Ninja Gaiden review: A mix of action and story

The appeal and evaluation of the Ninja Gaiden OVA

■Overview of the work

"Ninja Gaiden" is an OVA based on the Ninja Gaiden series for the Family Computer released by Tecmo. It was released by Pack-in-Video on November 21, 1991, and is 50 minutes long. It was directed by Mamoru Kobe, animated by Studio Junio, and planned and produced by SMS CORPORATION. This OVA is an original episode that follows on from "Ninja Gaiden II: Dark Demon Sword," and game fans can enjoy a new story development.

■ Story

The battle between the evil god and the dragon god, which has been going on since ancient times, ended when the evil god was sealed away by the dragon ninja. However, a group appears that plots to revive the evil god, and the young dragon ninja Ryu throws himself into the battle once again. Ryu, who runs an antique shop in New York, fights to stop the evil god's revival together with his girlfriend Irene, former soldier Robert, and former mercenary Jeffrey.

■ Characters

The main character, Ryu, is a young ninja descended from the dragon god and runs an antique shop in New York. His girlfriend, Irene, works at Ryu's shop and throws herself into battle alongside Ryu. Robert is a former soldier who met Ryu during the battle over the revival of the evil god, and now works as a detective in New York. Jeffrey is Robert's partner, a former mercenary who is usually timid but displays incredible fighting power when he holds a weapon. The human drama woven by these characters is one of the attractions of this work.

■Cast and crew

The voice of Ryu is played by Nanba Keiichi, the voice of Irene by Touma Yumi, the voice of Robert by Wakamoto Norio, and the voice of Jeffrey by Gori Daisuke. The executive producer is Minami Takahiro, the producers are Kanauchi Mayumi and Maeda Ado, the director is Kobe Mamoru, the assistant director is Sayama Seiko, the script is written by Noda Tomofumi, the character design and animation director is Horiuchi Osamu, the music is by Okuda Takuya, the supervisor is Okazaki Minoru, with the cooperation of Tecmo Co., Ltd., the animation production is by Studio Junio, and the planning and production is by SMS CORPORATION. The work, which was created by this team of staff, has been highly praised not only by fans of the original game, but also by anime fans.

■Music

The ending theme "Call Me Again" was written by Hajime Hirano, composed and arranged by Takuya Okuda, and sung by Yoko Kubota. This song is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the OVA, and is a song that will remain deeply in the hearts of viewers.

■ Evaluation and impressions

The OVA of "Ninja Gaiden" is not only a fun new story for fans of the original game, but also a worthwhile work for anime fans. In particular, the human drama of the characters including Ryu, and the action scenes set in New York are beautifully done and have the power to draw viewers in. The music is also an important element in livening up the atmosphere of the work, and the ending theme "Call Me Again" is particularly memorable.

However, because the story had to be developed in a short time of 50 minutes, some viewers may feel that the character development and story depth are not enough. Also, because it is an OVA, the possibility of a sequel being produced is low, which is disappointing for fans.

■ Recommendation points

The OVA of "Ninja Gaiden" is a must-see for fans of the original game. You can enjoy the new story development and human drama of the characters. Anime fans can also enjoy the action scenes set in New York and the impressive music. In particular, the ending theme "Call Me Again" is a song that you will never forget once you hear it, so be sure to check it out.

Furthermore, even though this OVA was made in 1991, it still has quality that doesn't fade even when viewed today. The quality of the animation and the skill of the storytelling are in keeping with modern anime works. Please watch it and experience its charm.

■ Related works

Be sure to check out the games in the Ninja Gaiden series. In particular, Ninja Gaiden II: Dark Sword is a prequel to this OVA, so we recommend playing it to gain a deeper understanding of the OVA. Also, by enjoying the entire series, you will be able to feel the growth and changes of characters such as Ryu, Irene, Robert, and Jeffrey.

■ Summary

The OVA of "Ninja Gaiden" is not only a fun new story for fans of the original game, but also a worthwhile work for anime fans. It is full of many charms, such as the human drama of the characters, the action scenes set in New York, and impressive music. Please watch it once and feel its charm.