Yōtōden

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Yōtōden
Yotoden (Wrath of the Ninja)
Genre	Amo,e
OVA
Directed by
Studio	J.C.STAFF
No. of episodes	3
Released
Runtime
Movie: Wrath of the Ninja: The Yotoden Movie
Directed by	Osamu Yamazaki
Studio	U.S. Manga Corps
Released	1998
Runtime	87 Minutes

Yōtōden (戦国奇譚妖刀伝, Sengoku Kidan Yōtōden^?) is a quasi-historical ninja action anime OVA, and the first release by animation studio J.C.STAFF. Three 40 minute episodes were produced between 1987 and 1988, then a compilation 'movie' was cut together in 1989, which has been released in the United States under the title Wrath of the Ninja. While it shares much in common with Ninja Scroll, with the protagonists battling a team of foes with demonic abilities, it predates the film better known in the west by over five years.

The story is based around a real historical Japanese figure, samurai lord Oda Nobunaga. He was possessed by a demon, and only three divine swords owned by the three Ninja clans can destroy him and his creatures. 妖刀 (yōtō) can be translated as "sorcerous swords", and 伝 (den) as "legend".