Ninja Cadets

In a foiled attempt to kidnap an infant princess, the princess is rescued by a loyal ninja and is hidden in a village where she is raised as a common female ninja. Many years later, some promising young ninja students are about to be put through one final test, to see if they possess the skills required to be accepted as full ninja. They are known as Sakura, Matsuri, Yume, Pochi, and Hayashi, and their mission is to sneak inside the Byakuro Castle and steal a secret scroll. Little do they know that one of them is the surviving princess, nor are they aware that they are being following. We're sure our young ninja cadets can prove they have what it takes to be full ninja, the only question is whether they can do it before they kill each other!

Directed by —, Ninja Cadets leans on a strong ensemble — Kouki Miyata, Hiroko Konishi, Hitomi Miyajima — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about animation titles of 1996.