by Joe Vargas, Contributing Writer
As a kid (around 10 or 11 years old), I was always fascinated and horrified by some of the anime I had grown up watching. The amount of sheer ultra violence of films like Fist of the North Star, Devilman, Akira, Ghost in the Shell,and Vampire Hunter D (just to name a few) had me hooked and craving more. But there is one film in particular that stands out amongst the rest as a true classic in both anime and cinema in general: director Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s magnum opus, Ninja Scroll, known originally as Jûbê ninpûchô.
The story takes place during the Edo Period in Japan, where there is a gigantic secret mine of gold that can fuel the ambitions of any person who should possess it. Genma Himura (Daisuke Gôri) intends to be that person by crushing the Tokugawa Shogunate and becoming a true devil amongst men. Only a few can oppose Genma and his band of depraved killers, The Eight Devils of Kimon. That one man in particular from Genma’s past means to finish what he started: Jubei Kibagami (Kôichi Yamadera). While Jubei is a skilled ninja without any match, the aid of a government spy named Dakuan (Takeshi Aono ) and the poison tasting kunoichi Kagero (Emi Shinohara), prove to be invaluable comrades during this nightmarish mission.
I vividly remember my first viewing of this film; at 94 minutes, it moves at a swift pace, but manages to pack in so much. The film within itself is composed of so many elements, whether it be lightning quick ninja battles, visceral, gory violence, phenomenally creative character designs, or its solid love story, there is so much to latch onto. That being said, the violence in this film is very true to life and will turn some folks off due to this approach. For those who enjoy horror or gory action flicks, should have no issue enjoying this celebration of the Ninja. But I would be remiss not to mention the strong sexual content throughout the film, which includes extreme scenes of sexual assault. It is good to keep in mind going in, as it could be triggering or upsetting to some viewers.
The crux of the film lies in its core three characters, Jubei, Kagero, and Dakuan. We spend a majority of our time with them as they attempt to stop Genma’s Hellish scheme and horrific ambition. On the flip side of that, we get to peek behind the curtain a few times at Genma and his Eight Devils of Kimon to see how their operation functions. We discover the inner politics and infighting amongst the group. The aspect I enjoy the most is the back and forth between Jubei and Kagero. They continually save each other, and start to build up some trust throughout their journey. They start to care about one another, but there is too much in the way for them to act upon anything, especially given the strict time table they are on.
Madhouse Studio and the now legendary Kawajiri have created so many masterpieces that inspired me during my art endeavors (Including: Demon City Shinjuku, Wicked City, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Bio Hunter, X [1996], The Animatrix, Redline, and Memories just to name a few). His character work, and that of his fellow members at Madhouse, takes a more realistic approach with the occasional push and pull of features and anatomy to create a pleasing aesthetic. Ninja Scroll perfectly showcases this in abundance with its creative cast of Characters. Some are beautiful, while others are drawn beautifully grotesque. Especially the likes of the Eight Devils of Kimon, their character designs are imposing and frightening to say the least.
Ninja Scroll is a must watch for anime enthusiasts, and a great time for those in the mood for insane gory ninja action.
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