The life of a ninja isn't all action, tension, and high-risk adventure like in Naruto, and Crunchyroll's new anime Under Ninja pulls back the curtain on the more mundane, behind-the-scenes machinations that are part of every shinobi's daily life. It's a fascinating twist on ninja anime and the perfect alternative for the over-the-top battle animes that have been released in the last few years.

Under Ninja, which is adapted from the Kengo Hanazawa manga of the same name, tells the story of the modern-day ninja. In the contemporary world, ninjas are still present, but they are no longer delegated – at least officially – in hidden villages. Instead, they've been co-opted by the official government as a secret military force and integrated into the general population.

However, ninja society does remain socially isolated. While they could be a teacher, doctor, or food delivery person, they maintain a permanent and inescapable role...