Everyone is familiar with the ninja archetype – stealthy, masked warriors whose identities are a mystery, and whose skills in combat are legendary. Ever since making their way onto the silver screen in 1957 in Japan, they have expanded to the rest of the world and been a consistent fixture in popular culture and entertainment. This is not surprising considering they share a lot of characteristics with many of today’s most popular characters and genres. Indeed, ninjas and the ninja genre can be considered a precursor to the modern-day spy thriller or even superheroes – skilled, masterful operatives who are legendary in reputation and seemingly gifted inability.
Especially in the last few decades, they have cemented themselves in Western entertainment and pop culture, with hugely familiar properties like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, characters in the Mortal Kombat franchise, and characters in the G.I. Joe franchise to name a few.
Next In Line – Ninjai: The Little Ninja
Fresh onto the ninja-genre scene is a new character that certainly fits the description – Ninjai: The Little Ninja. Also, the name of the animated feature film in which he features, this small but mighty ninja possesses all the classic characteristics of a ninja. He is stealthy, agile, an expert combatant, and hides most of his face under his wide-brimmed hat.
Based on a teaser trailer that was released for the film, we have gleaned that it follows the journey of Ninjai as he traverses an ancient Asian landscape in a quest. Whatever his quest, it is important enough for Ninjai to travel a long, long way by himself. On his quest, Ninjai is crossed with a variety of villains and foes, primarily a powerful shogun warlord who is pursuing Ninjai for his own nefarious reasons. His right-hand man looks like one of the coolest villains we have seen in the animated world; an icy, calm assassin who wields a particularly cool weapon – a tattoo on his arm that can detach and become a flying creature that will kill anything it hunts – terrifying!
Ninjai also has his own flying companion in the form of Little Bird, a small sparrow-like bird that follows him wherever he goes and with whom Ninjai shares many an endearing, animated conversation. The teaser trailer showed off incredible animation, a striking and unique new world, and a host of catchy, compelling characters that make for a great ensemble cast.
Something that makes Ninjai: The Little Ninja ten times more impressive than most animated feature films is that it is made entirely by a small team of animators and artists that have branded themselves the Ninjai Gang. They created the character of Ninjai and have produced the film as a passion project without the backing of any studios or production companies, mostly working by themselves to accomplish what looks like it will be a stunning film. Ninjai looks like it will be at the top of the animation world in terms of quality and production.
There is no official release date yet for the film, but it is a high possibility it will be released this year. The IMDb page for Ninjai: The Little Ninja lists 2022, and states that the film is in post-production. Several online channels and sites run by fans like this unofficial Ninjai site and Ninjai social media fan channel provide some clips, images, and other materials that give you a look at some of what you can expect from the feature film. There are also several social media accounts and Ninjai unofficial video accounts where we can get a decent glimpse of this upcoming movie. They come with regular updates and theories.
Additional props must be given to the Ninjai Gang for creating something that is on par with the best of what studios have to offer with a fraction of the manpower. What they have managed to create is very impressive and is sure to be a smash hit amongst fans of the ninja genre. Ninjai: The Little Ninja gives us a brand-new take on a well-played genre without feeling tired or overdone itself, and it looks like an utterly unique animated film in its style and art direction – reason enough to see it!
So, until we get further news of a release date or a full-length trailer, we will be combing the interwebs for any updates on this animated movie!
The Best of What the Ninja Genre Has to Offer
While we anxiously await further news about Ninjai and his friend Little Bird (one of the most endearing on-screen duos ever committed to animation; Disney who?) we must take a moment to acknowledge other much-loved properties in the ninja-verse. Of course, topping this list will be two ninja-themed shows everyone has heard of: namely Naruto and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
These franchises have been around for decades and are a testament to the staying power of ninjas in pop culture and modern storytelling. As time goes on and other genres reinvent themselves to stay relevant, these two IPs have stuck true to their guns and stayed true to their ninja roots, a tactic that has proven successful and proven the lasting appeal of the ninja creed and lifestyle.
What Quantifies a Ninja?
Originating from China around the fourth century, ninjas, referred to in Chinese as “nin-sha” were originally a group of expatriates who fled China to Japan and placed roots there, influencing the tactics and martial arts of the time. Coming from a mixture of generals, soldiers, and monks, their combined experience and disciplines gave birth to the ninja martial art known as Ninjitsu.
What distinguishes ninjas from most other types of warriors is their emphasis on avoiding all-out battles or conflicts. Where most warriors will train to be effective in one-on-one combat with various weapons, emphasizing skill and strength, ninjas prefer to stick to the shadows, moving in and out of target areas undetected, and engaging their opponents as quickly and decisively as possible. In many ways, modern-day Navy SEALS follow a similar approach.
Stealth and Precision
The ninja martial art of Ninjitsu focuses and hones in on these tactics, with various techniques for stealth, camouflage, avoiding detection, and a number of acrobatic and agility-based abilities to further enhance a ninja’s ability to infiltrate any kind of environment or facility.
Ninjas also use a variety of weapons in addition to swords, like bows and arrows, metal claws, and famously ninja throwing stars or shuriken. Everything about the way ninjas train and execute their missions is based on being able to catch their opponents unaware, and to engage and defeat them as swiftly as possible with overwhelming surprise, accuracy, and lethality, thereby avoiding a drawn-out conflict in which their methods are neutralized.
The Re-emergence of Ninjas in Ninjai: The Little Ninja
With the approaching release of Ninjai, many of these aspects of ninja culture and martial arts are being brought back to the forefront of entertainment, and we love to see it. As far as the world of martial arts and kung-fu films go, ninjas prove to always be some of the most compelling and entertaining in that field, so the addition of Ninjai to the mix is a welcome one.
To keep in the know about this anticipated film, check out posts in The Ritz Herald, Madison Graph, eMonthly News, and Belmont Star here.
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