Nintama Rantarō

Nintama Rantarō is a Japanese anime series produced by Ajia-do Animation Works and broadcast on NHK since 10 April 1993. It is an adaptation of the manga series Rakudai Ninja Rantarō, written and illustrated by Sōbe Amako. Nintama Rantarō centers on the titular character and his friends as they attend a school for budding ninja. Like the manga on which it is based, there are a considerable amount of anachronisms for comedic purposes; for example, the titular character is bespectacled and katakana is used several times. The anime also references other Japanese media personalities such as Ken Shimura. In July 2011, a live action film version directed by Takashi Miike titled Ninja Kids!!! was released. The rights to produce an American version of the film are in negotiations.