80sanime:

1991-1995 Anime Primer
Ninja Scroll (1993)

Jubei is a mercenary in feudal Japan whose cavalier attitude belies his fearsome skill with the sword. After saving the kunoichi Kagero from a terrible fate, he is forcibly enlisted in an effort to foil a plot against the shogunate… though it isn’t until he learns that Genma, the mortal enemy he thought he buried years ago, is the mastermind behind the conspiracy that he truly commits to the cause. Before Jubei can confront his old foe, he must defeat the Eight Devils of Kimon, a freakish clan of deadly ninjas who will use every fiendish tactic in their arsenal to finish him off.

Directed by the master of stylish violence Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Cyber City Oedo 808, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust), Ninja Scroll is a sublime pairing of relentless action and razor-tight pacing. Inspired by the pulp ninja novels of Futaro Yamada, there’s not a moment of boredom to be had as Jubei is assailed by one grotesque opponent after the next. Snappy dialogue, a roguishly charming hero and an ill-fated romance fill in the few gaps in the mayhem. Rendered in beautifully brutal fashion by Madhouse, Ninja Scroll isn’t for the faint of heart, but those with a stomach for bloodshed will find it to be one of the best action flicks of the 90s. It’s easy to see why Western fans considered it a prime gateway anime alongside Akira and Ghost in the Shell.

Ninja Scroll is available on DVD and Blu-ray from Sentai Filmworks.

(via evaaaluna)