A new main key visual and trailer have been revealed for the upcoming Gekijoban Nintama Rantaro Dokutake Ninjatai Saikyo no Gunshi anime film, which will begin screening in Japan on December 20, 2024. 

The film is unofficially listed with the English title Nintama Rantaro: The Fierce Strategist of the Dokutake Ninjas. 

Masaya Fujimori (Kemono Jihen, Revenger) is directing the new anime film, returning from his previous work on the franchise’s 2011 film Gekijo-ban Anime Nintama Rantaro Ninjutsu Gakuen Zenin Shutsudo! no Dan. Kazuhisa Sakaguchi is penning the film’s scripts. Ajia-do Animation Works is handling the animation production after working on the manga’s long-running TV anime series Nintama Rantaro. 

The returning voice cast members from the series starring in the film include: 

• • Minami Takayama as Rantaro
• • Mayumi Tanaka as Kirimaru
• • Teiyu Ichiryusai as Shinbei Fukutomi
• • Toshihiko Seki as Hansuke Doi

The film is based on Sakaguchi‘s 2013 novel of the same name, which focuses on Rantaro’s teacher, Hansuke Doi, becoming a teacher at Ninjutsu Academy. 

The original manga series Rakudai Ninja Rantaro was created by Soubee Amako and published by The Asahi Shimbun Company in 1986. It was serialized in the children’s magazine Asahi Shogakusei Shinbun until 2019, releasing 65 total tankobon volumes. 

The manga inspired a TV anime series that has aired since April 10, 1993 for over 2,000 total episodes. The series is currently the longest running program on the NHK channel. 

Besides a 2011 anime film, the series also inspired a 1996 anime film and several video games. In 2011, Takashi Miike directed a live-action film adaptation of the series under the title Ninja Kids!!!. 

The main premise centers on a young ninja apprentice named Rantaro, who trains at an elite ninjutsu academy in historical Japan. He is joined by several elementary students that are collectively known as “Nintama” (a combination of the Japanese words for “ninja” and “egg”). 

Source: Nintama Rantaro Official Twitter, Official Anime Website 

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