Ninja Cadets! DVD

During Japan's feudal era, the Byakuro and Kabusu ninja clans have been locked in bitter war for generations. One night, the Kabusu stage a devastating raid on the Byakuro stronghold with one objective: capture the clan's infant princess. A loyal Byakuro ninja flees the assault with the baby and disappears — raising her in secret, somewhere, as one of their own. Years later, six young ninja cadets are given their final exam: infiltrate the now Kabusu-occupied Byakuro castle and retrieve a sacred scroll. The team consists of Sakura, the cheerful one; Pochi, the earnest animal-lover; Matsuri, the energetic one; Hayashi, the cool-headed one; Yume, the mysterious one; and their instructor Kaoru. Split into pairs and sent into enemy territory, they navigate traps, enemy checkpoints, giant spider demons, and a mecha-beetle kaiju battle while the Kabusu clan deploys their best mercenary ninja to shadow the group — because intel suggests that the long-lost Byakuro princess is somewhere among these cadets. The question is which one. None of them know the answer either.

Ninja Cadets holds a unique place in anime history: its Japanese DVD release carries the distinction of being the first anime DVD ever released , and the North American DVD release produced by Media Blasters marks the first English dub ever produced by Bang Zoom! Entertainment — the same studio that would go on to dub Rurouni Kenshin, Mahoromatic, and more. The two-episode OVA was produced by AIC and Youmex — the creative team behind the Bubblegum Crisis series — directed, storyboarded, and character-designed entirely by Eiji Suganuma , making it his only original creation.

Released on DVD in North America by Media Blasters (Anime Works) on January 25, 2000.

Notable Staff & Voice Talent

Director / Character Designer / Storyboard: Eiji Suganuma
Studio: AIC (Anime International Company) / Youmex (Bubblegum Crisis producers)
Music: Takeo Miratsu

Japanese Cast:
- Hiroko Konishi as Sakura (Now and Then Here and There, Pilot Candidate)
- Mami Nakajima as Matsuri
- Ken'ichi Suzumura as Nikko

English Dub Cast (Bang Zoom! Entertainment — First Ever Bang Zoom! Dub):
- Sandy Fox as Sakura (Steel Angel Kurumi, Knights of Ramune)
- Lia Sargent as Matsuri (Gate Keepers 21, éX-Driver)
- Mona Marshall as Pochi (Steel Angel Kurumi, Mahoromatic, Ninja Cadets)
- Lex Lang as Hayashi / Matsuzaka (Gestalt, Rurouni Kenshin)
- Georgette Rose as Yume
- Jack Cox as Kaoru
- Michelle Ruff as additional cast
- Derek Stephen Prince as Nikko
- Steve Kramer as Yukinobu / Tea House Master

DVD Features

- Media Blasters / Anime Works Previews

Spoken Languages: English & Japanese Audio, English Subtitles

Edition Details

Japanese Title: 忍者者 (Ninja Mono)
Runtime: ~60 Minutes (Complete OVA, 2 Episodes)
Director: Eiji Suganuma
DVD Release Year: 2000 (U.S. Release, January 25 — Media Blasters / Anime Works)
Original Release Date (Japan): March 27 – June 12, 1996 (First Anime DVD Ever Released in Japan)
Publisher: Media Blasters (Anime Works)
Rating: 13+
Region: Region 1 (U.S. / Canada)
Note: The original Japanese DVD release of Ninja Cadets is historically significant as the first anime title ever released on DVD format. The North American DVD is also the first English dub produced by Bang Zoom! Entertainment.
Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy
Themes: Feudal Japan, Rival Ninja Clans, Hidden Princess, Final Exam Mission, Anime DVD History

Media assumed VG+ unless otherwise noted.