▪	RELEASED BY:		INFINITY STUDIOS
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		RYOICHI KOGA
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / BW
		▪	PAGES:		160
		▪	RATING:		OT
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		08/15/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		09/20/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		SCOTT CAMPBELL

Ninin Ga Shinobuden is the manga version of the anime “Ninja Nonsense,” as released on DVD in North America. It centers around a ninja in training named Shinobu and her new found friend Kaede. Shinobu is a clumsy want-to-be ninja, as well as an incredibly naïve girl. Although she may not be the best at… anything… she still tries her best to impress those around her with her efforts. Kaede is your average high school student who lived an ordinary life until Shinobu showed up at her bedroom window. Since that time, they have both become good friends, for better or for worse - and it’s usually for the worse! In relation to that, we’d better discuss the very unique mascot for the series, Onsokumaru. Acting as Shinobu’s ninja hawk, he’s actually the head ninja of her class. A little perverted, very unpredictable, and exceptionally outspoken, he’s quite a handful. He takes the form of a yellow ball with hands, feet, eyes and a mouth. To top it all off, there’s a legion of faceless ninjas, a giant alligator named “Devil”, and Shinobu even has a younger sister named Miyabi. Miyabi is such a fun character - quite devious in her ways. She is currently enrolled in the Curses Department of the Ninja Academy, so suffice to say she has a bit of a mean streak.. She is a child prodigy who is very protective of her sister and often butts heads with Onsokumaru (mostly because he is such a pervert). Quite the cast of characters!

Now, if it isn’t already obvious, Ninin Ga Shinobuden is a comedy. And as comedy goes - this one is truly absurd. But in anime, and in comedy, absurd is good! Although there are many ninjas, and much ninja hijacks afoot, the series does not deal much with any serious ninja dealings. The plot revolves around Shinobu’s day to day grind, and that of her friend’s, in a series of unrelated comedic situations. It should also be noted that this manga was likely designed for a mature audience as it plays out many jokes relating to sexual innuendo. Many of the jokes poke fun at other anime and manga, so really it’s all very funny, especially if you know which ones are being put on the spot. Onsokumaru is a joke in himself, being a satirical example of what mascot characters are and/or could be in manga. Imagine Kero, from Cardcaptor Sakura, looking up Sakura’s latest battle costume skirt and making some snide comment! That’s basically what goes on here, and it’s actually pretty funny when you start to think about the comparisons. The bond between Shinobu and her female friend Kaede is often a topic resulting in innuendo. Shinobu’s actions, often bordering on obsession, tend to point some characters in the direction of thinking that there is a lesbian attraction between the two. This is always played for laughs, especially the resulting perverted fantasies that Onsokomaru dreams of. It’s never really true, but that’s what makes it even more funny. Just to top it off, Sasuke the ninja tends to follow Shinobu around and “breaks the fourth wall” so to speak, when he makes comments about fan service and other anime related things. It’s like one of the characters is winking at you, as if to say “We both know what’s going on here! Hahaha!”

The art style is a lot of fun! All of the characters are really rounded, with sort of a soft, cartoon look to them (we know they are “cartoons” in actuality, it’s just that they look like they are trying to be portrayed like less realistic subjects than many of today’s other manga creations, which can be more human in style). The art really “pops” for lack of a better descriptor. It has a lot of life, and therefore always comes across as a lot of fun! It’s weird and wacky, and that all plays in nicely with the absurdity of the story and the situations these lively characters find themselves in. Needless to say, there is much crazed banter on the subject of many things. Word bubbles can get a bit tight on the pages, but it’s nothing a seasoned manga reader can’t handle. The craziness of it all makes it more enjoyable in the long run anyhow. Ninin Ga Shinobuden is all about being fun and goofy, so it plays to this tune in everyway possible!

IN SUMMARY: 
Ninin Ga Shinobuden stays true to its original form in so many ways, a trait that will be greatly appreciated by many die-hard fans of Japanese manga. It’s a pile of laughs, both visually and plot wise - a very entertaining read for those in the mood for some odd comedy with a very Japanese sense of humor.