Shinobi no Ittoki was one of the most anticipated anime series of Fall 2022. This original series by Troyca and DMM Pictures dropped on October 4, 2022, and the English-dubbed episodes were released on October 18, 2022.
This story is about ninjas in modern-day Japan. The premise is fun, but audiences have had mixed reactions to the series in general. The last episode aired on December 20, and its ratings are at a mere 6.5 on IMDb, and 6.06 on My Anime List.
Although the reception to Shinobi no Ittoki hasn’t been particularly strong, there is a fair amount of people who do feel that this is exactly the sort of ninja story we needed right now.
Quick Review
The anime Shinobi no Ittoki does tick the boxes on paper, but is not nearly as gripping as it promised to be. While the story itself is exciting, the storytelling is not.
It suffers from generic narrative techniques and character development – if any; a weak main character in a story about rivaling ninja clans is not exactly the formula for a great show.
It does have some redeeming qualities, like the original soundtrack, and the animation, which does a good job at portraying the action sequences. Some secondary characters and villains are interesting, but nowhere near what fans of the genre deserve.
Is Shinobi no Ittoki worth watching?
Shinobi no Ittoki is not worth watching because of its basic protagonist and plot progression. The story has several inconsistencies and lacks the finesse that a coming-of-age ninja story demands.
Contextualizing an ancient art within the modern world opens many doors, but Shinobi no Ittoki doesn’t even get its foot in the door.
That being said, I do want to point out that there are some aspects in the series that are imminently thrilling – like ninjas using technology, and a couple of characters that do manage to get you attached in the end.
I. Plot
Shinobi no Ittoki is about Ittoki, a normal high-schooler, who one day finds out that he is actually the heir of a prominent Ninja clan.
In the first episode, his date turns out to be on a mission to kill him and Ittoki is saved by his childhood friend Kosetsu and his uncle Tokisada, who are both working under his mother, Yumika, who turns out to be the chief of the Iga Ninja clan.
The first episode was quite enjoyable since it set the premise up well. It’s everything comes after, that spoils the series.
There are two warring ninja clans in the show – the Iga clan and the Kouga clan; instead of establishing history, detail, and depth between the two, the series jumps into the overly ambitious journey of the inconspicuous and clueless Ittoki – which would have been fine, except Ittoki is much too simplistic to carry the story.
Of course, there is also a ninja academy, called Ninjutsu Gakuen, where Ittoki goes to train – and this is where the show turns slightly sci-fi, which I don’t know how to feel about. Ninjutsu is all about training your body, but here, ninjas can just use ninja gear to fight.
Mixing technology with martial art has solid potential – I just wish they’d have done something more with the ninja gear.
So, within the 21st century’s capitalism, you have ancient ninja clans battling it out with advanced technological devices. Again, an opportunity missed, because while they could have gone into politics, consumerism, governments, and law, order, and justice, the main conflict of the series is a rival clan who we don’t even despise entirely.
The problem is, that the crisis that was set up – audiences could see from a mile away. That would have been fine, but it didn’t have any dimension to it. The twist that crops up in episode 9 also seems contrived for mere shock value.
But the major issue with the plot is inconsistency. If Ittoki was meant to be the heir, the least his mother could have done is tell him about it. The purpose of hiding the whole ninja thing is never revealed.
As a result, Ittoki, who lacks the mental, physical, and technological prowess to head a secret ninja organization, is continually trying to grapple with his training and new knowledge.
Why hide it from him, when even his best friend is literally in on it? Huge plot hole, which I just can’t seem to get past.
The series does have an underground network vibe, which is fascinating, but only to a point.
II. Characters
Overall, the characters in Shinobi no Ittoki are not as good as they should be, but are better than the plot. High-tech ninjas are a huge sell, but the story gets them down.
The protagonist is thrown into an unknown world but turns out everyone in his life apart from him are part of that world.
Ittoki is in a constant state of adapting, after having being so long in the dark. This might seem harsh, but Ittoki is honestly too bland for even his incompetence to seem entertaining.
His emotions seem forced – although this might be the fault of his voice actor – and his actions, intentions, and motivations aren’t cohesive or coherent. As a result, Ittoki is forgettable, and I don’t say that about many MCs.
The other characters lack dynamism and personality, except probably Kosetsu and Tokisada. For a show about ninjas, there isn’t any explicitly badass ninja, except probably Tokisada.
The enemy ninja clan, who is supposed to cause the main conflict in the series, is also sloppy at worst and irksome at best.
Final Thoughts
Listen, when you say ninjas, I say Naruto. I know it isn’t fair to compare any ninja anime with Naruto, but even if I didn’t, Shinobu no Ittoki would lose by a longshot.
In case Shinobu no Ittoki gets a season 2, I sure hope they salvage it, because I want to like this show, I really do. Adding in some ninja principles and backstories, rectifying the plot holes, and adding more personality to the MC, might help fans return to this series.
If you want to watch something predictable with old-school value, some light entertainment with good comedic elements, watch Shinobi no Ittoki. But remember, don’t stress out too much about the plot not making sense.
About Shinobi no Ittoki
Shinobi no Ittoki is an original anime series by TROYCA and DMM Pictures. As the name suggests, the series is about ninjas.
The story focuses on Ittoki, a high schooler who suddenly becomes an assassination target. He somehow saves himself but soon realizes that he is the heir of the Iga ninja clan. The Koga clan wants to kill him, and he has to train to save his life.
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