Ninin Ga Shinobuden
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|} 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 twelve episode anime series that was adapted from a manga of the same name that is written by Ryoichi Koga. 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 consists of a cute art style and also of character designs that favors the soft and rounded look rather than the slender bishoujo style. Each episode is broken up into 2 half-length stories.
Plot summary
Shinobu, a ninja apprentice, is attempting to pass her ninja exams while Kaede, a normal schoolgirl, is studying for her own school exams. As a part of her exam, Shinobu is ordered to break into Kaede's room to steal her panties, but unfortunately Kaede is in the room. Despite Shinobu's attempt to use an invisibility technique, Kaede notices her presence immediately. However, Kaede takes pity on the ninja girl and gives her a set of her panties. Soon afterwards, Shinobu invites Kaede to visit the Ninja Village, and the two become friends while Kaede adjusts to the incredible amount of strangeness that has suddenly entered her life as a result.
Characters
- Shinobu
- Shinobu is inarguably the star of the series. She is kind, hardworking, and dedicated but naive and somewhat clumsy with complex tasks. However, she is usually given the tasks of taking care of her dojo because everyone else is too lazy. She is usually seen in her purple and pink ninja outfit, but wears a different costume or outfit often. Her ambigious relationship with Kaede ("more than a friend but less than a lover" as she says) ranges from admiration and idolization to seemingly romantic interest.
- 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.
- 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 has instances of being friendly and having a silly playful side. Despite these bad influences his student Shinobu seems fairly innocent.
- 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.
- Sasuke
- One of the names of, and indistiguishable from, the dozens of faceless male ninja in the series. Although they sometimes wear other outfits they are always seen with their masks. They share similar traits as Onsokumaru (who seems able to tell them apart) 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 or not they are actually a single ninja using the ever-popular "copy art" ("bunshin jutsu") to an untold degree.
- Kaede's Parents
- They are a farily normal middle-class couple who do not seem at all taken aback by the strange things going on in their daughter's life. They have an annoying (to Kaede) tendency to dote on Shinobu and ignore their own daughter. Kaede's mom
- Izumi
- ()
- Sodom
- ()
- Gomorrha
- ()
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 is intended to satirize other anime and manga. Onsokumaru in not only a satire on mascot characters but is another in a long and "distinguished" line of anime perverts, whose interest in sex and anything related to it is carried to increidble lengths. The Sasukes have a habit of breaking through the fourth wall and commenting on things like the fan service that seems to follow Shinobu wherever she goes.
Shinobu's fondness for Kaede, which frequently passes the border into obsession, has led not only fans but Onoskamaru himself to suspect a lesbian attraction. The subplot, such as it is, is played for laughs -- particualrly Onsokomaru's softcore-pornographic fantasies on the subject (one of which is actually shown on-screen briefly).
The anime also includes references to Japan's laws on what can and cannot be shown on television and when, partciuarly involving nudity.
Shinobu's innumerable "ninja techniques" (most of which are either utterly useless or completely non-functional) are similar to the ones used in several other, 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
Trivia
- There really is a place in Australia called Eromanga. It is named after the Aboriginal word meaning "hot, windy plain."First two Trivia from the Anime News Network Ninja Nonsense (TV) trivia page, link to this page found in resource section
- Numerous homages to Kidou Butoden G Gundam appear in this series. Such as Shinobu finding her "Mekiyo 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 Gundams.
Resources
External links
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