Underplayed Gems

Kamui the Ninja (1969)

Kamui the Ninja poster
Original title
忍風カムイ外伝
Directed by
Yoichi Sai
Genre
action anime and manga
Country
Japan
Length
1 season, 26 episodes
Rating
6.0 of 10 from 7 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
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The catalogue in 3D

The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this series is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A low-born ninja flees from his clan in feudal Japan. The story shows the harsh discrimination of the Edo period and follows his struggle for survival and freedom.

bleaktensedrebellioushistoricalaction-packedsocially consciousdeterminedoppressive

What happens

Kamui (Japanese: カムイ伝, Hepburn: Kamui Den) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Sanpei Shirato. It was serialized in Seirindō's monthly gekiga magazine Garo between December 1964 and July 1971, with its chapters collected in 21 tankōbon volumes. Set in feudal Japan, it tells the story of Kamui, a low-born ninja who has fled his clan, which pursues him. It illustrates the true nature of the Edo period and the discrimination that existed within the feudal system. The series combines historical adventure with social commentary and themes of oppression and rebellion that reflect Shirato's Marxist convictions. By October 2021, the series had over 15 million copies in circulation. A spin-off, titled Kamui Gaiden, ran in two parts: the first part ran in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday from May 1965 to January 1967; and the second part, titled Kamui Gaiden Dai-ni-bu, ran in Shogakukan's magazine Big Comic from February 1982 to March 1987. A sequel, titled Kamui Den Dai Ni-bu, illustrated by Tetsuji Okamoto, ran in Big Comic from May 1988 to April 2000. Kamui Gaiden was licensed for English release in North America under the title The Legend of Kamui by Viz Media and Eclipse Comics; in 1967, Kamui Gaiden received an anime adaptation under the title Ninpu Kamui Gaiden that ran for 26 episodes on Fuji TV; the series was also adapted into an anime film in 1971, titled Kamui Gaiden: Tsukihigai no Maki, and a live-action film, titled Kamui Gaiden, in 2009. The series is licensed for English release in North America by Drawn & Quarterly, starting in January 2025. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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