Background on Miike's Yokai Film ...

dont know if he drew from the films. but read the leaflet translation from jason gray and see all the coverage of the past films online and you will see there have been previous movies and how could you avoid seeing them if youve been growing up in japan.

Yes, Miike's version is a loose remake of the original 3 films by Daiei. the production co/studio recently took over Daiei and their library. These ghosts and goblins have been subject of other films (one even appeared in DOA 2 - a kappa), but not in the same vein as this trilogy. And for all extreme Miike fans, be prepared: this is a KIDS film, but a Miike kid's film so there should be some minor perversions....

Zebraman was a kids film aswell but i doubt many kids actully liked it, it would of tatally gone over my head if i was a kid.... Just the image in the trailer of the head rolling off the body at the end tells me this is gonna be interesting in the least.

i am prepared for anything from miike. i dont mind what he does.

the yokai characters are familiar in japan too - watch pom poko and see at least one of them turn up in the "parade" the racoons do.

Actually, three of the 60's Yokai movies available as part of the same series. "Spook Warfare" (which was my favourite of the three) plus these two:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000093NPD/
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000AINJX/

Can't wait to see Miike's take on it.