Yōtōden (戦国奇譚妖刀伝) is a 3-episode Japanese original video animation produced by J.C.Staff, the studio's first production. In 1989, Yōtōden was re-edited into a feature film version titled Wrath of the Ninja for English-speaking regions, but is currently out of print. A manga adaptation was serialized in Newtype.

Plot

The story takes place during Japan's great civil war Sengoku period, beginning in the summer of 1581 and ending two years later. In the anime, the historical warlord Oda Nobunaga is really an evil demon killing everyone who stands in his way. An ancient prophecy says three mystical Demon Blades from three different ninja clans can end Nobunaga's unholy campaign. The story follows Kasumi no Ayanosuke, a young kunoichi (female ninja) who has escaped her village's annihilation, in her heroic efforts to reunite these three sacred weapons use them to kill Nobunaga.

Characters

Protagonists

Antagonists

Other characters

OVA

The series was released in three episodes from 1987 to 1988 in Japan only on VHS and videodisc formats; a laserdisc version was also released in 1990. The OVA series had been not licensed in the west until 2002, when it was released in the UK by ADV Films on VHS. In 2006 the series was also released on DVD by U.S. Manga Corps under the title Wrath of Ninja - The Complete Yotoden Saga.

Film

The compilation movie version of Yōtōden was cut together by MTV Japan and released cinematically, premiering at Ikebukuro Theater on May 27, 1989, with VHS and videodisc home releases coming out the following month in August. This version is 45 minutes shorter than the OVA series. A special laserdisc version was also released in Japan only in 1990, containing four new scenes. It has been released in the US by U.S. Manga Corps on VHS in 1998 as Wrath of the Ninja: Yotoden, and on DVD in 1999 and 2003 as Wrath of the Ninja: The Yotoden Movie. Another American DVD version was released in 2009 by Anime Cartoon DVD RSP as Wrath of the Ninja without a sub-title.

Manga

The Yōtōden manga was published after the anime and ran for a year (September 1989 - September 1990) in the Japanese magazine Newtype, later also published in a book form in 1991 and in Kadokawa Newtype 100% Comics in 1992. The manga differs from the anime in some significant ways (including the introduction of the new character Kagome), but the main characters remain the same.

Other

Other media and items for the series included two soundtracks released on CD by Victor Musical Industries, Inc. in 1987–1988, two artbooks, a line of collectible phone cards, and a large number of minor merchandise such as calendars, posters, postcards, etc.

Reception

The OVA series achieved enormous success in Japan upon its initial release, including being voted by the readers of Gakken's animation magazine AnimeV as the best OVA in both 1987 and 1988. Ayame was also voted the best female character, and Sakon won the first place for two constructive years in the category best supporting character. According to a 1997 review by EX, "For a complex, intelligent, and entertaining historical period anime, YOTODEN remains difficult to beat."

Sources