A perfect example of a late 2000s show.
Summary:
- Nabari no Ou is one of those forgotten anime of the 2000s.
- It features ninjas, but action is not the main focus of the show: the human drama is.
- The anime was released before the manga ended, so it suffers from stifled development of some characters.
- Manga, however, allows characters to appear more humane and explores the gray morals and intricacies of humans better.
- It's still watchable in 2024.
We sometimes jump on the nostalgia train, one that stems from the times we ourselves got into anime, and to some of us the most remarkable time was the second half of the 2000s. It had a lot of shows that are now called "sleeper hits", but among them, there is one that's been mentioned less than others — Nabari no Ou.
It's quite fitting to remember this show right now when Under Ninja has just finished airing, as it also deals with ninjas in modern times — albeit adds a bit more supernatural flair to it. It centers around Rokujou Miharu, a 14-year-old kid who possesses a very valuable ninja technique that may make him the ruler of Nabari — hence the title of the show. There are people who call themselves Miharu's allies and their goal is to erase this power, and there are people who are considered his rivals and who want to take this power for themselves. The goal is to find the scrolls that will allow the characters to deal with this technique.
Not your average Naruto rip-off
This story can be summed up as a milder version of Bungo Stray Dogs with a bit of a more naive theme, as it also features a lot of gangs fighting and then reluctantly joining forces. Back when it was announced, people brushed it off as another Naruto clone, but it's far from that.
Granted, the ninjas doing ninja things is not what sells the show. This series is not as action-packed as you'd think, its main feature is the character development. Not all characters get it, sadly, mainly Miharu and another boy, an 18-year-old Yoite from the rival clan, who becomes one of his most trusted allies. Then again, the troubles with character development arise only in anime, as it was released in 2008, and the manga by Yuhki Kamatani that served as its source material wasn't finished yet by this time.
Less action, more drama
The manga ran from 2004 to 2010 and was able to properly explore different characters throughout its run. And manga did a much better job at showing the gray moral of the predicament, adding a sense of realism. Characters sometimes act unreasonably, they sometimes can't deal with their emotions.
This can also be seen in the second half of the anime when the plot turns melodramatic. You start questioning who is actually right in this war between clans. Who actually deserves support, whom should you cheer for?
Under the shiny wrapper of a shonen ninja show lies a story about trust, friendship, loyalty, choices, and fates. The anime's ending is a bit different from the manga. It's bittersweet, but still satisfactory and conclusive. Manga expands the story, adds some events, and gives more depth to the characters, allowing you to get immersed in this world, but the ending also hits harder because of that.
And it's still watchable 15 years later, with gorgeous backgrounds and recognizable designs. Shame it was forgotten.