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Ninja Scroll | 
| Directors: Kevin Seymour, Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Actors: Maureen O'connell (iii), Jimmy Theodore, Dean Elliott (iii), Dougary Grant, Koichi Yamadera
Studio: Manga Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $11.99
You Save: $17.96 (60%)
New (44) Used (21) Collectible (1) from $7.74
Rating:  422 reviews
Sales Rank: 7441
Format: Animated, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Japanese (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: Unrated
Region: 0
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Academy Ratio
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 94 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5.1 x 0.7
MPN: RKOD0476112D
ISBN: 6305014140
UPC: 044004761123
EAN: 9786305014140
ASIN: 6305014140
Theatrical Release Date: December 6, 1996
Release Date: May 20, 1998
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
A peak achievement of Japanese anime, Ninja Scroll is a propulsive mix of samurai action adventure and supernatural fantasy from writer-director Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Supernatural Best City). This is defiantly animation for grown-ups, complete with fountains of blood, plenty of naked flesh, and (in both the subtitled and dubbed versions) some decidedly strong language. (Students of Japanese language could pick up some useful expressions.) The plot sounds like a 16th century variation on the X-Files: An entire village has been wiped out by a mysterious plague and an anti-government conspiracy of invulnerable demons seems to be responsible. A wandering ninja, Jubei, and his female counterpart, Kagero, team up to defeat the plotters. Jubei is a classic reluctant hero, agreeing to participate in the mission only after being fed a slow-acting poison; the antidote will be supplied after he cooperates. And Kagero, a looker whose embrace is lethal, is a femme fatale with a difference that seems distinctively Japanese: sexual contact itself is poisonous, especially for a warrior with a pure soul. --David Chute
Product Description
Studio: Starz/sphe Release Date: 02/23/1999 Run time: 90 minutes
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| Customer Reviews: Read 417 more reviews...
 Classic Anime October 25, 2008
Charlie1701 (Phoenix, AZ)
This Anime has something that most anime's dont have... GANAS! Well rounded plot, with a few sub-plots passing through just to keep you interested. Major character development throughout the story and enough animated eye candy to interest even the staunchest skeptick. Watch the video and see for yourself why its one of the 100 best anime's ever done.
 Best Japanese/Ninja Animation EVER October 18, 2008
Emmanuel Samedy Jr.
Great Japanese animation, good action scenes with a good story to go with it (which is rare)
 Fantastic Action, Idiotic Storyline September 13, 2008
KlownArt (Georgia)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Ninja Scroll
Have you ever seen a car crash on television? Most of the time they look fairly awesome. This anime puts you on the side of the highway watching cars pass with the occasional car crash. The action sequences are brilliantly put together, but everything else is a giant mess. If you are an action junkie, I can suggest this one. If you enjoy a compelling story that is important, keep moving.
Jubei is an independent ninja who will do almost anything for some spare gold. He is an impressive contender for any one who may challenge him. He is forced into a mission Dakuwon, who is a government spy. Dakuwon poisons Jubei and will only give him the antidote if he helps him. Gemma, a thought-dead rival of Jubei, has plans on taking over Japan. He is using the help of the 8 Devils. The 8 Devils are extremely powerful beings that are often very interesting.
Jubei joins up with Kagero later in the film. Kagero is a female ninja with an immunity to poison. However, if she becomes intimate with anyone, she will kill them with her body's excess poison. As you might expect, there is some sexual tension between Kagero and Jubei throughout the film.
We see Jubei, Kagero, and Dakuwon fighting the 8 Devils on their journey to stop Gemma. The fight sequences are some of the best I've ever seen. Animation is good and the detail of gore is breath taking. Blood squirts all over the place when someone is sliced open. Arms and legs are ripped off at times. The movie is sick in a good way.
However, the problem comes in the ridiculous story. The 8 Devils really only serve as kill joy. They really serve no purpose to the story. Gemma has an entire army on his side, he does not even need the Devils. Gemma himself only appears near the end of the movie. The rest of the movie's story is about the relationship between Kagero and Jubei. Kagero feels to need to keep saving Jubei's life...because she loves him. The English voice acting is terrible and can not pull this off well. The entire acting comes off too generic for such a personal storyline.
