Ninjas have been a big part of nerd culture, and have appeared frequently in movies, books, video games, and more. The concept of a stealthy, almost mystical figure running through the shadows is an enticing concept, and many stories have put their own spin on the traditional Japanese figure.
Ninjas have appeared frequently in anime, and have been the focus of massive franchises such as Naruto. Anime frequently visits the concept of ninjas, with some putting their entire focus on a ninja or ninjas in general. Here are some ninja-focused anime that have been forgotten by the passage of time.
6 Ninja Nonsense
Shinobu is a ninja-in-training who is both earnest and naive. As part of her ninja exams, her instructor Onsokumaru sends her to steal the panties of a high school girl named Kaede. Shinobu utterly fails to steal the panties, but surprisingly ends up striking a friendship with the young woman. As Shinobu continues her ninja training, which often involves ridiculous tasks, her friendship with Kaede becomes stronger.
Ninja Nonsense is an all-out comedy series that centers around ninjas. The shenanigans that the characters get up to from episode to episode are quite absurd, although some of the jokes may not have aged so well. While the art style may take some getting used to, fans of comedy series should definitely check this ninja-focused anime out.
5 Basilisk: The Ouka Ninja Scrolls
Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls was a very popular ninja anime series based on a novel by Futaro Yamada. While that series is rather well-known, its lesser-known sequel, The Ouka Ninja Scrolls, does not get as much recognition. The series takes part ten years after the original, with a new set of Koga and Iga ninjas trying to preserve their ninja techniques.
Like the original, The Ouka Ninja Scrolls focuses on supernatural ninja battles of life and death. Unlike the original series which focused largely on a deadly competition between the two clans, The Ouka Ninja Scrolls focuses more on the conflict of the times, with political intrigue and deadly ninja combat going hand in hand. While it is not as strongly focused as the last series, it certainly has its own strengths.
4 Ninja Slayer From Animation
In the dystopic cyberpunk city of Neo-Saitama, salaryman Kenji Fujikido lost his family in the midst of a ninja turf war. Wanting revenge, Kenji is possessed by a ninja soul and becomes the mysterious grim reaper known as Ninja Slayer. Ninja Slayer embarks on a quest for justice and vengeance, seeking to kill the evil ninja that claimed his family.
Ninja Slayer is unique in that it was a novel series created by American authors, but was turned into a manga series later on. An original net animation was made for the series some years back, and it largely adapts the story, but with a wildly different art style. The series is grindhouse action turned up to eleven and is highly recommended for fans of such shows.
3 Himawari!
Himawari Hinata arrives at Kasumi Kogen, a mysterious village hidden deep in rural Japan. She has come to attend Shinobi Gakuen, an elite academy for female students to learn to become kunoichi. On her first day, she is saved by her teacher Hayato Marikoji, who is not a ninja but is here to pay back a debt. Himawari notices that Hayato has a mark on his neck that reminds her of the ninja that saved her as a child.
Himawari! is a cute and wholesome series about young girls learning to be ninjas. While being a ninja is a core part of the curriculum, the series has a slice-of-life feel to it, as well as some elements of romance and comedy. A perfectly lighthearted series for those that enjoy fluffier series.
2 Ninku
In the past, a group of ninjas banded together to fight against the Imperial Army, calling themselves the Ninku corps. At the very end of the battle, they lost, and the Imperial Army painted them as the villains in their fight. The Ninku corps scattered, with many of them being killed by the Imperial Army, who positioned themselves as rulers. Years after their loss, Fusuke, the young captain of Ninku's 1st division, goes on a journey to find his captured mother.
While the main character's appearance might make viewers think this series is a comedy, Ninku is actually quite a serious show with a fair amount of action. Fusuke is small and cartoonish, but he is also an incredible ninja with the power to control the wind. It unfortunately never made it to the west, but the series saw some success in Japan during its run.
1 Nabari No Ou
Miharu Rokujo is a seemingly normal middle school student - until one day, he finds out that his body carries the Shinra Bansho, a scroll that carries the most powerful ninja art ever created. A group of Iga ninjas known as the Grey Wolves desire to kill Miharu in order to obtain the scroll for themselves. Miharu wants nothing to do with ninjas, but to protect his own life, he might have to become the ruler of Nabari, the ninja world.
Nabari no Ou is a classic urban ninja story about a young man discovering a secret world he knew nothing about. The story is full of intrigue and drama, though it certainly has a healthy dose of action and comedy as well. While it isn't the most well-known series, it should definitely be on the radar of any ninja anime fan.