Theres an animated film I used to watch when i was little, and forgot its name long ago. It was made in that japanese style with the big round mouths (only way i can describe it), set in ancient japan, little ninja kid on a quest with a big fat guy helping him. I remember a river-crossing scene being significant and a nightmare scene where the boy is attacked by a big group of evil samurai. And i seem to remember them eating rice-cake things quite a lot. Would make my day if someone could tell me what it was, but i wouldnt be surprised if noones got a clue what im on about.
Try an IMDB keyword search.
No dice on the IMDB. However, I might have found something on Google...
Check this quick! Is Ninja The Wonder Boy the character you're looking for?
http://page.auctions.shopping.yahoo.com/uk/auction/55175184?aucview=0x10
There was also a comedic anime series featuring a kid in a black ninja outfit; very simple animation with completely round, Doraemon-type eyes on the characters. Unfortunately, I don't know the title and can't find it online...
Also, there is Manga Sarutobi Sasuke--
http://www.comune.modena.it/glamazonia/mij/cronologie/p-z/sasuke.htm
...even older that Ninja The Wonder Boy from the looks of it, and his companion is big and ugly. Damn, these are hard to find with pics!!
You could try thumbing through "The Anime Encyclopedia,†assuming you can find it at your local bookstore (or, maybe, library.) I've found several "japanimation" shows I watched as a kid in it. (Pictures are, unfortunately, quite scarce in the book, due to rights issues, as I recall.)
Thanks a lot guys. I'm almost 100% sure that Ninja the Wonder Boy is the right one. :)