the action scenes for The Matrix. In Japan, on the other hand, it came and went rather unnoticed.
Ninja Scroll was released abroad in 1995. Due to its graphic violence and censorship, much controversy surrounded the film’s release. In Europe, the uncut version became a sought-after item for anime collectors. Not until 2004, when the 10th-anniversary special edition of Ninja Scroll was released, did the uncensored version become available to all markets. By then, the makers of The Matrix, Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon had all become noted for taking inspiration from Ninja Scroll.
In 90s Japan, anime geared towards adult audiences was nothing new. Abroad, however, Ninja Scroll ed a small circle of films that introduced adult-themed anime to overseas audiences. Compared to the intricate storylines in Ghost in the Shell and Akira, Ninja Scroll was primitive and rough. Instead, it focused on the mythical powers of the ninja warriors and portrayed them in the most diabolical way imaginable. Ninja Scroll confirmed American and European romanticization of ninja mythology, which didn't align with the way ninjas generally were presented and perceived in Japan. The violence and the supernatural elements were indeed a part of the ninja lore, but the history of ninjas in Japan was different. Usually, it concerned masterless samurais who were employed to engage in covert espionage, sabotage, and assassinations. The ninja mercenaries and their methods were considered dishonorable and beneath the dignity of the samurai.
The reappropriation of samurai films and ninja mythology in American and European pop culture underlines cultural differences. Ninja Scroll promoted individuality, but historically, collectivism has had a stronger foothold in Japan than in America and Europe. The hero in Ninja Scroll was a rogue ninja who fought for his personal beliefs. He turned his back on his clan, which was led by a power-hungry ninja fiend in cahoots with a national faction who intended to overthrow the government. By extortion, he ended up fighting for a government spy, but his moral com pointed straight while corruption ruled all other organizations. As such, Ninja Scroll celebrated individuality and disparaged collectivism in one fell swoop.
Ninja Scroll was in the right place at the right time and became a cult hit as soon as its blood-dripping images landed abroad. Today, its reputation precedes it, most notably as the anime that inspired the Wachowskis when making The Matrix, which in turn led to Ninja Scroll director Yoshiaki Kawajiri directing a segment in The Animatrix. Outside of Japan, the legacy of Ninja Scroll is undeniable, but at home, it remains a footnote in anime history. While the exact reason can never fully be known for sure, what is known for sure is that Ninja Scroll introduced shockingly brutal anime to larger audiences abroad, romanticized ninja mythology, and criticized collectivism. Subsequently, it inspired filmmakers around the world to make some of the most memorable action scenes in history.
