Never did I think that Basilisk: the Kouga Ninja Scrolls to be such a bloody good time. There’s blood and guts with a dash of love on the side! It’s the classic question: will love conquer all -even hatred- in the end?

Based on the novel written by Futuro Yamada, both the anime and manga series have garnered quite a lot of attention and has acquired an ever-growing fanbase. And why wouldn’t it? Ninja, family feuds, love … what more could you want? (Maybe an actual happy ending would’ve been nice, but how this story ends satisfies me enough.)

The story takes place in the year 1614. Two ninja clans, Tsubagakure of the Iga and Manjidani of Kouga, battle each other to determine which grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu will become the next shogun. The deadly competition between ten elite ninja from each clan unleashes a centuries-old hatred that threatens to destroy all hope for peace between them… The leaders of both ninja clans meet and find out that each clan will be representing one of the two factions supporting Ieyasu’s grandsons. If the clan wins, the clan gains favor for a thousand years, and the grandson it represented is chosen as heir to the Shogunate. The names of the selected fighters are to be recorded on two identical scrolls, which is to be marked out in blood upon their death.

But not all parties involved are willing to seek blood in the name of ancient grudges. Prior to the conflicts renewal, Kouga and Iga’s two young heirs (Gennosuke and Oboro respectively) were betrothed to each other in the hopes that their union would finally dispel their clan’s long-seated animosity toward each other. Forced headlong onto separate sides of a conflict they want no part of, Gennosuke and Oboro must now choose whether to kill the person they love or lead their entire clan to annihilation. Against centuries old hatred and the horrors of war, is love even capable of surviving?

Animation-wise, it was fantastic! Simply beautiful. Some parts of the dialogue were a bit corny, though, but the story made up for it. It was a bit cliche, sort of a Romeo-and-Juliet-esque romance with both families wanting to kill the other, but quite entertaining to watch nonetheless.

The storyline is a familiar one… I can even relate somewhat. Everyone experiences their family drama; just not to the same extreme as these two ninja clans, which brings me to a question: what is honor nowadays? To sacrifice one’s self for the belief that one’s love for another is enough… I don’t know the answer, but it’s a hell of a question to ask.

And the music…. oh the music! It’s heart-breaking … to a point. So beautiful. I actually start crying at one point.

Anyways, ten Pocky sticks out of ten for this one ^_^

Tags: anime, basilisk, series

Category: Series Reviews

Hello ^_^ I'm Melissa! Nice to meet you. If you want to know anything, don't hesitate to ask. And my personal motto is :: just be yourself; you'll be fine. >.