Shirato's manga has been adapted into a live-action film titled Watari Ninja Boy, was released by the Toei Company in Japanese theaters in July 1966, and was a huge box office success.

the film inspired numerous filmmakers to create ninjutsu period dramas with Special effect technology.

[16][17][18] A live-action adaptation film titled Watari Ninja Boy[a] produced by Toei Company, was released in Japanese theaters on July 21, 1966.

[19] After its release, Toei Company announced that they had intention to continue making special effects films in the future, and a sequel was planned to be made as a TV series, but Sanpei Shirato, who was not satisfied with the film, rejected it, and it was quickly made into the special effects TV period drama titled Kamen no Ninja Akakage that aired from April 1967 to March 1968, based on the original work by Mitsuteru Yokoyama.

At a time when period dramas were already on the decline, and with following the film's success, Watari caused many films to be made in this genre and director of the Cinematography Shigekyo Okada decided to reviving period dramas with Special effect technology and led to the production of Ogôn no tozokô [ja], Kairyu daikessen [ja], and Black Ninja.