Ninja Scroll | KYOTO VIDEO

[@DreamedLint]

Ninja Scroll is such a well-paced action film. You're super right about the script being so tight. It's easily the best aspect of the film.

[@abc4781]

Historically Shinobi No Mono ( Ninja) were in fact Samurai that specialized in sabotage, espionage, and Guerilla warfare, and the main misconception is that they were Assassin's wich in reality there's no historical evidence that anyone of importance were assassinated by Shinobi No Mono.

[@valerio2259]

I wish the sequel that was being made a few years back got finished.

[@KROMisall4SKIN]

One of my all time favourites. The amimation in the fight scenes blew me away when i first saw this. But as ive grown up now i appreciate it even more. Great job on this btw

[@laylaaustin8921]

20:55 Kagero: The old man told me how to do it: counteract the poison. Jubei Kibagami reacts with his concern, eyes widening a little. Kagero: "Kill poison with poison," he said. He said if you make love to me, you'll be free with poison. Mine will destroy it. Kagero (voiced by Wendee Lee) This adorable scene of Kagero revealing her antidote to save Jubei was so cute and beautiful that it makes me cry a little. ❤😢

[@minhdo3482]

Only 1 word to describe this anime... CLASSIC

[@chrisossu2070]

You know, it's kind of funny you mentioned the gratuitous rape here because Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust actually took the gratuitous rape OUT of the novel it was adapting.

[@ConejoZing]

It's because this film is not about future possibility so much as the transition of the past. I hate to break it to you, the past is harsh and ugly. Some men are elegant nobles and others are inhuman monsters. Noble men help and defend women. But these same women are capable of being villains. Shadows overlap and confuse your perception as the light of gunpowder flickers in the distance. Ironically, the film is very Yin owing to the nature of Ninja to be subtle and shadowy.

[@willyonamountain]

I recall Ninja Scroll had a great atmospheric soundtrack.

[@magicalstar7711]

You really deserve way more subscribers. All of your videos hit home so much and are really interesting. I literally am obsessed with older obscure anime. I believe that your videos really deserve to be seen by the anime community.

[@gm-bx8ef]

Jubei may not have magical abilities, but he does have one special attack. He can project a sword slash beyond its normal length.

[@OmegaKatanaXIII]

Great review and ninjacscroll still holds up to this day and its main character jubei kibagami is the most badass anime character of all time

[@Vanska0]

I just rewatched "Ninja Scroll" it being a rather shocking introduction to adult animation when i was way too young to see it. I'm always surprised how damn well made and paced it is. It really is an awesome action movie that knows what it is and does it's thing to a pretty much perfection. While i agree with you on the criticism, i also think that it serves to show in refreshingly uncompromising way what a savage world of it's setting. While being far more smaller scale on scope compared to "Akira" or "Ghost in the shell", and not delving into philosophical themes or concepts those movies like exploring, i'd still rather watch "Ninja Scroll" over those two, simply for having such damn good pace, likeable lead character (jubei is almost like John McClane of ancient Japan) along with badass and memoarble baddies, while still possessing it's own beauty with it's savagery and action.

[@Outsidecontext]

The main character is clearly based on Musashi as he is a vagabond wandering master swordsman. The old man is similarly based on Takuan Soho who was a Zen master involved in the Musashi story, a famous writer, and thought to be a spy for the government.

[@Miraihi]

Fuutaro Yamada is truly one of the fathers of the modern Dark medieval japanese fantasy, especially featuring ninjas. Probably a father of the battle royale genre, since every single of his books is kind of a "Boss rush". For everyone who liked Ninja Scroll I of course recommend manga adaptations of the titular Yamada works by Segawa Masaki (Yagyuu Ninja Scroll, Kouga Ninja Scroll, Demonic Reincarnation). Some of these are even more dark, bloody and cruel, so expect the explicity to escalate.

[@KyleKatarn1980]

15:23 I gotta say when you think about the story of Ninja Scroll is more like a video game, I personally think of Ninja Gaiden a lot more. Btw Nice Nioh reference!! Gotta love it!

[@Zero8880]

I remember how HUGE "Ninja Scroll" was in the 90s. I came to this video also wondering why it's popularity faded over time. I myself wasn't huge fan of the movie. I was more of a "Fist of the Northstar" and " Vampire Hunter D" fan.

