Ninja Scroll - Reviews

 STORY: Ninja Scrolls is the Story of a pair of Ninjas, Jubei and Kegora, "Persuaded" by the old ninja Dakuan, who fight the Devils of Kimon (A group of superpowered evil ninja) led by Genma, an immortal who hopes to use his abilities to become the new Shogun of the Dark. There's a bunch of political conspiring and a gold mine mixed in as well, but that basically what it's about.

 I did enjoy the story for Ninja Scroll, it was action packed and had a pretty good plot, however it definitely had some faults. It could have used a few less enemies, as the pacing was a little off. The first fight with the first main villain in the show is really good, but there is so many enemies to fight, the rest of the battles are all very quick, and rushed along to the next one. Even the final battle doesn't seem as intense as it should, its about as good as the first fight in the movie, but not really worthy of being the climax of the show.

 Also, i wasn't impressed with the way in which the movie was resolved. I can't say much more without spoiling, but seriously? thats all it took?

 ANIMATION: Like the story itself, I was a fan of the animation in this movie, it unfortunately did have some drawbacks. I wasn't a big fan of the character design. It wasn't terrible, but it just wasn't quite to my liking, however it does get credit for being a little unique. On top of that, there are a couple scenes where you can tell they're recycling the same animation. Aside from that tho, the animation is stellar. Excellent shading and lighting, excellent camera angles, pretty good action, the character design isn't exactly boring either.

 SOUND: Solid as per most other anime. Some of the voice actor choices weren't to my liking.

 CHARACTERS: As I mentioned above the movie could have done with 2 or 3 fewer or characters. Aside from that, there isn't much to complain about except maybe that Kagora is kind of a boring character.

Pretty good anime film having good action with lots of gore and character development. The hero was your typical cool-ish nice guy with great power with the heroin being pretty interesting, it was cool to see how she develops throughout the film. 

The story is about a mercenary Ninja hired by a group who gets caught up in the struggle of power between clans, which has some relation to his past. It was okayish.

There were a lot of weird ass ninja's in the film with really weird powers and skills.

as big fan of this series i love what they done with this arc.
they delete all comedy content from the manga and make minor changes, and what we see now is masterpiece.

Sounds
the ost in this anime is Fire ,and this arc no doubt is fantastic I LOVE IT.
10/10

art
this anime is always known of wonderful animation back days, this arc is worth the wait
this gorgeous animation is in next level.
10/10

characters
at this point we all know all the old characters and how great they are.
for the new enmy so far they only 5 eps we can't talk too much here.
but for what we see is well done characters.
10/10

story
with 4 to 6 chapters adapt per episode and what we see until now make the story phenomenal.
10/10

overall 10/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 10

ninja scroll is often an anime of old people are fond of and can also be found at the top of alot of favorites list and i can see why . but dose it really hold up as well as people think ? well yes AND no.

Story: ushaly the most important part but here it dose take the background for the action and animation , and it very much is a product of its times , its full of cliches like the sexy woman falls for our aloof lead in a mere matter of in universe days , the badguy spouting " i should have killed you when i had the chance " , or even among the villians haveing a "he died because he was weak " mentality , and the villian wanting total control over blank thing and alot of other action movie tropes that are tired and exausting to watch , but this is a product of its time and being its age , some anime age well because of their storys like gundam and cowboy beepop and some hold up because of other things 

Animation: LIKE ANIMATION seriously this animation is better than most anime films today , its dark and gritty and artsy at times , everything really detailed and physics are portrayed really nicely , even the ninja magic physics . the fight choreography is really well done even if it dose have a few sections of wonky reused fottage but for an anime of 1995 thats a minor gripe , the lighting is exalent even for a dimly lit anime 

sound : sound is ushaly a weird one to judge because you dont really notice it and to be truthful i watched the English dub and i thought it was pretty good a cut above the early dubs but i wouldnt say up to todays standards , jubies voice fit him perfectly at least to my ears . now i wanna give a special mention to the sound design witch for the most part in anime isnt really thought of BUT the anime of today seem to use most of the same sound effects ESPECIALY for sword fights , The cast iron pan sound seems to be put in almost every sword fight in anime now a days , beserk 2016/2017 being the worst offender , princess principal as well and it was really nice to see rather hear a pleasent early dub and great sound effects , sadly i never noticed the music 

charcters: our lead and our heroin are pretty much the only charcters of note , ones a girl who is imune to poisen and her self is poisines and i thought that was interesting , and jubei a wandering merc who will lend his sword for money but Ultimately dosent really wanna get involved , but dose and gets emotionaly attched witch is another troupe but i digress , it feels like its better here than in other media 

in the end the animation carrys this like i think i carry in overwatch boged down by just ok charcters , an outdated story but helped to the finnish by a good cheering sound 

"Ninja Scroll" stands as a seminal work in the anime genre, known for its gripping action sequences, intricate plot, and vividly drawn characters. Set in feudal Japan, this film weaves a tale of Jubei Kibagami, a wandering swordsman, who becomes embroiled in a conspiracy involving the Eight Devils of Kimon—a group of demonic ninjas—and a plot to overthrow the Tokugawa government. With its blend of historical setting, supernatural elements, and martial arts, "Ninja Scroll" captures the essence of the chanbara (sword-fighting) genre while adding a distinctively dark and fantastical spin.

Sharpened Blades and Shadows

• Exhilarating Action: The action scenes in "Ninja Scroll" are both its heart and soul, featuring choreographed sword fights and ninja abilities that are as inventive as they are thrilling. The animation captures the fluidity and brutality of combat, making each encounter memorable.
• Artistic Flair: The film's animation stands out for its detail and fluidity, capturing the beauty and brutality of its setting with striking visuals. The character designs, especially the antagonists, are both grotesque and mesmerizing, contributing to the film's unique aesthetic.

Veiled Weaknesses

• Narrative Complexity: While "Ninja Scroll" is celebrated for its action and visual storytelling, the plot can sometimes feel convoluted, with twists and character motivations that may require attentive viewing to fully appreciate.
• Character Depth: Beyond Jubei and a few key characters, some of the film's cast suffer from a lack of development, serving more as vehicles for the next action sequence rather than as fully realized individuals. This can lead to a somewhat disjointed connection with the audience.

A Cut Above

• Cultural Impact: Since its release, "Ninja Scroll" has left a lasting impact on the anime industry and pop culture, influencing a myriad of works in and outside of Japan. Its blend of historical and supernatural elements has set a benchmark for storytelling within the action genre.
• Mature Themes: The film does not shy away from exploring mature themes, including violence and morality, presenting a gritty, unvarnished look at feudal Japan and the darker aspects of human nature. This has earned it acclaim but also a note of caution for the unprepared viewer.

Conclusion
"Ninja Scroll" is a classic that has aged remarkably well, offering a blend of action, intrigue, and supernatural horror that continues to captivate. While it may navigate through narrative and character complexities that detract from its overall cohesion, the film's strengths in animation quality, fight choreography, and its daring to explore mature themes secure its place as a landmark title in anime history. It remains a must-watch for aficionados of the genre, embodying the spirit of adventure and the timeless allure of the ninja legend.