When the words ninja or shinobi are brought up while discussing popular anime, Naruto is the only one that comes to everyone’s mind. However, there have been several other shows that have tackled the theme of ninjas, and some even did it better.
There have been shows about ninjas that predate Naruto in production, while some have recently been released and blown up in popularity, with some fans claiming that these anime could possibly be better than Naruto.
In the list below, we have listed some of the best anime-themed around ninjas that are better than Naruto.
Ninja-themed anime that are better than Naruto
Basilisk
Basilisk is an anime about a ninja clan war that takes place in the year 1614. It is adapted from the manga written and illustrated by Masaki Segawa, which was again adapted from the original novels in 1958, titled ‘The Kouga Ninja Scrolls’ written by Futaro Yamada.
The story follows characters from the Ninja clans Iga and Kouga clashing with each other in the middle of determining the position for the next shogun.
Unlike Naruto, Basilisk throws its elite Ninja characters into violent scenes of mutilation and nudity, and does not play around with emotions; these characters fight each other to the death, and by the end of the show, a lot of bodies get piled up.
Ninja Scroll
Ninja Scroll is definitely one of the most popular anime films from the early 90s. It was directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, who also worked in several other remarkable anime films from that era, such as Wicked City, Demon City Shinjuku, and Vampire Hunter D
The plot of Ninja Scroll follows the character Kibagami Jubei as he takes on a team of elite ninjas called the eight devils of Kimon, who are trying to overthrow the shogunate.
Prior to Naruto hitting the global shores, Ninja Scroll was definitely one of the most popular anime media that was about ninjas. The film even influenced the Matrix movies, as confirmed by The Wachowskis.
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
Hell’s Paradise is definitely one of the recent anime that got heavily popular and features ninjas as prominent characters. Adapted from the manga with the same name, which is written and illustrated by Yuji Kaku.
The show deals with heavy supernatural elements and follows the story of Gabimaru the Hollow, a ruthless and skilled ninja. He gets captured and sentenced to death, but nothing seems to kill him, so he is pardoned and ordered to find the Elixir of Time.
With Naruto’s story having ended for years now and the critical reception around Boruto, Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku is a really good alternative for fans of ninja anime.
Flame of Recca
Flame of Recca is an anime from the 90s that features characters in prominent roles of ninjas in supernatural combat. It was adapted from the manga by Nobuyuki Anzai, which ran from 1995 to 2002
The plot of Flame of Recca follows Recca Hanabishi, a high school student, and meets Yanagi Sakoshita, who can heal injuries and pledges his life in service to her.
The story further goes into Recca discovering his past, being related to an ancient ninja clan, which calls forth more vicious threats and obstacles for him to face.
Flame of Recca is a good alternative to Naruto in the sense that people often tend to forget that the shows are themed around ninjas. The characters don’t dress according to the conventional image of ninjas, and the fights feel like they have a lot of original ideas put into them.
Katanagatari
Katanagatari is a show which we have talked about previously, stating how beautiful the art style and designs in the show are. However, given the current context, the show doesn’t feature ninjas primarily like the one above, but they are an important part of the story.
Katanagatari is based on a light novel series written by Nisio Isin. The story involves our main characters in the search for twelve weapons named the Deviant Blades, which were crafted by a legendary swordsmith.
On the other side of the search for these legendary blades, there exists the Maniwa Ninja Corps, who are also looking for the Deviant blades and serve as the antagonist for the anime.
If a fan of Naruto is looking for a show that features a grand journey, away from the usual bustling shounen action, then Katanagatari is the perfect show to relax and watch.
Ninja Kamui
One of the most recently released shows with some big production names under its belt such as Warner Bros Television and Adult Swim. Ninja Kamui is definitely the one ahead of Naruto or even Boruto right now to push Ninja-themed shows forward.
The plot follows a former Ninja named Higan who is on the run and hiding with his wife in America under the fake name Joe Logan. He is being chased by deadly assassins from his former clan because of his betrayal of the present leader.
Ninja Kamui masterfully blends sci-fi themes into ninja action for modern audiences. The show was first aired in the US through Adult Swim, and then later went on to be broadcast on Japanese television.
Ninja Resurrection
Ninja Resurrection is another show about ninjas that predate the Naruto anime in release. It is a two-part OVA based on a historical fantasy novel titled Makai Tenshi, written by the Japanese author Futaro Yamada.
Thematically, it is very similar to the likes of Basilisk and Ninja Scroll, involving a medieval setting and ninja characters with supernatural abilities in combat.
The story of Ninja Resurrection revolves around Yaguu Jubei, who must prevent the resurrection of Amakusa Shiro, the leader of a rebellion who was slain by assassination. According to a prophecy, if Shiro returns, then his rebirth will be as the vessel for Satan.
