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BASILISK: THE SHADES OF NIGHT (VOL. 5) |
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Tuesday, 27 March 2007 |
 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT | | | ▪ | ASPECT RATIO: | | 16:9 ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN | | | ▪ | AUDIO: | | ENGLISH AND JAPANESE DD 5.1 | | | ▪ | RUNNING TIME: | | 100 MIN | | | ▪ | RATING: | | TV MA | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 02/20/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 03/28/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
Basilisk is based on the manga by Masaki Segawa, the original story by Futaro Yamada and this gripping explosion of love and betrayal clashing with duty, honor and politics has found its way to becoming one of the most compelling anime series of the year.
The decline of the old ruler, Ieyasu Tokugawa, is nearing its end. To choose a successor, Hanzo Hattori the fourth hs come up with a devious plan to serve his ruler: have the two powerful ninja clans of Iga and Kouga fight each other to decide which of the two main candidates of Tookugawa will be chosen to rule after Ieyasu. Ten shinobi, the most fearsome and powerful of each ninja caln will be chosen. The one left alive at the end will help determine who will rule Japan. This sinister plot will end a tenous peace lasting nearly 500 years between the clans and also serve the purpose of destroying to powerful potential enemies. Both clans have been deemed too dangerous for the coming era and Ieyasu has approved of this insidious plan in order to decimate both clans and amuse himself with ths string of horrifying deaths to follow.
Unbeknownst to the ruler, his actions happen on the eve of the two clans joining for Oboro, hier of the Iga, and Gennosuke, heir to the Kouga, are to wed. Hattori’s scroll fo the ten names finds its way to ninja hands hpwever and the bloodbath begins. In just a few days, already the numbers rae down to only 4 survivors to each clan. Gennosuke has taken the road to Sunpu to ask Ieyasu for the reson for this sudden was between clans while Oboro is ona similar path. Both lovers are with their respective warriors, thso e that have survived, and are on an inevitable collision with each other, one that honor will demand no other outcome except death.
Visually commanding and emotionally powerful, Basilisk the anime is an experience that fans of hardcore samurai/ninja shows simply must see. It is a captivating experience as these few shinobi, their lives, their loves, their regrets, are revealed, and so to are their ruthless fates at the hand of power hungry madmen and each other. All these fights to the death have occurred without the ninjas even knowing why the truce has been lifted and they must die. It is in this penultimate volume that at last, those remaining discover the truth behind the reason for this war: greed, politics, and power. None of this has anything to do with them, but now that the path has been taken and some much blood has been spilled and lives lost, they are cemented on this road to ruin. Hyoma and Gennosuke face the formidable Tenzen this volume, while Koshiro fights a Kouga, and later the beautiful Shinobi women Akeginu and Kagero cross blades.
These battles are arresting to behold, using all their cunning and supernatural techniques, each of these people will battle to their last breath if need be. Produced by GONZO (Trinity Blood, Burst Angel, Black Cat), this anime contains some of their most mesmerizing animation since Last Exile. The rich and darkly textured anime is breathtaking and a masterpiece of visual imagery. It is never more shown than in these emotionally epic duels between these victims of fate. The sound quality and the voice talent are outstanding.
As this story draws to its violent and ultimately tragic climax, a new player enters the fray. Ofuku, the vicious and devious caretaker of one of the heir candidates has chosen to involve herself with the surviving Iga shinobi. Also, Tenzen is shown in an even harsher light as we discover his monstrous power. He has a secret ability and it is at last revealed here. His dastardly plans to make slay Gennosuke and make Oboro his may yet see fruition as he appears to be invincible. There is a brief respite in the story form the gruseoms deaths and terrible fates when we are given a flashback into Gennosuke’s childhood and his early days of training with Hyoma.
EXTRAS:
Bonus features include clean opening and closing animation, FUNimation trailers, and Bhidn the Scens of Basilisk: Japanese original features. These last include two different video table discussions with four of the Japanese voice actors.
IN SUMMARY:
Basilisk is an exquisite anime of violence. This story is a dramatically intense and absorbing anime that is darkly thrilling. It’s Romeo and Juliet meets Ninja Scroll.
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