Nintama Rantaro
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese anime
series based on Sōbē Amako's manga
Rakudai Ninja Rantarō
. It was produced by Ajia-do Animation Works
and originally broadcast on NHK
. It is aimed at young children, featuring the adventures of Rantarō and his friends and teachers at Ninja school. The fact that glasses
are worn by one of the main characters is intentionally anachronistic. The manga references other Japanese media personalities such as Ken Shimura
.
In July 2011, a live action film version directed by Takashi Miike
titled Ninja Kids!!!
was released. The rights to produce an American version of the film are in negotiations.
The main character, a bespectacled first grade boy who is aiming to become an excellent ninja. Unfortunately, he often gets distracted and prefers to goof off with his friends Kirimaru and Shinbei.
One of Rantaro's best friends. He is an orphan
who lost his family and home during a war, and now makes a living doing various part time jobs. When school isn't in session, he lives with Doi. His primary interest is being obsessed with earning money.
A rich merchant's son, who quickly became friends with Rantaro at the beginning of the series. He is overweight, a bit slower when it comes to thinking, and often has to be corrected by his friends. Nonetheless, he possesses great power and strength.
Rantaro's classmate and first year Hagumi's class president.
Rantaro's classmate, collects slugs as a hobby.
Heidayū likes traps and has his entire room rigged with them.
Kunoichi
The leader of the kunoichi
. She is also Rantaro's partner.
Tomomi is the class president of the kunoichi. She is Kirimaru's partner.
Shige is the grand daughter of the principal and also Shinibei's partner.
Rantaro's main classroom teacher. He often loses patience with Rantaro and his classmates due to their inability to pay attention. His personality resembles Iruka Umino, another ninja teacher who is voiced by the same voice actor.
Another teacher of Rantaro. He serves to teach the actual techniques and trains the lazy first graders. Denzo tends to lose his patience faster than Doi. He also shows unnatural fondness in disguising himself as a woman, usually with disastrous results.
A dog skilled in ninjutsu, he is the long time companion of the head master. Also in charge of ringing the school bell
The teacher of the female nintamas, she alternates between the form of a young woman and an old lady
Shinzaemon Tobe is another teacher at the school, who occasionally appears from time to time. He's a sword instructor who is skilled, but if he doesn't have his daily meals, he loses the strength to even pick up the sword.
Ando is the first grade teacher for another class. He often calls Rantaro's class lazy and unproductive, comparing them to his class which seem to do nothing but study all day, thus getting good marks on their tests.
Rantarō's father, a farmer and failed ninja.
Shinbei's younger sister.
Yamada-sensei's 18-year-old son, a free agent ninja. Unlike his father, he is rather handsome. His nickname is Ricky.
A bumbling and forgetful pirate captain.
Tobe-sensei's self-proclaimed rival.
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series based on Sōbē Amako's manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
Rakudai Ninja Rantarō
Rakudai Ninja Rantaro
is a comedy ninja manga series created by Sōbē Amako in 1986. The anime adaptation, Nintama Rantarō, began broadcasting on NHK in 1993 and a side-story anime film Eiga Nintama Rantarō premiered in 1996' several Nintama Rantarō video games were also published since 1995.- Plot :The series is set...
. It was produced by Ajia-do Animation Works
Ajia-do Animation Works
is a Japanese animation studio and production enterprise, noted for several anime series, including Spirit of Wonder, Zettai Shōnen, and several others...
and originally broadcast on NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
. It is aimed at young children, featuring the adventures of Rantarō and his friends and teachers at Ninja school. The fact that glasses
Glasses
Glasses, also known as eyeglasses , spectacles or simply specs , are frames bearing lenses worn in front of the eyes. They are normally used for vision correction or eye protection. Safety glasses are a kind of eye protection against flying debris or against visible and near visible light or...
are worn by one of the main characters is intentionally anachronistic. The manga references other Japanese media personalities such as Ken Shimura
Ken Shimura
, is a Japanese comedian and actor. He co-starred with Masashi Tashiro, Nobuyoshi Kuwano in the Japanese variety show "Ken Shimura no Bakatono-sama"....
.
