It’s hard to believe, but there was a time when watching anime was an ordeal. Fans had to hunt down expensive VHS tapes, often containing only a handful of episodes. Many shows weren’t even translated into English! This changed when anime found a dedicated home on television – Toonami, Cartoon Network’s legendary programming block.
Toonami launched in 1997, but truly took off in 1998 with the arrival of Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z, captivating a generation of teenagers. My own journey began in the early 2000s, and I still remember the thrill of discovering these shows. They were unlike anything I’d seen before, offering a level of intensity and darkness that was shocking compared to other animated shows.
The violence was a major draw. The gruesome battles, featuring dismemberment and death, were unprecedented in animated entertainment. It felt “forbidden,” “adult,” even though it was targeted at my age group. But beyond the action, these shows had depth. There was melodrama, exploration of serious themes, and even lighter, slice-of-life moments.
This weekend, Toonami premiered Ninja Kamui, a new anime that embodies the spirit of those early Toonami days. It’s a brutal revenge story about a ninja seeking retribution against his former clan, a shadowy organization with a global reach.
The action is jaw-dropping. The premiere kicks off with a scene of pure chaos, showcasing a man fighting off a group of futuristic assassins with incredible skill. Blood splatters across the screen as he pirouettes, dodges, and strikes with lethal precision. The animation is breathtaking, thanks to the talent of director Sunghoo Park, known for his work on popular shows like Jujutsu Kaisen and The God of High School.
Ninja Kamui isn’t just about action, though. It also taps into that sense of mystery and intrigue. The show starts in the middle of the story, leaving viewers to piece together the backstory. This feels familiar to anyone who joined Toonami shows late, catching glimpses of a world they didn’t fully understand.
The tone of the show is distinctly early 2000s, with its edge and sense of spectacle. It doesn’t shy away from violence and even leans into some cheesy elements, like a post-hardcore theme song that could have been ripped from a My Chemical Romance album. But it works. The show embraces its over-the-top nature, and it’s hard not to get caught up in the thrill of it all.
While Ninja Kamui might not resonate with teenagers today, who have already experienced a different kind of anime boom, it’s a love letter to those of us who grew up with Toonami. It’s a nostalgic throwback to a time when anime was still finding its footing in the West, when shows like Dragon Ball Z and Naruto were pushing boundaries and captivating a generation.
The current anime landscape offers plenty of thoughtful, emotionally complex shows, but sometimes you just want something fun and familiar. Ninja Kamui delivers that, with its hyper-violent action, cheesy tone, and a commitment to the kind of over-the-top spectacle that defined a generation. It’s a reminder of why Toonami became such a beloved part of our lives, and a welcome return to an era of unforgettable, action-packed anime.