[@skeaneable]

maybe the reason why Ninja Scroll is not so hype up as the other two animes mentioned in the video because of the gratuitous amount of sex intertwine with violence gore some consider the movie as borderline hentai on same category as Legend of The Overfiend ,Violence Jack

[@abc4781]

Those that would put this in the same category as legend of the overfiend needs they're head checked.

[@ShanaReviews]

I remember catching this on late night Showtime Beyond, right after a few episodes of Shadow Raiders this movie as well as a few other anime movies were shown and yeah it's everything you mentioned about it it's Good, It's Bad, It's everything In Between

[@glomibabel1894]

boy, any movie of 1980s/1990 is like akira/ghost in the shell/ninja scroll

[@odizm5196]

My Dad record copy VHS tape’s he got from blockbuster on a 8mm camcorder no..joke Ninja Scrolls was one of them me and my cousin uses to watch it on that 8mm tape on the camcorder Ah…the good old days

[@davegordon4030]

I would love a video on the Lensman and how the smith family shut it down. Thank you for your works so far

[@Mythteller]

Smith executors didn't go to the hollywood to get their pulp stories made in live-action due limited FX effects and American animation studios won't treat their stories serious because they do children's stuff and not familiar with doing adult story themes. Japanese did it because it was cool and no foreign copyright interference within the courts but they forgot their 1st generation science-fiction reader fans would have supported the executors. They didn't like the anime mechanical design aesthetics and maybe Kimball Kinnison's and other character designs, properly. Most of the episodes are mostly original written by the Japanese writers and not with the pulp series outside certain scenes from the pulps used in some of Japanese stories. The other reason is that the Smith family were not ask for their input into the anime series😐

[@ididthisonpulpous6526]

I had found Ninja Scroll a bit late, but I was already a fan of Japanese Exploitation cinema and it fit right in with that. I was a fan of Lone Wolf and Cub, Street Fighter(the Sonny Chiba ones), Dead or Alive(again, not the game, but the 'yakuza" ones), and many other films. There has been a strong streak of exploitation cinema in Japan before anime was even a major factor and many of the manga and anime have that stuff at heart.

[@yeetkunedo]

@7:54 the minute I heard the Okami OST, I knew you had taste

[@grantkelley3372]

Just started watching Your videos and I am really enjoying them. I think it’s important to be able to enjoy art work and films that are trashy while still maintaining that critical lens about what it is you’re watching

[@lowlowseesee]

superb essay, had to sub it up

[@gastonf8741]

I remember watching this movie when I was a teenager, hiding from my parents because of the violence and all that I was amazed but everything. The animation, the estetic, the violence, the sex, it was wild and I still liked it a lot but... yeah, it kind of grown old. Its threatment of women it just really bad. Kind of what I feel with the God Of War games, they are amazing but they are also a product of their time

[@dornravlin]

Ninja Scroll is the balls and to me its still a classic

[@Mythteller]

Dakuan doesn't appear with our two main characters all the time is because he's Nicotine Caffeine in the Samurai Shodown and so he couldn't stay with them throughout the movie due to reason of no double substitute for the shodown competition happen at the same time pacing rate if he transfer to one universe to another😉

[@DragonKingX78]

Well animated, good fights, but the ending....

[@bluebaron6858]

The climax of the film...

[@geoguy001]

What about The Dagger of Kamui from 1985?

[@0warlocknsoulgem0]

I love this channel. I love this movie. And I could not be angrier with the assessment of Kagero’s character. This story is classic in the sense that it is a hero’s tale by way of Japanese tradition. June I was never meant to end up with the “ninja girl.” That fact she was “fridged” is beside the point. She has a great character arc and he importance to the story cannot be overstated. I can’t believe I have to say this but the rape of captured or defenseless women was commonplace in samurai tales and further still in the mythology of japan itself. I’m not defending what happens to Kagero in this movie. But to reduce her role to some plot device to allow the hero to be badass is a disservice to this film and the obvious time and effort Kawajiri put into making this movie. I’ve never disagreed with you more sir.

[@AllenSorensen]

Really confusing comment

[@cepheuscomcast9527]

Made sense to me. He made some fair points.

[@TheMightyPika]

Holy crap I thought I was the only person on Earth who doesn't like Ninja Scroll and never understood the hype around it.

