So, we all know from that Japanese history course we took (what, you cut class all the time? Shame!) that an unemployed samurai is called a Rōnin and if he says a hearty “Heck no!” to that mandatory seppuku clause in his termination contract, must wander the land, masterless until he drifts into whatever fate (or a decent movie director) hands him. But what about the elusive unemployed Ninja?  Well, they don’t quite see the eternally wandering thing as good for potential future gigs because how can you hire an assassin if he’s always wandering around stumbling into trouble (decently-directed though it may be). Anyway, somehow, Mackenzie Mayer, chief designer and all around art ninja (I was going to say “guru”, but mixing mythologies creates time paradoxes or something disastrous like asteroid-shaped pianos falling from the sky over Russia) has managed to capture the spirit of the out of work black-clad agents of assorted demise in HoboNinja form as WillNinjas! Once you see these guys, you’ll want to put them to work for you in any number of (legal) ways…

You’ll want to note the all-purpose ribbed corduroy fabric outfits (durable!) with the cute, fuzzy faces popping out to distract you (well, if they were employed as ninjas, this would be the last cute, fuzzy thing you saw… if you saw them at all), the rather round American shape (hey, they can’t be knocked over thanks to that lovely figure they keep!) that’s nice and squeezable (yes, they had to sell their katana, shuriken, caltrops and other pointy gear in order to eat, so consider yourselves lucky you CAN hug a ninja and survive!). They’re not completely disarmed, however. The sole ninja tool at their disposal (and yours) is a trusty WillNinja carabiner clip (and just HOW did you think ninja got up the sides of buildings so quickly?), so you can hook your sign-toting new buddy to you and take him (Her? It?) wherever you go.

While Mackenzie is the creative brains and hands behind the art and design, her mom, Catherine Mitchell, (also wearing the cap of president of NBG Ninja Inc.) keeps things in check on the business side of things (as nothing is worse than a home packed with unemployed ninjas with nothing to do, probably one reason Mackenzie attaches their hands to those cardboard signs so well). There’s a nice lineup of card-carrying WillNinjas to snap up, all hand-made and all with slight differences which make them more or less like snowflakes. Well, black-clad unemployed snowflakes that can cheer up even the gloomiest of guys or gals with the right message. I’m partial to the caffeine/coffee craving Will Ninja model (even though I’m cutting down on the brew a bit – sitting in a Starbucks for just half an hour leaves me smelling like like Juan Valdez’ serape after a long day)

No matter which one (or how many) you order, they’ll get shipped out anywhere in the continental U.S. within five to seven business days (pretty fast by Ninja standards) in a black take-out container that’s almost as cute as the ninja inside. Well, the ninja is a LOT cuter than the box, but together, they’re a perfect fit. Anyway, you know you want a couple of these Ninjas keeping everyone around you in tune to their needs for Hugs, Anime, Pirates and even a little World Peace, so yeah – go grab one (or two, or three or more), support a cool new company and help them grow. Just because I want to see someone walking around in a BIG Will Ninja mascot outfit at the next Toy Fair. I’ll bet the Free Hugs line goes around the room…