Ninja Kamui Explained
| Type: | tv series |
| Director: | Sunghoo Park |
| Producer: | Joseph Chou |
| Music: | R.O.N |
| Licensee: | Warner Bros. Television |
| Network: | Tokyo MX |
| First: | February 11, 2024 |
| Last: | May 5, 2024 |
| Episodes: | 13 |
Ninja Kamui (stylized in all caps) is an original anime television series produced by E&H Production and Sola Entertainment with executive production by Williams Street. The series aired from February to May 2024 in the United States on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block and in Canada on Adult Swim Canada. A Japanese broadcast of the series followed on Tokyo MX from July to September 2024.
Plot
After escaping his clan and going into hiding in rural America with his wife, former ninja Higan, living under the alias of Joe Logan, is ambushed by the reformed clan's assassins which exact bloody retribution on him and his family for their betrayal on direct orders from their current leader Yamaji. With his wife and son now dead, Higan returns to his ninja ways to avenge his family and sets his sights on taking down the very clan that made him.
Characters
- Higan / Joe Logan
A former ninja who goes on a journey to avenge his family. Joe and his family lived under the surname alias Logan and concealed their real faces with devices in an attempt to avoid detection from the clan.
- Mari / Sara Logan
Higan's wife, and a former ninja, who was trained alongside Higan and Zai. She is murdered along with Ren by the clan.
- Ren / Kyle Logan
Higan and Mari's son who celebrated his birthday on the day of the clan's attack. He is murdered along with Mari by the clan.
- Mike Moriss
An FBI agent investigating the deaths of Joe's family and partners with Samanda.
- Aska / Emma Samanda
An FBI agent investigating the deaths of Joe's family and partners with Moriss. She is later revealed to be Aska, a top member of the organization who saved Higan's life.
- Boss Ninja
The imposing head of the ninja clan's former ninja hunting squad and the one who personally murders Higan's family.
- Yamaji
Higan's old clan master and the one sending assassins after him and all other exiled ninjas in order to prevent the spread of their secret arts.
- Zai
A skilled ninja known as the Reaper and Yamaji's apprentice. He also hunts exiled ninjas.
- Old Chieftain / Kagari
A skilled doctor in the ninja underworld and Higan's old acquaintance. In actuality, he is a disguise for the previous head of the ninja clan, who inducted Higan, Mari and Zai.
- Lil
A capricious and perverted assassin afflicted with dwarfism who relies on technology for battle.
- Joseph Evans
The founder and CEO of the tech company AUZA who is in a partnership with Yamaji to provide highly advanced tech weaponry for the clan.
- Dilly
Joseph's bodyguard and a highly skilled combatant.
- Big D
A vain African American ninja outfitted with cybernetic implants.
- Jason Cardenas
A disgruntled former AUZA employee with valuable insider knowledge. His design is based on the show's executive producer Jason DeMarco.[2] [3] Production and release
The series was announced by Adult Swim in May 2022, and directed by Sunghoo Park. Takashi Okazaki designed the characters. The series was produced by E&H Production and Sola Entertainment.[4] In July 2023 at San Diego Comic-Con, Adult Swim unveiled a teaser trailer for the series and announced it would premiere in 2024.[5] In January 2024, Adult Swim announced that the series would premiere on its Toonami programming block on February 11, 2024, in both English dubbed and subtitled formats, both produced by Sentai Studios.[6] [7]
The opening theme song is "Vengeance" performed by Japanese rock band Coldrain,[8] while the ending theme song is "Eye Openers" performed by Jessica Gelinas. The respective ending theme songs for episodes 10 and 13 are "Unbroken" and "Chain Reaction", both performed by Toft Willingham. Insert songs are also used within most episodes.
