Ninja Scroll
This feels strange -- after much cajoling by fans of this title, I've managed to watch it at last. And let me tell you, it isn't bad.
Jubei, a ninja with a heart, wanders feudal Japan helping set things right when big news comes his way. A nearby town has been quarrantined when everyone inside is found dead, and the local lord has dispatched his best ninja team to determine the cause.
When that ninja team is killed with only the beautiful Kagero surviving, Jubei finds himself involved in a consipracy against the very rulers of Japan. Facing Jubei and Kagero on their mission are the seven demons of Timon, each a powerful warrior with unique abilities making them formidable foes.
Ninja Scroll hearkens back to the Akira Kurisawa samurai films. We have the wandering warrior and a beautiful woman of mysterious origin, stolen treasure, a conspiracy to overthrow the government, and action galore. For those of you who like action with a more sanguine flavor, there's blood galore as Jubei slashes (literally) his way to the source of the conspiracy.
What makes this film stand out more than that is something missing from much anime these days...logical progression of plot and excellent characterization. Through the film we begin to sympathize with the tragic Kagero who's body is so tainted with the poison she has ingested as her lord's food taster that she cannot touch another man without killing him. Jubei remains a picture of duty as he never falters from his self-appointed task of uncovering the conspiracy. Even the strange romance between the demons of Timon lends depth to their characters.
This helps prevent the story from becoming a string of disjointed battles that approximate a plot (see Yuyu Hakusho).
I can easily recommend this film to both the experienced otaku (if he or she hasn't seen it yet) as well as a good introductory piece to anime for the uninitiated (along with Akira and Wings of Honneamise), although because of the blood-drenched violence it would be better suited to older audiences.
Screenplay: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Producer: Makoto Hasegawa, Masamichi Fujiwara, Yutaka Takahashi
Character Design: Yutaka Minowa
Art Director: Hiromasa Ogura
©1993/1995 Yoshiaki Kawajiri/Mad House/JVC/Toho Co., Ltd./MOVIC
94 minutes
Genre: Samurai/Ninja Tales
Format: Feature film available in VHS sub/dub from Manga Video.
Rating: 95 (47/25/23) -- Violence, language.
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Last update 26 March 1998