Ninja Scroll: The Series
Publisher
MVM
Director
Tatsuo Sato
Production
Madhouse, WOWOW
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
13 eps; 25 mins each
Year
2003
Ninja Scroll- Volumes 1-3
By Diana
23rd Aug 05 I haven't actually seen the Ninja Scroll movie, but I can imagine it was a very difficult job to remake a movie into a series. Overall the 3 volumes are wonderful. However, there is pace within the whole series. From the start there is fighting, all throughout it, it's fighting. For the bloodshed/gory fans, this volume is for you. In the first volume, there is no messing around. There's no time to introduce the characters, as a regular series should. In the beginning of the first episode, you see two enemies fighting, which are from the two feuding clans, Hiruko and Kimon
After a few scenes of fighting and talking, you see this unknown character, clapping. Who is the character? Jubei Kibagami of course. All he wanted was a little bit of sleep, and yet he ended up with the burden of protecting the sacred dragon stone. The dragon stone was given to him because he's a merceniary ninja with impeccable sword skills. He can kill a foe without even touching them. Now, is that incredible or what? Despite Jubei's thing of just walking away into the sunset, he is in fact the main character of the series believe it or not. Towards the end of the first volume, we meet Dakuan, a "priest", and Tsubute, a thief turned good guy. The light maiden, (well, she doesn't know as of yet) aka Shigure is devastated as her whole village has been destroyed, and wondering why all this tragedy has happened to her. She has no idea where she is going as of yet. She bumps into Tsubute having a little confrontation with some men. They end up running away, and Dakuan appears out of nowhere. From there, they all end up travelling together. In the second volume, it's just many encounters with both clans, and Jubei fighting for his life to protect the sacred dragon stone. Jubei is a very cool, calm, and collected character. There are a few times you see him breathless, or hurt in some ways. He is strangely calm, even when he's fighting. That shows a great Ninja. There are encounters with enemies such as, Zoufu, Rongoku, blossom, Jashi etc. They all have a small story behind them, which makes the series even more interesting to watch. In the last volume, it's getting towards the end, and Shigure is still contemplating her status of being the light maiden, despite both clans addressing her as such. She eventually, claims her status, and finds out her purpose. In the second to the last episode, it appears as if Jubei dies, and surprisingly he didn't. Throughout the whole series, Jubei is a hot/ cold kind of person. He'll appear from nowhere and save the day, and disappear into the shadows once again. The most funniest about the series is how when he appears, Tsubute, Shigure, and Dakuan are surprsied every single time, and always say "JUBEI! We thought you were dead!" In the last episode, "Farewell Jubei" At the end, Jubei is just walking away, like the drifter he is, into the sunset. Ninja Scroll is a great series if you're into the action/comedy/hentai type of thing. 13 episodes isn't enough in my opinion, I think it could be continued if the creators wanted to. The music within this series is wonderful, and eclectic, and it just adds to action of the series. It's a great series to own, and is the type of series that can be watched more than once.
-- Diana 23rd Aug 05
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