Ninja Kamui

Picture this scene: you find yourself thrust into a thrilling pursuit across rooftops illuminated by neon lights, with the brisk wind rushing past you while enigmatic figures engage in fierce clashes with unparalleled finesse. This exhilarating sequence merely sets the stage for Ninja Kamui, an anime that delivers relentless action alongside poignant emotional impact. This impactful debut marks the first original series from director Sunghoo Park, known for his work on Jujutsu Kaisen, and it boldly showcases "Ninja Kamui's" commitment to action and intensity with a mix of bloodshed and graceful choreography.

In the inaugural moments of Ninja Kamui, viewers are immediately ensnared as they are ... thrust into an intense pursuit. Through the eyes of Joe, our introspective protagonist, one is hurled into a frantic dash across rooftops, relentlessly pursued by assailants. The sequence is unrelenting in its brutality and swiftness, impeccably establishing the ambiance for the ensuing episode: somber, raw and merciless.

In Ninja Kamui, animation is executed with unwavering excellence. The combat sequences unfold akin to macabre ballet performances, wherein every movement flows seamlessly and resonates with significant force. Viewers will find themselves grimacing at the sound of bones being crushed by powerful kicks, gasping in awe at gravity-defying leaps, and perhaps even cheering as Joe elegantly dispatches his adversaries with lethal accuracy. It's a visual extravaganza that tantalizes the senses and leaves one yearning for further immersion.

Sure the storyline isn't particularly original, centering around a protagonist driven by an intense fury ignited by the tragic loss of all that he cherishes. But if you're critiquing the show solely based on this aspect, then you'd likely dismiss a significant portion of anime, particularly isekai genres. However, the focus should shift towards how well this storyline is executed. Additionally, it's unrealistic to anticipate complex narratives and character development in such shows. If that's what you're seeking, there are numerous other series available and I would be more than happy to suggest a few. But shows like Ninja Kamui are primarily enjoyed for their action, though it's reasonable to expect a certain level of competence in character development and plot structure.

Ninja Kamui offers a visceral and stylish initiation into a realm where vengeance reigns supreme. With its unrelenting brutality, adrenaline-fueled sequences, and captivating style, this anime promises to enthrall viewers craving an electrifying experience. However, it's important to brace oneself for the intensity of the violence depicted, as Ninja Kamui boldly diverges from the conventions of traditional anime, offering a gripping narrative that pushes boundaries and leaves audiences yearning for further exploration.

Flashy fights with everything else below standard.

Story 5/10
The protagonist is out for revenge. That's the story. Mostly a setup for crazy action sequences.

Art 8/10
The art style is reminiscent of American cartoons, which might be a turnoff for some. The main focus of the series is action and, boy, do they deliver on that front. The action is amazing animation wise, but lacks buildup leaving fights feeling meaningless. If you keep an eye out, you'll catch a fair amount of slightly funny looking shots, but regardless the animation is really promising. With a little more honing there will be nothing left to complain about.

Sound 4/10
Environmental sounds ... and music are both great, but the most important part of sound, voice acting, is just poor most of the time. From not so good voice acting to bad sound quality. Some lines are just hard to listen to, the sound quality is so bad. As if they recorded inside a barrel.

Characters 4/10
No personality to most characters. The series is so action-driven, they completely disregarded writing characters.

Enjoyment 7/10
So much action that it's impossible to get bored. Turn your brain off and watch for the action. Paying attention to the plot or characters can only worsen your experience.

Overall 6/10
Not great, but worth the watch for the action alone. If you're in for anything more than mindless action, don't bother with this series.

A banal plot, at the beginning they show a happy family, which means that by the end of the first episode they will die and the main character will take revenge.

The animation is not bad, but there is a lot of pointless blood and action. If they show a fight, then it’s just a lot of quickly changing cuts, it’s beautiful, but nothing is clear and it doesn’t create tension.

Anime is perfect for teenagers who like 80% of anime to be rivers of blood and fights for the sake of fighting.

I didn’t see any humor, drama, depth or plot. Even for background viewing, this anime ... is not suitable.