Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Bandai Entertainment has been releasing a blistering amount of anime in the US with hits like Cowboy Bebop and Outlaw Star. Now Jubei-Chan The Ninja Girl: Secret of the Lovely Eyepatch has been released by Bandai.

Looking at the title by itself, it seems to indicate a typical magical girl series with a very cute side to it as well as plenty of action. In some ways, it does fulfill that description.

Unlike much of the anime I've watched, I don't know much about the production background or whether this is a TV series or OAV. The entire series is thirteen episodes distributed over 4 DVDs. The first DVD contains 4 episodes while the next 3 DVDs contain 3 episodes and a minimal of extras.

Characters

The main character of this series is Jiyu Nanohana. A young high school girl just moving into town with her father (Mom died from sickness). She leaves quite an impression since she is rather chesty (a trait she inherited from mother). She apparently is the "Plump Bouncy Bon Bons" that Koinosuke is seeking to give the Lovely Eye Patch to. Jiyu is a caring girl trying to help everyone around her. She doesn't want the Eyepatch or the power it can grant and makes efforts to get rid of the Eyepatch.

Sai Nanohana is Jiyu's father. He calls Jiyu Jubei as a nickname. Sai is a bit eccentric and overprotective of Jiyu. At times, he can downright embarrass Jiyu. He works as a freelance playright centering on samurai plays. He also gets lost very easily and can be quite dimwitted at times. Another strange thing is his name. A sai is a medium sized weapon that can be held in one hand. There are two types of sais, one can be blunt and another can come to a point for piercing the enemy. In a way, this does describe Sai Nanohana rather well... he really doesn't pick up hints very well (even quite oblivious to things occurring around him) but his interactions with other characters are sharp and to the point. He would easily blunt out his emotions and do things without looking at the situation first.

Koinosuke is the retainer of the original Lord Jubei Yagyu. Koinosuke has lived 300 years just to fulfill his mission. He was given the mission by Lord Jubei Yagyu himself (while Jubei was on his death bed) to find a successor to the Yagyu swordfighting school. This successor would have "plump bouncy bon bons". The Lovely Eye-Patch is to be given to this person... an eyepatch that Jubei made with his two hands and imbued with his power and awesome swordfighting skill. Koinosuke is a rather pathetic samurai, who is unable to put up a good fight, but he is loyal. In many ways, Koinosuke becomes similar to the Nanohana family pet (especially since he lives in a doghouse on the Nanohana property)

Shiro Ryujoji is a senior in the same school as Jiyu. He like many males in the series notice Jiyu because of her "plump bouncy bon bons". Shiro is a champion Kendo practitioner and has feelings for Jiyu. His lineage also comes from the Ryujoji-Shinkage clan... the last sword school to fall to Jubei Yagyu sword skills... and a clan that still holds a grudge against the Yagyu clan. Shiro has the best skills of the Ryujoji-Shinkage clan although he wants no part of the clan.

Hajime Ryujoji is the current head of the Ryujoji-Shinkage clan. He lives only for vengence against Jubei Yagyu... if he could figure out if Yagyu still existed. He is also Shiro's twin brother.

Bantaro is the leader of the Ruffians... the school gang. Both Bantaro and the other two members of the Ruffians are quite harmless. They mainly are there for comic relief. Bantaro is quite slow and easily tricked. He has feeling for Jiyu too, especially because of the "plump bouncy bon bons".

There are other characters who play minor roles, except for one name Mikage... but she is for later in the series.

Story

The series starts with the final battle between Lord Jubei Yagyu and the head of the Ryujoji clan. Jubei defeats Ryujoji rather cleanly but Jubei's health is rapidly failing him due to his old age. Jubei heads back to his abode where Koinosuke awaits him. He gives Koinosuke the Lovely Eyepatch that Jubei has made with his own two hands and imbued with his strength and swordfighting skill. Koinosuke is to find the person with "plump bouncy bon bons" as his successor. Jubei then passes away. Koinosuke is then shocked that he needs to find a woman with big breasts to be Jubei's successor. 300 years later, Jiyu and her father Sai have moved into the quiet and small town so they can spend some quality family time and so Sai can continue writing his samurai sword plays. Jiyu heads off to school with dad in tow (dressing as if he was a huge star but looking like a giggolo). Jiyu first meets Shiro who notices Jiyu's large assets. After Jiyu is introduced to the school, she meets several other new students to form the "New Student Lovelies" with Maro and Sachi. As Jiyu heads home, she meets with Koinosuke who sees Jiyu's chest and realizes that he has found the "plump bouncy bon bons" his Lord Jubei described. Even more, Jiyu's nickname is Jubei. Who else can the successor be? Shortly afterwards, Jiyu and Koinosuke are attacked by members of the Ryujoji clan who still hold a grudge from the defeat 300 years ago, and Jiyu puts on the lovely eyepatch. She transforms into the female version of Jubei Yagyu and kicks the baddies butt all over the place. This causes the baddie to reconsider his life and the Ryujoji grudge... and he changes his life for the better. Need it be mentioned that the bad guy was Jiyu school teacher? This quickly sums up the first episode of Jubei-Chan.

The Details of Jubei-Chan

Overall, the character designs for female Jubei Yagyu, Shiro, Jiyu, Sai, and Koinosuke are clean and done decently well. Female Jubei Yagyu is designed very well especially. There are a couple of slightly suggestive scenes (mostly looking and talking about breast size) but no nudity in Jubei-Chan. Most of that is done in good clean fun and some rather humorous situations. Art in the series is very variable. Fight scenes between the participants are drawn and animated very well. However, the art styles changes for the mood and the situation trying to be conveyed. Many times, the art will be very vague and sloppily done for a comedy scene or when characters complain that they are not integral to the story with main characters drawn is sharp detail and color. These art changes are quite frequent and need some getting used to but add a comic element to the series.

I don't know about the English voiceacting, but the Japanese voices are above average especially for the material.

Overall

I enjoyed this series overall and though of it as good clean fun with quirky action and humor. I don't know how many people will a series of this type overall. I think it will fall into you like the series or will quickly fall disinterested in it. I think it's a definite rental and can go either way as a purchase. As for me, I purchased the entire series. Jubei-Chan is part magical girl series, part action, part self-discovery, part comedy, and part silly. It doesn't perform any particular genre overly well but it's a weird mix that some will enjoy.

I recommend it but my gut feeling is that it isn't for everybody.

If you likely this review, I invite you to read some of my other anime reviews which include:
Cowboy Bebop
Outlaw Star
Lost Universe
Maze
BubbleGum Crisis
My Neighbor Totoro
Kiki's Delivery Service
Iria
Record of Lodoss War
Lain
Eat Man
Magical Knights Rayearth
and more!

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older