In June 2024, Sola Entertainment CEO Joseph Chou was paraphrased through a Business Wire press release covering the Shinobi Origins video game as stating that a second season of the anime was in the works,[9] however several hours after its publication, the show's executive producer Jason DeMarco replied to a Bluesky post that a second season had "not been announced".[10] The following day, the press release was retracted and Chou responded to an inquiry from Anime News Network, clarifying that the game's public relations staff had inserted the quote themselves and that, while ideas were being considered for a potential second season, "there is nothing official at all".[9]
Episodes
Video game
A video game prequel titled Ninja Kamui: Shinobi Origins was released on May 30, 2024, for the Nintendo Switch. The game was developed by G.rev and published by Rainmaker Productions.[6] [7] [11] [12]
Reception
Critical response
Rafael Motamayor of IGN gave the series a score of 7/10. He praised the "stunning" action sequences but criticized the dull plot, uninteresting characters, and called the CG animation "uninspiring" and "underwhelming".[13]
Accolades
In 2024, Ninja Kamui has been nominated for Best Anime Series at the 4th Astra TV Awards.[14]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: York. Marc. April 10, 2024. This Adult Swim Original is a Must Watch for Anime Fans. May 8, 2024. CBR.
- Nunekin Kamui Demarco. Clarknova1. 1764262714442960900. K, now I have to tell the story. Park: Send me a photo or two of you! We're putting staff in the show for fun. Me: eh, that's okay. Park: Come on, it's just for background stuff. Me: ... fine, I'll send one. (Cut to several months later where I see "Jason" appear in several eps).
- Nunekin Kamui Demarco. Clarknova1. 1764262716376519083. Me: Uh hey man I thought this was just like a background character? Park: Ha! No, you've actually become an important character so you're in several episodes. Me: .... There you have it folks! You will see more of "me" to come in Ninja Kamui. For better and worse, lol..
- Web site: Mateo. Alex. Adult Swim Announces Rick and Morty: The Anime, Ninja Kamui Anime. Anime News Network. May 18, 2022. May 18, 2022. June 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220621002309/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-05-18/adult-swim-announces-rick-and-morty-the-anime-ninja-kamui-anime/.185791. live.
- Web site: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. Adult Swim Reveals Trailers for Uzumaki, Ninja Kamui, FLCL: Grunge Anime. Anime News Network. July 23, 2023. July 23, 2023. July 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230723022815/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-07-22/adult-swim-reveals-trailers-for-uzumaki-ninja-kamui-flcl-grunge-anime/.200572. live.
- Web site: New Anime Series "Ninja Kamui" Premieres Saturday, February 10 at Midnight On Adult Swim. press.wbd.com. January 17, 2024. January 19, 2024. February 25, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240225215207/https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/new-anime-series-ninja-kamui-premieres-saturday-february-10-midnight-adult-swim. live.
- Web site: Mateo. Alex. Toonami to Air Both Dub/Sub for Ninja Kamui Anime. Anime News Network. January 19, 2024. January 19, 2024. January 19, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240119203400/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-01-19/toonami-to-air-both-dub-sub-for-ninja-kamui-anime/.206673. live.
- Web site: Shepherd. Charles. Coldrain Drop New Single 'Vengeance' in Conjunction With 'Ninja Kamui' Premiere. Electric Bloom. February 11, 2024. February 12, 2024. February 11, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240211113104/https://electricbloomwebzine.com/2024/02/coldrain-drop-new-single-vengeance-in-conjunction-with-ninja-kamui-premiere.html. live.
- Web site: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. June 19, 2024. Ninja Kamui Anime Briefly Listed With 2nd Season (Updated). June 19, 2024. Anime News Network.
- Web site: DeMarco. Jason. June 18, 2024. A second season has not been announced.. registration. June 19, 2024. Bluesky.
- 1781717161905414480. adultswim. Ninja Kamui: Shinobi Origins - pre-order now for the Nintendo Switch adultsw.im/ShinobiOrigins #ninjakamui #videogame #nintendo #anime. Adult Swim. April 20, 2024. April 20, 2024.
- Web site: Ninja Kamui: Shinobi Origins for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Official Site. Nintendo. April 24, 2024.
- Web site: Motamayor. Rafael. May 7, 2024. Ninja Kamui Review. May 8, 2024. IGN.
- Web site: Tai. Anita. Astra TV Awards Launch 'Best Anime Series' Category for 2024 Show. Anime News Network. July 9, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240709210124/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-07-09/astra-tv-awards-launch-best-anime-series-category-for-2024-show/.213045. July 9, 2024. July 9, 2024. live.
