| Basilisk | |
Kouga Gennosuke on the cover of Basilisk volume 1. |
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| バジリスク〜甲賀忍法帖〜 (Basilisk - Book of the Kouga Ninja Arts) |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Action, Historical fantasy |
| Manga | |
| Basilisk | |
| Written by | Masaki Segawa |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| English publisher | Del Rey Manga Tanoshimi |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Magazine | Young Magazine Uppers |
| Original run | February 2003 – July 2004 |
| Volumes | 5 |
| TV anime | |
| Basilisk | |
| Directed by | Fumitomo Kizaki |
| Studio | Gonzo |
| Licensed by | FUNimation Entertainment |
| Network | TV Saitama, Animax, TV Kanagawa, Chiba TV, Mie TV, KBS, AT-X, Jidaigeki Senmon Channel |
| English network | Razer IFC, FUNimation Channel Animax 2x2 |
| Original run | April 12, 2005 – September 20, 2005 |
| Episodes | 24 |
Basilisk (バジリスク〜甲賀忍法帖〜 Bajirisuku ~Kōga Ninpō Chō~, Basilisk: The Kōga Ninja Scrolls) is a Japanese manga and anime series. The manga was authored by Masaki Segawa and published in Japan in 2003 and 2004, based on the novel The Kouga Ninja Scrolls by Futaro Yamada published in 1958. The anime, produced in 2005 by Gonzo Studios, closely follows the manga aside from a handful of distinctions. The manga won the 2004 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga.[1] The manga was later followed by a sequel series titled The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls which was also based on a novel by Futaro Yamada.
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 10 elite ninja from each clan unleashes a centuries-old hatred that threatens to destroy all hope for peace between them.
Contents |
At the dawn of Japan's Azuchi-Momoyama period (the late 16th century) two rival clan of Ninja, the Iga Tsubagakure and Kouga Manjidani, are engaged in a bitter blood feud that has spanned for centuries. The fighting finally ends when Hattori Hanzo the 1st succeeds in forging a cease fire between the two clans by conscripting both into the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu (the man who seized power to become Shogun and form Japan's first truly stable form of centralized government). Regardless, hostilities and bad blood remain between Kouga and Iga, ensuring a tenuous co-existence at best.
Fast forward to the year 1614; Ieyasu has retired from power (although he still wields considerable influence within the government) and passed the torch to his son Hidetada. Unfortunately, a succession dispute has risen concerning which of Ieyasu's grandsons are destined to take up the reins of power when their father finally decides to step down. The various government retainers are beginning to take sides and the Tokugawa Shogunate is on the verge of tearing itself apart.
In order to solve the problem before it spirals out of control, Ieyasu orders the no hostilities pact between Kouga and Iga canceled and promptly commands each clan to send 10 of their best ninja to enter a ruthless and bloody competition of kill or be killed. The leaders of the two clans kill each other off outside of the walls of the palace, leaving nine ninjas in each side to determine the outcome of the battle. Having received a scroll considerably early, the Iga gain the advantage and quickly kill four more of the Kouga before they even become aware the pact has been breached. However, upon the discovery of the pact's ending the Kouga soon retaliate, killing almost all of the Iga, and forcing the new young leaders into a path that will test the true strength of their love. 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 of old hatred and the horrors of war, is love even capable of surviving? Each clan will represent one of the two factions supporting Ieyasu's grandsons; the names of their selected fighters recorded on two identical scrolls to be marked out in blood upon their death. The clan that slays the chosen ten of the other will be given favor for a thousand years while the grandson they represent will be pronounced the undisputed heir to the Shogunate.
Opening
Ending theme
The series first premiered in Japan on the television stations TV Saitama, TV Kanagawa, Chiba TV, Mie TV, KBS, AT-X, Jidaigeki Senmon Channel, and others between April and September 2005.
