Ninja Nonsense Complete DVD Collection (Anime)

Publisher: Right Stuf/Nozumi Entertainment

Release date:  June 1, 2010

Price:  $49.98 

Creators: Ryoichi Koda (writer), Hitoyuki Matsui (director)

Format: 4-discs (Thinpack); 320 mins.; Widescreen; Color Animation
ISBN: 1-57032-700-9

Age Rating: 15+

ICv2 Rating: 3 Stars out of 5

The Ninja Nonsense anime is based on the manga by Ryoichi Koda and originally aired during a late night block in Japan in 2004.  The series is a sexy absurdist comedy about a young female ninja trainee named Shinobu with a crush on Kaede, a blonde high school girl and the most normal character in the series and  the only one who’s aware she’s in anime.  (Kaede, who plays the “straight man” in this wild and woolly series, occasionally breaks the fourth wall to comment on the action.)  The leader of Shinobu’s dojo is Onsokumaru, a shape-changing yellow ball with a very dirty mind who functions as a parody of every eccentric lecherous character in manga and anime.  Onsokumaru is by far the most entertaining member of the cast.  The initial tasks he assigns Shinobu include collecting teenage girl’s underwear and “getting a hickey from a high school girl” reflect his perversions.

There is no consistent narrative thread in this series, which bounces gleefully from one bout of fan service to another.  Onsokumaru’s fantasies about a lesbian relationship between Shinobu and Kaede provide much of the humor.  Those familiar with the kind of fan service provided in harem comedies will find familiar tropes here including “the accidental breast grab,” though in Ninja Nonsense these incidents involve two girls rather than a girl and a guy.

Created for a late night male otaku audience in Japan, Ninja Nonsense earns its 15+ age rating with a constant barrage of sexy nonsense, though it never goes beyond its mild softcore suggestiveness.  Fans familiar with Naruto will also find that the elements of ninja mythology such as invisibility and the creation of doubles are also mercilessly parodied.  Though many Right Stuf releases are subtitle-only, Ninja Nonsense has an English dub track and it’s a very good one.

The English adaptation is well-written and well delivered especially by Sean Schemmel, who makes a great Onsokumaru.  Though like many anime comedies, every line in Ninja Nonsense is apparently delivered at top volume and Shinobu can often sound shrill, this series delivers the goods, it is funny.  Don’t worry if the narrative doesn’t make sense or it the soundtrack is too loud, just strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.

--Tom Flinn: ICv2 VP-Content