Takashi Miike’s “Ninja Kids” gets American remake

Posted by Aubrey Sitterson on August 31st

This side of the Pacific, Japanese director Takashi Miike is best known for his violent cult favorites like “Ichi the Killer” and his too-much-even-for-Showtime episode of “Masters of Horror.” But American audiences will soon be seeing the lighter side of Miike, as his family-friendly action comedy “Ninja Kids!!” is moving toward a US remake.

“Ninja Kids!!” is itself an adaptation of a Japanese television show about kids training to become, you guessed it, ninjas. The concept, which is similar to the über-popular manga and anime “Naruto,” resonated with audiences both at its world premiere at the New York Asian Film Festival on July 3, as well as in Japan when it opened later that month. The excellent reception that “Ninja Kids!!” received earlier this summer has apparently gone a long way, as the Hollywood Reporter now claims that a “major production company” is interested in acquiring the rights for a remake.

Of course, this isn’t the first time that Miike has veered away from more bloody and sensational filmmaking, as his resume is extremely diverse, featuring road movies, fantasy films and even a hybrid musical. The Japanese version of “Ninja Kids!!” is a high-energy comedic action flick, which does an amazing job capturing the manic energy contained in the best kids manga and anime.

Check out a trailer from the movie below, then let us know in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter whether you’d make time for an American version of “Ninja Kids!!”