Ninja Scroll and Opening Night Reception

『獣兵衛忍風帖』
Jubei Ninpucho

Introduction by LeSean Thomas. Written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri and animated by studio Madhouse, Ninja Scroll tells the story of a wandering swordsman and his battle against a team of supernatural ninjas hellbent on destroying the shogunate. A nonstop tour de force, Ninja Scroll continues to be praised for its animation and action scenes over 30 years after its release, and it is often cited by animators and filmmakers in both America and Japan as an essential film that opened their minds to the possibilities of animation. 

Dir. Yoshiaki Kawajiri, 1993, 94 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Koichi Yamadera, Emi Shinohara, Takeshi Aono.

LeSean Thomas on Ninja Scroll
“I first encountered Ninja Scroll on a VHS from Chinatown as a teen. I was more familiar with American cartoons such as the works of Hanna-Barbera, and I had no frame of reference to what Ninja Scroll was and had never seen animation like it before. Watching it, I kept asking Why aren’t we doing this? The film’s style is something that fundamentally influenced my career, and it continues to be something I reinterpret through my own works. Further, I know Yoshiaki Kawajiri receives most of Ninja Scroll’s praise, but I must commend Yutaka Minowa, character designer and animation director of the film. He really showed me what dynamic, unique animation was.” LeSean would remember this during the creation of his Yasuke, a project which brought the two together, with Minowa serving as an animation director. “Yutaka Minowa. He’s the man. To be able to have him working with me on Yasuke was ridiculous.”

About LeSean Thomas
South Bronx-born LeSean Thomas is among the distinguished few Black Americans making their mark in the TV anime industry and is currently the only Black American to successfully create, produce and direct original TV anime series in Japan. LeSean’s most recent triumph is the critically acclaimed and NAACP Image Award-nominated Netflix series Yasuke. 

Part of Foreign Exchange: Anime Inspirations & Visionaries with LeSean Thomas

Admission to this film also includes free entry to the Japan Society Gallery’s Acky Bright: Studio Infinity, Japanese pop culture illustrator Acky Bright’s first solo gallery exhibition in NYC.

Image: © 1993/1995 Toshiaki Kawajiri/Madhouse/JVC/Toho Co. Ltd./Movic Inc.

Co-organized with the Japan Foundation, New York and the Imagination Project Inc.

Japan Society programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Film programs are generously supported by ORIX Corporation USA, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Anime NYC and Yen Press. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by The Globus Family, George P. Hirose, David Toberisky, Joseph Rajaratnam and Dharshini Iolanthe Sivakumaran, and Film Circle members.

Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film Program. Housing assistance is provided by the Prince Kitano New York, the official hotel sponsor of Japan Society Film Program.