Basilisk (manga)

Basilisk (manga)
Genre	seinen, action, fantasy
Manga
Written by	Masaki Segawa
Published by	Kodansha ; Heyne ; Del Rey; Tanoshimi
Anime
Studio	GONZO

Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls (バジリスク甲賀忍法帖 Basilisk Kōga Ninpō Chō) is an anime produced in 2005 by GONZO Studios, based on a story by Futaro Yamada. The manga, authored by Masaki Segawa and published in Japan in 2003 and 2004, consists of 5 volumes. Aside from small differences, the anime closely follows the manga.

The story takes place in the year 1614. Two ninja clans, Iga of the Hidden Hilt Village and Kouga of the Manji Village, battle each other to determine which son of Hidetada Tokugawa will become the next shogun. The deadly competition between 10 elite ninja from each side unleashes centuries-old hatred and threatens to destroy all hope for peace between the two rival clans.

Summary

A.D. 1614 - In order to resolve a succession dispute, Ieyasu Tokugawa nullifies a treaty which has kept the Iga and Kouga ninja clans at peace for years, despite four centuries of animosity. The dismantling of the treaty results in immediate bloodshed between the clans, they attempt to annihilate each other. The war breaks out just as an arranged marriage between the two heirs of the clans (Gennosuke and Oboro) is set to dispel the longstanding feud. The story chronicles the battles between the 10 elite ninjas from each clan, who possess various inhuman ninja abilities and techniques, but are still as mortal as any human...

Characters in Basilisk

Kouga Ninjas

Kouga Danjo: The grandfather of Gennosuke and leader of the Kouga clan. Danjo specializes in the poisonous needle arts. Slain by Ogen.

Kouga Gennosuke: The grandson of Kouga Danjo. Gennosuke wields the Genjutsu Eye Technique, which he learned from Hyouma. It allows him to reverse homicidal intent when directed at him; in practice, he can use it to force his enemies to kill themselves if they look at him in the eyes. He's betrothed to the beautiful Oboro and even in the hardest times he greatly cares for her well-being.

Muroga Hyouma: - Gennosuke's martial arts teacher, he wields the Genjutsu Eye Technique and taught it to Gennosuke through years of training. He keeps his eyes shut, suggesting he cannot deactivate the technique as Gennosuke can; develops exceptional hearing as a result.

Kisaragi Saemon: The older brother of Okoi, he wields the ability of mimicking anyone's voice. Also, by pressing another's face in mud, he can create a mold into which he then presses his own face, subsequently taking on the first person's appearance; Saemon is, thus, a 'shape shifter' in a way.

Okoi: The younger sister of Kisaragi Saemon. Once in direct physical contact with the skin of another, she can suck out their blood (like a leech); the more contact, the faster she can drain their blood. Due to the need of skin-to-skin contact, she is dressed in a more revealing manner than the other kunoichi. Slain by Nenki's hair technique.

Kasumi Gyoubu: He wields the ability of being able to meld with/enter solid inanimate objects. This power is often used to allow him to traverse walls or the ground undetected. He favors surprise strangulation. Gyoubu vows revenge at the Iga clan for killing his father.

Jimushi Jubei: He doesn't have any limbs, but he can slide across the ground at high speeds with the scales on his chest. He also has a long, prehensile tongue that can draw a sword concealed in his throat and stab an enemy to defend himself. Slain by Tenzen.

Kazamachi Shogen: He has a large bulbous growth on his back and moves mainly on all fours (his appearance is spider-like). He has as a long, powerful, prehensile tongue which can excrete a sticky web like substance. He attacks by immobilizing opponents with webbing, then killing them at his own leisure. Killed by Hotarubu.

Udono Jousuke: His enormous rubber-like body allows him to absorb great amounts of physical damage with little injury. This includes direct blows from swords, rendering him nearly invulnerable to most physical attacks. He's also capable of curling himself into a ball and rolling at high speeds. Is somewhat of a lecher, as proved by his interaction with Akeginu.

Kagerou: A beautiful young woman whose breath becomes poisonous when she's sexually aroused, usually resulting in the death of her lovers; according to the Koga, it's a trait shared by all the women in her family. She's madly and tragically in love with Gennosuke, but is unable to do anything about it; any form of intimacy would probably be fatal for him.

