4 Star

A Gouty Ninja Fantasy.

From MVM, we get the Ninja Scroll: The Series, that follows the events of the movie, Where we see the life of Jubei Kibagami as he wanders the countryside as a ninja for hire. Created by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Wicked City), and directed by Tatsuo Satô (Gakuen senki Muryô, Uchû no suteruvia) who brings out the violence and fantasy of this mercenary adventure. This is thirteen half-hour episodes of action, adventure, and some really weird opponents.

A ninja named Roga (Joji Nakata, Escaflowne, The Vision of Escaflowne) from the Hiruko Clan steals the Dragon Stone from the Hiruko Clan, and a huge clan fight over the stone ensues, this commotion disturbs the restful sleep of wandering ninja Jubei Kibagami (Rikiya Koyama, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train). Jubei fights off Roga’s attackers, but Roga is fatally wounded, however before he dies he gives Jubei the Dragon stone, and tasks him with giving the stone to the Shigure – the Priestess of Light (Houko Kuwashima,Metal Gear Solid: Integral (Video Game), Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (Video Game)).

The sky’s the sky, everywhere you go, people are people, always waking you up from a good nap.

Shigure had lived in the mountains until her village was burnt to the ground by the Kimon Clan. Wandering the mountains, she comes across the roguish thief Tsubute (Romi Park, Fullmetal Alchemist, Attack on Titan) and the old, but very spry priest Dakuan (Yuzuru Fujimoto, Mobile Suit Gundam I, Cowboy Bebop). When Jubei finds Shigure, he and her two protectors must fend off the clans that want the Ancient Kingdom treasure, which the Dragon Stone and the Priestess of Light will unlock.

The enemies are varied and have bizarre talents.

I have to admit you had guts, a whole lot of guts.

They will face many dangers against the Hiruko and the Kimon Clans.

Man, this is the life, chasing a bald two legged fireball in the middle of the night.

Ninja Scroll: The Series is a violent, gory slash fest, great fun for the fantasy anime fan.

Ninja Scroll: The Series is available from MVM