Monday 26 September 2011

Ninja Uniform Research...

Black Belt Magazine: November 1986


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Ollhoff, Jim (2008) Ninja. USA: ABDO Publishing Company.

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The traditional black ninja uniform was actually called a Shinobi Shozoku, it was the outfit that the prop masters would wear during a Kabuki play so they wouldn't be seen moving parts of the set around. It was a boom in the 80's, I believe, that lead to the all black number becoming popular. The shozoku uniforms normally dark shades of colours, not black, and were useful when the ninjas needed to sneak around somewhere. Generally though, they were purely disguise-based so they would dress in what ever clothes that would make them go unnoticed, such as samurai, peasants or even lords.
 - Basically they're masters of disguise and deceit, which is great if you add magic and spirits as you get transformative powers :D

Now to actually draw something I feel...

3 comments:

  1. Hey Molly,

    You may have seen this already, but 3rd year Bob is researching some interesting facets of Japanese folklore...

    http://bobstrife.blogspot.com/

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  2. Ooooo! Fantastic! Thanks Phil! :D

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  3. Hi Molly,
    also remember that tempting though it is to dive into drawing ninjas, you need to have a good grasp of who your characters are to begin with.

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