Juubee Ninpuuchou

Ah Ninja Scroll, the epitome of everything a ninja anime needs and tries...and fails to be. My friend and I saw this at our local Blockbuster and he had heard of it from a coworker who said "WATCH THIS MOVIE!" Now generally when I get recommendations from my friends I don't enjoy them all too much but Ninja Scroll was and is possibly one of my favourite films.

Story: Ninja Scroll in a very realistic sense is an anime B-movie. So the story was pretty heinous. Essentially the entire plot can be seen as a device to switch setting and to move ... to the next fight scene. However the story itself (if you're actually paying attention) isn't all too bad. There were some interesting little character developments and a couple neat twists and turns. It gets slightly weird towards the end and the actual ending itself was a little lacking. But the forte of the anime is the action scenes. Almost all of them were brilliant, I say almost all because frankly I wanted to see a couple stretched out a little longer. Each enemy that Jubei faces is different and even though it's pretty clear that he can't be beaten it's interesting to see him face some of the tougher opponenets.

Art: The art completely and perfectly suits the feel of the anime. The art isn't good, it isn't bright or colourful....it's mediocre. But the movie wouldn't feel right without the style of art that's used. Granted there were 2-3 moments where I was forced to turn on the lights because I felt like I was going to have a seizure. Most of the screen flashed red and black really quickly and I quickly averted my eyes. But that's my only qualm about the art.

Sound: Cheesy, oldschool....perfect for the movie.

Character: Jubeii is....the best and most powerful swordsman ever. Well, maybe not ever, but he's still pretty amazing and he has a good heart. All the characters are pretty one dimensional are never developed. You get a couple "reveal" moments, but they're a little bit boring as well. About the only noteworthy character is Kagero. I felt really sorry for her during pretty much the entire movie. However the interactions and "development" of characters is meaningless to the film. The film is about action and fighting so, for me at least, it's understandable that the characters are pretty flat.

Enjoyment: I love Ninja Scroll. It's a seriously fun ride. There's nothing deep about it, there's no meaning to it....the film is about action and that's exactly what it delivers. The movie is also quite gory and has a lot of nudity in it. There's also a really hilarious sex-scene...well...it was at least funny to me. There's also rape...so if you're offended by that you probably should steer clear.

If you enjoy Ninja Scroll, which I can only hope you do, you should definitely check out Wicked City, which is from the same director and in many respects is practically the same film.

This was the very first anime film I ever saw. This takes me back to a time before even pokemon was in the US. Although a lot of people today will say that the art isn't that good. Or that the character development is terrible etc. etc. Those are also the people that have only been watching anime since it became popular in the US.

The story is amazing. Demon ninjas with terrible powers, each unique.

The Art for it's time is also excellent. This is the movie that made me realize that cartoons could be serious, not just Bugs Bunny style.

If you like movies that have ... amazing villians, and a hero willing to fight them, and not cry about it the whole time. Violence. Great visuals. Imagination. Very good storyline. This movie is for you. I'll also mention that this is one of the only animes that I can watch in either English of Japanese. The English dub was done very well.

Do yourself a favor and watch this movie. If you don't like it, then you have only lost an hour and a half of your life. A small price to pay for anime history.

Ninja Scroll was one of the first examples of anime I ever saw, and it made a lasting impression on me - a bad one. Luckily, I was already convinced of the ability of anime to stand up to anything that live action could throw at it. This, on the other hand, went a long way towards making me realise that, as with anything else (I now realise - I was young and had no sense), not all anime is superb.

So, what's wrong? Well, ninjas. I await the day when I can see a ninja character that I can even begin ... to believe in. However, it seems it is illegal to have ninjas that you can actually believe in; they all have to be supernatural and/or sublimely skilled, to an order of magnitude above and beyond your garden variety trained killer. Ninja Scroll is the very epitome of this attitude. They're not just sneaky guys with throwing knives, they turn to stone and have steerable mystic claws on endless chains and can hold off their own deaths until they deliver that one vital message. All the most hackneyed and OTT things you can imagine ninjas doing, in all the most trashy b-movies and cheesy games, they happen here. It's also, to my eye, unnecessarily nasty in its graphicness, tone and inference - I'm not squeamish, but I would rather gore had some point. Think Naruto meets Urotsukidoji, but with rather less sex and filler episodes, and zero lightheartedness or charm.

