Anime Review: Basilisk

 Basilisk (Gonzo Studios, 2005) is an anime based on a manga by Masaki Segawa, which is in turn based on a 1958 novel by Futaro Yamada.

Ostensibly its a rewriting of Romeo and Juliet, but with ninjas. Its set in the early 1600s, when Tokugawa Ieyasu was trying to solve infighting regarding his heir. To stop the infighting turning into a civil war, he decides to pit 10 Iga ninjas against 10 Koga ninjas, with each side representing one of his potential successors. 

Unfortunately, this destroys a 100 year peace treaty between the 2 ninja clans, and wrecks our hero, Koga Gennosuke, and heroine's, Iga Oboro, marriage plans. Since these two do actually love each other, this makes it doubly tragic, and sets the stage for many internal conflicts with each of their clans.

However, their personal tragedy is overshadowed by a vicious gore fest of ninja battles, which pretty much wipes out both clans. The ninjas have been genetically manipulated to the point where they are barely human, and have a wide variety of showy and gruesome ninpo techniques. Each ninja has a well-delineated design and personality, and there is reflection under the gore, making their struggles and deaths seem meaningful. The character of Saemon is used particularly to consider the ethics and futility of the ninjas' position.

As an anime, it has a very brooding and intense art style, with rich dark colours in the crimson, purple, and green palette. The designs feature heavy line work and an abundance of mascara even in the men, with some of the hair styles reflecting the fluffiness and layering of 80s ninja films. The animation is fluid and the layouts and posing dynamic. Some of the fight sequences have truly beautiful effects, such as the butterflies of poison worker Iga Hotarubi. The story pulls the viewer along at a frantic pace with sheer vigor and brutality. Indeed, the violence is gory and rife with humiliation and betrayal, and each ninja's death stands out.

However, it does require viewer caution, as there are a lot of rape scenes (4 if you're counting), and one Koga ninja man who has to be naked for his technique. The rape scenes are not overly graphic, but they do go on uncomfortably long, and don't seem strictly necessary for the story. Having said that, the women ninjas all have their own distinct personalities and powers which are not necessarily viewed as weaker than the men's, and they definitely hold their own in the fights.

It does sag a little in the middle, but ends with a shocking, yet satisfying, finish, one which takes us full circle to the opening sequences in a clever and poignant fashion.

Season 2 is in a very different art style (lighter and stiffer), and obviously had less of a budget. It was also very annoying as the director seemed to have only just discovered picture in picture editing, and used it in EVERY talking shot. The plot was cliched and convoluted and ending made no sense.

So Basilisk the Koga Ninja Scrolls is definitely worth checking out for the fights and beautiful animation, but don't bother with season 2, the Ouka Ninja Scrolls unless you're a completionist!