Ask John: Can John Recommend a Good Ninja Anime?

Question:
Naruto’s kind of gotten stale for me. I want a new ninja anime, something with action and humor (but not overly-goofy like Ninja Nonsense). Could you recommend any good ninja animes for fans?

Answer:
When I read this question I can’t resist recalling a line from Douglas Adams’ novel The Restaurant At the End of the Universe. “When you’re tired of Ursa Minor Beta, you’re tired of life!” It’s for good reason that Naruto is Japan’s longest and most successful ninja anime franchise. The Naruto anime may suffer from periodic lapses in narrative and animation quality, but its highlights are frequent and plentiful, the series offers a large cast of interesting characters, and the series’ effective employ of humor, suspense, drama, and action is quite compelling. Granted, Naruto may be as successful as it is because few other Japanese stories have tried to depict a similar story with a similar audience in mind, but that doesn’t and shouldn’t diminish the accomplishment of the Naruto anime. However, as familiarity can breed contempt, or at least complacency, it’s understandable to eventually seek an alternative or supplement to Naruto. Unfortunately, as mentioned, Naruto is so popular because there isn’t really another anime directly comparable to it. There are a lot of ninja anime, and an even larger number of anime that include ninja characters. I haven’t seen them all, nor am I familiar with them all. For example, I’ve yet to watch any of the 1964 television series Shonen Ninja: Kaze no Fujimaru, but it looks quite good to me. I have watched all of the titles I’ll discuss henceforth. Perhaps one or more of these will sound intriguing.

I think that every devoted fan of Naruto should try watching some of the 1982 television series Sasuga no Sarutobi, just to see where Naruto’s roots lie. Sasuga no Sarutobi is much more comedy than ninja action, similar in that regard to Nin Nin ga Shinobuden. But it’s also a series about an outsider ninja in high school. Naruto is not a remake of Sasuga no Sarutobi, but there are enough similarities between the two titles to suggest that Sarutobi provided some influence or inspiration for Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto.

An otaku seeking an alternative to Naruto may find satisfaction in Ninku and/or Nabari no Ou. Ninku may be the closest stylistic cousin to Naruto, as it also stars ninja who don’t dress or act like ninja. And like Naruto, the Ninku anime is equal parts adventure and humor and features plenty of spectacular ninja battles featuring superhuman combat techniques. The downside is that viewers used to contemporary anime may find the 1995 Ninku anime a bit bland looking and quite redundant. It does adhere to a conventional “battle-of-the-week” formula. Nabari no Ou likewise features contemporary ninja that don’t look like stereotypical ninja and superhuman ninja techniques. However, Nabari no Ou largely swaps humor for morose teen angst that may not be appealing to viewers looking for a more lighthearted and fun show.

The 1996 two-episode Ninja Mono OVA series, known in America as “Ninja Cadets,” is filled with fun and briskly paced ninja adventure. Regrettably, it’s so fast paced that a mere two episodes isn’t enough to fully satisfy. Viewers are almost always left disappointed that there’s not more of this series. Similarly, the 2000 Karakuri no Kimi OVA, known in America as “Puppet Princess,” is just one 40 minute episode characterized by thrilling, gruesome, unusual ninja action. The 2005 Basilisk television series is likewise characterized by grim, gruesome ninja action. This may be one of the finest ninja anime productions, but there’s no humor in it at all.

Himawari! and its sequel series, Himawari!!, offer attractive looking, lighthearted female ninja action. There is a lot of characteristically ninja-esque stealth at play in Himawari, but countless viewers find the series too insubstantial to be compelling. Kage Kara Mamoru co-stars a skilled ninja, but the show is primarily concerned with being a romantic school comedy rather than an action/adventure. It’s am amusing show, but probably not ideal for a viewer seeking an equivalent alternative to Naruto. 1983’s Iga no Kabamaru television series has plenty of ninja technique on display, but like Nin Nin ga Shinobuden, it’s predominantly slapstick comedy, so action fans will be disappointed. Viewers looking for a lot of spectacular action may also be disappointed by 2005’s Shinshaku Sengoku Eiyuu Densetsu Sanada Juu Yuushi. However, the fact that this is one of anime’s very rare realistic ninja historical dramas may make it interesting to fans of ninja anime.

