{
  "id": 8978655,
  "title": "Ninja Scroll Director Explains Why He Hasn’t Made a New Movie in Almost 20 Years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/ninja-scroll-director-explains-why-he-hasnt-made-a-new-movie-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T18:11:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IGN",
    "slug": "ign",
    "url": "https://www.ign.com/articles/ninja-scroll-director-explains-why-he-hasnt-made-a-new-movie-in-almost-20-years"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Yoshiaki Kawajiri, renowned anime director behind Ninja Scroll and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, has explained his absence from the industry for nearly two decades ahead of the 4K re-release of his cult classic. The 75-year-old animator, now focused on supporting roles such as storyboarding, emphasized his inability to fully relinquish creative control at his age and physical capacity. Kawajiri attributes the dwindling quality of modern animation to a decline in creators prioritizing high-quality work, rather than nostalgia for older series. He attributes the rise of original video animation in the 1980s as a catalyst for the industry's evolution, enabling greater individual expression and Japanese anime's global appeal. Ninja Scroll's restoration to 4K, complete with meticulous restoration of original art and background work, promises enhanced visual enjoyment for both longtime fans and new viewers. Iconic Events Releasing and AMC Global Media's HDIVE will screen the restored film in theaters across the United States and Canada from October 4-7.",
  "summary": "We got the chance to speak with Yoshiaki Kawajiri, director of the cult-classic anime film Ninja Scroll, who opened up about his creative process and explained why he hasn’t made a new movie in nearly two decades as Ninja Scroll prepares for its 4K theatrical re-release.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}