Ninja Warrior Hiei review: A perfect blend of action and story

Full review and recommendation of Ninja Warrior Tobikage

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

October 6, 1985 - July 27, 1986
October 6, 1985 - July 27, 1986 (1st - 43rd episodes) Every Sunday 10:30 - 11:00

■Broadcasting station

Broadcast: Nippon Television

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 43

■ Director

・General Director: Masami Anno

■ Production

・Produced by Pierrot

■Works

© Pierrot

■ Story

In the year 2200, some people left Earth and sought new lands on the Moon and Mars. A boy was born and raised on Mars. Life on Mars is not particularly peaceful, but there are no particular inconveniences either. One day, the boy, who lived an ordinary life, witnesses a battle between spaceships from another planet and becomes embroiled in an unprecedented, violent battle!
What he saw was a battle between the army of an evil emperor who was seeking supreme power in the universe, and the guards of a princess who had escaped the emperor's hands. After hearing the situation, the boy decides to help the princess, and faces the enemy with a mecha from the guards, but struggles. Then, out of nowhere, a mysterious robot called Tobikage appears! Hiei... it is an unknown mecha that no one knows about. Where did Hiei come from, and who created him and for what purpose?!

■Explanation

An original robot animation with a ninja motif. An ambitious series that combines ninja-style robot action with a science fiction worldview and human drama. It was one of the works that attracted particular attention during the robot anime boom of the 1980s, and its unique worldview and character settings made a strong impression on viewers at the time. In particular, the unusual combination of ninjas and robots stimulated viewers' imaginations and created many fans. The story also unfolded in a detailed manner, with new mysteries and developments presented in each episode, drawing viewers in. Furthermore, the character and mecha designs were very sophisticated, making it visually appealing.

■Cast

・Joe Maya/Kazuhiko Inoue/Mike Coyle/Masami Kikuchi/Lenny Ai/Noriko Hidaka/Romina Ladorio/Sumi Shimamoto/Annex Zaboom/Masaaki Okabe/Hazard Pasha/Takeshi Aono

■ Main staff

Producers: Norio Hatsukawa (Nippon Television), Masaaki Fusekawa (Pierrot), Yoshitaki Suzuki (Pierrot)
・General Director: Masami Anno ・Series Composition: Yuji Watanabe ・Screenplay: Yuji Watanabe, Sukehiro Tomita, Hideki Okada, Hideo Takayashiki, Kazuhito Kushima, Masami Anna ・Storyboard: Nagayuki Toriumi, Akira Shigino, Masami Anna, Eikichi Kojika, Hiroyuki Yokoyama, Takaaki Ishiyama, Takashi Akimoto, Noboru Ishiguro (Artland), Masami Hayashi, Omiyuki Yokokawa (Wave), Minoru Nibayashi, Hiroshi Yoshida (Ashi Productions), Yoshizo Tsuda, Keiji Komano ・Direction: Kazuhiko Ikegami, Akira Shigino, Masami Hayashi, Eikichi Kojika, Takaaki Ishiyama, Noboru Ishiguro, Masami Anna, Takashi Akimoto, Kazuyoshi Katayama, Chikara Sayama (Wave), Omiyuki Yokokawa, Minoru Nibayashi, Yasushi Murayama (Ashi Productions), Aoki Saeko・Character design/Kato, Shigeru, Hirano Toshihiro・Mecha design/Moriki Yasuyasu, Ohata Koichi・Chief animation director/Osaka Takeshi, Yawata Tadashi, Matsushita Yoshihiro, Tanaka Tamotsu, Ikegami Hiroyuki, Shimada Hideaki (Artland), Random, Tokiya Yoshinori, Chatani Yoshio, Okada Kazushi, Aoyagi Shigemi, Sugiyama Toyomi, Kakinouchi Narumi, Yuuki Natsumi, Habara Nobuyoshi (Ashi Productions), Sakamoto Emi (Wave), Yamamoto Tetsuya, Kudo Masaki・Music/Kawamura Eiji・Art director/Katsumata Geki・Director of photography/Miyakojima Masayoshi・Sound director/Asashi Naoko (Omnibus Promotion)
・Background: Studio Cosmo ・Photography: Ogata Production ・Editing: Morita Editing Room ・Sound Production: Omnibus Promotion ・Sound Effects: Akihiko Matsuda (Fizz Sound)
・Adjustment: Kunio Kuwahara ・Recording studio: New Japan Studio ・Development: Tokyo Development Laboratory ・Production manager: Michiyuki Homma