Iga Ninjas

Ogen: The leader of the Iga clan at the beginning of the series, she controls her hawk with deadly accuracy. She had a common past with Danjo, and because of it she has raised Oboro as a peace-loving person, hoping that she may be the key to keep the order of things and avoid war.

Oboro: Ogen's granddaughter and leader of the clan after her death, she's born with 'Eyes of Ruin' that cancels out any ninja technique as long as she makes eye contact with the technique's user. On the other hand, she's a sweet-hearted and loving young woman with no desire to start any wars; she's soon overwhelmed by Tenzen, who becomes the true leader of the Iga, and has to struggle hard to try bringing peace back to the clans, even coming to blind herself temporarily so she wouldn't be forced to use her abilities. She's betrothed to and loves Gennosuke, whom she has known since they were children.

Yakushiji Tenzen: He is over 200 years old. He was born with a 'twin brother' that appeared as two eyes, a mouth and two stubby hands protruding from his right cheek; this was at birth, but in adulthood it conceals itself such that only its closed right eye is visible as a wart/growth on Tenzen's ear). The creature seems to awaken only when Tenzen has been wounded or killed, regenerating Tenzen by 'eating' his wounds. This provides nigh-immortality and is supposedly the reason Tenzen is still alive after 200 years. Even when decapitated, Tenzen can still regenerate if his head is placed back onto his body, with his twin sealing the cut. Tenzen himself is a sly, cunning, devious man who is obsessed with power and bloodshed, and he wants Oboro to bear his child who will become the future leader of the Iga Ninjas.

Mino Nenki: He is able to control his hair, using strands as if they were limbs to grab, attack, defend, etc; he is even able to pull around his own weight, swinging from tree to tree using just his head hair. His entire body is covered in hair, much like a monkey. Nenki also has the ability to stiffen his body hair into sharp needles.

Azuki Rousai: Wields the ability to extend his limbs freely. Allowing him to kick/punch from a distance with tremendous force. Carries around a very deep hatred towards the Kouga, as well as a large melon-like head. Slain by Okoi.

Yashamaru: An elite user of garotte cutting wires made from the hair of young women. These strings are so sharp that it can cut through thick rocks and even walls. He is Hotarubi's husband. Is killed by Gyoubu via broken neck.

Hotarubi: Yashamaru's wife, she carries around a poisonous snake that defends her. She can summon pink butterflies which can distract enemies or conceal herself and others when fleeing, as well as attack and provide some aggravation.

Amayo Jingoro: Contact with salt allows him to dissolve into a viscuous liquid like form to move about. Prolonged use of this form seems to cause excessive thirst, and contact with water is the only means of restoring his human form. Experiences permanent dissolution of his body in the ocean/sea, due to the vast amount of salt in it.

Akeginu: Oboro's long-time bodyguard and the closest to a best friend that she has, she's able to control her own blood, directing it to gush out onto opponent's eyes to cause blindness, or create a fine mist to obscure their vision. The technique can be used to cover and detect hidden opponents in blood. She's also in love with Koushiro.

Chikuma Koshirou: He wields two hand scythes which he throws with great accuracy, and is also capable of creating air vaccuums (similar to black holes) with his breath. He vows to protect Oboro at any costs, and may have romantic feelings for her. Blinded by Gennosuke when his tornado technique is turned back upon him.

Other

There are several historical personages who make an appearance in the series. They include:

Theme Song

Opening

Kouga Ninpouchou by Onmyouza, available on the CD Single of the same name.

Ending Theme

"Hime Murasaki" by Nana Mizuki (eps 1,9,11-12)
"WILD EYES" by Nana Mizuki (eps 2-8,10,13-14)

Both songs are published on the single "Wild Eyes", on 05 May 2005.

Broadcast

Basilisk is currently running on Canadian specialty station Razer Thursdays at 5:30pm EST and 12:30am EST, Fridays at 1:00pm EST, Saturdays at 10:00pm EST and 1:00am EST, and Sundays at 11:00am EST