Jûbei ninpûchô (1993)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Directors:

Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Kevin Seymour

Writer:

Yoshiaki Kawajiri (writer)

Release Date:

6 December 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Thriller

Plot:

A ninja-for-hire is forced into fighting an old nemesis who is bent on overthrowing the Japanese government. His nemesis is also the leader of a group of demons each with superhuman powers.

Plot Keywords:

Ninja | Demon | Rape | Megalomaniac | Electrocution

Cast

Kôichi Yamadera	...	Jubei Kibagami (voice)
Emi Shinohara	...	Kagero (voice)
Takeshi Aono	...	(voice)
Daisuke Gôri	...	(voice)
Toshihiko Seki	...	Yurimaru (voice)
Shûichirô Moriyama	...	(voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Barnes	...	Mushizo Shinkuro (voice)
Sonny Byrkett	...	(voice)
Richard Cansino	...	(voice) (as Richard Hayworth)
Dean Elliott	...	Jubei Kibagami (voice) (as Dean Elliot)
Richard Epcar	...	Lord Himuro Gemma (voice) (as Richard George)
Michael Forest	...	(voice) (as Alfred Thor)
Dougary Grant	...	Tessai (voice)
Bradley Lavelle	...	Jubei Kibagami (voice: English version) (as Brad Lavelle)
Wendee Lee	...	Kagero (as Wendee Day)
Edward Mannix	...	Chamberlain Sakai Hyobo (voice) (as Ed Mannix)
Joan-Carol O'Connell	...	Benisato (voice) (as Jenny Haniver)
Maureen O'Connell	...	Zakuro (voice)
Andrew Philpot	...	Yurimaru (voice: English version)
Anthony Rocissano	...	Utsutsu Mujuro (voice)
Joe Romersa	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Doug Stone	...	Bandit (voice)
Jimmy Theodore	...	Dakuan (voice) (as Rudy Luzion)
Kirk Thornton	...	(voice) (as Spanky Roberts)

Also Known As:

Jubei Ninpocho: The Wind Ninja Chronicles (USA)
Ninja Scroll (USA)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (1996) | South Korea:18 | Canada:18+ (TV rating) | Italy:VM14 | Norway:11 | Australia:MA (original rating) | Australia:R (re-rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | France:-16 | New Zealand:R16 | South Africa:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Company:

Animaze

Trivia:

Not as successful or well-received in Japan as it was in the U.S.

Quotes:

Jubei: [after killing Utsutso Mujuro, angry at Kagero for interfering] Haven't you had enough yet? What are you thinking?
Kagero: Why have you become so desperate to die?
Jubei: It's not me who is so desperate to throw my life away to return a favour! You're acting as if your life is worthless or something. Is it true then, that you kill whichever man sleeps with you? By poisoning him?
Kagero: You'll know if you sleep with me.
Kagero: [Jubei embraces Kagero but Kagero backs away] No you fool! Poison is seeped into every part of my being. It's become so strong that even the touch of my lips can kill you instantly. No one can ever touch me. If you dare to, you're dead.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Anime: Drawing a Revolution (2007) (TV)

Ninja Scroll captivates.

You need to see this. Ninja Scroll is a personal favorite of mine and I find many amazing aspects to this animated film.

The story, ninja action and characters are amazing. Jubei and Kigero's tale is more tragic then anything Shakespeare has thought up. The eight devils of Kimon are each interesting in their own way and some are sure to warrant more interest to you then others. By movie's end, you are sure to have felt many emotions as you watched Jubei's tale unfold.

Anyone who wants to write this off as low-class entertainment aimed at a skewed demographic must not have actually bothered to watch the film. This is high class art of the most important sense. A wonderful story with interesting characters and with enough action to fill four other movies. Ninja Scroll takes you on an adventure.

You need to see this. Highest recommendation. Please watch it with Japanese language track/ English subtitles.