Not only is the story filled with a bunch of lame rambling until the next action sequence, but it just isn't that interesting of a story to start with. There is tons of nudity and sex in this one to mask this horrible movie. I am not falling for it though. This is pure garbage. Only action junkies and perverts should purchase this one.
One of my all time favorite anime films September 9, 2008
alightinsideme (Virginia , USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is one of very first full length anime movies i ever saw, and it left a big impression on me. I recently watched it again and thought it would be fun to make a review on here for it.
The story is interesting, and contains some political intrigue, where there are some twists as to who works for who and who IS who. So it makes you think a little bit.
The characters are intersting as well, from Jubei, the central hero, and the old man he meets, too the 8 devils which are confronted with, all having their own fantastic skills and techniques, each using their unique power to try and stop Jubei, a kind of mercenary ninja that isnt exactly all about the money.
Even though the film is over 15 years old, its some of the very best animation i have ever seen in an animated movie. I think it looks even better than a lot of the newer anime films out now that mix A LOT of CGI in the drawing, sense all drawing is practically done totally with the computer now for nearly all films in anime, with the exception of some.
The attention to detail is impressive, and how it flows so well, its just beautiful. This is a true piece of animation. A classic.
Now, i was introduced to the English voice dubbing version of the movie, and always loved the voice actors in this movie. But after viewing it recently ,i noticed how out of place some of the language used was, especially for a film based in feudal japan, between the 12th and 19th century. Expressions like "...piss off! " , for example, though humorous, just isnt the correct terms in this era.
And that is like my biggest dislike, is the dialog used for the english dubbing. Even though i like their voices and their personalities are likable...it just comes across as bit silly and ridiculous, citing that as the films weakness. BUT, fortunatly, this DVD is bilingual, coming with the ORIGINAL JAPANESE LANGUAGE DUB (with english subtitles)
Trust me, the English dub is fun, but the orginal japanese dub with english subtitles is superior. I could take the film more seriously now, and in turn it made the whole experience a lot better. It was like almost watching a entirely new movie. And i usually prefer English Dub over Subs, so i never thought id prefer subs instead.
If the english dub was the actual way the original voice cast and script went, i would of gave this movie 4 stars for the 1990's styled american street talking dialog. And though it isnt that painfully bad lol, its still a weak dubbing, in terms of historically correct speech for that time. I wouldnt of been suprised to hear someone in the movie say "blow me" or "how bout a nuckle sandwhich , wise guy!!!!!???" something retarded like that. Thankfully it isnt that bad. But again, the Subtitled version you can choose from with the orginal japanese voice actors is superior and makes this movie more timeless.
The musical score in this film is great, with a marching main theme thats memorable. And also other parts of the films music is haunting and uses japanese instruments and traditional style. I liked it. Set the mood for something evil and that things werent what they seemed.
The guy who put this film together by the way, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, was the one who brought us Wicked City. And we see similar touches of bizarre horror carried on into this film, the likes of which were in Wicked City. At times Ninja Scroll could very well be taken as a horror film, becouse of the intense depiction of various mutilation and bodily disfiguration and other violence, but it all paints a perfect picture of how it probubly would of been in feudal japan with demons walking the earth. Its quite a dark film, in that respect. But it also has a sense of humor, and even a bit of romance.
All and all, its a classic anime film. And the dvd itself, though others pointed out issues with lack of a true widescreen (which sucks), the special edition version offers an interview with the english voice actors, Dean Elliot (who voiced Jubei) and Wendee Lee (who voices Kagero, the strong willed ninja girl)
Plus theres a image gallery and even an interview with the director, Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Which is a real treat.
The film itself , aside from the bonus features, is worth owning in itself, but the bonus features give this special edition some perks for the viewer. And now you can get this edition very cheap. So if you loved this film, id buy it. Just NEVER pay list price for it. Those days of 30 dollar anime films need to be over and done with.
But ya, Ninja Scroll is a great classic, and thats why its one of my all time favorite anime movies.
An Amazing Movie August 23, 2008
Oludare V. Obasanjo (Seattle, WA)
A fantastic movie, I've seen it over a dozen times and have not gotten tired of seeing it. Jubei Kibagami FTW.
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