Everything in Ninja Scroll is resolutely (tediously) grim and opressive all the time. It's actually quite tiring. All the characters are also gratingly simplistic. There's a hero, a heroine who is not allowed to be strong enough to look after herself in order that our hero Jubei can save her from a nasty fate, assorted sneaky buggers and of course all those supernatural ninjas. No-one is remotely credible as a character. Of course, they're not supposed to be, really, Ninja Scroll is clearly a very long way from realism. The point is, this is a genre piece, and if you're not enamoured of the stereotype of ninjas, well, this'll not do anything to persuade you. Then again, if Magikal Ninjery is your line, I'm sure you'll think I should rate this way higher.

To be fair, it's not the worst thing ever in the history of ever. The art style isn't really my cup of tea, but is distinctive and unique, with bold outlines, solid colours and overall a very stylised look. Some of the ideas, if you can get past the basic ridiculousness to suspend your disbelief, are inventive and unexpected. However, I was unable to make it that far.

I'm not going to pretend to be objective or anything, this is what I think, and I think Ninja Scroll is terrible. There are likely many who will disagree, but there it is, it's the kind of thing that polarises opinions.

Ninja Scroll was the first anime I have ever seen. I probably was going to elementary school at that time and I’m not sure how my friends parents allowed us to see this sick and twisted story full of gore and tits.
Needless to say, I couldn’t understand a jack shit of what was actually going on, but man did I love it.

Ninja Scroll also marks my new found interest in anime. It is the first anime movie I’ve seen in 5 years. I loved it, and since then I’ve already watched about 10 anime movies.

It is, in a nutshell, an action movie. And action here ... is great. Let me rephrase that: it’s awesome beyond belief! But what is action alone without great characters, interesting storyline, fitting music and heavy atmosphere? For me, action is never a key ingredient into great movie, and too often movies rely only on fighting, jumping and ass kicking.

Not the case here. Suspense is as it’s highest throughout the film. It will never let go and you’ll have not a second to rest. If that wasn’t enough, it is all done in great animation and surrounded by awesome sound.

Atmosphere is at a highest level. I’ve been looking for something like this for so long. It’s certainly not horror, but has some touch of it. Not in a silly cat-jumps-out-to-scare-the-shit-out-of-you way, but in that dark, creepy and let me repeat myself - suspenseful way.

Storyline is quite simple, but has many micro twists and is not clear from the very beginning. We are left to figure everything out as we go along and that keeps it interesting until the end.

To top it all of, both, heroes and villains are really well written. Dialog is great, and characters are not some generic faceless douchebags that you wouldn’t care for. By the end of the story, you will find attached to them for sure.

Good thing you can always re watch this masterpiece and meet them again.

10/10

Long before the Naruto craze and a myriad other ninja themed shows, there was Ninja Scroll. Premiering in 1993, Ninja Scroll could probably be the anime movie that fans everywhere could point their fingers at, saying that it jumpstarted the ninja trend, much like Gundam for mecha, Tenchi Muyo for harem, or Akira for cyberpunk, and what a spectacle it is. This is one of those movies that a lot of oldtaku were exposed to as kids, and is probably at least 50% responsible for the once-stigma of anime being sexed up, ultraviolent, and DEFINITELY not for kids.

Madhouse blends this winning combination of stylized, ... but grotesque, bloody violence with a touch of sexuality, and an unhealthy dose of visual awesomeness to bring Ninja Scroll to life. The story follows a lone wanderer, a ninja swordsman by the name of Juubei. His introduction is by and large unnecessary, because the viewer is generally aware of the wandering swordsman/ronin trope that's not unique to this series, but more of a culturally osmosis'd idea that we're aware of. The man has a dark past, and a lot of dangerous enemies who have nothing but bloodlust and revenge on the mind. After being tricked into accepting a job from the mysterious old man, Dakuon, Juubei is poisoned, and told that if he does not complete the task given to him in 3 days, he will die. This task, naturally, involves foiling a plot by a shadowy ninja clan who plan to take over feudal Japan through a power struggle created by ownership of the currency of the time: gold bullion.

The setup for the movie is quite simple, but the story itself is not where Ninja Scroll shines through its brightest. No, that element would be the presentation of the Ninja, and the great care and detail that Madhouse put into the production of the movie. The aesthetic of the movie reminds me much of a previous Madhouse production; another darkly stylistic and incredibly detailed film: Wicked City. The fluidity is incredible, the character models and scenery gorgeous, and the cinematography and direction are top notch as well. Maybe I'm a sucker for old school animation, but this is incredible work. Its focus on aesthetics and style coupled with brutal action and a number of buckets of blood lend edge to the visual feast- in a way that Mad Max Fury Road was visually striking- Ninja Scroll does a similar thing with the posturing and manner of attack and movement of the characters. There's none of the silly handwaving and yelling out attacks, but ALL of the awesome mystical powers of the fabled ninja: body clones, melding into shadows, invisible wires, poison, incredible speed and strength, proficiency with all manner of melee weapons, and other just cool sh*t. Ninja are cool- and Ninja Scroll shows off the best of the genre, in all honesty. The 8 antagonist characters never progress much beyond being Ninja with XY skills, but the powers they're given keep the action interesting, and it never devolves into a drawn out shonen filler battle that, if it were a TV show, you KNOW would take up at least half a season.

