Entertainment VHS/Laserdisc (distributed by Turner Home Entertainment)
 * 2003 New Line Home Entertainment DVD
 * 2023 Scream Factory Blu-ray (under license from Warner Bros.)