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AMERICAN NINJA

A Japanese Take on America’s Ninja Boom
27 Dec 2024

A Japanese Take on America’s Ninja Boom

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

Around 15 years ago I scored some souvenir movie programs and marketing flyers from Japan, mostly to get ahold of a Ninja III: The Domination piece. While it didn’t present any sort of new imagery or info, I was fascinated … Continued

AMERICAN NINJA, Cannon Films, Ninja III: The Domination, Ninja Mission, Sho Kosugi, Yasu Kurata
MIKE STONE: ‘THE FIRST NINJA’
10 Jun 2021

MIKE STONE: ‘THE FIRST NINJA’

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

“Aloha friends, another beautiful day in paradise.” It’s how Mike Stone begins every post on Facebook from his home in the Philippines, where he’s currently working with a writer on an extensive biography of his storied life and career(s). He’s … Continued

AMERICAN NINJA, Cannon Films, Enter the Ninja, Franco Nero, Mike Stone, Sho Kosugi, Tadashi Yamashita
It’s that time of year again…
1 Jul 2016

It’s that time of year again…

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

Yes, it’s the 4th of July again, so that means its time to take a look back at AMERICAN NINJA! There’s no better way to celebrate the birth of the USA than by appreciating a low-budget exploitation flick based on a Japanese martial … Continued

AMERICAN NINJA
VN’s own 4th of July Tradition…
4 Jul 2014

VN’s own 4th of July Tradition…

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

…we take a look back at AMERICAN NINJA! There’s no better way to celebrate the birth of the USA than by looking back at a low-budget exploitation flick based on a Japanese martial art, produced by Israelis, shot in the … Continued

AMERICAN NINJA
4 Jul 2013

Happy AMERICAN NINJA Day!

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

There’s no better way to celebrate the birth of the USA than by looking back at a low-budget exploitation flick based on a Japanese martial art, produced by Israelis, shot in the Philippines. READ ON, FELLOW PATRIOTS: The seminal film … Continued

AMERICAN NINJA, Michael Dudikoff
31 Mar 2013

AMERICAN NINJA rack toys

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 3 - Toys and Merch | 4

Little known fact – American Ninja is the only 80s boom film to have properly licensed mass-produced merchandise. These grocery store / pharmacy register tchotchkes were obviously for kids, despite being branded with the an R-rated film’s imagery. A “two-penny-toy” … Continued

AMERICAN NINJA, generic merch, Generic toys, Michael Dudikoff
17 Jul 2011

AMERICAN NINJA II video store standee

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

This 14″ cardstock counter display was given out to video stores to push the release of American Ninja II: The Confrontation in May of 1987. The center unfolds to reveal this illustration, which is unique to this piece – it … Continued

AMERICAN NINJA, Michael Dudikoff
3 Jul 2011

Celebrate the 4th with some AMERICAN NINJA!

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

We’re all off being lazy and patriotic, so in the meantime celebrate the birth of the USA by looking back at low-budget exploitation flick based on a Japanese martial art, produced by Israelis, shot in the Philippines. READ ON, FELLOW … Continued

AMERICAN NINJA
20 May 2011

A designer’s rant…

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV, 5 - Art and Advertising | 5

A reader sent me some anime movie poster scans, for which I was grateful, but one of them just struck a nerve – a wrong nerve – and I have to vent. Some day job background first – I pay … Continued

AMERICAN NINJA, CHALLENGE OF THE LADY NINJA, Deadly Silver Ninja, Enter the Ninja, Mafia vs. Ninja, Ninja III: The Domination, Ninja Scroll, The Ninja Dragon
15 May 2011

Ghana Ninja-rama on eBay!

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 5 - Art and Advertising | 0

This amazingness is on eBay right now: Ghana, West Africa – 1980s. Quasi-legal ‘mobile cinemas’ showed exploitation films on VHS around third-world villages, promoted by off-model movie posters painted by local artists. Luckily for the rest of the world, these … Continued

AMERICAN NINJA, Ghana movie posters

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Welcome to VINTAGE NINJA — dedicated to old ninja media from Japan’s 60s boom to the 80s American exploitation craze, and beyond — with a ton of ninja movies, vintage toys, comics, and sharp pointy stuff thrown in for good measure.

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