No, Ninja Scroll is practically the antithesis of that, as most of the 8 major battles are over in a matter of minutes. This lends a very quick pace to the movie (which is far better than plodding), which may be offputting to some, but I was glad it was not incredibly drawn out or overblown for each battle. Everything was summed up succinctly, and satisfactorily. Even the romantic and intrigue elements were handled well. The atmosphere is nearly tangible in its dark done, and gritty is the name of the game. We see the plight of the peasants and warring feudal factions that are immediately indicative of Sengoku period Japan (warring states). The movie even mentions the Tokugawa shogunate, and, supernatural elements aside, could have been some form of historical fiction if bent somewhat. All that to say: the presentation is time period appropriate- which lends an air of realism and credibility to it. All told, this is a true anime classic, and one that everyone should see once, especially if you like a good action romp.

Ninja Scroll was a runaway hit when it premiered in America in 1993. Although it was never popular in Japan, it is not hard to see why it is a common gateway drug for western anime fans. Audiences who were unfamiliar with anime felt right at home with Ninja Scroll's plot, which is reminiscent of action films from the same late 80's to early 90's era (think Die Hard or Lethal Weapon). Juubee is a loner with a good heart and a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. To top it off, he's a rugged alpha male unlike the androgynous ... leads that are typical in anime.

On the surface, the plot seems uninspired: Three ninjas must stop the eight Devils of Kimon before they takeover Japan. There is also little in the way of philosophy or intellectual exercise. However, Ninja Scroll is perfectly paced, engaging, creative, and a blast to watch. It is an example of why with proper execution, simple ideas can make a great movie.

In contrast to many action anime, the fight scenes are fast paced, concise, and not bogged down with unnecessary dialogue. This isn't pretty fighting either. There is no motion blur or gracefully choreographed movements, and every swing feels raw and impactful. The characters recoil from cuts and deflected blows with a sense of weight that is difficult to convey in animation. Action scenes never overstay their welcome either. Each fight lasts only a couple minutes, but it feels satisfying and leaves the viewer wanting more.

One of the most refreshing aspects of Ninja Scroll is its take on magic. It doesn't bother with a sophisticated magic system, it simply shows without telling. Although most of the characters have supernatural abilities, the audience can easily gauge their powers and limitations with hardly any verbal explanation. This does not stifle creativity either. The devils constantly use their powers in inventive ways, such as Yurimaru's ability to conduct his voice over a metal wire.

Ninja Scroll does not shy from darker elements of war in feudal japan. There are several instances of graphic sexual assault, and political corruption. Ironically, even though these scenes are a bit gratuitous, Ninja Scroll pulls them off with nuance because the characters actually behave like people raised in that era. Too often, fiction characters in historical settings have the same viewpoints as someone from the 21st century. In real life, people adapt to their environment. When the main characters observe or are victim to cruelty, they aren't shocked or bemoan the world; they understand how their society works. They don't approve of it, but they aren't surprised either. The character's reactions are nonchalant and understated, which gives Ninja Scroll an air of maturity.

At first, you might think Ninja Scroll's formula is not special or unique, but then you'll wonder why movies this fun don't happen more often. It seems so simple.

Ninja Scroll is awesome! There! that's the review.
The story is not great, it's actually pretty basic: An evil group, working for an evil shogun, trying to take over Japan. Our poor hero Jubei unfortunately gets stuck in the middle, when he decided to help some ninja girl that was being raped by a giant muscle-head freak who tells her to behave, because: it would not make a difference to him wether she's dead or alive while he's doing his thing. Yeah.. it's not classy. Jubei and the ninja girl, let's call her Kagero, end up joining forces to take on the evil group, yada yada ... yada, we've seen it many times before. It's pretty straigh-forward.

But it isn't the story that makes this movie a "MUST WATCH" classic, it's the action packed, bloody, raw and uncut fighting scenes! If there's one thing that Ninja Scroll delivers, is action. The fights are awesome, so awesome that it'll make you drool like a fat kid looking at cake.

