    is a 1993 japanese animated action thriller film written and directed by yoshiaki kawajiri. the critically acclaimed film was theatrically released on june 5, 1993, and received a western release in 1995. == plot == ninja scroll is set in feudal japan. five years before the start of the film, the yamashiro clan's chief retainers (vassal lords) dig gold out of a secret mine behind their lord's back. the lord of the yamashiro clan wants to have the gold for himself, but his forces are not strong enough, so he cannot act alone. he also cannot go to the government first, because they would take the gold if they knew about the mine. he orders his ninja team, led by gemma himuro, to kill the chief retainers, claiming he would then report the mine to the government. jubei kibagami and shinkuro are members of this ninja team. after the chief retainers are murdered, the yamashiro lord does not report the mine to the government. later, gemma orders shinkuro and others to kill jubei, hoping they would all kill each other, thus eliminating everyone who knew about the mine. reluctantly, jubei kills shinkuro and the others in self-defense. while gemma is riding along a pass, jubei springs from the snow and cuts off his head to avenge shinkuro and the others. jubei then becomes a wandering swordsman-for-hire. sometime later, gemma is inexplicably able to reincarnate himself, and over the next five years, becomes leader of a demon ninja group known as the devils of kimon, who in turn work for the mysterious shogun of the dark (really the lord of the house of toyotomi), which holds a grudge against the current government, the tokugawa shogunate, and wants to overthrow it. gemma tells the shogun of the dark the location of the secret mine. meanwhile, tokugawa government spies are trying to determine where the mine is. the shogun of the dark sends the devils of kimon to protect the yamashiro clan from the government spies and government intervention in return for gold from the mine. the yamashiro clan sends a large shipment of gold to the shogun 
1993_anime_films 1993_films Animated_fantasy_films Fantasy_adventure_films Fantasy_anime_and_manga Films_directed_by_Yoshiaki_Kawajiri Horror_anime_and_manga Japanese-language_films Japanese_films Madhouse_(company) Martial_arts_fantasy_films Martial_arts_horror_films Ninja_anime_and_manga Ninja_films Samurai_anime_and_manga Sentai_Filmworks