[@oldfan4049]

22:17 - that was precious! XDDDDDD

[@JinxTheLooneyToon915]

2:57 | The Anime Cinematic Trilogy 16:38

[@primusvsunicron1]

10:50 no Big Boss?

[@jamesmason3734]

Sheep in the big city reference? Yeah! Sexual assault scene... oof.

[@juliagoodwin9510]

So... if Kagerou's body is poisonous... Wouldn't that effect the guy assaulting her? Or am I overthinking things?

[@KaiserBeamz]

It did affect him. His body started to fall apart when he was fighting Jubei. That's how Jubei was able to win in the end.

[@juliagoodwin9510]

@@KaiserBeamz Ah, thanks for the information!

[@chameleonhrt]

I remember picking up the series because I had heard how great this movie was. I was not aware that the recommendations were about the movie and not the series. I watched all of the series and hated it. Granted, since I never watched the movie that may have been why I didn't enjoy it. Yet watching the series dissuaded me from watching the original movie. And despite this being a great video on the subject, it just further convinced me that Ninja Scroll isn't for me.

[@KaiserBeamz]

Yeah, I love the movie. But due to having content that's extreme even by Kawajiri's standards, I understand how it's an acquired taste

[@chameleonhrt]

Maybe I'm just not a fan of hyper violence in general. I appreciate the work that goes into it (whether animation, video games, or live action), but it just feels too real to me. In any case, it's nice to learn about this and other works in a historical context, even if I don't see myself watching it. So I really appreciate these videos and am slowly going through all of them in the order that KZbin recommends them.

[@buggyyuji851]

@@chameleonhrt WOW 😂😂😂

[@shinmestrehayatojin7241]

My God the series??? The series is sucks the 93 movie is better than this crap

[@doomguydemonkiller]

Have you done a Vampire hunter d bloodlust video? If you haven't I look forward to it. Keep the great work!

[@KaiserBeamz]

Well considering that's my favorite Kawajiri work, I'm saving that for a rainy day.

[@Iceteague1]

Love your review!

[@mikeglare]

You’ve got to adjust your audio recording setup or get a de-esser plugin so your vocals aren’t full of hissy sibilant S’es. Listen to that harsh T at 2:18. Do a quick search on podcast recording setups so you don’t have to worry about the mic picking that up.

[@KaiserBeamz]

Thanks for the advice! Always looking to improve this channel.

[@jeronereed4566]

Man the way they treated women in anime period in the 90’s was normal lol it is what is I can’t hold this against him

[@PACKYCSONE80]

While outlandish, ninja scroll is stylish, brutal, and enjoyable...unlike Akira. Ghost in the shell is a masterpiece, unlike Akira.

[@Launchpad05]

'Ninja Scroll'. Gawdy, Ultra Violent Crap. 'YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!' #NostalgiaCritic

[@hectorescobar9450]

No piece of nerrative should necesarily be constrained to political correctnes in order to be consider great. Look at the likes of 'Once were Warriors' and Once Uppon a time in the west'. Ninja Scroll is a classic due to its amazing art, engaging concept, great pace and ultimately, its soul. Not to mention is bad ass all arround.

[@matthewrascoe8690]

I have to admit, I only liked this movie for the villains and story itself; the rest of stuff including the rape scene are the things I just endure for stories sake.

[@BaronVonCatipeen]

You make great videos man, but in my opinion you need to lighten up on the white knighting about misogyny and "cringe" and accept these films as products of their time and culture. It's getting to the point you're bringing it up almost every video.

[@DreamedLint]

The time was 1993. Hardly a backwards era so rampant with mysogeny that it would be pointless to criticise an obviously poorly written aspect of the film. The whole point of his thesis is that these aspects have clearly held Ninja Scroll back in terms of the anime zeitgeist, whether or not the mysogenist elements bother one person or another.

[@GrecoCalabrese]

He wants to parrot things he learned in the university to feel morally superior.

[@TheRbruin10]

@@DreamedLint The 90s was actually a great decade where people weren't so sensitive about stuff nor "offended" and political correctness and feminazis were fringe. On the contrary we have gone backward with so much political correctness, third wave feminism, and leftist propaganda in our universities, movies, music and culture unfortunately. The outrage Snowflake culture is the ultimate step back.