The variety of opponents Jubei faces is very distinct, they all have different and unique abilities. The only downside is that some of the fights, though still cool, are incredibly short and it'll leave you with a craving for more (cake).
The characters are also barely explored, appart from Jubei and Kagero, most of the characters barely even show emotion or motives, or personalities really... nothing. They are flat, extremely undeveloped. Some, like the blind samurai, only appear for like 8 minutes overall. Poor guy, just because he's blind doesn't mean he doesn't have feelings. And one of the biggest promises, the sub-boss, who all through the movie appears to be a complete badass, shows up, only to die miserably like 1.5 minutes later. Which was very disapointing.

As the story moves along, Jubei's relationship with the girl deepens and we start to see more humanity from him, not that much, but its something. He's still a badass don't worry. His past is reavealed to be linked with the leader of the evil group and they face off once more in an epic battle, which ends beautifuly in my opinion.

Overall this movie is really awesome, that's just it. There isn't much more embezzlement to be made. It's a classic of japanese animation, it's simple but it excels in its simplicity, what it promises it delivers: An action packed adventure, full of ninjas battles, nudity and blood. What else could we wish for?

Wether you're looking for a great anime to improve your repertoire or just to have a good time, Ninja Scroll will fit your needs.

I'm gonna say it Ninja Scroll is one of the greatest anime movies ever made. I've seen this film 6 times dubbed and subbed. Now Ninja Scroll is a truly classic anime that anime watchers who like MOE, CGDCT, and other high school romcoms should watch and learn from to cleanse their pallet and enjoy something great and culturally rich.

The story of Ninja Scroll deals with our protagonist Juubei Kibagami and basically he’s out to kill the 8 devils of Kimon because an insider from the government poisoned him, and if he doesn’t do it the government spy won’t give him the antidote for the ... poison. The story of Ninja Scroll really has nothing to deal with scrolls and the villains are more like super powered demons rather than traditional ninjas. Basically the main character Juubei was betrayed by is arch rival and sold him out to be murdered by his colleagues over some gold. He plans to buy weapons from Spain to overthrow Japan and rule Japan from the shadows. The story it’s kind of like a video game where Juubei is killing bad guys without them overstaying their welcome and they all have different types of abilities. Also there is a love story between Juubei and the main Heroine Kagero who is just used as rape bait by the bad guys and Juubei has to keep saving her. At least she still does some useful things unlike another famous kunoichi Sakura Haruno. Otaku now at day’s in Japan are dismissive of Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s works because they just want to be filled with moe girls and Isekai trash but don’t want to look into something just raw and brutal.

The characters in Ninja Scroll are really damn cool. I can see how Naruto and Basilisk would be influenced by this show. In Ninja Scroll you have a ninja/demon who can shed her skin and has snake like powers (she also has snakes in her vagina no joke) like orochimaru. You have the blind swordsman; the man who hides in shadows and uses ninjutsu like shadow clones and mind control. Finally you have Genma who is immortal and has complete control over his microscopic cellular structure and can change his form into other humans. Yeah, I said Naruto I mean come on a lot of Naruto characters have the same powers the devils of kimon share. Ninja Scroll is just a much tighter, more concise, and more grisly depiction of Ninja life and less filler lol.

The soundtrack and direction for Ninja Scroll are what truly makes this anime stand out for me though. The ninja Scroll soundtrack was composed by Kaoru Wada and you’ve heard his soundtracks in anime like Inuyasha and Ace Attorney. He has these little motifs thrown in for individual moments such as the clarinet playing a sinister tone before something truly terrible or explosive happens and then it just crescendos to this very loud blaring of horns, strings, and timpani. You also have more subtle moments and when those show on the screen you hear a Japanese flute and a Shamisen come in. Also when something fast paced is happening you hear this soundtrack that has a galloping feel to it with strings and wind instruments, and softer hits from the gong and the timpani going on in the background. The sound direction of this anime is unmatched with the motifs placed in such perfect places as to what is shown on screen. The ending theme “Somewhere, Faraway, Everyone Is Listening to a Ballad” is truly a beautiful way to end the movie. Juubei experienced death, love, and betrayal and it’s all over. He can go onto living a peaceful life and the ending soundtrack symbolizes that with the images of glowing fireflies on the screen.

The animation direction is also some of the greatest I’ve ever seen. For example the first major scene when Tessai kills the entire Ninja Squad is grisly yet awesome. When I first saw that scene with the great soundtrack in the background my mouth fucking hit the floor. One of the higher ups sees his comrades’ dead then he gets a rope attached to his neck and he gets electrocuted to death. Then you see this enormous double edged blade slice these ninja squad guys into little bits and pieces. You literally see raining blood and trees falling down; simply outstanding cinematography. Also the final fight you see Juubei and the main villain duking it out in a ship, which is surrounded by flames and makes it look like the main villain is a demon and Juubei has no choice but to fight for his life or be swallowed by the flames of hell. Another great scene is when Juubei is fighting the shadow clone jutsu dude with a claw and the background is completely red. This movie has some of the best animation direction and stylization I’ve ever seen. There are a lot of other great scenes but there are too many to list.