In July 2011, a live action film version directed by Takashi Miike
Takashi Miike
is a highly prolific and controversial Japanese filmmaker. He has directed over seventy theatrical, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. In the years 2001 and 2002 alone, Miike is credited with directing fifteen productions...
titled Ninja Kids!!!
Ninja Kids!!!
is a 2011 Japanese family-oriented comedy film directed by Takashi Miike. The film is live-action adaptation of the Japanese anime series Nintama Rantarō. The film stars Seishiro Kato as Rantaro who is sent to a ninja training school by his parents...
was released. The rights to produce an American version of the film are in negotiations.
Rantaro's Class
The main character, a bespectacled first grade boy who is aiming to become an excellent ninja. Unfortunately, he often gets distracted and prefers to goof off with his friends Kirimaru and Shinbei.
One of Rantaro's best friends. He is an orphan
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
who lost his family and home during a war, and now makes a living doing various part time jobs. When school isn't in session, he lives with Doi. His primary interest is being obsessed with earning money.
A rich merchant's son, who quickly became friends with Rantaro at the beginning of the series. He is overweight, a bit slower when it comes to thinking, and often has to be corrected by his friends. Nonetheless, he possesses great power and strength.
Rantaro's classmate and first year Hagumi's class president.
Rantaro's classmate, collects slugs as a hobby.
Heidayū likes traps and has his entire room rigged with them.
KunoichiKunoichiis the term for a female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu .-Etymology:The term is thought to derive from the names of characters that resemble the three strokes in the kanji character for ; said in the order they are written: ku - no - ichi...
Class
The leader of the kunoichi
Kunoichi
is the term for a female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu .-Etymology:The term is thought to derive from the names of characters that resemble the three strokes in the kanji character for ; said in the order they are written: ku - no - ichi...
. She is also Rantaro's partner.
Tomomi is the class president of the kunoichi. She is Kirimaru's partner.
Shige is the grand daughter of the principal and also Shinibei's partner.
Staff
Rantaro's main classroom teacher. He often loses patience with Rantaro and his classmates due to their inability to pay attention. His personality resembles Iruka Umino, another ninja teacher who is voiced by the same voice actor.
Another teacher of Rantaro. He serves to teach the actual techniques and trains the lazy first graders. Denzo tends to lose his patience faster than Doi. He also shows unnatural fondness in disguising himself as a woman, usually with disastrous results.
A dog skilled in ninjutsu, he is the long time companion of the head master. Also in charge of ringing the school bell
The teacher of the female nintamas, she alternates between the form of a young woman and an old lady
Shinzaemon Tobe is another teacher at the school, who occasionally appears from time to time. He's a sword instructor who is skilled, but if he doesn't have his daily meals, he loses the strength to even pick up the sword.
Ando is the first grade teacher for another class. He often calls Rantaro's class lazy and unproductive, comparing them to his class which seem to do nothing but study all day, thus getting good marks on their tests.
Family
Rantarō's father, a farmer and failed ninja.
- Rantarō's Mother
- Shinbei's Papa
Shinbei's younger sister.
Yamada-sensei's 18-year-old son, a free agent ninja. Unlike his father, he is rather handsome. His nickname is Ricky.
Dokutake Castle
Other characters
A bumbling and forgetful pirate captain.
Tobe-sensei's self-proclaimed rival.
Music
- Opening Themes
- "Yūki 100%" by Hikaru Genji (eps. 1-55)
- "Yūki 100%" by Hikaru Genji Super 5 (eps. 56-807)
- "Yūki 100% (2002)" by Ya-Ya-YahYa-ya-yahYa-Ya-yah is a Johnny's Jr. group from Johnny & Associates, which also produced groups such as KAT-TUN, SMAP, TOKIO, KinKi Kids, Arashi, NEWS and Tackey & Tsubasa. On May 15, 2002, the group released double A-side single "Yūki 100%/Sekai ga Hitotsu ni Narumade." The single debuted at #9 on the...
(eps. 809-1,253) - "Yūki 100% (2009)" by Hey! Say! JUMPHey! Say! JUMPHey! Say! JUMP is a ten-member Japanese boy band under the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates. The name Hey! Say! refers to the fact that all the members were born in the Heisei period and JUMP is an acronym for Johnny's Ultra Music Power...
