Ninkuu (Movie)

How much humiliation can four people and a penguin take?

Hard boiled Aito? Sexy bombshell Rihoko? Choji the red brief? Shining Fuusuke? Cutesy Hooter Hiroyuki? Oh, gimme a break! Who do these guys think they are? The Ninku?

Unfortunately for the real Aito, Choji, Rihoko, and Fuusuke, they do. But little did these imposters know when they stumbled on this sleepy little desert town, that there’d be a price to pay for being treated like the real Ninku, namely, having to fight the deadly Heaven & Earth brothers!

Fortunately for our phony friends, the real Aito, Choji, and Fuusuke step in, there’s nothing but trouble for the bad guys. Can the Ninku art of magic fighting beat the Heaven & Earth brothers deadly fighting style?

(Source: AniDB)

Fuusuke Main

Matsumoto, Rica Japanese

Rihoko Main

Hayashibara, Megumi Japanese

Hiroyuki Main

Suzuki, Katsumi Japanese

Aicho Main

Madono, Mitsuaki Japanese

Touji Main

Kosugi, Juurouta Japanese

Yamato Supporting

Ootaki, Shinya Japanese

Asuka Supporting

Koyasu, Takehito Japanese

Musashi Supporting

Hoshino, Mitsuaki Japanese

Mayor Supporting

Ogata, Kenichi Japanese

Fake Touji Supporting

Ishida, Atsushi Japanese

Maseba, Yutaka Producer

Hagino, Ken Producer

Abe, Noriyuki Director, Storyboard

Mizuno, Kazunori Episode Director, Storyboard

Reviews

Dec 30, 2023

giffica

Recommended

This Movie/OVA/Filler Episode extracted out of the Ninku series actually felt like one of the better examples of early Pierrot, and the evolution that goes into creating specifically Naruto. While this absolutely stands on it's own, the early formula that is pioneered by Ninku and even by Pierrot in this movie is a critical chain in the development of Naruto. The side characters, themselves actually more interestingly designed than the main Ninku cast, really showcases what develops into both Naruto and Bleach filler design. While many criticize the pacing of Pierrot filler, rightfully so, when paced well like in certain Bleach fillers they can be ... quite excellent, something we see with this Ninku Movie. The villains especially feel like something you would see in the Naruto Movies, and it's likely the designers are the same teams that later go on to develop those movies.

The most striking example of Pierrot flair is actually the 'jutsus' which are SIGNIFICANTLY developed from the main series. In the actual series it's one, or two signs, but at times they really expand the handsigns into more complex chains that often end in the same signs we see in Naruto. The fire jutsu ending in two open hands to the side is specifically something we see in Naruto, and it's unclear if that even came from the Ninku manga or Pierrot came up with that themselves. It's very obvious, and Kishimoto has stated, that he was inspired by Ninku so it's almost guaranteed he was watching this movie as the basis for much of early Naruto's combat. While the pull from Ashita no Joe is clear, the actual choreography in this movie is phenomenal and really leans into a development of Ninja-shounen combat diverging from previous ninja series. More focused on a back and forth found in works such as Dragonball, less death-strikes seen in the previous Ninja works up to this period.

Even the ending of this feels like something you would see in Naruto, avoiding spoilers, you can see how Fuusuke really shines and stands out as the emotional core of this series. It's incredibly wholesome. Such a short 'episode' is hard to comment on extensively, but this is something I'd recomend any Naruto or Shonen fan to give a watch even if they haven't seen Ninku prior. It's some of the best historical exposure to the series you can find.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Jun 1, 2017

Sidewinder51

Mixed Feelings

Rate a 5
English Dubbed

Story
If anything great happened when you weren't there to see it there is some record of it. Whether it is documented in film, written in a book or if all else fails someone plays witness to it. The witness will most likely tell people who will tell people in turn. Like wild fire will spread around. Unfortunately, this does more harm than good. For what are the heroes to do when confronted with phonies? Since, it is all word of mouth no one is to say they are or aren't who they say they are. The moral of the story is before ... rewarding for what you think is true attempt to research the truth yourself. A lot of people exist in the world good and bad. You don't want to lose big for lack of trying do you?

Art
Okay, but the art was slightly bright. I understand that the scene was in a hot environment but it ruins the show the way it was done. Luckily the brightness issue exists mainly in the introduction.

Sound- no complaints

Character
-Main characters are those who you see often in a show. It is kind of disappointing when one of the main characters roles has only a minor role. Plus, the specific character that had the 'minor role' was female. Normally, that would not matter per-say but her parts were mainly if not all beauty centered. For some people this may cause some aggravation. On how there is more to a girl/women than appearances.

-another aspect worth noting is the plan of the phonies. Later does one realize the sad truth behind the facade but you would think given their sad story they wouldn't act so rude/ungrateful especially being falsely rewarded. An example worth noting is the wiping of the mouth.

Overall
The movie may lack luster, lack in action but is strong in moral/kindness. Although, as kind as that may be it was foolish. Seeing how they are fighters fighting in a hot environment. Which means a lot of energy is being burned off. Without proper replenishment the body will collapse.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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