Ninin Ga Shinobuden

2x2 Shinobu-den: The Nonsense Kunoichi Fiction (Original title: ニニンがシノブ伝) is an ongoing thirteen episode anime series in Japan. As implied by the title (2x2 is pronounced as nin-nin) the show is an absurdist comedy starring Shinobu, an attractive ninja-in-training.

After breaking into the apartment of Kaede, a high-school student, Shinobu becomes fixated on Kaede and takes her to the Ninja Village, where Kaede is introduced to Osenkamaru, Shinobu's master. The obvious lesbian attraction Shinobu has for Kaede is played for laughs in the series, as is Osenkuamru's obsession with the female form.

The show is known for its cute artstyle and character designs leaning to the soft and rounded look rather than the slender bishoujo style. Each 30 minute episode is broken up into 2 half-length stories.

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Characters

Shinobu: Shinobu is arguably the star of the series. She is kind, hardworking, and dedicated but naive and somewhat clumsy with complex tasks. However, she is usually given the tasks of taking care of her dojo because everyone else is so lazy. She is usually seen in her purple and pink ninja outfit, but often wears a different costume or outfit every second episode or so. Her ambigious relationship with Kaede ("more than a friend but less than a lover" as she says) ranges from admiration and idolization to seemingly romantic interest.

Kaede: A blonde schoolgirl about Shinobu's age. She is the most sensible character of the series and thus usually the most put-upon. However, she does not allow herself to be tormented and usually puts annoying people in their place.

Onsokumaru: His name (roughly, "sonic ball") is fairly descriptive, and his appearance might remind one of a mutant Walmart logo or grapefruit. He is usually depicted as a round ball with a face, and variably with wings or arms, and a deep voice; in spite of being such a bizarre creature, he is for some reason the leader of Shinobu's ninja clan. Onsokumaru is perverted, lecherous, messy, loud, cheating, and greedy . On the other hand, he has instances of being friendly and having a silly playful side. Despite these bad influences his student Shinobu seems fairly innocent.

Miyabi: Shinobu's little sister, she has chosen the field of "magical summoning" rather than ninjitsu. She dislikes Onsokumaru (a mutual feeling) and believes that her elder sister should switch fields and become a magical summoner like herself. Though just ten years old, she's something of a prodigy, and is skilled enough to consistently defeat Onsokumaru when he gets on her nerves.

Sasuke: One of the names of the dozens of faceless male ninjas in the series. Although they sometimes wear other outfits they are always seen with their masks. Theyshare similar traits as Onsokumaru (who seems able to tell them apart) although they are more kind hearted and conscientious. They have a tendancy to act with a 'hive mind', but they get little done and are easily distracted.