LXII: "Basilisk"

Scrolls, blood, and a pack load of special ninja... Basilisk has a reputation as a bloodbath battle between two clans over the scrolls of one of them. A series that isn't meant for kids, this could be one of the really violent ones out there. Still, dealing with the time period it's set in, it's entertaining somewhat.

Basilisk deals with a battle that waged on for centuries, between the Iga Tsubagakure and the Kouga Manjidani. Eager to put a cease to the endless bloodbath, Hattori Hanzo I forges the no hostilities pact that suspended the senseless, bloody battle. Some would call this a stalemate, with no blood being shed for a good number of years. Around this time, Japan's government finally stabilized with the appointment of Tokugawa Ieyasu as Shogun. However, come the year 1614, Ieyasu steps down, passing the torch to his son Tokugawa Hidetada. This causes some discord, and in a matter of time, the flames of battle are ignited once again, with the Iga and Kouga ready to slaughter each other like the days of old.

To quell the need for battle of those two groups, and to solve the succession issue (in which people already began to take sides), it was arranged that the no hostility poact was canceled, yet only 10 warriors from each group were to participate in the battle, as to avoid a massacre. However, upon receiving the scroll early, the Iga slay 4 Kouga members in an preemptive strike. When Kouga finally started retaliating, new leaders' strength of true love were tested. In the midst of the battle, Iga's Gennosuke and Kouga's Oboro were engaged to one another years prior, hoping their union would cease the amnesty held between them for so long. Not everyone feels this way, however, and soon, the members of one group persistently try to write off either of the fiances.

When one group has slain all 10 members of the other, that representative will become the heir of Shogunatse. A battle treaded with blood, sweat, tears and even doubts, await the would be wed heirs.

Capturing the essence of old day Japan, Basilisk follows battle after battle, exhibiting various unique and skillful warriors of either clan. All the while, it hones in on the advances of Gennosuke and Oboro... as well as the actions of those that try to sever them. Made in the Gonzo studio, all 24 episodes were licensed  by Funimation, and had a circuit on the Funimation Channel. the series is bloody, dramatic, and violent, but got its praise. Basilisk gets a 7.4 of 10.