Ninja Scroll 4K Restoration to Premiere at Berlinale
The restoration places a 1993 anime theatrical feature in the Berlinale Classics section, a rare institutional recognition that positions the film alongside internationally canonized cinema rather than within a genre or niche programming block.
Reporting from 1 sources: Cartoon Brew.
Yoshiaki Kawajiri's 1993 anime film "Ninja Scroll" has received a full 4K restoration produced by AMC Networks' Sentai Filmworks. The remastered version, sourced from a 4K scan of the original 35 mm camera negative, will world premiere at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival in the Berlinale Classics section on February 15. Additional screenings are scheduled for February 16 and 22. The restoration was completed under Kawajiri's supervision and involved frame-by-frame cleanup and color correction to create a new archival master. Sentai president John Ledford said the upgraded version offers an experience comparable to seeing the film for the first time. Sentai plans to release the restoration as a limited-edition 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook in early 2027. The film's inclusion in the Berlinale Classics lineup highlights its status as a landmark of adult-oriented Japanese animation.
The 4K restoration of "Ninja Scroll" was produced from a scan of the original 35 mm camera negative, with Sentai Filmworks handling the project. The frame-by-frame cleanup and color correction were done to preserve the film's original visual intensity while improving clarity and detail. Sentai president John Ledford described the effort as presenting the film at its very best and said seeing it is like watching it for the first time. The Berlinale screenings on February 15, 16, and 22 are the first public showings of the new master. Sentai plans a limited-edition 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook release in early 2027. The film's synopsis follows Jubei, a ninja who investigates the deaths of an entire village and uncovers a conspiracy involving demonic forces.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.