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| Ninja Nonsense | |
| File:Shinobuden1.jpg | |
| Genre | Seinen, Humor |
|---|---|
| Anime | |
| Directed by | Hitoyuki Matsui |
| Studio | Mediaworks, UFOTable |
2x2 Shinobu-den: The Nonsense Kunoichi Fiction (Original Japanese title: ニニンがシノブ伝/, English Release title Ninja Nonsense: The Legend of Shinobu) is a thirteen episode anime series adapted from Ryoichi Koga's manga of the same name. As implied by the title (2x2 is pronounced as nin-nin) the show is an absurdist comedy starring Shinobu, an attractive ninja-in-training. The series has been licensed for a North American DVD release under the title Ninja Nonsense: The Legend of Shinobu by The RightStuf International.
The show uses a cute art style and character designs that favor a soft and rounded look rather than the slender bishoujo style.
Each episode is broken into two stories.
Plot summary
Shinobu, a ninja apprentice, is attempting to pass her ninja exams while Kaede, a normal schoolgirl, studies for her own school exams. As a part of her exam, Shinobu is ordered to break into Kaede's room to steal her panties. Kaede sees through Shinobu's failed attempt to use an invisibility technique, but takes pity on the ninja girl and gives her a pair of her panties. Shinobu later invites Kaede to visit the ninja village, and the two become friends.
Characters
- Shinobu
- Shinobu is inarguably the star of the series. She is kind, hardworking, and dedicated, but naive and somewhat clumsy with complex tasks. She is usually charged with taking care of her dojo because everyone else is too lazy. She usually wears a purple and pink ninja outfit, but sometimes wears other costumes. Her ambiguous relationship with Kaede, who she describes as "more than a friend but less than a lover", ranges from admiration and idolization to romantic interest. Despite the influence of Onsokumaru, she remains fairly innocent.(Seiyū: Nana Mizuki, VA: Emily Blau)
- Kaede
- A blonde schoolgirl about Shinobu's age. She is the most sensible character of the series and thus usually the most put-upon. However, she does not allow herself to be tormented and usually puts annoying people in their place. (Seiyū: Ayako Kawasumi, VA: Zoe Martin)
- Onsokumaru
- His name (roughly, "sonic ball") is fairly descriptive, and his appearance might remind one of a mutant Walmart logo or grapefruit. He is usually depicted as a round ball with a face, and variably with wings or arms, and a deep voice. In spite of being such a bizarre creature, he is for some reason the leader of Shinobu's ninja clan. Onsokumaru is perverted, lecherous, messy, loud, cheating, and greedy . On the other hand, he is often friendly, and has a silly playful side. (Seiyū: Norio Wakamoto, VA: Sean Schemmel)
- Miyabi
- Shinobu's little sister, she has chosen the field of "magical summoning" rather than ninjutsu. She dislikes Onsokumaru (a mutual feeling) and believes that her elder sister should switch fields and become a magical summoner like herself. Though just ten years old, she's something of a prodigy, and is skilled enough to consistently defeat Onsokumaru when he gets on her nerves. (Seiyū: Rie Kugimiya, VA: Veronica Taylor)
- Sasuke
- One of the dozens of faceless male ninja in the series. These male ninja are seen in different outfits, but never without their masks. Onsokumaru seems able to tell them apart. They share many of Onsokumaru's traits, although they are more kind hearted and conscientious. They have a tendency to act with a 'hive mind', but they get little done and are easily distracted. There is still debate over whether they are actually a single ninja using the ever-popular "copy art" ("bunshin jutsu"). (Seiyū: Tomokazu Seki, VA: Dave Willis)
- Kaede's Parents
- They are a fairly normal middle-class couple who do not seem at all taken aback by the strange goings on in their daughter's life. They have an annoying (to Kaede) tendency to dote on Shinobu and ignore their own daughter. They also seem oblivious to Kaede's gender, and tell Shinobu that 'they always wanted a daughter'. Kaori (Kaede's mom) (Seiyū: Rio Natsuki, VA: Emily Blau)
- Izumi
- (Seiyū: Michiko Neya, VA: Eva Meginnon)
- Sodom
- (Seiyū: Mitsuo Iwata
- Gomorrha
- (Seiyū: Tarô Yamaguchi
Themes and References
As a comedic manga and anime designed for "adult" audiences and intended to be aired late at night, Ninin ga Shinobuden is filled with innuendo, much of which satirizes other anime and manga. Onsokumaru, a satire on mascot characters, joins a long and "distinguished" line of anime perverts whose interest in anything sex-related is carried to incredible lengths. Sasuke (and his identical fellow students) has a habit of breaking through the fourth wall and commenting on things such as the fan service that seems to follow Shinobu wherever she goes.
Shinobu's fondness for Kaede, which frequently crosses the border into obsession, has led both fans and Onsokumaru to suspect a lesbian attraction. The subplot, such as it is, is played for laughs -- particularly Onsokomaru's softcore-pornographic fantasies on the subject (one of which is shown on-screen briefly).
The anime also includes references to Japan's laws on television programming content, particularly nudity.
Shinobu's innumerable "ninja techniques" (most of which are either utterly useless or completely non-functional) are similar to the ones used in more serious anime, most notably Naruto.
Episode list
- Shinobu, the Ninja Apprentice, Appears / The Master Appears
- Ninja, Enjoying a Cherry Blossom Party / Shinobu, Date with Kaede
- Onsokumaru, Getting Angry / Shinobu, Running Away
- Ninja, Getting Hot / Miyabi, Falling in Love
- Onsokumaru, Goes to Hell / Ninja, Enjoying the Summer Festival
- A Typhoon is Here / Ninja, Going Mushroom Hunting
- Onsokumaru, Gets Stuck / Shinobu, Play Ball
- Shinobu in Disguise / A Monster Plant Going Wild
- Girls, Getting Warm / Kaede Catches a Cold
- Ninja Christmas / Ninja, Cursed
- Sasukeden Begins / Ninja, Showing Gratitude
- Onsokumaru's Secret / Farewell, 2x2=Shinobuden
U.S. DVD Volumes
The U.S. English DVD volumes are as follows:
- Vol. 1: Enter the Ninja (Episodes 1-3)
- Vol. 2: Psychedelic Summer (Episodes 4-6)
- Vol. 3: Ninjas on First (Episodes 7-9)
- Vol. 4: Exit the Ninja (Episodes 10-12)
Trivia
- There really is a place in Australia called Eromanga. It is named after the Aboriginal word meaning "hot, windy plain."
- Numerous homages to Kidou Butoden G Gundam appear in this series. Such as Shinobu finding her "Meikyo Shisui", Sasuke shouting "SASUKE FIGHT!READY, GO!!" in the episode 12 preview and large visual homage in final episode, featuring mechs that resemble Devil and God Gundam.
- The baseball scoreboard in the opening animation is that of Chicago's Wrigley Field. However, the stadium itself is erroneously drawn with a large upper grandstand that encircles the entire field, as in the cookie cutter stadiums of the 1960s and 1970s.
Resources
- ^ First two Trivia from the Anime News Network Ninja Nonsense (TV) trivia page, link to this page found in resource section
External links
- Template:En icon The RightStuf International's Official Ninja Nonsense site
- Template:Jp icon Ufotable 2X2 site