Honestly, I found Samurai Gun far too ridiculous and dumb to recommend, but contrary to its title, it’s a ninja action series, not a samurai action series. The 1991 Ninja Ryukenden OVA is very loosely based on the popular Ninja Gaiden video game franchise and stars a stereotypical black garbed ninja. As one may expect from a single episode 1991 OVA, it’s moderately entertaining action, but lacking in humor and eminently forgettable. The two-episode Yoma OVA series from 1989 is more memorable because of its distinctive visual design and grim, supernatural tone. There’s little humor in it, but it is worth watching for ninja anime fans. The three-episode Maryu Senki OVA series from 1987 is similarly a grim supernatural adventure with a generous number of masked ninja assassins and plenty of bloody violence. But again, no comedy. 1989’s Yajikita Gakuen Douchuuki OVA also includes a number of conventional ninja doing conventional ninja villainy. As a result, this OVA feels very conventional. Ninja anime fans may want to search for it, but honestly, it’s not really worth the effort.

Many of the best ninja anime are quite old and may not appeal to contemporary American viewers used to current anime. The 1985 feature film Kamui no Ken is overlong, and many American viewers may find its visual style and animation quality primitive and off-putting. But viewers willing to give the film a chance will find the film an interesting example of ninja anime and experimental 80’s anime style. The 1987 Kamen no Ninja Akakage anime television series is heir to the 1967 live action TV show. The anime is straightforward ninja adventure. It’s neither especially humorous nor grim and serious. Ninja anime fans may want to give it a try, but may find it a bit bland.

Now looking even further back in time, I’ve only watched a few episodes of the 1968 Sasuke and 1969 Ninpu Kamui Gaiden television series, but I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen. Sasuke doesn’t have the slapstick comedy of Naruto, but its adventurous tone is similar to that of Naruto. The Kamui television anime takes a very slightly more dramatic and melancholy attitude. Neither show includes the tremendous supernatural ninja techniques of shows like Basilisk, Nabari no Ou, Ninku, and Naruto, but both series liberally include traditional ninja action and abilities. I’m partial to Sasuke, but fans of ninja anime willing to watch vintage monochrome anime should give both of these shows a try. Toei’s 1959 movie Shonen Sarutobi Sasuke features plenty of the sort of ninja magic that would later characterize shows like Naruto, Ninku, and Nabari no Ou. It also features humor, adventure, and action including surprisingly fluidly animated swordplay. Contemporary viewers may be put off by the film’s age and very stylized visual design. But it’s a very good ninja adventure, and I think it’s a more enjoyable film than several of Toei’s other early efforts like Hakujaden, Saiyuki, and Wan Wan Chushingura.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least acknowledge a few other ninja anime titles. The Jubei Ninpucho movie and television series are known in America as “Ninja Scroll,” but I’ve always considered this franchise closer to samurai anime than ninja anime. Ninja Hattori-kun and Nintama Rantaro are popular, long-running children’s ninja anime series, but neither have much foothold in America nor are either of them likely to substitute for Naruto. Likewise, the giant robot anime series Ninja Senshi Tobikage has a prominent ninja theme, but the show isn’t an alternative for Naruto. Finally, I’ve been a vocal proponent of the four-episode Kage ~ Shadow ninja action OVA series since its 2004 premiere. The series does include graphic sexuality, although I’ll remind readers that the very popular Jubei Ninpucho movie also includes two sex scenes. However, unlike erotic ninja anime such as Ninpou Midare Karakuri, La Blue Girl, and Kunoichi Bakumatsu Kitan that prioritize sex, Shadow is principally a gratuitously violent ninja action series. In essence, it’s a female version of Jubei Ninpucho that takes its violence and sexuality one step farther. This also isn’t a suitable equivalent to Naruto, but it’s well worth watching for adult viewers interested in exceptional ninja anime.