In conclusion this movie is amazing. It has a love story, some brutal brutal violence, great cinematography, and an amazing soundtrack to boot. I still think to this day this is one of the greatest anime movies ever made surpassing many films even by Hayao Miyazaki and definitely surpassing the overrated Kimi no Wawa. In my opinion this movie is grossly underrated I mean a 7.6 mean score come on now. Go watch this movie buy it, steal it from your friend, pirate it go watch this movie you won’t regret it.

This was once my favorite anime movie, and though it no longer holds the crown on my list, it is still an outstanding movie that has held up over time. Every person I have shown this to, whether they are an anime fan or not, has enjoyed this movie. When someone I know asks for a recommendation for anime I always start with Ninja Scroll.

The opening scene is all the character development you need for Jubei. They sum up his character in a quick defensive attack and short piece of dialogue. From there, you know exactly who he is and what he does. The ... scene then changes and the plot begins. As other characters enter the stage, Jubei wanders into the spotlight and fast explosive action graces the stage.

Though this movie has quite a bit of violence, it is fast and well presented. Fights are short and quick. They are not dragged out and filled with dialogue. The pacing for the story keeps your interest, and things are explained in a simple but intelligent way. It helps that the characters are kept to a minimum, and each character has their own unique charm.

This is an older anime movie, so you won't see any high definition animation action. Even so, it still has good animation and the soundtrack works very well. The voice acting is well done, and everything blends smoothly together. The characters are memorable, and the story works very well.

In short, if you've never seen Ninja Scroll then you are definitely missing out.

Considered by some(not me) to be one of the best anime films ever. Ninja Scroll is an action anime that has gained quite a solid and very rabid following. I have seen reviewers attacked mercilessly for saying anything negative about it. I'll never hear a reason good enough on why someone should be attacked for expressing their opinion on anything but those things happen, and I only mention that point with intentions on providing insight on how loved this animated feature is.

Ninja Scroll is definitely one of the most violent and action packed anime films ever. To include, the film boasts some of the most ... incredible visuals for its time which still holds up until now. For being a film that was released in 1993. It really doesn't show a lot of age.

Director and writer Yoshiaki Kawajiri is no stranger to me when it comes down to flooding the screen with gratuitous violence. Over the years, this style of anime had become his trademark. Ninja Scroll is cut from the same cloth as his earlier anime film Wicked City. However, Wicked City is clearly edged out when it comes down to the violence.

The action scenes are brutal. There is really no other way to describe them. Kawajiri was never a slouch in the violence department, and in this area, Ninja Scroll continues to be the pinnacle of his work(that I've seen). The viewer is treated to gory blood soaked battles with a bit of dismemberment. The battles are very stylish. They consist of sword clashes and wild displays of superhuman skills. If there is anything I can say for Kawajiri's works, is that they can definitely leave you with a lasting impression with this being no exception.

The artwork is gorgeous and rich in detail, with some very good and well detailed character designs along with backgrounds. The villains are by far the best looking with their creepy and imaginative designs. This is the way an intimidating antagonist should be portrayed. The soundtrack uses traditional Japanese drums and it compliments the setting well. Plus the music is used at the right times, and silence is provided when the situation calls for it. This is a very wise move, since the movie does have some incredible sound effects which ranges from running water to intense sword clashes.

The animation is very fluid without the slightest bit of jumpiness during the faster paced scenes. The action scenes are simply a joy to watch. However, the animation is not as "perfect" as some would force you to believe. The last few minutes leading up to the end does contain a good amount of stills as well as a small bit of re-used animation. This was obviously due to budget issues, but I just can't let the flawless animation claim slide like that. I never had a problem with the cast for either languages; but as almost always, the English cast is my personal choice.

Ninja Scroll does have its flaws that bothers me. The action to some degree actually works against it. The story does provide a stable foundation, but it's pretty much forgettable and one can find themselves waiting only for the next fight.

I also have a problem with the "deus ex machina" factor coming into play at some weird times. Although there's slight character development, this is an area where the anime is weak at. The characters really don't have much, if any dapth at all. As interesting as the villains are, they're way too one-dimensional and their personalities are too alike for my taste. The film also contains some sexual content, nudity, and gay references. These things don't bother me in the slightest, but may be offensive to others.

