Image: Yoshiaki Kawajiri and Tokyo Theatres Company
It’s hard to believe that thirty years have passed since this Japanese animation gained international recognition and became a favorite among anime fans and newcomers alike, as “Ninja Scroll” feels as though it was released just yesterday, surprising a market that was searching for new, different, and edgier anime.
Certainly, “Ninja Scroll” fits the bill and stands out from typical anime as it depicts a feudal and supernatural-infested Japan, where not only samurai exist, but also mythological beings, demonic monsters, and the unholy. “Ninja Scroll” is, and remains to a degree, an anime movie like no other due to all of these aforementioned characteristics.
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When I look back, one of the things I remember most about “Ninja Scroll” was my classmates’ incessant discussions about it. Plus, they keep talking about a certain ‘rock monster’ that I would only understand by watching the anime film. Boy! That was eye-opening for me. Hahaha. So, naturally, I ended up purchasing it. At the time, it was only sold in VHS form. As I try to remember how I felt while watching it, I am struck by the fantastic detail in its animation style. It was about Jubei, a wandering samurai who battled demonic entities in feudal Japan. The violence was intense, with a deluge of blood, sex, and gore.
In hindsight, “Ninja Scroll” had some of the most mesmerizing fight sequences; it felt very surreal for me at that time to see so much chaos unraveling in front of my eyes. Yet, there was a reason behind it. As a young viewer at home, can you imagine a legendary swordsman having to fight for his life, fending off or slaying demonic monsters who are not only out to kill him but every other human they come across? It was unheard of during those years to have anime as intense as this.
Indeed, you could feel the stakes were extremely high for Jubei, the central character and hero of this anime movie. It felt like watching a video game unfold, with each opponent he faced becoming increasingly difficult. Without Jubei’s impressive sword skills, intelligence, and street smarts, he would surely have been killed, making Ninja Scroll a thrilling ride to watch because of it.
“Ninja Scroll” was an amalgamation of fantasy, drama, romance, action, and horror, but it was all executed sensibly and tastefully. It came off as though it was made to garner international acclaim and eventually become bigger in the eyes of the general public. “Ninja Scroll” was the first anime of its kind, blending samurai culture, Japanese folklore, and mythology. It was game-changing for Japanese animation.
When I compare “Ninja Scroll” to all the anime movies and series that came out after it, I can see that almost half of them were inspired by “Ninja Scroll,” and it’s not hard to understand why. Today, when I watch other samurai-centered anime movies, none have quite the resounding impression that “Ninja Scroll” had on me, and it’s not just because it was the first of its kind I got to watch.
There are numerous positive aspects to Ninja Scroll; listing them all would take a while. For those who haven’t seen this Japanese animation masterpiece, I highly recommend watching it, especially if you are an adult. When it first came out, Ninja Scroll was unlike anything else. I would compare it to Walt Disney’s “Fantasia” because it’s just as immersive, taking you into its world and transforming everything you know about the genre.
Ninja Scroll has been featured at various festivals, had multiple re-releases, and is now set to have a special 30th-anniversary release in select cinemas overseas. If these things don’t prove how impactful Ninja Scroll was, then I don’t know what does. Ninja Scroll gained a cult following and is now recognized as a masterpiece.
Ninja Scroll is a must-watch anime for (only) mature audiences over 18 years old.
Ninja Scroll was written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri.