Yoshiaki Kawajiri's defining 1993 masterpiece Ninja Scroll is heading back to theaters across North America in a pristine 4K presentation. HIDIVE and Iconic Events Releasing are teaming up to bring the landmark Madhouse production to approximately 600 theaters for a special three-day limited run scheduled for October 4, 5, and 7.
Screening formats will vary by date to accommodate both purists and dub fans: the October 4 screenings will be presented with English subtitles, the October 5 showings will feature the classic English dub, and the October 7 encore will offer a choice of either format depending on individual theater availability.
The Restoration Process
The meticulous restoration was personally supervised by writer and director Yoshiaki Kawajiri and produced by Sentai. The archival-grade digital master began with an exhaustive 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative at a resolution of 3840 × 2160. This was followed by frame-by-frame damage remediation and careful color correction to ensure the film's hand-drawn choreography looks as sharp and vibrant today as it did over three decades ago.
Originally released during the golden age of 90s anime OVAS and theatrical features, Ninja Scroll follows Jubei Kibagami, a masterless swordsman who rescues a young ninja woman named Kagero. The encounter thrusts him directly into a violent conspiracy orchestrated by the Devils of Kimon—a faction of supernatural warriors with terrifying abilities—who are plotting to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate.
Theatrical Gallery
Fans eager to experience the technical overhaul can inspect the refreshed aesthetic through promotional visuals tied to the upcoming revival screenings.
This limited theatrical run marks the very first opportunity for contemporary North American audiences to witness Yoshiaki Kawajiri's hand-drawn animation masterwork remastered in 4K on the big screen.
