Ninja Scroll was distributed by Manga Entertainment in the United States
If there were cult classics of anime, then Ninja Scroll would easily make the list. The plot of the anime is not groundbreaking by any means, but the high quality of the animation, the great detail directed toward the creation of the characters, even the quality of the English voice actors for the American dub are more than enough to garner the work a place among the pantheon of greats of Japanese animation. Ninja Scroll is the tale of a rogue samurai named Jubei who finds himself caught up in fighting a group of demons called the Devils of Kimon. His partner in crime is Kagero, the stunning poison taster for the local warlord and a member of the Koga Ninja Team. Jubei discovers that the leader of the Devils of Kimon is his old adversary Lord Gemma; Kagero dies in fighting Gemma and his henchmen, but Jubei manages to save the day, allowing him to return to his lifestyle of wandering. Ninja Scroll follows the stereotypic ronin template that is often seen in, for example, Akira Kurosawa films like Sanjuro and Yojimbo: a samurai, minding own business, finds himself required to aid the hapless people around him, either for honor's sake, out of pity, or for personal gain. Almost twenty years after its initial release, Ninja Scroll remains a favorite among fans and it is the sort of film that can easily be watched again and again.