Even though Kawajiri borrowed a bit from Wicked City and Ninja Scroll does have its flaws. It's still a title that I always recommend to new action oriented anime fans. There are other violent titles but not too many do it quite like Ninja Scroll.

Again, this is a film that is meant for the action fan whom doesn't mind sex, rape, and violence. If you're offended by any of these things or just find them boring. Then skip it completely because it may not be for you.

Some additional advice or perhaps a warning. Do not be fooled by the supposed sequel Ninja Resurrection. It's a piece of pure trash that shares no relation to this film here at all. The attempt was to bill it as the sequel for this to boost sales, but it's definitely among the worst anime titles ever made.

Highs: Quality animation & artwork, excellent & stylish action scenes, gore galore

Lows: Bland personalities, too much "deus ex machina", short cuts in later action scenes

This is one of the Japanese animated movies that have left a long lasting mark on me.
It influenced me alot in artistic style, and other ways.
It's very much like typical old Japanese samurai stories, but with all the stuff animation allows in.
Ninja techniques were great.
I loved watching it and I watch it again now and then.
I don't know why many people have a bad experience with it.
Anyway, I'd reccommend this anime to hardcore samurai or ninja anime fans.
Or men who are interested in animations and over the age of 27.
Best suited for men in their 40s.

Best Ninja Animation Movie ever!!

With the recent onslaught of wish-fulfilment garbage and grimdark bullshit getting popular as of late, a lot of people have taken up the mantra that anime nowadays is shit and that the older stuff is undoubtedly better. Whilst I can certainly see where those people are coming from, I want to take a better look at what the so-called "good old days" of anime really had to offer. Today, we're taking a look at Ninja Scroll: a harbinger of nostalgia for the many oldtaku here on MAL that actually bought tickets to see Akira and Ghost in the Shell in theatres when they first came ... to USA. Is Ninja Scroll truly a masterpiece like the nostalgia-hungry oldtaku out there make it seem? Nope. Is it still an enjoyable movie to watch? Indeed it is, now let's get into great lengths to find out why.

Before I actually get into the review itself, I want to make one thing perfectly clear: anime from "back in the day" wasn't that great. Sure, we had plenty of awesome stuff like Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, and Legend of the Galactic Heroes coming out but there was a LOT of garbage that came our way as well (mostly in the form of ultra-violent OVAs and movies) like Angel Cop, Genocyber, Devilman, MD Geist, and Violence Jack. As much as it pains me to say this, Ninja Scroll falls into the latter group as opposed to the former. Thankfully enough though, Ninja Scroll is nowhere near as awful as Genocyber, Devilman, or Violence Jack! In fact, it was quite the enjoyable movie.

Make no mistake, Ninja Scroll perfectly encapsulates the time period that it came out in: it's bloody, it's violent, and has enough out-of-place sex scenes and nudity to go around for everyone. At the same time, it still manages to cut the crap and tell a decent story without going overboard on the bloody violence and the sex (take notes, Mirai Nikki and Akame ga Kill!). From what I understand, Ninja Scroll wasn't that different from the other stuff that came out during the same time period so this begs the question of WHY it got so popular in the first place. Whilst I don't know what the situation with Ninja Scroll is in Japan, it's not that hard to see how it got so popular here in the west back in the early 90s.

Until Akira came to the USA, there was no such thing as animation meant for adults. Akira paved the way for companies like ADV Films, Manga Entertainment, and Central Park Media to start licensing OVAs and movies for distribution here with dubs and everything. Anime at the time was still a hipster thing, but it was easy to come by at your local video store from what I can gather. When people picked up these ultra-violent OVAs and movies like Ninja Scroll, it was the shock value that kept people coming back for more because let's face it: THIS was the stuff that you just couldn't get on Toonami at the time. Thus, the first otakus were born and the plague of weeaboos began to spread throughout the West.

With all of that out of the way, let's talk about how well Ninja Scroll can tell a story. Surprisingly enough, the story was actually quite nice. It's your standard tale of revenge/saving the fate of the country story that we tend to see a lot of when it comes down to samurai/ninja movies but the execution was fair enough to say the least. Also, I know that Ninja Scroll came out WAY before Naruto ever did but I just love the fact that there's no jutsus or annoying blond kids punctuating their sentences with the phrase "Believe it!" There certainly are parts of the movie that get rather ridiculous (i.e. Kagero and her deal with poisons, that guy with rock skin, the whole business with "reincarnation" and all that crap), but it was cool enough for me to look past that. Characters are par for the course. You have your wandering swordsman/ninja, the tough girl with her fair share of troubles, the wise old guy, etc. They're not gonna win any awards for originality, but at least I can find myself wanting to root for the protagonists and hate the villains and lal that junk.

