Beloved Anime Celebrating 30th Anniversary With Special Release
There are a few anime credited for expanding these Japanese-style stories outside of the country. Akira, Berserk, and Ghost in the Shell are just a few of the more memorable stories that broke the belief that cartoons are only for children and helped to bring in fans from all over the globe. Another is Ninja Scroll, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a limited theatrical rerelease and a limited edition Blu-ray.
Ninja Scroll
First released in 1993, Ninja Scroll was written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End), with Yutaka Minowa (Devil May Cry) behind the animation. Madhouse is the studio behind the animation (Wolf Children).
American fans of the film may be surprised it’s that old. This is because though Ninja Scroll first aired in 1993 in Japan, it didn’t get an official release in America until 2012.
The Set Up
Ninja Scroll follows a man named Jubei (Kouichi Yamadera), who saves a young female ninja Kagero (Emi Shinohara), an action that entangles him in a mystery. Together, the two begin to investigate why and how an entire village was wiped out, only to learn that it’s a part of a huge conspiracy. The evil behind the act will stop at nothing to make sure Jubei and his partner are permanently silenced.
An Anime Masterpiece
The film is considered a masterpiece of its time, up there with Akira and Ghost in the Shell. Like those two films, it’s praised for its animation and action and is a film aimed at adults. Ninja Scroll is one of the major reasons why adult-oriented anime made a breakthrough in countries besides Japan.
On My Anime List, Ninja Scroll has a 7.61 out of 10. Not everyone agrees it should be in the same category as Akira and Ghost in the Shell—while the animation and action are good, the story falls a little short of a complete masterpiece. However, it is still considered a great film for its time.
The Home Release And Theatrical Re-Release
To celebrate the film and its history, a collector’s edition of Ninja Scroll will become available on October 22. In addition to the Blu-ray, the case will be a steelbook. Amazon, Walmart, and Target are offering preorders at the moment.
In addition to the special release, the 30th anniversary of Ninja Scroll will be celebrated with a theatrical release in the US. Over 500 theaters across the country will air the movie on September 11, 12, and 15, and will be presented with both Japanese and English audio, with the Japanese version also coming with English subtitles.
Limited Availability
Until the anniversary hits, if you want to watch Ninja Scroll in the relaxed atmosphere of your own home, you’re unfortunately a bit out of luck. Despite its popularity, the film isn’t available to rent or watch on any of the major platforms, and it’s just as hard to buy a physical copy, especially through official means. So if you want to watch Ninja Scrolls, the limited edition Blu-ray and the theater showings may be your only chances.
