The 1993 anime film Ninja Scroll It blew my mind when I first saw it. I had no idea what animation was at the time, and I was completely blown away by it.
I remember introducing it to my friends and brothers and the best thing was watching them watch the movie and watching their brains melt.
Ninja Scroll was directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri and the story follows Jubei Kibagami, a skilled wandering swordsman, who finds himself embroiled in a series of events that pit him against the Eight Devils of Kimon, a group of powerful and deadly ninja.
After saving a ninja, Kagero, from a harrowing assault, Jubei is poisoned and forced into a mission by a cunning government spy named Dakuan. Together, they uncover a sinister plot involving a plague-ridden village and a quest for immense power.
Kawajiri recently spoke about his film, which is scheduled for a special screening in theaters.
In an interview with CB, he spoke about the film’s legacy, saying, “We drew everything on the screen by hand. The fact that we didn’t use any digital technology and made every movement by hand will be a legacy. It might be something people remember as the trick watches of the Edo era.”
Speaking about how the film came about, he said, “When I was in elementary school, I read a lot of manga, such as Mitsuteru Yokoyama’s “Iga no Kagemaru,” “The Legend of Kamui,” and Sanpei Shirato’s “Watari.”
“These works inspired me to draw a lot of manga myself. I came across the “Ninpocho” novels written by Futaro Yamada when I was in high school. I had a burning desire to make an animation based on Futaro Yamada’s books even when I was directing “Wicked City.”
“But Futaro Yamada’s novels play a lot on historical facts, which would not be fun for those who don’t know the historical context.
“I also wanted to create a story that would resonate with young anime fans and global audiences. I created a protagonist that audiences could sympathize with more, and that developed into Ninja Scroll.”
He continued on creating the action scenes in the film: “The action scenes are pure fun for me. I can’t have fun with anything more than action, so I don’t remember any difficult moments.
“It’s so much fun to draw action sequences that I forget the time. Ordinary, everyday scenes are more difficult. Trying to make a tall, well-proportioned man walk down the street would be one of the most challenging scenes for me. I really feel like I’ve hit the nail on the head when all the elements of an action sequence fall into place perfectly.”
Kawajiri also touched on why the film has such lasting power with audiences after all these years, saying, “The eccentric settings, the touch of the artistry of Ninja Scroll It must have been an absolute novelty for international audiences.
“The action scenes set in a Japanese period were exceptional. We still have samurai dramas today, but this title has strong action scenes that are different from the usual period dramas.”
Ninja Scroll will be screened in over 500 theaters in the United States on September 11, 12, and 15, and will be presented in both Japanese with English subtitles and dubbed in English.
by Joey Fear
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