■ Main Characters

Joe Maya
He is the second generation of the Mars Colonizers. Perhaps because he was raised in the wild, he can be a bit violent, but he is a mysterious boy who never loses his kindness and innocence.
Mike Coyle is a boy who believes he has bad luck and is reluctant to do anything. However, with Joe by his side, he is able to gain a little more confidence.
・Renee Eye
A pure and innocent girl with many dreams. She is Jo's childhood friend. She is cheerful and caring, yet can also be a stubborn crybaby.
Romina Ladorio: Princess of the planet Ladorio. She has the elegance of a noble family, but at the same time, she has the fastidiousness of a boy.
・Annex Zaboom
The Emperor of Planet Zaboom. A cold-hearted and ruthless dictator who plots to dominate the universe.
Hazard Pasha
Chief of the Mars Colonization Team. Although he was highly regarded on Earth, he was sent to a remote area, and now he resents it. He is burning with ambition to make Mars his own and rule Earth as well.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: The Open DoorEpisode 2: An Encounter with the UnknownEpisode 3: The Scarred PrincessEpisode 4: The Legendary NinjaEpisode 5: The Polar Cap, A New TrialEpisode 6: The Blizzard of BattleEpisode 7: The Rules of the HeroEpisode 8: Wandering WarriorsEpisode 9: Howl of FarewellEpisode 10: Approaching SoulEpisode 11: The Devil's WhisperEpisode 12: Time of PartingEpisode 13: Fate in the TorrentEpisode 14: A Fragment of DoubtEpisode 15: Far Away from HomeEpisode 16: An Unwanted ReturnEpisode 17: An Unbroken FriendshipEpisode 18: A Proud WarriorEpisode 19: The One Who Stands in the WayEpisode 20: Beyond the FrustrationEpisode 21: The Shaking UniverseEpisode 22: Escape to HopeEpisode Episode 23: The Signpost, Episode 24: The Wings that Fell Down, Episode 25: A Brief Encounter, Episode 26: The Great Stirring, Episode 27: The Changing Wind, Episode 28: A New Awakening, Episode 29: The Forgotten 17-Year-Old, Episode 30: The Closed Legend, Episode 31: Each Person's Confusion, Episode 32: The Endless Struggle, Episode 33: A Single Person's Rampage, Episode 34: The Female Ninja, Benikage, Episode 35: A Fine Crack, Episode 36: Shattered Prestige, Episode 37: The Approaching Ambition, Episode 38: Peace Reached, Episode 39: A Desperate Battle, Episode 40: The End of the Invasion, Episode 41: Another Door, Episode 42: Trails from Beyond (Compilation/ACT 1)
・Episode 43 / Endless Galaxy (Compilation / ACT2)

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Ninja Warrior Hiei" was one of the works that attracted particular attention during the robot anime boom of the 1980s, and its unique worldview and character settings made a strong impression on viewers at the time. In particular, the unusual combination of ninjas and robots stimulated the imagination of viewers and created many fans. The story also unfolded in a detailed manner, with new mysteries and developments presented in each episode, drawing viewers in. Furthermore, the character and mecha designs were also very sophisticated, making it very visually appealing.

The appeal of this work lies above all in the depth of its story and the growth of its characters. The protagonist, Joe Maya, is a boy born and raised on Mars who is suddenly drawn into a space battle, upending his ordinary life. In the process, he grows together with his friends and overcomes difficulties. In addition, the backstories and relationships of the supporting characters, such as Lenny Ai and Mike Coyle, are carefully drawn, eliciting deep empathy from the viewer.

Another point not to be missed is the mecha design. Tobikage is a robot based on a ninja motif, and its design is very innovative and visually impactful. Furthermore, the action in the battle scenes combines the techniques of a ninja with the strength of a robot, ensuring that the viewer will not tire of the show. The music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and Kawamura Eiji's music plays a role in enhancing the tension and emotion of the story.

This work was highly acclaimed among the robot anime of the 1980s, and is still loved by many fans today. It is especially praised for many elements, such as the unusual combination of ninjas and robots, the intricate story development, the attractive characters, and the sophisticated design. It is also worth noting that it continues to attract new fans even today, in addition to the viewers of the time.

The first reason to recommend this film is the depth of the story and the growth of the characters. The story of Maya Jo's growth, her bond with her friends, and her attitude towards facing difficulties will deeply move the viewer. Also, the unusual combination of ninjas and robots stimulates the imagination of the viewer and offers a new perspective. Other points not to be missed are the refinement of the character and mecha designs, and the high quality of the music.

This work is highly recommended not only for fans of robot anime from the 1980s, but also for current anime fans. It is especially recommended for viewers who are looking for depth in the story and characters, and for viewers who are interested in innovative designs and action. It can also be enjoyed by the whole family, and will be enjoyed by a wide range of people, from children to adults.

Finally, "Ninja Warrior Hiei" is a work that has been praised for many elements, including its unique world view and character settings, detailed story development, sophisticated design, and high-quality music. This work, which was born during the robot anime boom of the 1980s, is still loved by many fans today and continues to attract new viewers. Please watch it at least once and experience its charm for yourself.