From a production standpoint, Ninja Scroll is a far cry from the likes of Akira and Ghost in the Shell. Even though Madhouse has a reputation for top-notch visuals nowadays, they weren't exactly known for their stellar production values in the 90s. Thankfully, Ninja Scroll is still pretty damn good when it comes down to the visual department. Action scenes are deliciously savage and as far as the nudity goes, it does my heart good to know that animators still took the time to painstakingly draw out jiggle physics. The actual artwork is pretty good, but I've seen better when it comes down to the backgrounds and character models (but this is my own personal bias kicking in). Similarly, the OST is quite nice: all the tracks fit the mood like they're supposed to but there wasn't much in the way of tracks that stood out to my ear when I was watching the movie. The dub itself is surprisingly well-made, especially given that it came out in the mid 90s when there was no gold standard for dub quality. All the actors did a great job, so there's not much else I can say there.

Final thoughts? I'd say that Ninja Scroll was a rather entertaining watch and if I were so inclined, I'd go ahead and buy it on DVD/Blu-ray. With garbage like Sword Art Online, Tokyo Ghoul and Akame ga Kill! gaining popularity in recent years, it's not hard to see why people would go ahead and say that they miss the "good old days" of anime. However, Ninja Scroll was by no means a masterpiece. At its core, Ninja Scroll is a simple action flick that got popular overseas due to the fact that people thought that everything that was animated was meant for children. Let's just be grateful that's no longer the case anymore. Anyway, that's all for now. Feedback is always welcome and with that, I'm out. Peace :)

This is a fantaastic action film. It's an homage to a series of ninja novels and the main character an homage to a famous samurai folk hero...but never mind all that rubbish! All you need to know is it's a high octane thrill a minute action adventure with great characters, great fight scenes and a decent plot (certainly much better than you'd expect for a movie of this type). Be warned it's very violent and it will shock anyone who equates animation with Mickey Mouse or only knows anime through Studio Ghibli. Having said that all the extreme content is handled in a mature and ... responsible manner. It's certainly not a tastless or nasty film.

My main criticism? The song for the closing credits is abysmal and totally out of sync with the rest of the film.

Where to begin with my short review here Oh yes the story is really weak but that makes this a dumb fun rule of cool popcorn movie to begin with. The characters besides the main lead Jubei Kibagami and the villain Genma the rest of the characters are pretty forgettable.the OST is pretty weak and not remember able at all. The Animation on the fight scenes and in general is pretty good in my opinion. That reminds me the ending fight at the end of the movie on the burning ship has to be the best anime fight that I ever experienced in my whole ... life watching anime. I also first heard of it when my parents are talking about when they watched anime while growing up.

If I had to describe Ninja Scroll with only one sentence, I'd call it softcore porn with comically high production value.
The plot is beyond silly and the characters terribly written, especially the ninja girl who is supposedly really strong and competent but who's only function is to be sexually assaulted by all the vilains, making for an overall bad story with a very questionable treatment of women. In that sense, it's very similar to the director's previous movie, Wicked City.
Unlike Wicked City however, Ninja Scroll is actually very enjoyable. The main character is quite charismatic and most of the vilains have really fun ... and unique powers and fighting styles, which are exellently showcased by a famously extremely stylish artstyle and a masterful animation. The story is only a pretext to get from one fight scene to the next, but because the fight scenes are so good, it ends up working quite well.

All in all, if you want to watch a thought-provoking masterpiece or an epic and powerful story, Ninja Scroll really isn't for you. But if you like great-looking silly action anime from the 90's, this is as good as it gets.

Misogyny! Gore! Everything wrong with anime! etc etc! Really though, the way I see it is that Ninja Scroll is fundamentally an exploitation film that happens to be animated, more or less structured like a 70s grindhouse film in terms of emphasis on very base payoff. Funny how people get a lot less lenient about that kind of sleaze once it's animated, i.e. real people aren't being exploited in the process. Anyway, it's actually rather unique in how it takes a period story with ninjas and, without sacrificing the romanticism of such a setting, does something grotesque and almost horror-oriented with it. Great oldschool animation ... to boot--they can capture this kind of fluidity digitally very easily now, but it just doesn't have the same soul as the traditional method. Yeah, it's misogynistic, violent and basically pretty dumb--so what?

THEE gold standard for proper, speedy pacing in anime. One of maybe two anime that potentially move too quickly for the viewer to follow. There's no hokey filler to pad the run time. Each scene carries actual character depth and plotline intrigue.

