Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Snake Ladies and Samurai Swords (Ninja Scroll Review)

If you know anything about Japanese animation, you have definitely seen a film by the legendary Studio Ghibli. The work of Hayao Miyazaki is so prolific and consistently excellent that many have referred to him as the "Walt Disney of Japan." While the work of Studio Ghibli is undeniably influential, its quality is a double edged Samurai sword, on the sharp side it introduces viewers to the world of Anime, on the dull side it might prevent viewers from branching out beyond itself. Digging a little deeper into the world of Anime films viewers might discover the diverse wealth of quality. Not to say that the works of Studio Ghibli are in any way inferior to these other films, but too much of one thing can perhaps stunt the viewer’s knowledge. From the surreal dream-like films of Satoshi Kon, to the pure adrenaline rush of movies such as Redline there is always something new to discover. Today I want to talk about the film Ninja Scroll.