AXCN: Ninja Scroll (1994)
Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri Run Time: 105 min. Rating: NR Release Year: 1993
Starring: Daisuke Gori, Emi Shinohara, Koichi Yamadera, Ryuuzaburou Ootomo, Takeshi Aono
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
About the film:
When Jubei saves a young ninja woman from the unthinkable, he assumes that’s the end of it. To his surprise, it’s only just the beginning. Together, the two investigate the mysterious deaths of an entire village which uncovers a conspiracy of demonic proportions! Getting closer to the truth, the demonic forces will stop at nothing to silence Jubei and his companion for good!
“It’s a whipcrack-quick race from one hallucinogenic foe to the next that glances across Japanese politics…You can see echoes of Ninja Scroll in Kill Bill or even Scott Pilgrim.”
—Henry Barnes, Guardian
Praised for its animation and action scenes, Ninja Scroll (1994) is regarded by many as one of the most influential anime films ever made. Alongside Akira (1988) and Ghost in the Shell (1995), it was responsible for increasing the popularity of adult-oriented anime outside of Japan. The film has been cited by The Wachowski Sisters as an influence on the Matrix franchise, and resulted in Dir. Yoshiaki Kawajiri later contributing to two segments of the anthology film The Animatrix (2003).
About the filmmaker:
Yoshiaki Kawajiri is a Japanese writer, director, storyboard artist and animator who co-founded the famous anime studio Madhouse. He is well known for directing Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000), Wicked City (1987), Ninja Scroll (1994), and the segment “Program” in The Animatrix (2003). Kawajiri’s film Ninja Scroll (1994) is widely considered to be one of the most influential anime films of all time. The film received an anime sequel series, Ninja Scroll: The Series, which aired in 2003, and a sequel film is reportedly in pre-production.
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