[@jamcalx]

It's not about product of its time, but more about depicting the dark reality of the underside of an already tumultuous era.

[@sharpen193]

@@TheRbruin10 Lmao the 90's is the worst example of a "non-offended" decade. It was very much a turbulent era.

[@richiecuna5781]

send my ninjas lol

[@StellaKotsopoulou]

Αμα τα παιδιά φοβούνται με τη λέξη Devols να το βλέπουν ότι είναι προφητες οι Kimon.😊. Himouro

[@gijose83]

This and basilisk

[@Iwuznothere]

I'd also say that Ninja Scroll feels like a edgy knockoff of another Madhouse film that I'm not sure is widely known as it, The Dagger of Kamui. What specifically its softer, 1985 visuals may lack from Ninja Scroll's stark colors - it makes up for in a much more gripping plot, a kicking funky soundtrack beat, animation that flings across music and pacing in wild technicolor nightmare directions and some goddamn breathtaking fights that I think its fair to say inspired Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Track it down if you can, because its Ninja Scroll without the shameful bits.

[@ozmul5810]

The point you bring up in the end of this is why, despite having fond memories of Wicked City and Demon City Shinjuku. I can't bring myself to watch them or Ninja Scroll any more or hold them in high regard. In Ninja Scroll I want to say it was also a Period peace and women back then where generally treated like shit. Doesn't excuse it, because she was a Ninja with a high station. Her job was to keep her master alive, that was a great honor. Only for her to be damseled and humiliated in every way, only in the end to be relegated to a useless Prop for the Main character. At least in Wicket City they give Makie the killing blow. How neat would it have been if it was Kaguro's Poison that was the key to finally killing Genma.

[@bar-1studios]

"Kanye West before he went cuckoo for cocoapuffs." Heh. Heheh. BWA-HAHAHAAHAHHHH!!! Deathcon 3.

[@animusvids]

good or bad according to western culture...

[@BaliBillionaire]

Dude, just because you learned the word misogynistic recently doesn’t mean you have to find an excuse to stuff it in your videos. She still won’t pick you.

[@patfer1189]

The shallowness of the analysis of a 30 years old film by the feeble sensibilities on the late 2010's is quite tiresome, specially in light of how poorly female characters in films and TV shows are written nowadays.

[@Cameroo]

The rape stuff really just sits there and squirms on my face making me really not appreciate this anime as much as I'd like to. It's just so off-putting. Shame really.

[@GreenTygur]

Curious to know how you feel about Game of Thrones then.........................................

[@KoKoraaaaaaaa1995]

The r*pe scenes are supposed to be f'd-up and make you uncomfortable. Nothing about them Is supposed to be enticing.

[@OrbitalHUB]

pansy

[@benb3316]

The SOY is strong in this one...! One of the BEST Anime films of all time you have to hate it because it doesn't have women of all races running the show who are fat and ugly and pee on the men who crawl before them like would be approved of in some Harvard "Safe Space" or Seattle coffehouse. How dare another culture not conform to modern "Woke" diversity standards? Bad in the past for the patriarchy/west to impose it - but ok for elite Social Justice Warriors who are truly enlightened... Believe it or not it was controversial to show a female ninja from the Japanese people's standards only being forgiven due to the high level of fantasy/magic in the history. Ninja families had plenty of women helping, such as the lady's main profession - also spies, couriers, poisoners... But fighting with a sword or being a Ninja...nope. And the "West" was as or more sexist at the time in most regards. The story is also a tribute to the Ukiyo-E woodcut periods, the calm and prosperity and decadence of the Tokugawa Edo period and the legends of the warring period and the Heian before it preserved in stories, plays and the woodblock printings that eager sailors brought over that influenced "Expressionism" in the West. So like 300 it's meant to be a legendary story that loosely could have happened in history but is a fantasy and a memory of the times and legends.

[@j_p_tull]

you really wrote three whiny paragraphs about a review that praises the movie

[@KoKoraaaaaaaa1995]

There's no such thing as "fridging". If there is, then it happens to male characters just as much, if not more often than female characters, but for some reason people only ever notice when it happens to women. Honestly, that's probably why women are put in those situations in fiction as often as they are. Because people don't seem to care as much when it's a man. In other words, it gets people's attention...