Final Rating: 3/5
Invincible Master of the Dokutake Ninja, directed by Masaya Fujimori, the latest entry in the long-running Nintama Rantarō series, is an exciting action-comedy for kids about the impact a great teacher has on the world around him. As a continuation of a series that’s been running since 1993, it’s heavy on in-jokes that may occasionally seem random, but the straightforward story and charismatic characters will endear Rantarō and friends to audiences both old and new.
Invincible Master surrounds the disappearance of Hansuke Doi, Rantarō’s homeroom teacher at ninja academy. In addition to being a warm and patient teacher, Doi is also a skilled tactician. His absence is felt not only by his students, but by the leadership at the ninja academy, who fear that Doi’s absence opens them up to attacks from rival clans. The school immediately launches a mission to find and recover Doi, as do Rantarō and his friends.
While the ninja academy is reeling from the loss of Doi, the nearby Dokutake clan expands their territory. Under the leadership of a mysterious new tactician, the Dokutake ninja – depicted as oafish villain-of-the-week types – become a serious threat to the ninja academy. While their portrayal still borders on silly, the leader of the Dokutake begins gesturing towards eliminating the ninja academy, even threatening to kill many of the first graders in a bizarre show of strength.
The film’s greatest strength is in depicting the void left by the loss of Doi. Rantarō’s class quickly falls into distress without their homeroom teacher – no one quite satisfied with the substitute’s insistence that Doi is just “on an important mission”. The upperclassmen and headmaster, too, are perturbed after Doi’s disappearance, fearing what this could mean for their school. Meanwhile, the Dokutake clan presents a real threat, lending urgency to the mission to find Doi.
When Doi is on screen, his sharp mind and fighting prowess are abundantly clear. He’s a brilliant leader, and a terrifying force in a serious duel. In flashbacks, Doi’s childhood is recounted abstractly, with scattered scenes implying a disaster that left him orphaned. Crackling fire and screams underscore images of scarecrows thrown to the ground. Intermittently, bright red flowers are arranged to resemble blood spatter upon a pitch-black canvas.
These are juxtaposed with tranquil moments between Doi and Rantarō’s classmate Kirimaru, himself an orphan rescued by Doi. The violence of his own upbringing colours Doi’s mix of strength and compassion, trusting the audience to connect the dots. The flashbacks show a surprising maturity for a children’s movie, but one effective at endearing Doi to the audience.
While the film centres around Doi, scenes featuring him are rare. Invincible Master features plenty of low-stakes shenanigans from the kids in the ninja academy. The budding ninjas brim with personality as they find fun ways to annoy their substitute teacher, miss the point of their lessons, and later try to rescue Doi. The Dokutake ninja, too, are fun to watch as they bumble around their castle, even performing a song and dance to announce their invasion plans for the ninja academy.
Invincible Master of the Dokutake Ninja is ultimately a low-stakes affair, but with enough heart to be consistently gripping. A fun story for kids that trusts its audience to connect with a little extra under the surface.
Invincible Master of the Dokutake Ninja was seen during the 2025 Toronto Japanese Film Festival.
