Film Name: 忍者兵 / Ninja Kids
During a recent spring cleaning at home, I dug up the DVD case for this movie, but it was just an empty shell—the disc itself was gone. Judging by where it was stored, it must have been over a decade since I last watched it. Back in elementary school, we used to play this disc all the time. It’s an unforgettable memory—or rather, that entire era itself is an unforgettable memory.
A few days ago, I revisited it on Youku. It seems there’s no clear restored version online; the source material was likely just a DVD video file. Aside from a few Hokkien puns I couldn’t quite catch, the comedy still hits the mark. The action scenes are wild but passable. As a family-friendly flick, it may not be a classic, but it delivers solidly. Among low-budget comedies of that era, it ranks above average—it left a lasting impression.
At its core, the film is essentially a ninja version of Kung Fu Hustle, so it naturally incorporates martial arts and comic-style humor elements. It doesn’t delve into historical accuracy about ninjas or ninjutsu culture—nor does it need to. By leveraging common ninja tropes like stealth diving, shuriken, and smoke bombs, it effectively captures the chaotic school life of a group of young ninjas. The primary settings are an indoor studio (the ninja academy) and an outdoor location. With its modest scale and production scope, the plot focuses on crafting variety within these limited confines rather than pursuing grand narratives. For instance, the main storyline of the battle between good and evil only emerges in the final 20 minutes. Throughout, the film remains lively and amusing, with well-rounded characters.
The cast list on Baidu seems incomplete, so I’ve compiled it myself based on the film’s subtitles (may not be entirely accurate). Here’s a brief introduction to each character:
Huang Yifei as Principal: Founder of the Ninja Academy, now retired from the martial arts world. Emotionally expressive, often deducts one yuan from Teacher Yiyuan’s salary.
Wu Mengda as Teacher Yiyuan: The main instructor for the protagonists, constantly embroiled in embarrassing mishaps and misfortunes.
Lin Xiaolou as Teacher Erci: Primarily responsible for looking cool and being the main combat power in the show.
Hao Shaowen as Hao Shaowen, a wealthy second-generation heir and the comic relief, constantly teasing Teacher Yiyuan with witty remarks.
Chou Mei as Chou Mei, Hao Shaowen’s starstruck little fan girl, responsible for playing the straight man to Hao Shaowen’s jokes and setting up punchlines.
Shi Xiaobao as Shi Xiaobao: Clearly intended to replace Shi Xiaolong (whose absence remains unexplained), he handles the action sequences. However, lacking distinct personality and with limited combat scenes, his presence often feels underwhelming.
Ren Ying as Xiao Ying: The film’s secondary female fighter, though more often portrayed as a money-obsessed character who schemes to extract cash from others. Her earnest acting approach is evident throughout.
Li Jianren as Canteen Granny: Known for her terrible cooking, she forbids picky eaters from leaving leftovers. Feisty and domineering, she frequently meets secretly with the Headmaster.
Zhang Liwei as Super-Awesome Ninja: Always tries to appear formidable in public, but his actual skills are lacking. He joined the Ninja Academy to redeem himself, dreaming of becoming a top-tier ninja.
Hsu Hsiao-Shun as Kidnapper-in-Chief: A down-and-out bandit specially hired by the Headmaster as the academy’s dedicated kidnapper, satisfying his abduction cravings while causing endless headaches for everyone around him.
Wong Hung as Red Demon of the Bamboo Poison Sect, Liu Xun as Green Demon: The ultimate villains of the film.
Please specify：Anime Phone Cases » Ninja Kids 1997 Film Review: An outstanding work of comedy cinema