Ghost Stories

Ghost Stories turns a routine school setting into a haunted playground after nearby construction disturbs an old spiritual resting place. When restless spirits start upsetting classes and corridors, a scrappy group of students takes responsibility for cleaning up the mess. Led by Satsuki Miyanoshita, the team includes her tearful younger brother Keiichirou, the school's popular boy Reo Kakinoki, a science-minded classmate, a devout, outspoken girl, and a grudging, demon-possessed cat. Episodes mix sudden scares with broad humor and improvised ghost-hunting schemes, as the kids probe local legends, bargain with angry apparitions, and try to stop their school from becoming a permanent supernatural nuisance.

Created by Hiroshi Hashimoto and first broadcast in 2000, Ghost Stories is an animated TV series that blends horror motifs with sitcom-style comedy. The original Japanese voice cast features Tomoko Kawakami, Kotono Mitsuishi, Kumi Sakuma, Kurumi Mamiya, and Makoto Tsumura, bringing life to its eccentric student ensemble.

The series didn't earn major industry awards or high-profile nominations, yet it maintained visibility through fan appreciation and retrospective mentions. Formal recognition from mainstream ceremonies was limited, but supporters continued to highlight its distinct tone and memorable voice performances in community polls and discussions.

Its English-language adaptation is especially notable for taking large liberties with the script, recasting the show as broad comedy and generating a cult following overseas. That localized version circulated widely on fan sites and message boards, produced memorable lines and running jokes, and helped keep interest in the series alive well beyond its original run.

Viewer reception is mixed but often favorable for entertainment value, reflected in a user score of 8.069 out of 10 from 124 votes. Critics and fans note the show's strange tonal shifts, where eerie folklore collides with slapstick, and many appreciate its focus on friendship, school life, and inventive ways to deal with supernatural problems.