Ninjas have been one of the most beloved characters on-screen, all the way back from the 80’s to the modern-day. This character was adopted from the real-life Japanese ninja, whose job was to spy on people and assassinate them if necessary.
There have been many adaptations of the ninja in modern pop-culture movies and shows, which have been hugely successful through the years.
If we look at shows like the Ninja Turtles, Ninja Assassin, etc., we can see a massive number of cult followings generated by such movies and shows. Their appeal is broad, and people of all ages, gender, etc., can relate to the ninja characters in such shows and films.
Ninjai – The Little Ninja
The latest craze for such ninja content can be seen over the rumored release of Ninjai – The Little Ninja. Ninjai is a child with the skills of a master ninja who is on a quest to find his true identity. In his journey, he finds himself having to overcome enemies, trust new people, etc.
The storyline is one that will appeal to the fans of anime as it focuses on a character who is on a mission against all odds to find an old comrade and his true self. While some may argue that ninja-based movies are mainly about the fight between good and evil, this movie hits different because the character is a child who has to fight all kinds of foes to reach his goals.
However, this movie doesn’t just show violence and hardships but also shows the sweet and humorous side of the child and the people he meets. It also has heartwarming scenes that show the human side of the characters.
Previously, there was a web series for this show online, but it is not available anymore as it has been removed by the creators for a long time now. Followers of the show believe that this was done so that the creators could focus on producing a feature film, Ninjai – The Little Ninja.
A standout fact about this film is that the production was all executed by the Ninjai Gang. This group comprises a few friends and artists who are lovers of the animated series and wanted to do something about their passion for Ninjai – The Little Ninja.
Even without the help of big-name studios and production companies, the Ninjai Gang has been able to produce a top-quality series that is as good as most anime shows. Some people even consider it to be better.
Most anime fans predict that this feature film will be released before the end of 2022. The news about the potential release has come as music to the ears of the fans who have been passionately following its developments.
Ninjai – The Character
Ninjai is a character based on a child who has super ninja skills and is determined to find an old friend. As the search continues for his friend, he meets all kinds of people that will test his character and determination.
Shows like Avatar have taken inspiration from Ninjai, where the protagonist Aang fights against the Fire Nation even though he is only a child. He is gifted with the power of air bending, which was a lost form of art.
People believed that air bending was lost forever until Aang was found to have the power. He also could not summon his power and control it but is finally able to use his power after going through many struggles.
Aang’s story is similar to Ninjai’s, which shows that the latter clearly paved the way for shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Ninjai, though a warrior with strong ninja skills, is a child who can be vulnerable to normal human emotions. He embarks on a journey with his adorable companion, Little Bird, searching for his true identity crossing rough terrains, rivers, jungles, etc. He comes across people who become his friends and foes throughout the journey.
He also shows signs of his childish optimism sometimes and does not give up when the going gets tough. Though he is a child, he is determined to reach his target, showing his maturity in times of adversity. His insecurities as a human are also noticeable as he is often seen sharing his fears and doubts with Little Bird.
Unlike other ninja characters in the anime universe, Ninjai does something which a child usually cannot comprehend – He prays for more strength to endure the problems he is facing. This shows his wisdom even though he is only a child.
Ninja vs. Samurai
Though both of them are products of Japanese martial art forms, a ninja is different from a samurai. Samurais are a class of warriors who mostly rubbed shoulders with Japan’s upper-class families, whereas ninjas were thought to be unprincipled assassins born from the lower class of society.
We can see the representation of both forms of martial arts in popular anime such as Ninja Turtles, The Last Samurai, etc. The samurai can be seen wearing hats and masks when they are on their jobs.
However, Ninjitsu requires that ninjas wear clothing that covers their whole bodies as their main objective is to hide their identity and work in stealth mode.
What’s the update with Ninjai: The Little Ninja’s feature film?
The rumor mill has been producing a lot of talks lately regarding the release of the feature film Ninjai: The Little Ninja. Fans have noticed that the Ninjai official website has been taken down under the pretense of maintenance.
However, the release of a teaser trailer by Ninjai’s creators has left fans going crazy over the internet. They have gone into investigative mode by going online, having discussions with other Ninjai fans, and adding up their knowledge of the show and its creators.
All the online talk and anime experts predict that the Ninjai: The Little Ninja feature film could be released before the end of 2022. It is understandable why a movie might take this long to make, given that almost all the production work is being done by passionate fans of the show – the Ninjai Gang.