Film Name:忍者兵 / Trouble Maker
《Ninja Kids》 is a film full of comedic elements and martial arts kung-fu style that made its place in the film market at the time with a small budget production. The film shows the lives of the young ninjas through a series of hilarious episodes of school udon routines, without much historical or cultural examination, but using common ninja symbols such as diving, shuriken, and smoke bombs to build the story world. While the special effects and filming techniques may seem a little dated, the humour and pacing are well captured, allowing the film to remain engaging for the audience.
Character-wise, the film showcases a variety of distinctive characters through rich characterisation and interactions. For example, Hao Shao Wen plays the young rich kid who is the comic relief, while the ugly girl is responsible for interacting with Hao Shao Wen and eliciting laughs. Although Shi Xiaobao is responsible for the fighting part, his presence is relatively weak due to the small number of fighting episodes. Other characters such as the head gardener, Teacher Yiyuan, and Teacher Second, each with different personality traits and story lines, work together to make up the film’s comedic effect.
The film’s treatment of themes, such as numbness and desire, may seem a bit common and clichéd, but the clever story structure and characterisation allows these themes to be explored in depth. In particular, the film’s portrayal of numbness and desire, and how it can get wrapped up in habits that ultimately lead to horrific consequences, are issues worth pondering.
Overall, 《Ninja Kids》 is a film full of laughs and surprises, and whilst it may be slightly dated in some respects, its sense of humour and storytelling still deserve recognition. The film successfully combines ninja culture with elements of school ouroboros to create a story world that is both entertaining and insightful.
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