Ninja Scroll is an interesting study. You see surprisingly little of this type of anime from Japan much as we see
surprisingly little of westerns in America. However, when you ship the ninjas to us and the cowboys to them, everybody
is happy. I guess every culture grows a little tired of their own history, and anything different instantly becomes
exotic and awesome. Then again, any way you look at it, Ninja Scroll is good fun for all.
The story is easy to understand, not dazzling, but it does what it sets out to do. All you need to know is that
Jubei is a wandering samurai who encounters an enemy from his past, and must defeat his minions and bust up his illegal gold
racket.
None of that is really all that important, because this movie is all about action. Each fighting sequence is well
choreographed, and animated with extreme care. The 'Eight Devils' which Jubei encounters are inventive, unique, and
interesting.
There isn't really any character development, seeing as 'Ninja Scroll' moves at such fast pace, so everyone's personality
ends up being pretty one-dimensional.
Then again, it doesn't claim to be anything it isn't, unlike many before it, and it's a great introductory anime for
anybody who likes over the top violence. Just sit back and enjoy the pretty colors.
-James Napier