(eps. 1,254-) - "Yūki 100% (2010)" by NYC
- Ending Themes
- "Dancing Junk (ダンシング ジャンク)" by Namie AmuroNamie Amurois a Japanese R&B and pop singer, entertainer, and former actress who at the height of her popularity was referred to as the "Teen Queen" and the title "Queen of Japanese Pop Music". Born in Naha, Okinawa, Amuro debuted at the age of 14 as an idol in the girl group Super Monkey's...
(eps. 1-47) - "Don't Mind Namida (DON'T MIND 涙 Don't Mind the Tears)" by Hikaru Genji Super 5 (eps. 48-60)
- "Shaking Night" by Hikaru Genji Super 5 (eps. 61-168)
- "四方八方肘鉄砲(The First)" (eps. 169-199)
- "0 grade champion (Zero Points for the Champion)" by Junich&JJr (eps. 200-265)
- "The School Days Never End (終わらない SCHOOL DAYS)" by Junich&JJr (eps. 266-289)
- "こうしちゃいられない" by Junich&JJr (eps. 290-369)
- "にんにん忍たま音頭" by SAY S (eps. 370-409)
- "Always Yell (いつだってYELL)" by Emiri Nakayama (eps. 410-499, 501-504, 506-509, 512-517, 519-522, 524-527, 529-530)
- "HEMUHEMU Waltz (ムヘムのワルツ)" by HEMUHEMU (episode 500, 505)
- "たまえかきうた しんべヱの段" by Yuko Bracken (episodes 510, 518, 523, and 528)
- "Memory and Melody" by SPLASHSPLASHSplash! is a yearly academic outreach program that invites middle school and high school students to visit MIT and attend classes created and taught by MIT students and alumni. Splash! is run by MIT's , known to most as ESP....
(eps. 531-568) - ""Ai ga Ichiban (Love's Best)" by Sayuri IshikawaSayuri Ishikawa, is a Japanese enka singer. She is a popular contestant on the annual NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen broadcast, having appeared 32 times since 1977. Ishikawa made her name performing the classic "Tsugarukaikyo-Fuyugeshiki"...
(eps. 569-648) - "四方八方肘鉄砲(Second Generation)" by Mayumi Hunaki (eps. 649-808)
- ""Sekai ga Hitotsu ni Naru Made (Until the World is One)" by Ya-Ya-YahYa-ya-yahYa-Ya-yah is a Johnny's Jr. group from Johnny & Associates, which also produced groups such as KAT-TUN, SMAP, TOKIO, KinKi Kids, Arashi, NEWS and Tackey & Tsubasa. On May 15, 2002, the group released double A-side single "Yūki 100%/Sekai ga Hitotsu ni Narumade." The single debuted at #9 on the...
(eps. 809-967) - "Kaze (The Wind)" by Aya UetoAya Uetois a Japanese actress, singer, model, tarento, and occasional radio personality. Born in Nerima, Tokyo, Ueto was discovered when she participated in the 7th Japan Bishōjo Contest, where she won the special jury prize...
(eps. 968-1,047) - "Oh!ENKA (桜援歌 (OH!ENKA)" by Kanjani8 (eps. 1,048-1,153)
- "Ai ni Mukatte" by Kanjani8 (eps. 1,154-1,253)
- "夢色" by Hey! Say! JUMP (eps. 1,254-)
- "Yume no Tane" NYC
- "Yume Tamago" NYC
Episodes
According to the official website, there are sixteen seasons so far. Each season has a different amount of episodes. Currently total, there are over 1,000.Video games
Various video games were spawned, starting in 1995. Most of them were developed and published by Culture BrainCulture Brain
, formally known as , is a small Japanese video game developer and publisher founded on October 5, 1980.Culture Brain's first arcade video game was Monster Zero, released in . In North America, Culture Brain is mostly known for its six video games for the Nintendo Entertainment System and its three...
.
External links
- The official Japanese website
- Ninjitsu Gakuen, a Nintama Rantarou fansiteFansiteA fansite, fan site, or fanpage is a website created and maintained by a fan or devotee interested in a celebrity, thing, or a particular cultural phenomenon...
that contains information on the plot, the anime and manga, and detailed character summaries.