The series has also been aired across numerous international regions, including Malaysia on ntv7, Canada on Razer, the United States on IFC and FUNimation Channel, Russia on 2x2, Turkey on MTV Türkiye, and numerous others.
| # | Title | Original airdate | English airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Destiny" "Sōshi Sōsatsu" (相思相殺) |
April 12, 2005 | January 10, 2008 | |
| 2 | "Last Rendezvous" "Taidō Niba" (胎動弐場) |
April 19, 2005 | January 17, 2008 | |
| 3 | "The Onslaught of War" "Kyōchū Muzan" (凶蟲無惨) |
April 26, 2005 | January 24, 2008 | |
| 4 | "The Horned Owl" "Yōkaku Yakō" (妖郭夜行) |
May 3, 2005 | January 31, 2008 | |
| 5 | "The Surprise Attack" "Ninja Rokugi" (忍者六儀) |
May 10, 2005 | February 7, 2008 | |
| 6 | "Longing in the Rain" "Kōrui Renbo" (降涙恋慕) |
May 17, 2005 | February 14, 2008 | |
| 7 | "The Bloodsucking Seductress" "Hitohada Jigoku" (人肌地獄) |
May 24, 2005 | February 21, 2008 | |
| 8 | "Cage of Blood" "Chikemuri Mujō" (血煙無情) |
May 31, 2005 | February 28, 2008 | |
| 9 | "Farewell" "Aizetsu Rinu" (哀絶霖雨) |
June 7, 2005 | March 6, 2008 | |
| 10 | "Divine Mandate" "Shinso Gojō" (神祖御諚) |
June 14, 2005 | March 13, 2008 | |
| 11 | "On Their Own" "Sekireki Mukoku" (石礫無告) |
June 21, 2005 | March 20, 2008 | |
| 12 | "Remembrance" "Tsuisō Gentō" (追想幻燈) |
June 28, 2005 | March 27, 2008 | |
| 13 | "A Swarm of Butterflies" "Kochō Ranbu" (胡蝶乱舞) |
July 5, 2005 | April 3, 2008 | |
| 14 | "Fallen Flower" "Sange Kaikyō" (散花海峡) |
July 12, 2005 | April 10, 2008 | |
| 15 | "Reckoning" "Hatō Gokumon" (波涛獄門) |
July 19, 2005 | April 17, 2008 | |
| 16 | "First Impressions" "Kaihō Tanga" (懐抱淡画) |
July 26, 2005 | April 24, 2008 | |
| 17 | "Wandering Hearts" "Konmei Rubō" (昏冥流亡) |
August 2, 2005 | May 1, 2008 | |
| 18 | "A Dawn Without Light" "Mumyō Futsugyō" (無明払暁) |
August 9, 2005 | May 8, 2008 | |
| 19 | "Conspiracy" "Mōjo Kanbō" (猛女姦謀) |
August 16, 2005 | May 15, 2008 | |
| 20 | "River of Mercy" "Jinji Ryūryū" (仁慈流々) |
August 23, 2005 | May 22, 2008 | |
| 21 | "With All Her Heart" "Misatsu Kagerō" (魅殺陽炎) |
August 30, 2005 | June 5, 2008 | |
| 22 | "The Haunted" "Kikoku Shūshū" (鬼哭啾々) |
September 6, 2005 | June 12, 2008 | |
| 23 | "Emancipation" "Mugen Hōyō" (夢幻泡影) |
September 13, 2005 | June 19, 2008 | |
| 24 | "Requiem" "Raise Kaikō" (来世邂逅) |
September 20, 2005 | June 26, 2008 | |
Although the anime follows the original manga almost exactly in storyline, there are a few slight differences. The most notable being flashbacks (such as the one in episode 1 as to how Ogen and Danjou's love came to an end) as well as additional scenes which occur only in the anime; both of which serve to expand on the characters and the backstory. One of the more prominent scenes added to the anime was an epilogue for the final episode which was intended to add a sense of closure whereas the manga ends immediately after Gennosuke and Oboro's duel.
Other differences include fight scenes happening in a different order (i.e. in the manga, Oboro uncovers Jingoro's attempt to assassinate Gennosuke before stopping Akeginu and Jousuke's duel whereas in the anime the situation is reversed), and exposed breasts being obscured in the anime by some form of covering whereas the manga tends to be less censored. Although, toward the end of the anime, bare breasts can be seen on a number of occasions.
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