NinKoro — How to Get Away with Murder Ft Busty & Kawaii Waifus

Every anime season, a show gleefully embraces the absurd — this season, A Ninja and an Assassin Under One Roof (NinKoro) takes that spot. With casual murder, aiding and abetting, a busty assassin, a loli ninja, and major slice-of-life vibes, NinKoro aims to be the odd comedy of the season. And based on the first two episodes, it’s well on its way to doing so. So what’s the show about, and more importantly, should you watch it … (SPOILER ALERT: you should).

Japan sounds like a peaceful place on paper. But did you know that assassins and ninjas are a daily issue? In some cases, they even band together to commit all manner of tomfoolery and engage in constant rabble-rousing! Yes, my dear reader, NinKoro’s plot is less a work of the imagination and more a vivid insight into daily Japanese life. Don’t let the fake media fool you — there are high school assassins, and they’re HOT!

NinKoro’s Plot (in a Nutshell)

NinKoro follows Konoha Koga, one of Japan’s most skilled assassins (kinda, she barely breaks into the top 200s). One day, in a dingy alleyway, Konoha stumbled upon a fragile and starving ninja. Believing that the ninja was a corpse, she immediately kicked her.

You may think that’s unnecessarily violent, but it’s a God-given right to poke dead things with a stick. And if you don’t have a stick, kick it … violently … unless it’s super bloated. Ask me how I know. Corpse-kicking practices aside, Konoha’s kick roused the still-alive ninja, and she immediately begged for food. If that happened to me, I would have kicked again, but Konoha is a better person.

Konoha felt somewhat guilty over her unwarranted transgression and took the starving ninja (Satoko Kusagakure) to lunch. But that moment of reprieve shatters as assassins from Satoko’s village ambush the pair. In most countries, you have to worry about stray dogs or crackheads, but Japan’s issue is with ninjas. Told you so! Yet, it was that unfortunate interaction that bound the two. After Konoha defends the kawaii Satoko, she realizes that the deadbeat ninja can dispose of corpses. With that, the two move in together and begin a pseudo-yuri life (after some coercion, of course), and NinKoro kicks off.

What I’d Give for a Loli Ninja

There are few dreams as unattainable as stumbling upon a kawaii evidence disposer. I would be the happiest dude on Earth if I had a Satoko to clean, cook, and dispose of unwanted items for me. But you’re not here to hear about my illicit fantasies — you’re here for NinKoro!

Studio Shaft is cooking with this show, and they deserve a couple of Michelin stars for it. While there’s a distinctive lack of head tilts, the artwork is the fluffiest of the season — the dark comedy works so well, and you can tell the VAs are having a blast. The show changes its animation style often, but it’s never jarring. Shaft’s animation shines, whether it’s the chibi, moe, or action scenes. If you’re a fan of Gourmet Girl Graffiti or Mahou Sensei Negima!, you’ll appreciate the overall look and feel of NinKoro.

Kana Hanazawa voices Konoha Koga, so I don’t need to hype that voice role/performance. On the other hand, Haruna Mikawa (Satoko) is still somewhat of a newbie. According to MAL, she has two of her first three lead roles this season: one with NinKoro and the other with Mono (as Satsuki Amamiya). But while she may only have a few roles to her name, she delivers an entertaining performance.

NinKoro — A Comedy-Heavy Slice-of-Life

Deadpan and dark humor aren’t for everyone. But I’m writing for J-List — and this is where all the cool anime fans are at, so some jokes about murder and slight bullying won’t offend this crowd. Or at least I’m hoping it won’t. But even if it does, I’d still recommend NinKoro. As I mentioned in the beginning, it’s absurd. The over-the-top reactions, animation switches, and moeness complement its comedy well. And given the state of the world, we need more comedic absurdity!

And if that’s not enough, the show has an attractive sprinkling of fan service! Something I’m hoping is a constant in other episodes is that Konoha is a hottie! I’m smitten with short-haired, eyeglass-wearing waifus. They’re kawaii, and they’re kakkoii, and they make the perfect bunny girls. FREEing agrees with that statement, as they already have a Konoha Koga 1/6 Bunny Girl figure in the works!

NinKoro simulcasts every Thursday on Crunchyroll.

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