Ninja Scroll (1993)

A vagabond swordsman is aided by a beautiful ninja girl and a crafty spy in confronting a demonic clan of killers - with a ghost from his past as their leader - who are bent on overthrowing the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Director:

Yoshiaki Kawajiri

Writer:

Yoshiaki Kawajiri (original story and screenplay)

Stars:

Kôichi Yamadera, Emi Shinohara, Takeshi Aono

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kôichi Yamadera	...	Jubei Kibagami (voice)
Emi Shinohara	...	Kagero (voice)
Takeshi Aono	...	Dakuan (voice)
Osamu Saka	...	Masked Samurai (voice)
Daisuke Gôri	...	Genma Himuro (voice)
Ichirô Nagai	...	Doujin (voice)
Ryûzaburô Ôtomo	...	Tessai (voice)
Akimasa Ohmori	...	Shijima (voice) (as Akimasa Ômori)
Gara Takashima	...	Benisato (voice)
Katsuji Mori	...	Hanza (voice)
Yûsaku Yara	...	Genpachi (voice)
Norio Wakamoto	...	Mujuro Utsutsu (voice)
Toshihiko Seki	...	Yurimaru (voice)
Masako Katsuki	...	Zakuro (voice)
Reizô Nomoto	...	Mushizo (voice)

Storyline

A Journeyman ninja by name of Jubei stumbles upon a plague, an evil clan of demons, a national crisis, and a beautiful ninja girl.

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Plot Keywords:

death of a companion | female ninja | death by sword | poisoning | horse riding | 

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Taglines:

The legend of Jubei, the Shogun of the Dark and the 8 Devils of Kimon.

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian distributor Yamato Video released a series of trading cards in 1997.

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Goofs

When Tessai prepares to punch Jubei, he says "the way to hell is... right here". In the Japanese version, the "right here" part of the line is heard some time after Tessai's lips move. This does not occur in the English version, where his line is in sync with his lip movements.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Bandit Boss: Thanks to your interference, Jubei, we lost 300 pieces of gold! I can't go back empty-handed!
Jubei: Well, perhaps you won't have to go back completely empty-handed...
[shows the bandit the rice ball he's eating]
Jubei: Bite?

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Alternate Versions

In 1995, the BBFC cut the UK version by 52 seconds. This included the rape of Kagero by Tessai and all footage of throwing stars. The UK and Australian DVDs were affected by these cuts. In 2004 these cuts were waived by the BBFC and the film is now uncut.

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Connections

Spoofed in Sausage Party (2016)

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Soundtracks

Somewhere, Faraway, Everyone Is Listening to a Ballad
Composed and performed by Ryôhei Yamanashi
Lyrics by Sho Jitsukawa
Arranged by Hiroshi Shinkawa

User Reviews

Winner Of The film Festival of Japan 1993: Ninja Scroll

As the trailer says. Ninja Scroll is one of the better action movies i have seen from Japan, and explosive anime action, that in times is daring, sexy and passionately beautiful, as it shows Japan in carnage. Plague's spread through the towns, well an evil force lurks, with 8 devils rise to take the land. It all begins with Jubei Kibagami (Kôichi Yamadera, Japanese version) a traveller who passes town to town with a hidden past. Well coming across Kagero (Emi Shinohara) a woman who tests food in her village, and has the curse of any man who makes love to her will die. It's beautiful in parts, and the animation is superb. The directing from Kevin Seymour and Yoshiaki Kawajiri is superb. Also written by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Winner of the 1993 film festival of Japan and worth the watch, i've owned it since i was 16 now, and still gets a play from time to time. 8/10

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese German English Italian

Release Date:

5 June 1993 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Jubei Ninpocho: The Wind Ninja Chronicles

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,073

Company Credits

Production Co:

Victor Company of Japan (JVC), Toho Company, Movic

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1