History Main / NINJA

In American movies, especially the ones from the '80s with "ninja" in the titles, only the hero ninja and the BigBad ninja make any pretense of stealth or invisibility -- and sometimes, [[TechnicolorNinjas not even them]]. Any underling ninjas will be the class of {{mooks}} known as HighlyVisibleNinja. In the late 20th Century, they [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates_versus_Ninjas became]] the arch-enemies of {{Pirate}}s, for [[MemeticMutation no reason other than the]] RuleOfCool.

In American movies, especially the ones from the '80s with "ninja" in the titles, only the hero ninja and the BigBad ninja make any pretense of stealth or invisibility -- and sometimes, [[TechnicolorNinjas not even them]]. Any underling ninjas will be the class of {{mooks}} known as HighlyVisibleNinja. In the late 20th Century, they [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates_versus_Ninjas became]] the arch-enemies of [[{{Pirate}} Pirates]], for no reason other than the RuleOfCool.

For [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates_versus_Ninjas some reason]], there's a [[MemeticMutation running joke]] about them being the arch-enemies of {{Pirate}}s.

Or so popular legend has it. While ninjas did indeed exist, their reputation for invisibility and infiltration more likely stemmed from their willingness to dress as members of a lower social class when no one else in Japan would consider doing such a thing. Their "invisibility" was part ''[[http://www.bmoviecomic.com/index.php?cid=53 psychological]]'' in cause -- by dressing as a peasant, they were ignored and dismissed, or [[BeneathNotice never even noticed at all]], by the upper classes, a useful thing despite the oft fierce travel restrictions on the lower classes. Superior knowledge of survival skills, a lot of actual stealth, poisons, assassination techniques and [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty unorthodox tactics]] (added to the fact that the ninjas actively encouraged the spread of rumors of their magical abilities) were the most important though. A popular myth states that ninjas came from lower classes (at least compared to the {{samurai}}) and they were often hired to do the dirty deeds honorable samurai would not do, but in reality ninjas were usually samurai, or in some rare cases, mercenaries who work for the samurai. Ninjas were mainly used for espionage and sabotage, and sometimes assassination.

Ninjas were also quite skilled with a variety of tools, such as the multipurpose ''kunai'' [[strike: knife]] trowel. Plainly put, while a stereotypical Ninja would jump around on rooftops in [[TechnicolorNinjas ridiculous clothing]], a real Ninja most likely would simply infiltrate [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim the household staff and poison a meal.]] Among many other things, a good ninja [[Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy always knew where his]] ''[[Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy sanjaku tenugui]]'' [[Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy was]].

The classic ninja costume (see picture) is, in fact, the outfit worn by stagehands in traditional Japanese theatre. Japanese stagehands are frequently in full view on the stage, but the audience was trained to ignore them and thus are considered "invisible" by the audience. It became the practice to hide ninja characters in full sight by putting them in the same outfits as the stagehands, [[PaintingTheMedium for a startling effect when characters were suddenly attacked by "thin air"]]. The stereotypical black "ninja outfit" is actually horribly conspicuous, even at night. For night stealth, real ninjas wore dark blue outfits; someone dressed in solid black will stand out like a silhouette. Usually, though, ninjas dressed like ordinary people (peasants, monks, merchants, scholars, etc). That way, they can move about unnoticed, day or night.

** Ninja can catch arrows in flight - BUSTED! Guiness book or Records champion Ninja, they shot safety arrows at him. 6 arrows hit him. He jumped away from 3 and caught the 10th arrow; in a real fight, he would have been dead before that 10th arrow.

* ''[[http://www.askaninja.com/ Ask A Ninja]]'' is a website where viewers e-mail a guy questions and he answers them as a ninja would.

* [[http://askaninja.com/ Ask a Ninja!]]

Or so popular legend has it. While ninjas did indeed existed, their reputation for invisibility and infiltration more likely stemmed from their willingness to dress as members of a lower social class when no one else in Japan would consider doing such a thing. Their "invisibility" was part ''[[http://www.bmoviecomic.com/index.php?cid=53 psychological]]'' in cause -- by dressing as a peasant, they were ignored and dismissed, or [[BeneathNotice never even noticed at all]], by the upper classes, a useful thing despite the oft fierce travel restrictions on the lower classes. Superior knowledge of survival skills, a lot of actual stealth, poisons, assassination techniques and [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty unorthodox tactics]] (added to the fact that the ninjas actively encouraged the spread of rumors of their magical abilities) were the most important though. A popular myth states that ninjas came from lower classes (at least compared to the {{samurai}}) and they were often hired to do the dirty deeds honorable samurai would not do, but in reality ninjas were usually samurai, or in some rare cases, mercenaries who work for the samurai. Ninjas were mainly used for espionage and sabotage, and sometimes assassination.

