BLUE RIGHTS, the anime planning company led by Makoto Kimura, unveiled a pilot film and new images for Ninja Skooler, Kinema Citrus’ original anime project, on Friday. Alongside the visual reveal, the featured song “Knots” — written and performed by Takashi Iwami — was released digitally.

Story

Rappa is an orphan who idolizes fictional ninja. One snowy night, he falls from a rooftop and is rescued by a real ninja named Okachimachi and his master. Rappa shows up at their door asking to become an apprentice, and the three begin living together as a family.

Years later, Rappa throws himself into training to become a ninja capable of protecting the town. The children who look up to him gather at the master’s traditional Japanese candy shop — a place filled with laughter and warmth. Rappa believes these days will last forever, but when he notices Okachimachi quietly caring for their now-retired master, he catches a glimpse of the pain the master has long kept hidden.

Staff

• Director/Supervisor: Shunsuke Takarai
• Character Design: Hami
• Original Concept: Kinema Citrus
• Key Animators: Yuka Kuroda, Franziska van Wulfen, Shunsuke Takarai
• In-between Checker: Aoi Higuchi
• In-between Checker Assistance: Studio BUS, Min Kyung-ae
• In-betweeners: Gift-o’-Animation (Keito Suzuki, Mizuki Hori), Studio BUS (Min Kyung-ae, Park Kyung-sook, Min Su-in, Shin Sun-mi, Jang Yun-young, On Nuri Park)
• Color Key Artist/Coordinator/Checker: Hiroaki Kaguchi
• Finishing: Hiroaki Kaguchi, Anitus-Kobe, YOSHIKI Eri, Studio BUS (Na Jong-ah, Kim Seo-young, Kim Jung-hye, Kim Yeon-mi, Kim Eun-kyeoung, Baek Sung-hee, Kim Mi-yeon, Lee Jeong Mi)
• Background Art: Hami, Shunsuke Takarai
• Compositing Director of Photography/Editor: Shinichirō Miyazaki
• Sound Director/Mixing: Haru Yamada
• Sound Effects: Tōru Noguchi
• Audio Production: Sound Team Donjuan
• Music: Nanatsukaze (PIKASONIC & nakotanmaru)
• Studio Management: Kōji Sone, Naoko Matsumoto, Michiko Akima, Tomoka Kuwahara, Naruhito Mitsuwaka
• System Management: Takanori Sunaga, Shigeo Miyagi
• Creative Department Management: Kensuke Aoshima, Miyu Inoue
• Translation: Hiromi Hasegawa, Jorge Herrera
• Vehicle Cooperation: Komatsu Tsusho Co., Ltd.
• Animation Producers: Muneki Ogasawara, Satoshi Wada
• Production Assistant: Satoshi Wada
• Animation Production: Kinema Citrus

Background

Kinema Citrus first announced Ninja Skooler at the Anime Central convention in Rosemont, Illinois in May 2024. The latest reveals mark a significant step forward as the project continues to build momentum ahead of its release.