Ninja Nonsense 9/10

Take one ninja girl named Shinobu, one schoolgirl named Kaede, a strange flying and talking yellow ball named Onsokumaru, and a bunch of faceless loser ninjas and what do you get? A pretty damn hilarious show, that's what.

Ninja Nonsense (or the punerrific JP version "2x2=Shinobuden") runs 12 episodes and aired back in 2004. Each episode is actually 2 separate 15 min. stories which is always a good sign in a comedy series since some of the funniest gags just don't carry a half hour. Right off the start let me say that I love both the OP and ED. The ED is particularly good since it's all stop motion ninjas running around chasing Onsokumaru around a house. Ninja cabaret is all good as well. The art for this show is really great with a pretty consistent look over the course of the series (the ninjas actually complain about the crappy artwork consistency of current anime). The music is pretty good but the OP and ED really stand out. The VAs are also excellent, I got a little sick of Shinobu's little sister, Miyabi, but the voice of Onsokumaru more than makes up for it. Norio Wakamoto did this voice in Azumanga Daioh and has done it in several shows since. The particular nasal voice he uses sometimes doesn't work but it's perfect for the lecherous yellow ninja master. Bravo.

Shinobu is a young kunoichi (female ninja) who's in training at Onsokumaru's ninja school. She meets up with Kaede while on a mission to steal underwear and they become fast friends. The rest of the series is pretty much just little adventures the two girls have with Onsokumaru and the ninjas at their ninja compound.

Onsokumaru is mainly in floating ball form and can grow arms, legs, and wings as the circumstances require. He also occasionally transforms into a human form but the real comedy is when "ball" Onsokumaru is attacked by his ninja pupils in response to his various perverted fantasies or selfish desires. Of course the ninjas are sometimes no match for him and he can hand them their asses in equally hilarious fashion. What's also really funny is that since the ninja team seem to have little or no experience in the outside world, Kaede shows up to celebrate Christmas or something they jump to wild conclusions and it's funny as hell.

This show had me laughing out loud throughout and that's a rare thing for me. It's a little crude at times but the fart jokes are at a minimum. You might enjoy the show a little more if you're familiar with anime stereotypes but it's hilarious nevertheless. Highly recommended.