Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
Jubei is a masterless ninja who travels the land alone, lending his services to those with gold—or a worthy cause. His fearsome abilities have served him well, but a plot to overthrow the government threatens to end his wandering ways—and possibly his life.
Ninja Scroll is a landmark of dark fantasy anime — its visceral, unflinching blend of supernatural action, erotic horror, and feudal Japanese mythology gives it a genuinely singular identity that few animated films have matched. The Eight Devils of Kimon are memorably grotesque and inventive antagonists. The plot is functional but fairly linear, serving mainly as a vehicle for escalating set pieces rather than deep narrative complexity. Voice performances (in both Japanese and English dubs) are serviceable but not exceptional. The cinematography for its era is impressive — fluid action choreography and striking character design — though not quite on par with Miyazaki-level craft. The ending is satisfying and thematically resonant without being truly surprising. Novelty is the film's standout quality: its raw, adult tone and creative monster design made it a defining artifact of mature anime and influenced the genre for decades.