Gashadokuro (がしゃどくろ/ 餓者髑髏, literally "starving skeleton," also known as Odokuro) are mythical creatures in Japanese mythology.
The Gashadokuro are spirits that take the form of giant skeletons and are fifteen times taller than an average person, said to be created from the amassed bones of people who died of starvation. These Yōkai roam after midnight, grabbing lone travelers and biting off their heads to drink their spraying blood. There is a tell sign as the victim would hear the sound of loud ringing in the ear. The Gashadokuro are said to possess the powers of invisibility and indestructibility; though Shinto charms are said to ward them off.
In the Super Sentai series, the Gashadokuro was adapted into its projects:
In Ninja Sentai Kakuranger, Gasha Dokuro is one of the main villains who is described as cold, calm, ruthless and calculating. He appears in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers, and Power Rangers Zeo as "Rito Revolto".
Giant Gashadokuro, which can be summoned in lieu of the usual method of enlarging the defeated monster of the day, are recurring enemies in Shuriken Sentai Ninninger. They are adapted as "Skullgators" in Power Rangers Ninja Steel.
In one of the DLC episodes of the PlayStation Vita re-release Muramasa: The Demon Blade, one of the final bosses is a Gashadokuro.
The Gashadokuro (usually referred to as "Giant Skeleton") is portrayed in varying roles of significance throughout the Castlevania series.
In Hellboy: Sword of Storms, a Gashadokuro rises from the ground of a cemetery and rakes the ground to unleash many undead monsters on Hellboy.
In Goemon's Great Adventure, a Gashadokuro is encountered in an early level while on a bridge.
In the Studio Ghibli movie Pom Poko, the monster parade scene features a Gashadokuro.
In AdventureQuest Worlds, the Gashadokuro is featured as the forbidden Beast of Chaos called the O-Dokuro. Kitsune uses the Hanzamune Blade to free it from a time rift and bring it to Yokai Island. Later on, the players can fight a monster called O'Dokuro's Head.
In Yo-kai Watch, there is a Yo-kai called Gutsy Bones whose name is the English dub name of Gashadokuro. He has control over the gashapons.
In Okamiden, there is a demon known as a Gashadokuro which resembles a humongous human skeleton with a fiery core and twin blades embedded in its stomach. There is also an armoured version which is much more powerful.
In the manga/anime series, Inu x Boku SS, Roromiya Karuta is a Gashadokuro.
In Kubo and the Two Strings, a Gashadokuro appears as an antagonist, guarding the Sword Unbreakable, which is one of many swords embedded in its skull. It is the largest stop motion puppet ever built, standing around 16 feet tall. Later in the film, a Byōbu of the Gashadokuro appears in Hanzo's abandoned fortress that is very much based on the one from "Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre"
In Nioh, Gasha-Dokuro appears as the boss for the mission "The Source of Evil".
