Tag: Ninja

Rediscover Sasuke: An Essential, Powerful Release for Classic Anime Fans

This restored edition of Sasuke breathes new life into a forgotten classic of #Anime and #Ninja storytelling. Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or revisiting its haunting journey, this Blu-ray delivers a crisp, heartfelt look at a young hero shaped by loss, honour, and survival. #Sasuke #AnimeCollectors #MartialArts

Sasuke Blu-ray CoverAvailable for purchase on Amazon

Before Naruto (both the manga and anime), there was Sasuke. This story about a young wandering ninja who lives by his own code, drifting from village to village to do heroics, shows that he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. He’s a hero to many, and this work marks a shift from youth-focused tales to more mature graphic novellas.

This hero’s epic journey was created by Sanpei Shirato, best known for his Legend of Kamui series. It was originally published as a manga before becoming an animated series. For those who haven’t read one but want to see the other, you’re not missing much; by episode seven, all the essential introductions are covered and newcomers understand what drives this boy. After his home is destroyed, a monk takes him in and teaches him the way of the ninja, and the lad soon discovers the rivalries and hypocrisies around him.

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Sasuke (1968) Brings Its Historic Ninja Tale to North American Blu-ray for the First Time

AnimEigo and MediaOCD bring the historic 1968 anime Sasuke to North America for the first time. Restored from original film elements and featuring a new English dub, this collection showcases a gripping ninja tale set during Japan’s Sengoku period. Fans of historical drama and classic anime can now experience this influential series in full.

Sasuke Bluray Cover
Available to preoder on Amazon USA

Release Date: October 14, 2025

AnimEigo and parent company MediaOCD remain dedicated to preserving classic works of animation. Their next major release is the historic 1968 anime series Sasuke, arriving this fall. While the series has long been celebrated across South Asia, this marks the first time North American audiences can properly experience it in its entirety. Fans of historical and character-driven drama will find much to appreciate in this milestone release.

Restored from its original film elements, Sasuke is being presented as a complete collection. This edition features not only a carefully produced subtitle track, but also a newly recorded English dub created specifically for this release—making it accessible to both purists and new viewers alike.

From the Press Release:

Directed by Kiyoshi Onishi and based on the manga by Sanpei Shirato, Sasuke follows the harrowing life of a young ninja during Japan’s Sengoku period, one of the nation’s most turbulent and violent eras. Unlike many productions of its time, the series did not shy away from dark themes—war, vengeance, survival, and the crushing cost of loyalty. Its stark depictions of violence and the struggles of a child ninja set it apart from other works of the late 1960s.

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How High Must Checkered Ninja 2 Jump to be Found in America?

Checkered Ninja 2 sees the relationship between Alex and the Ninja develop further. They aren’t necessarily Batman and Robin

Checkered Ninja 2Just when fans of Anders Matthesen‘s story concerning a tiny spirit of vengence was over, a sequel, simply titled Checkered Ninja 2, was released to some markets instead of hitting film festivals worldwide. This series is apparently very popular in Denmark. and it’s a spinoff of Terkel I Knibe (Terkel in Trouble), one of this filmmaker’s earlier works.

To learn that the villain from the first film is on the loose again is troubling. The crime Philip Eberfrø committed resulted in the spirit of Taiko Nakamura possessing a doll in part one, and thus, the Checkered Ninja was born! But he can’t do it alone. By happenstance, he becomes Alex’s toy and the relationship they have isn’t all that kosher. After the stuffed doll helps the young boy grow a spine (he was bullied), they finally buddy up.

I reviewed this movie a few years back and absolutely loved it. When Variety magazine reported about its sequel, I hoped some local animation festival would screen it. Sadly, that never happened. Despite having a home video release in 2021 in Denmark, there’s still no official North American release. As soon as I saw listings for the Blu-ray release on eBay, I immediately ordered the European release and I’m glad I have a multi-region player.

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