Review

There aren't many anime like Legend of Basara. It's sort of in a class of its own. Mainly because it fits into so many categories - be it shoujo, action-adventure, post-apocalyptic fantasy, even RPG. Most people would call Basara a shoujo. And yes, this anime is littered with bishounen and the main story arc hinges on a very shoujo-esque romance. But how many shoujos out there feature 3 gruesome deaths in the first episode alone? I've heard someone dub Basara the shounen answer to Fushigi Yûgi, and while that's a very valid comparison, I'd much rather call it a good old-fashion epic. Considering the amount of episodic anime being pumped out of Japan, it's damn refreshing to find one with an honest to goodness story. One that is played out by solid characters, all of whom do a pretty good job of carrying out the plot. Yes, this anime is hard to categorize. But oftentimes, these are the rare gems that offer the most engrossing tales.

The setting is feudal Japan in the far future after civilization has collapsed and mankind has reverted back to ancient traditions. The story begins in a desert village where a set of twins are prophecised to save the country from an age of tyranny. The boy - named Tatara - is proclaimed to be the Savior. And the girl - named Sarasa - just has the same face. Everything changes when they turn 15. After Tatara is brutally murdered by the enigmatic Red King, Sarasa must step into her brother's shoes and assume the role of the Savior in disguise.

The first thing that struck me about Basara is how unconventional it is. For one thing, the central conflict is not black and white. You may think the Red King is the villain, and Sarasa is the hero. But that's not true. Both sides have good reasons for doing what they do. And it just so happens that they turn out to be more than enemies. While Sarasa is without a doubt the main character, the Red King is more than an equal in terms of character and motivation. As someone once said: a melodrama is a battle between good and evil, but a tragedy is a battle between good and good. I'm glad creator Yumi Tamura spent the time to give this series some ambiguities.