** The original Japanese names of these sentai shows are ''Series/NinjaSentaiKakuranger'' and ''[[NinpuuSentaiHurricanger Ninpuu (Ninja Wind) Sentai Hurricanger]]'', respectively.

* ''TabletopGame/Paranoia'' supplement ''Acute Paranoia'' adventure "Warriors of the Night Cycle". The High Programmer Hik-U-VRS creates a group of elite stealth warriors with the skills of the Old Reckoning ninja.

Or so popular legend has it. While ninjas did indeed existed, their reputation for invisibility and infiltration more likely stemmed from their willingness to dress as members of a lower social class when no one else in Japan would consider doing such a thing. Their "invisibility" was part ''[[http://www.bmoviecomic.com/index.php?cid=53 psychological]]'' in cause -- by dressing as a peasant, they were ignored and dismissed, or [[BeneathNotice never even noticed at all]], by the upper classes, a useful thing despite the oft fierce travel restrictions on the lower classes. Superior knowledge of survival skills, a lot of actual stealth, poisons, assassination techniques and [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty unorthodox tactics]] (added to the fact that the ninjas actively encouraged the spread of rumors of their magical abilities) were the most important though. A popular myth states that ninjas came from lower classes (at least compared to the {{samurai}}), but in reality, ninjas were usually samurai, or in some rare cases, mercenaries who work for the samurai. They were mainly used for espionage and sabotage, and sometimes assassination.

The classic ninja costume (See picture) is, in fact, the outfit worn by stagehands in traditional Japanese theatre. Japanese stagehands are frequently in full view on the stage, but the audience was trained to ignore them and thus are considered "invisible" by the audience. It became the practice to hide ninja characters in full sight by putting them in the same outfits as the stagehands, [[PaintingTheMedium for a startling effect when characters were suddenly attacked by "thin air"]]. The stereotypical black "ninja outfit" is actually horribly conspicuous, even at night. For night stealth, real ninjas wore dark blue outfits; someone dressed in solid black will stand out like a silhouette.

Or so popular legend has it. While ninjas may have existed, their reputation for invisibility and infiltration more likely stemmed from their willingness to dress as members of a lower social class when no one else in Japan would consider doing such a thing. Their "invisibility" was part ''[[http://www.bmoviecomic.com/index.php?cid=53 psychological]]'' in cause -- by dressing as a peasant, they were ignored and dismissed, or [[BeneathNotice never even noticed at all]], by the {{samurai}} and other upper classes, a useful thing despite the oft fierce travel restrictions on the lower classes. Superior knowledge of survival skills, a lot of actual stealth, poisons, assassination techniques and [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty unorthodox tactics]] (added to the fact that the ninjas actively encouraged the spread of rumors of their magical abilities) were the most important though. They did tend to come from lower classes (at least compared to samurai), but any media that says they were all peasants self-trained to attack the samurai as freedom fighters hasn't done the research. Often they were hired by powerful figures to perform deeds that honorable samurai would not do. They were mainly used for espionage and sabotage, and sometimes assassination.

The classic ninja costume (See picture) is, in fact, the outfit worn by stagehands in traditional Japanese theatre. Japanese stagehands are frequently in full view on the stage, but the audience was trained to ignore them and thus are considered "invisible" by the audience. It became the practice to hide ninja characters in full sight by putting them in the same outfits as the stagehands, [[PaintingTheMedium for a startling effect when characters were suddenly attacked by "thin air"]].

* ''WebAnimated/{{Ninjas}}'', though the story only really features one.

* Can't forget the [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Ninja-Style Dancer]].
* ''WebVideo/NinjaTheMissionForce'', anyone?

* Ashida Kim is a self-proclaimed ninja who is based in Lake Alfred, Florida. Having written over 30 books on the subject, he claims to have learned his ninjitsu from someone named Shendai. He also claims to have met Count Dante (who is best known for his "Deadliest Man Alive" ads appearing for years in comic books) and trained under him. He also has posted a $10,000 challenge to anyone who wants to fight him. It should be pointed out that the aforementioned $10,000 is not awarded to the person who defeats Kim. It is Kim's fee (plus travelling/lodging expenses and a $25,000 appearance bond assuring the challenger is "serious") for showing up to the fight. Long suspected to be the pseudonym of a Christopher Hunter, recent investigations have confirmed that Ashida Kim's birth name is Radford Davis.

