Rules & Spoilers

I would choose Higan not only because he is hot and muscular but also a very strong ninja.

As I have read a lot of comments criticizing Ninja Kamui for being too generic and predictable, I felt the same way for certain extent too. I think the anime has a good setoff, Japanese ninja + American cyberpunk is refreshing, the combination of main characters is quite satisfying, the 2D fights are quite awesome yet a lot of aspects about the narrative were wasted, making it unable to become a top tier anime. If the story of Ninja Kamui was wholesome enough, a lot of audience would tolerate the clunky CGI fight.

It doesn't mind that it starts off as a traditional revenge tale, but it could still be interesting if it was narrated from a different perspective than before. In this context, I think the debate between the role of ninja in technological era could be the main theme. With reference to SilverAbsolution, most of the season 1 plot could be modified into the format of road movie, with the same party encountering other exile ninjas who were persecuted by the clan to obtain more intel about the clan, while allowing a few more dialogues between Higan and them. In the mid-way Higan might still have a fight with Yamaji, yet get overwhelmed by his ninjutsu (like telekinetic grip) and fortunately rescued by defected Emma as well. Moreover, the operation and training of ninja clan, the past between Yamaji and the former leader of clan, as well as details about ninjutsu could be included. It would be more intense if the murderer of Higan's family was actually Zai wearing his mech suit, which remained hidden until the faceoff with Higan. On the other hand, the relationship between ninja clan and AUZA would be a deep underplot, which would not emerge until the end of season 1.

Regarding character development, I think both Higan and Mike had the potential to become a unique but relatable protagonists. They both shared tragic past of losing their kids, yet one is rage-filled ninja while another one is stubborn cop with sense of justice. It seems that Higan experienced a PTSD and survivor's guilt throughout the series, yet they could give him more inner dialogues to show his struggle, not just facial expressions. It could be more wholesome if more flashbacks of Higan spending time with his family were included, which would allow us to empathise with his pain. Emma told Higan that Mari always fought as a ninja to protect people she loved, I think this could be a chance for Higan to change his motive from mere revenge, to protect his new chosen family. On the other hand, the killer of Mike's daughter could be ninjas from the same clan, and Mike could be consumed by hatred when the party was pursued by them, starting to break his code and brutually hurt his daughter's murderer. At that moment, Higan would instead stop him and persuade him not to fall into the same fate as his, which is a good timing for them to connect over their pasts. Meanwhile, Mike could finally understand why Higan had such an immense rage.

After recognising the party as Higan's chosen family, he could open up more about his family life towards the team, which may even be better if we could see them chatting around a bonfire with Higan playing guitar for them (who doesn't like a ninja who plays guitar), showing his recognition of these people as his family. By the end of season 1, Higan could realise what ninja is meant to be: to protect people they love in the shadow, rather than underlying manipulating force of the world and confronted Yamaji's idea. Higan would still be outpowered by Yamaji's secret art, yet he could better be saved by Mari instead of Zai. It is OK for Mari actually survived as well as her secret art could fake her own death in an advanced level, and I don't believe that such an emotionally intelligent ninja could be killed off that easily. As it also aligned with her wish for Higan to move on and live with new chosen family, it is reasonable for her not reuniting with Higan, just providing the protagonists assistance in secret. Higan would still finally awaken under her enouragement, yet she would have left before he regained consciousness, with Mari witnessing his victory over Yamaji far away. Yet Zai would be captured and brainwashed by AUZA again, which provided adequate motive for Higan's team to form an alliance and take down AUZA ---- to protect his only confidant in this world.

In episode 7, it showed a flashback when Higan knew about Mari having their baby, he was not confident that he could be a good father. However episode 1 showed him being able to get along well with his child, like making fun on him, bathing with him, coaxing him to sleep, throwing him a decent birthday party. He could even sing a song while playing a guitar, showing how talented a ninja could be. That's what I found interesting about Higan, damn the ninjas who killed off his family.

After finishing the whole Ninja Kamui, reading a lot of critiques about the introduction of mech suits into this show, it provoked me to think about this. I think the concept is not bad at all, especially the usage of ninjutsu with the complement of futuristic technical devices is really awesome. The 2D action-packed scenes are dope with those hiphop background music to make ninjas so hot.

The 3D mech suit fights were not as fluent as 2D action scenes though, yet having ninjas using modern devices to aid their own techniques adds more flavours and diversity to the combats. Moreover, probing into the adaptation of conventional ninja into technological era in a revenge story is not a bad direction. I am looking forward to seeing more kinds of ninjutsu in season 2.

Seriously, what the title says. The show became a piece of crap, its like going from driving a mercedes for 2 hours, and when you wake up it turns into a a rusty old bicycle.

Like, moving like Higan, the gory fighting, all that. Imo, it's Ninja Gaiden. It even has the ninja arts. What do you think?

Currently writing this while on EP 7, idk if they explain this later but, so Emma was supposed to kill Marie for not being devoted or whatever but way later the ninjas catch mari and kill her so was Emma punished for failing? Or did they not know

Any guesses to when it will release?

I'm wanting to watch the show in Dub, but I live in Australia. I am only able to find the first episode in Dub, but not much else. Obviously HBO doesn't stream in Australia and they do not do free trials. The Adult Swim system needs an American Cable network for me to join, just so I can watch it.

I have tried signing up to HBO through a VPN but it is shit and wont let me even try.

Does anyone here have any suggestions?

https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/116160441

I finally got around to finishing this show and yeah, the ending was a huge letdown, hell, the whole show was going downhill but I guess I'm a masochist, because I just had to see it through. I have many questions about that ending, but my main one is what the heck is up with Zai's ending? Dude has one arm, half a burned face, no support system and zero social skills. How the hell is he supposed to go live a normal life now? New horizons for who? Certainly not Zai. They should've just let him heroically sacrifice himself in the final battle rather than letting him go off to a supposedly happy ending that is in no way gonna work out. The dude literally can't person. And Higan just left him. Again. Like, I am so confused. Who wrote this?