A visceral storm of blood, steel, and shadows where a wandering swordsman and a poison-cursed kunoichi battle demonic forces. It is a dark, erotic elegy to the fleeting nature of life, painted in shades of midnight blue and crimson.
Ninja Scroll
獣兵衛忍風帖
"Feudal Japan—a time of danger, intrigue and deception . . ."
Director:
Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Cast:
Koichi Yamadera, Emi Shinohara, Takeshi Aono, Daisuke Gori, Ryuuzaburou Ootomo
Animation
Fantasy
Action
Adventure
Ninja Scroll - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
Futaro Yamada Homage
The entire film is a stylistic homage to the ninja novels of Futaro Yamada (specifically The Kouga Ninja Scrolls), which feature warring ninja clans with bizarre, supernatural abilities (insect users, poison users, immortals).
Lady Snowblood Costume
Kagero's purple kimono and overall look are a direct visual reference to the character Yuki from the famous revenge film Lady Snowblood, another story about a woman consumed by vengeance and death.
Vampire Hunter D Parallels
The character design of Jubei (wide-brimmed hat, long sword, stoic demeanor) shares DNA with D from Kawajiri's later film Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. Both are wandering outsiders fighting monsters.