The classic ninja costume (See picture) is, in fact, the outfit worn by stagehands in traditional Japanese theatre. Japanese stagehands are frequently in full view on the stage, but the audience was trained to ignore them and thus are and considered "invisible" by the audience. It became the practice to hide ninja characters in full sight by putting them in the same outfits as the stagehands, [[PaintingTheMedium for a startling effect when characters were suddenly attacked by "thin air"]].

** The original Japanese names of these sentai shows are ''NinjaSentaiKakuranger'' and ''[[NinpuuSentaiHurricanger Ninpuu (Ninja Wind) Sentai Hurricanger]]'', respectively.
** Everyone forgets the famous SekaiNinjaSenJiraiya for some reason.

* ''{{Change 123}}'', in its later volumes, introduces an all-female ninja clan whose members infiltrate into Motoko's school to recruit Motoko (or, rather, to recruit her [[MultiplePersonalities alternate badass personalities]]). Unlike typical {{Highly Visible Ninja}}s, they actually blend into the normal world, wear plain clothes (even when they're in their ninja village), and use weapons which are disguised as normal everyday objects.

* Kasumi from ''MassEffect2''. Thane could also qualify.
** MassEffect3 brings us Cerberus Phantoms, which are ninjas armed with insanely sharp wakizashis and are protected by barriers. There's also Kai Leng, who's basically the boss version of a phantom.

* Ehud from Literature/BookOfJudges is the UrExample of {{Ninja}}. Yes, the first ninja in the history[[hottip:*:Currently, at any rate; who knows if there is any older literature who features them]] is a Jew.

* Some of the more infamous {{Ninja}} in history (and some folk lores) especially originating from JidaiGeki:
** HattoriHanzo, the MiyamotoMusashi equivalent of {{Ninja}}, was a sort of proto-ninja: as an Iga retainer in service of the Tokugawa dynasty, he was seen as a retainer with an exceptional special skillset and tactical bravado (earning him the moniker [[RedBaron "Devil Hanzo"]])-- however he was also reknown for swordsmanship excellence, and skills with a spear. His appearance as a ninja nowadays is probably a direct result of his tactical choices that earned him his "Devil" nickname; tactics along the lines of subversion, misinformation, assassination, etc.

* Kingpin sics a bunch of ninja on the ''{{Runaways}}''.

* [[SonicX Sonic X]] has Espio the Chameleon. He is (unlike the others in his group) calm and collected. As a part of the Chaotix detective agency, he made his debut in episode 39 (a loose tie-in with the game [[SonicHeroes Sonic Heroes]]). That was, however, his only appearance on Earth. In fact, that was his ONLY appearance in the original 52 episodes! He would later go on to appear in episode 59, where he is again seen with the Chaotix crew. During season 3 he became more of a prominent character. The appearances of the Chaotix were strictly for filler episodes until episode 74, where they became background characters for each of the remaining episodes, participating in combat against the Metarex. Akin to his video game counterpart, Espio uses all manner of Ninja skills to battle opponents. His trademark abitlity is to turn invisible to sneak up on his enemies. He also uses a variety of weapons including an enormous collection of shuriken, and even threatens Sonic's life at one point with one of his kunai ninja knives. Despite his limited appearance in the series, he is somewhat of a fan favorite.

* In the SonicTheHedgehog series, Espio the Chameleon, ever since the Chaotix crew's return in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''. Complete with invisibility powers and giant shuriken.

* The pulp magazine version of TheShadow was essentially a ninja...with guns and the coolness factor turned up to Eleven.

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad:'' When Roger shows up in one episode: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_Pb-EnT560&feature=relmfu "I'm a ninja everybody! I'm doing NINJA stuff now!!"]]

* ''Main/Ninjago:'' The [[Technicolor Ninja]] protagonists are your stereotype [[Highly Visible Ninja]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:Other]]
* In a story published during spring training of 2007, Chicago Cubs then-closer (now starter) Ryan Dempster claimed to be training as a ninja. He was joking... we think.

* ''Main/Ninjago Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitz:'' The stereotypical [[Technicolor Ninja]] protagonists.

[[folder:Other]]
* In a story published during spring training of 2007, Chicago Cubs then-closer (now starter) Ryan Dempster claimed to be training as a ninja. He was joking... we think.
[[/folder]]

* ''{{Shogun}}'' features realistic ninjas, and it's amazing to read James Clavell actually [[YouShouldKnowThisAlready explaining to the reader]] what ninjas are.

* Ninjas using both 'traditional' weapons and explosives attack John Blackthorne and Mariko in the 1980 miniseries ''{{Shogun}}''.