Ninja Kamui is the bloody revenge story of an exiled ninja out to destroy the clan that created him. But is Higan’s journey compelling enough to put Ninja Kamui on your anime watch list? Let’s find out.
The trailer gets bloody quickly, so view it with discretion.
Revenge, Standard Model
John Wick, The Punisher, McFarlane’s Spawn, Batman, and Afro Samurai. Those are just off the top of my head, and I’m sure you can name similar properties. The premise: kill my family, and I’m coming for you. For revenge. And oh, did I mention I have Chuck-Norris-level skills in death-dealing? Even lighter tales use the format. Amazing Spider-Man might be your friendly neighborhood spider. But it was one step away from murdering his uncle’s killer for revenge.
Clearly, revenge fantasies are a staple of comics and movies. Would the world be better if we didn’t fantasize about being the badass and bringing the beatdown to the baddies? I think so. Forgive and forget so you can move on with your life. But we do fantasize about one-upping those who’ve wronged us. That’s why the formula is so satisfying to watch. This is wish fulfillment, just like having an angel co-habit and cook for you.
Frank Castle and John Wick lost loved ones, just like Higan does in Ninja Kamui. We’ve established that’s the standard model. Will Ninja Kamui bring a twist on the trope?
Blood, Lots of Blood
Ninja Kamui reminds me of Afro Samurai. There’s the experienced, tough-guy loner, the crazy-haired mentor, the extreme close-ups of rage-filled eyes, and plenty of action. And blood. So much blood. Have I emphasized the blood enough? I’m not a fan of body horror or splatterpunk, so I’m grateful that Ninja Kamui is an anime. The blood is practically a supporting character.
The realism — which the blood reminds us of — makes the story work. We’ve got ninja magic and futuristic tech, but these play out in a realistically realized world. Ninja Kamui builds on the legacy of manga masterpieces like Afro Samurai and Vagabond, which, in turn, evolved from Lone Wolf and Cub and Samurai Executioner. Theirs is a harsh world of swift retribution at the point of a sword.
The Shinobi Magic of Ninja Kamui
Does Ninja Kamui rely heavily on the cookie-cutter? Does it rehash the blood-for-blood story? From the first three shows I’ve watched, definitely. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If John Wick with a ninja twist sounds like your cup of strong black coffee, you’re in for a treat. Ninja Kamui is masterfully executed and entertaining. It doesn’t need to be high art. Or original. But it sure is fun.
Ninja Kamui was directed by Sunghoo Park (The God of Highschool). Series production was undertaken by E&H Production and Sola Entertainment, with executive production by Williams Street. The show airs on Toonami.
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With all that blood, keeping a nurse on call is obviously a good idea. Yozakura doesn’t look like a ninja, which probably means she’s a really good one. I wonder where she hides her shuriken? This cast-off figure of Yozakura comes from the game Shinobi Master Senran Kagura: New Link. Now, bend over and say, “Argh!”
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