While many Western fans only know the 12-episode anime, the Kage kara Mamoru! franchise is much larger in Japan. The light novels ran for 12 volumes, followed by a sequel series titled Motto! Kage kara Mamoru! .
Even Mamoru’s parents and the family dog, Bluemaru (a ninja bull terrier), are involved in the secret protection mission. Kage kara Mamoru-
: A miko (shrine maiden) swordswoman who initially hunts Mamoru for "justice" before becoming charmed by his kindness. While many Western fans only know the 12-episode
What makes it unique is the "secret protection" dynamic. The audience is in on the joke: we see Mamoru struggling to hang from a tree branch for hours while Yuna chats on her phone below. We see him break his arm stopping a car, only to pretend he fell down the stairs. The humor is derived from the sheer absurd effort required to maintain a secret identity in a world that refuses to stop being dangerous. Kage kara Mamoru
The show had 12 episodes, released in 2006, and was licensed by Sentai Filmworks Sentai Filmworks Licenses "Guardian Ninja Mamoru"
The rain had stopped. Somewhere below, a dog barked, a baby cried, a vending machine hummed its eternal fluorescent song. Mamoru descended the fire escape, silent as a ghost, and walked home to the only people in the world who didn’t know they were being protected.