Superior anime from Yoshiaki Kawajiri successfully covers a lot of hand-drawn styles as it sets forth a sweeping tale of wandering Ninja Jubei who gets mixed-up in a political power struggle between rival clans and would-be Shoguns, with help (if that’s what it is) from a stranded ancient wiseman and the sole survivor of the current Shogun’s military advance force, a deadly female whose poison-laced body leaves anyone she takes to bed dead by morning. Yikes! (One intriguing exception: fuck with an already poisoned man and your poisoned body works on him like an antidote. Got that?) In spite of how this sounds, the story quite easy to follow. But those alternating visual techniques are the real stars here; that and the uncompromising nihilistic ending. The animation ranging from simple scanning of still compositions, many played over each other in multiplane to create depth; but just as often, lively shots, busy with screen-filling flights of birds or insects in patterns of motion. Then, used elswhere simply for their beauty in silhouette (in washes of color rather than b&w). Or with characters giving chase thru rows of spindly trees or bad weather. Stunning, and stunningly effective. But be aware: lust, sex, female nudity, violence & torn limb-from-limb gore also in the mix.
DOUBLE-BILL: Not previously familiar with Kawajiri’s work; he’s been more active in tv and in non-directing capacities. But if the styles aren’t much alike, the clean, enjoyably kinetic visuals brought the early seasons of Genndy Tartakovsky’s SAMURAI JACK/’01 to mind.
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