Forum - View topicBrain Diving - Ninja Wrap
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Fronzel
Posts: 1906 |
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I preferred the anime adaptation, actually. It dropped the laughable pseudo-scientific explanations for the magical ninja powers and added some characterization for minor characters. Otherwise it hews quite closely, and its color and motion wins over the novel's fairly bland writing style (though for all I know that could be a translation issue). It also treats the sex ninja a little less lecherously, if you can believe that.
The only thing I can remember liking better from the novel is how it said the ninja villages were littered with horribly deformed people due to the inbreeding undertaken to produce those few ninja with those essentially magical powers. That did a good job of showing how the pointless feud had poisoned both clans so much; even their flesh is twisted. |
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kondeelai
Posts: 8 |
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Nice article. Was curious to learn more about the source that Basilisk was based on. It wasn't by all means a masterpiece but it was one heck of a fun ride.
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Fletcher1991
 Posts: 514 Location: Long Island, NY |
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I didn't like the anime because of the ending, I would only suggest it to people if they want to see some semi-cool and unique fight scenes.
spoiler[ The ending = making the anime pointless. They didn't need to kill each other, they could have just ran away together or something. It was seriously one of the worst endings ever, and there was no reason why it had to end that way besides just to throw a random plot twist. Its not even because it was supposed to be sad (I actually have enjoyed a lot of anime people would consider sad), I disliked it because it was stupid.] Anyways good article, even though I didn't enjoy the anime and I haven't read any of the manga or original novel I enjoyed reading this. |
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Fronzel
Posts: 1906 |
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It's not exactly a "twist" since it was heavily foreshadowed in the first episode. I'm also not sure you understand how tragedies work. spoiler[How where they to run away when they were surrounded by the Shogunate's soldiers? And don't you think they'd have ninja assassins sent after them? The whole story, beyond being a string of super-powered ninja duels, is about how war destroys everything it touches. So yes, everyone dies, including the ill-fated lovers.][/spoiler] |
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Fletcher1991
Posts: 514 Location: Long Island, NY |
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spoiler[ Well with the main characters special ability I really doubt they would have any trouble. Plus I don't think there are many ninjas left that were as skilled as either of their clans.] |
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gwdone
 Posts: 272 |
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Nice information. I have the whole Basalisk anime series wooden box and all, and really enjoyed it. I certainly had no idea on the background until this write up. Thanks!!!
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sainta
 Posts: 989 |
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spoiler[ I think you are right. I mean, Gennosuke could make anybody in front of him commit suicide but for some reason Oboro opted to commit suicide... because... I didn't get it.] |
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Shenl742
Posts: 1524 |
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As Brian notes in the article, what you're saying maybe kind of the point/message of story spoiler[That the characters are pretty much bound the obsession with honor that was normal in that time period and are willing to do very stupid things to adhere to it, even if it leads to their own self-destruction. Yes, the main characters probably could've just raised hell at the end, killed all those solders and escape, instead of just letting it all happen. But that would've been dishonorable for the clan and in their minds, would've made all the sacrifice to that point meaningless....TO THEM at least.] As Brian touched upon, the story can be read as bit of critcism towards the social moors at the time: That total adherance to honor is stupid, tragic and wrecks everything, and this is an example of it happening. |
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El Oso
 Posts: 105 Location: Rummaging through camp sites. |
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IIRC spoiler[Gennosuke was still blinded by that Seven Days Potion over his eyes, and severely weakened when he was dragged out to fight Oboro. It was only after she killed herself that he forced open his eyes. It was convenient timing, unless the potion had already worn off. He seemed to be suspicious of Oboro ever since the fighting started, so he may have been waiting for Oboro to kill him and be done with it.] |
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Fletcher1991
Posts: 514 Location: Long Island, NY |
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Silly ninjas and their honor...
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doc-watson42
Encyclopedia Editor
 Posts: 1708 |
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I thought the most pointlessly extreme example of honor in anime and manga (at least, that I can recall) was in Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage and the corresponding arc in the original manga. 
I did, however, like Basilisk the anime, and SHINOBI: Heart Under Blade.
Nnnn…Jonathon Clements seems to think otherwise—see the entry "Clap Your Hands If You Believe in Ninja" (Tuesday, May 11th, 2010) in his The Official Schoolgirl Milky Crisis Blog, or the book from which he excerpted (pp. 309–310; search for "ninja"). |
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Gilles Poitras
Posts: 476 Location: Oakland California |
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The whole ninja as silent black clad super skilled warrior is actually a 1950s invention from popular entertainment. In fact the term ninja seems to have been uncommon. The historical basis is in the spies of the Sengoku Jidai and Edo Period who basically did everything they could to blend in and not be unusual. I, and Clements, have both made the case that if ninja were so cool why are there none in kabuki plays. In any case modern ninja stories can be fun and I enjoyed this novel and the manga. |
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jcaliff
 Posts: 156 Location: Houston |
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Just had to say, the subtitle of this article cracked me up.
Go Ninja Go Ninja Go! |
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