Himwari! is the sole new ninja anime of the season (I think); as such, I was really looking forward to it! Finally, someone actually subbed the first episode! So did the first episode live up to my strict ninja anime expectations?
I’m a sucker for ninja anime, so yes, I think Himawari is awesome. This anime tells the tale of Hinata Himawari. In the past, she was apparently in some sci-fi airplane crash, and a ninja saved her life. Ever since then, she’s wanted to be a ninja to protect someone. Sure, the story sounds fairly run of the mill, but it’s all in the execution, right?
The anime starts off with Himawari entering the hidden ninja village via a kite. The kite malfunctions and she makes a crash landing on the temple gate. At the same time, her soon to be teacher (and perhaps more?), Marikouji Hayato, sees her in peril and bikes to her rescue. He sorta saves her (and sees her panties: yellow shuriken!?), but then he freaks out because he’s a normal guy surrounded by ninja! Did I mention that Hayato has the same shuriken birthmark as the ninja that saved Himawari!? Gasp!
The head of the ninja village explains that since the students will eventually enter society, they’ll need to be taught by a normal person. Makes sense, right? Hayato doesn’t buy it and runs. Before he can get out of town, he’s attacked by the other kunoichi and tied to a railroad track! Himawari saves him and wants him to be her master. Hayato continues hatin’ on the ninja. By the end of the episode, though, Hayato impresses the ninja with his dart throwing skills and is allowed to live. He sticks around as a teacher for now, mainly because of the money.
This seems like it’ll be a fairly easy to predict anime, so here we go! Hayato realizes he’s really from a ninja family! He’s got the freaking birthmark and dart skills already, so I think it’s fair to say he’s got the n’ in his blood. Himawari will find her true latent ninja skills too (probably has something to do with her being in that giant test tube). The other kunoichi will warm up to Hayato and the anime will turn into a ninja harem (FTW!). Things will get much more interesting when Himawari becomes “legal.”
The animation and design for this anime are really good! Everything is animated fairly smoothly, and there’s a lot of detail involved. I like the black and white movie in an anime where the white ninja uses “Kawarimi no Jutsu” against the black ninja. Very cool. And later on Himawari uses it too!
Pretty much all the characters are cute and ninja chic. I really think the designer read my mind to exploit my weaknesses here. Cute hair bun ninja? Grey haired meganekko ninja? Cute loli neko mimi ninja? Pure awesome! I’m not really digging the blonde katana one or the sniper ninja as much though. Giant farting butt cat also weirds me out…
As far as music goes, the OP is kinda lame. The bass player does nothing but play root! Alright, maybe I’m being a music snob, but the song does nothing for me. The ED, on the other hand, is done by the fairly reliable eufonus. It’s good, and I’m starting to like the stuff that eufonius does a lot. Her voice is way cute!
Download the OP: “Taiyou no kakera” by Ryoko Shiraishi
Download the ED: “Guruguru~Himawari ver.~” by eufonius
I know that I tend to criticise anime a lot for having generic and predictable plots, but I like Himawari! anyway. The character designs and moeness of the lead character are enough to get me to watch. Plus, this might very well be the world’s first ninja harem anime (well, maybe the second…)!
10 replies on “Himawari! – Anime First Impressions”
I can’t quite place it, but there’s something undeniably cool about the teacher… hmm.
oh, you ddi a really nice review of the anime! thanks! i’ve been wanting to watch this funny anime but i refuse to watch any unless there’s at least a small amount of romance in it that ends happily…otherwise the anime seems lackluster to me for some reason =/… lol, sorry if i seem to be complaining! i was just wondering if someone could tell me if himawari’s also considered a romance anime(however little!)?
oh btw… i don’t consider it a romance if it’s like love love. that was plain ecchi with him not ending up with the stupid gal. lol. (sorry for double posting)
Hmm… I’m probably going to disagree with you on where it heads, I’m thinking the guy actually IS the ninja that saved her… well… maybe not, I guess. But it would explain is strange ability to scale a smooth surface with no particular trouble.
I still have yet to watch it, but i’ve heard it’s hilarious. does anyone know a good FREE site to dowmload some of these episodes?
i meant “Download”, of course.
the birthmarks aren’t the same… the shuriken like tatoo on Hayato is straight(tips) while the other one is curved. Look at the pics… you’ll see. anyone know where to find episode 9?
I can’t find anything of Himawari! on youtube :S:S:S:S
where can I find it I want to see it 😛
Hey there, can anyone tell me the age rating for this manga?
I really want to watch it, so if it’s a 13 then I’m okay! Help me please, because I really want to watch it!
Thank you!
himawari has been legal since 9 yrs old.