Anime Review: Basilisk
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Basilisk
Publisher: Funimation
Type of Anime: TV
Genre: Martial Arts, Drama, Historical
Watched Subbed/Dubbed: Subbed
Overall Rating: 
Story:
My Rating:
After 3 Episodes
In 1614, 73-year-old Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa needs to choose a 3rd successor to the shogun. Unfortunately, both of his grandsons are engaged in a bitter rivalry with each other and any attempt to end the feud diplomatically will fail.
To determine who should be the successor, Ieyasu enlists the help of two rival ninja clans now bound by a peace treaty. His plan is to break the peace treaty between the two and set up a ninja battle with each clan fighting for one of his grandsons. The Kouga clan, lead by Danjo Kouga, will fight for Kunichiyo while the Iga clan, lead by Ogen, will fight for Takechiyo.
Danjo and Ogen were lovers when they were younger but their love was not meant to be. When Danjo's men attacked Ogen's village and killed the village Elder - going against Danjo's orders - she felt betrayed and the two have been enemies since.
Recently, there has been hope that their clans will reunite with the marriage of Danjo's grandson, Gennosuke, and Ogen's granddaughter, Oboro. Things have been peaceful between the two clans in the wake of the highly anticipated union. So, when the Iga clan learns of the ninja battle, they decide to keep it from Oboro - who, they are certain, will do everything in her power to stop them - and start killing off Kouga clan members secretly.
Basilisk is produced by Gonzo, so it's absolutely gorgeous. The colors are lush with beautiful settings, complex character designs, and fluid animation. The backgrounds look like watercolor paintings and the anime does a great job with facial expressions and showing emotion - from love to suspicion to worry to rage.
That said, the story does get bogged down with its characters - and with at least 10 per side that must be killed, there are characters popping up left and right. Whenever a new character is introduced, their name flashes across the screen, but it's still easy to lose track of who is who. The episodes so far have been heavily fight-intensive, with each ninja having his or her own special technique.
After 3 episodes, Basilisk strongly resembles Samurai Deeper Kyo - both in time period and in battles fought with special ninja techniques. Still, the fight scenes in Basilisk are far more fluid and interesting.
The Romeo and Juliet storyline between Gennosuke and Oboro also adds an extra dimension. You really hope they can escape their families' bitterness, which entangled their grandparents, and be together one day.
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