Before the studio became a powerhouse for high-octane action, ufotable produced Ninja Nonsense (Ninin ga Shinobuden), a surreal 2004 comedy that leans heavily into meta-humor and absurdity. The premise follows Kaede, an ordinary student whose life is upended by Shinobu, a ninja-in-training whose bizarre final exam requires her to steal Kaede’s underwear. What follows is a chaotic friendship defined by partying ninjas and a yellow, round creature named Onsokumaru.
As a parody of the shounen ninja genre, the series prioritizes rapid-fire gags and self-aware writing over traditional storytelling. It serves as a fascinating time capsule of mid-2000s experimental comedy, showcasing a much looser, irreverent side of ufotable’s animation history compared to their modern, polished output.
All 12 episodes are now available to stream on both Crunchyroll and Hulu, with both English dubbed and subtitled versions provided. Given its short length and finished status, it serves as a quick, low-stakes watch for those looking to revisit early-2000s cult classics.