That alone makes this movie a must-watch, and a compelling reason it's survived as a masterpiece for well over two decades.

Beyond that, Ninja Scroll features fantastically rapid combat sequences, devilishly brutal tactics, some of the best Japanese voicework ever (the English dub is just hilariously bad, don't bother with it), a menacing musical score, a surprisingly complex story, and purely stunning animation throughout.

"Why did ... it need that H-scene?"
The directors even admitted 20 years later that there's no way around it: that scene was unjustifiable. Which is strange; I actually have no problem justifying it. But that's getting into spoilers.

Do be aware this tale is gory, bloody, nude-y, and sex-y. Don't go into it too young, please.

Again, this movie is absolutely fantastic. Can't recommend it enough. Do get around to it someday.

'Bakkakkoii' a Japanese slang word meaning "Stupid-Cool". Ninja Scroll is both very, very stupid and very, very cool.

-Story-

From what I know, during the early 90's hyper-violent and gratuitous movies and OVA's were very common in the anime industry. If Ninja Scroll is any indication... I heard exactly right. After their overthrow by the Tokugawa Shoguns, the Toyotomi clan has assembled an army of the night and... ah, who freaking cares? It's all an excuse to get a bunch of awesome ninja fights. If I had to describe the story in one word it would be 'gratuitous'. Blood? Gore? Violence? Fan-Service? Special Powers? All check. Ninja ... Scroll has the plot of any number of cheap American action films, this one just happens to be animated. One scene that sums up this movie perfectly has a geisha getting it in the butt while some exposition is being dumped. Was that remotely necessary? No. Does anybody really care? Also no. Put your brain into cruise control for this one and break out the popcorn. (Oh, and there aren't any scrolls pertaining to ninjas in this film, so what exactly the title is referring to is a bit ambiguous).

-Art-

And this is why cell animation is awesome kiddies. The grim, washed-out colors that cell animation excels in fit the tone of Ninja Scroll. Movies have better animation than TV series almost by default, and here is no exception. Fluidity is top-notch, and very few shots or images are re-used. Shot composition is very dramatic, often using silhouetting to great effect- and one scene is even shot only in black and shades of red. Ninja Scrolls looks GREAT.

-Sound-

A surprisingly convincing English dub considering this was pre-Bebop. The soundtrack uses many traditional Japanese instruments to create a good Edo period sound. But interestingly, the climatic battle is shot without music (there are plenty of other sound effects to make up the difference)- I thought it added to the realism as much as Ninja Scroll can be considered 'realistic'. Excellent sound.

-Characters-

First rule of awesome: "When a character can toss an object into the air, defeat multiple foes before it comes down, and casually catch it- they are awesome". Coincidentally, this is exactly how our main character Jubei is introduced. His look and attitude remind my of Spike Spiegel- the seemingly unfocused joker who actually could have killed you 23 different ways in the time it took to read this sentence. Kagero is pretty useless for a character hyped up as an elite ninja woman. She looks (and thanks to Wendee Lee SOUNDS) a lot like Faye Valentine (perhaps she and Spike met in past life?) The comedic highlight is the manipulative old A-Hole Dakuan- he's a jerk, but an entertaining crazy ancient jerk. The villains are just a series of opponents with cool powers and attacks that Jubei is supposed to overcome, motivations and personalities aren't exactly important for a film of this nature.

-Enjoyment-

Go in with the attitude that you're going to watch '300' or something like that, and Ninja Scroll will be fun. I pity any poor saps who try to take this movie seriously.

-Overall-

Very, very stupid. Very, very cool. If I were to judge 'Ninja Scroll' from a purely serious perspective I would have to tear it apart. But it's not meant to be taken seriously at all. It's gratuitous, it's bombastic, it's bakkakkoii.

One of the best anime movies ever made. Beautiful hand drawn animation, great action scenes which would look great if they were live action, memorable and weird characters, an anti-hero main character who is a stone cold badass and cool music too. If you have any interest in anime then you need to pick this movie up, it's absolutely brilliant and for me it ranks up there with Akira and the original Ghost in the shell as one of the best anime movies of all time. It's definitely aimed at adults though so i wouldn't go buying this for your 10 year old who likes ... Naruto because there's copious gore, nudity and swearing. Actually do buy it for your 10 year old, they will likely think it's awesome too.

Absolute classic!

You'll have a good experience with this one. The animation is well detailed and has nice real fealing to it at times. The story isn't very origional but still entertaining. The characters aren't bad but they arn't great either aside from Dakuan. If you liked Rurouni Kenshin then this one should suit you fine. Recomended 18+ Due to nudity,sexual situations and some intense situations.