# Ninja Hattori-kun (1981)

> A lazy schoolboy and his loyal ninja friend from the Iga clan turn everyday household and school troubles into short, slapstick adventures.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/69279

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 697
- Episode runtime: 6 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, comedy, family
- Created by: Fujiko F. Fujio
- Network: tv asahi, ANIMAX
- Cast: Kenichi Ogata, Kaneta Kimotsuki, Yuko Mita, Masako Sugaya, Runa Akiyama
- TMDB rating: 7.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2787558/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: playful, cozy, comforting, breezy, slapstick

## Synopsis

Ninja Hattori-kun (1981-1983) is a Japanese animated family comedy series created by Fujiko F. Fujio for TV Asahi, produced in the classic Japanese anime tradition. Eleven-year-old Kenichi Mitsuba is a stubborn, lazy schoolboy who constantly hunts for an easy way out of his studies and chores, frustrating his parents and teacher. His life changes when he befriends Hattori Kanzo, a ninja from the Iga clan who moves into the Mitsuba household alongside Kenichi's brother Shinzo and the ninja dog Shishimaru. Hattori keeps a watchful, friendly eye on Kenichi, bailing him out of trouble, while the recurring antagonists Kemumaki, a Koga ninja, and his ninja cat Kagechiyo stir up trouble. The engine of each brief episode is a rivalry over the girl Yumeko, which regularly leads Kenichi to demand revenge and drives misunderstandings that pit the friends against each other. Brisk, slapstick episodes of roughly six minutes build a playful, cozy atmosphere, with gentle comedy suited to young viewers. Fans of Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan, or classic episodic cartoons like Tom and Jerry, will find a similar warmth and gag-driven charm.

## Shows like Ninja Hattori-kun

- [Dara-san of Reiwa (2026)](https://ember.film/tv/1104925)
- [Ikkyū-san (1975)](https://ember.film/tv/40710)
- [Non Non Biyori (2013)](https://ember.film/tv/58886)
- [Shin Chan (1992)](https://ember.film/tv/28240)
- [With You and the Rain (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/176371)
- [Chibi Maruko-chan (1990)](https://ember.film/tv/51718)
- [Dotto! Koni-chan (2000)](https://ember.film/tv/40382)
- [忍者と極道 (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/190906)
- [Doraemon (2005)](https://ember.film/tv/58035)
- [Hamtaro (2000)](https://ember.film/tv/5319)

---

Site overview: https://ember.film/llms.txt