The Rakudai Ninja Rantaro franchise is inspiring a new anime film based on the 2013 novel of the same name. The new film will be titled Rakudai Ninja Rantaro: Dokutake Ninja-tai Saikyo no Gunshi and is scheduled to release theatrically in Japan this coming December 2024. The movie is based on Kazuhisa Sakaguchi‘s 2013 novel of the same name.
A 30-second announcement trailer confirming the anime film’s production was released on Shochiku’s Youtube channel, along with a teaser visual on Twitter featuring protagonist Rantaro’s teacher Hansuke Doi. The 2013 novel focuses on Rantaro’s teacher Hansuke Doi, who becomes a teacher at Ninjustsu Academy after losing a battle against Sonnamon and Zatto Konnamon.
The anime’s official Twitter and website also revealed the film’s production staff and returning voice cast. Masaya Fujimori (Kemono Jihen, Revenger) is directing the new film, returning from his previous work on the franchise’s 2011 film Gekijo-ban Anime Nintama Rantaro Ninjutsu Gakuen Zenin Shutsudo! no Dan. Sakaguchi is writing the film’s scripts. Ajia-do Animation Works is in charge of the film’s animation production, which also works on the original manga’s long-running anime adaptation Nintama Rantaro.
The returning voice cast members from the anime series includes:
- • Minami Takayama as Rantaro
- • Mayumi Tanaka as Kirimaru
- • Teiyuu Ichiryuusai as Shinbei Fukutomi
- • Toshihiko Seki as Hansuke Doi
The original manga series Rakudai Ninja Rantaro was created by Soubee Amako and published by The Asahi Shimbun Company in 1986. It was serialized in the children’s magazine Asahi Shogakusei Shinbun until 2019 and released a total of 65 tankoubon volumes.
The manga inspired a TV anime series that has been broadcasted since April 10, 1993. Over 2,000 episodes have been released in total, and the series is currently the longest running program of the NHK channel.
Besides a 2011 anime film, the series also inspired a 1996 anime film and several video games. Director Takashi Miike directed a live-action film adaptation of the series under the title Ninja Kids!!!.
The story follows the young ninja apprentice Rantaro, who trains at an elite ninjutsu academy in historical Japan. He is joined by several elementary students, who are collectively known as “Nintama” (which combines the Japanese words for “ninja” and “egg”).
Source: Ninja Rantaro Film Official Twitter, Official Anime Website