The appeal and reviews of "Under Ninja": Exploring the hidden world of ninjas

Under Ninja: A New Era Ninja Story

The TV anime series "Under Ninja", which aired from October 6 to December 22, 2023, is based on the manga of the same name by Kengo Hanazawa. It aired every Friday at 1:28 am on TBS and BS11, and attracted viewers with its compact 12-episode format. The anime is animated by Tezuka Productions and produced by the Under Ninja Production Committee, and is co-written by Kengo Hanazawa and Kodansha.

Story and Characters

"Under Ninja" is a ninja action story set in modern-day Tokyo. The protagonist, Hayato Kurosawa, is an ordinary high school student on the surface, but secretly works as a ninja. His mission is to defeat the evil that lurks in the darkness of the city. Hayato and his friends grow as they face various challenges.

The main characters are Hayato's best friend and partner, Shiraishi Yuuta, the mysterious beautiful ninja Momiji, and Hayato's master, Kageyama-sensei. Each character has a unique personality that adds excitement to the story. Momiji's character in particular captured the hearts of viewers with her cool appearance and inner conflict.

Animation and Music

The animation by Tezuka Productions depicts modern Tokyo realistically while dynamically expressing the movements of the ninjas and the battle scenes. In particular, the action scenes using Hayato's ninja skills are spectacular and provide a visual treat.

In terms of music, the opening theme "Shadow of the Night" and the ending theme "Silent Moon" are impressive. The opening is a rock-style song that conveys Hayato's fighting spirit, while the ending is a ballad that brings out the depth of the story. The music overall matches the atmosphere of the story and enriches the viewing experience.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Under Ninja" offers a fresh perspective on the classic theme of the ninja by setting it in modern-day Tokyo. Although each story is self-contained, there is a major flow throughout the series, so viewers will not tire of it. The character growth and changes in relationships are carefully depicted, making it easy to empathize with the story.

What is particularly worth praising is Hayato's character. He is not a perfect hero, but an ordinary high school student with worries and weaknesses. This allows the viewer to feel his growth as if it were their own. Momiji's character is also fascinating, and as her past and secrets are gradually revealed, the story becomes more profound.

On the other hand, it is unfortunate that the backstories and subplots of all the characters could not be fully explored in the short broadcast period of 12 episodes. In particular, some people have said that they would have liked to see more depth in the character of Hayato's master, Mr. Kageyama. However, overall, the series is compact but packed with content, and will satisfy viewers.

Recommendations and related works

For those who enjoyed "Under Ninja," we recommend other ninja-themed works such as "NARUTO" and "BORUTO: Naruto Next Generations." These works also focus on character growth and human relationships, and delve deeply into the world of ninjas. Another interesting action film set in modern-day Tokyo is "Tokyo Revengers."

In addition, please read the original manga of "Under Ninja". You can enjoy episodes that were not depicted in the anime and detailed backstories of the characters. You can fully enjoy the world view and characters drawn by Kengo Hanazawa in the original work.

summary

"Under Ninja" is a new-age ninja story set in modern-day Tokyo. The story, woven by a cast of unique characters centered around the protagonist, Kurosawa Hayato, has the power to draw viewers in. The beautiful animation by Tezuka Productions, combined with the power of music, makes this a work that can be enjoyed both visually and aurally. Although it is a compact series of 12 episodes, it depicts a deep story and character growth, making it a highly satisfying anime. This is a work that can be recommended not only to those who like ninjas and action, but also to those who like youth dramas and human dramas.