Summary
Ninja Kamui takes the idea of ninja technology to the next level, integrating futuristic technology with classic ninja themes. Unlike Boruto, Ninja Kamui completely treats technology as part of the story, making it an essential part of the series' DNA. Park's visionary choice to combine technology with physical and supernatural abilities in Ninja Kamui has captivated modern viewers.
One of the gifts Boruto gave the shinobi anime genre the idea of “ninja technology,” and while this idea has appeared in other ninja-based anime, few have capitalized on the promise of a visually enhanced shinobi. more technological than this new hit series. Ninja Kamui. Adult Swim's new hit series is a mesmerizing tour de force of ninjutsu and technology that takes what Boruto pioneered to new heights.
Sunghoo Park's original Ninja Kamui anime series follows the brutal adventures of Higan, a shinobi who abandons his ninja community and his responsibility to it. With his clan subscribing to the “once a ninja, always a ninja” school of thought – as soon as Higan left, he was targeted for extermination by those he once considered friends and his closest ally.
Now transported to the American Midwest with a new name and – thanks to technology – a new face, Higan and his family are almost happy to consider him a wanted man. Unfortunately, he is located by a death squad sent after him. While he was able to survive their attack, his wife and children were brutally executed before his eyes. Enraged by the slaughter of his family, Higan embarks on a brutal path to avenge the murder of his wife and children and takes down any ninja who stands in his way.
Ninja Kamui takes Nin-Tech to the next level
Boruto's ninja technology premise was never fully developed, but Ninja Kamui ran away with it
Although the basic plot of Ninja Kamui is nothing groundbreaking, Park's storytelling style is very special. Indeed, one of the ways Ninja Kamui sets itself apart is The innovative way it integrates futuristic technology into classic ninja themes. The idea of a feudal future has long been a thematic concept in samurai anime such as Afro Samurai, Samurai 7, and Star Wars: Visions. However, in terms of shinobi, the idea was largely pioneered by Masashi Kishimoto's Boruto. In fact, elements of this idea were present in Naruto while it was still in print.
In Boruto, ninja technology, or “nin-tech” – refers to the combination of “scientific ninja tools” with traditional ninjutsu skills and any supernatural “powers” a shinobi possesses. property. Perhaps the best example of nin technology in Boruto is Naruto's prosthetic arm. As revealed in Boruto: Naruto Next Generation Chapter #16, Naruto has at times used a synthetic arm that mimics Momoshiki Otsutsuki's ability to “absorb and neutralize his opponent's ninjutsu”. It was a great improvement, especially for a ninja as good as Naruto.
However, over the course of the series, nin-tech lost its status as a fresh and interesting plot device, becoming a simplistic and unsatisfactory explanation behind certain characters' powers. mainly members of Kara's Inner Circle. The original debate about the validity of nin technology and the ethics of its use has completely disappeared from the series.
In Ninja Kamui, Technology is another type of ninjutsu
As experienced in Boruto, nin-tech turns out to be a great creative tool that enriches the basic ninja story. Indeed, Boruto needs some way to differentiate itself from Naruto, and nin-tech could be the answer if fully developed as a theme. Ninja Kamui, on the other hand, weaves nin technology into the story's DNA. To be sure, unlike Boruto, with The main evil organization in the story is a high-tech company with a global footprint, technology is everywhere in Ninja Kamui.
For example, Higan's face-cloaking technology allows him to appear as Joe Logan, a bearded white American man, rather than the clean-shaven Japanese citizen he is. really. There's also the lightsaber-like weapon used by Higan and his opponents, as well as friend Emma Samanda's rolling supercomputer disguised as an old-fashioned Volkswagen Bug.
What's interesting is that Ninja Kamui's reliance on technology in real life is well-founded. According to the last true shinobi of Japan, ninjas are always looking for ways to improve their abilities. Since technology serves as the fundamental means for shinobi to stay ahead of the game, they will certainly be among the first to adopt emerging technologies.
From the perspective of fans living in a modern information society, Park's combination of technology with remarkable – and even supernatural – physical abilities seems obvious. Indeed, why don't modern-day ninjas use the myriad of available technologies to operate more effectively? While Boruto tossed around the idea, Ninja Kamui went all out.
So far, Park's choices have proven to be visionary. The vibe technology brings Ninja Kamui a further special appeal to the public that has made it popular and relevant to modern viewers. It also raises the question of why there weren't more ninja-themed anime after the movie. Boruto For example.