Legend of Basara

Story:
In the 21st Century for some reason (probably global warming or something..) the world has turned into a wasteland and Japan is ruled by a corrupt and selfish clan whom have neglected their subjects through out their years of ruling so much that the quality of life is pretty much the lowest of low. Then one day there was a set of twins, a boy(Tatara) and a girl(Sarasa) was born and a prophet declares that the boy is the chosen one which would save them from their predicament. Unfortunately the supposed chosen one was killed by the "Red King", which happens to be the son ... of the ruling Emperor and now it's up the the other half of the twins to fulfill her brother's role.

The plot of Legend of Basara doesn't really exude originality but through out it manages to make itself interesting enough. It's too bad that the story is clearly unfinished with the way that things were left off with the final episode though it was somewhat obvious that this would happen seeing as this anime adaption was only 13 episodes long while the original manga span for 27 volumes.

Animation:
Now the animation isn't necessarily bad but it's not great either, while the show being more than 10 years old needs to be put into consideration, there was still plenty of shows that were released around the same time as Legend of Basara that looked better. Although the show did have some interesting character designs despite most of the male characters looking a little too fabulous.

Sound:
The OST hardly had much presence through out the show which is kind of disappointing since a lot shows fantasy type shows use background music to make you feel like what you're watching is some epic adventure.

Character:
Probably the best aspect of the show, Sarasa is a great lead character, she's isn't just some push over and is pretty likable from the start and still she displays a lot of growth in her resolve and personality as the story progresses.

Another interesting note about the characters is that most of the so called villains in the show, are really just following their own justice, following what they think is right for the country and in a way you could see Sarasa as the villain as she's stands in the way of the Red King who seems to have good intentions but just needs a bit more guidance in which is the right path to take.

Overall:
Legend of Basara is a good show, despite the story being incomplete it was rather enjoyable. It's recommendable if you're looking for a decent fantasy/adventure/romance series although be prepared to move on to the manga once you've finished since the story is unfortunately cut short.

This is my first review ever and it had to be on this anime. If you're into historical romance and old art this is anime for you. I have never seen an anime with such originality honestly, it's also very unique because it's from a time when anime wasn't cliquè and had differnt storylines.

Story 9/10: it's sort of like Romeo and Juliet, the girl (Sarasa) is from a village with a twin brother who is the chosen one who gets the privilege of holding a swords and whatnot, the usual "manly" tasks. Anyway, so Japan is under control by different kings ruling divided ... parts who are all brothers. Our main male protagonist is the Red King who is Sarasa's enemy for destroying her village, and killing her family. Now Sarasa takes her brothers place (Tatara) as the chosen one who will bring peace to the world and goes after The Red King, tricking his nation that it was the twin sister that was killed. She goes to get revenge and meets a man whom both fall in love not knowing what their true indenties are. Oh and there's a lot of killing since a war starts between Tatara and The Red King. When they aren't doing their duties it's interesting to see how much their tones change when talking to another without knowing each others identities. They help their enemies without realizing each time they meet and I loved watching that friction between them.

Art 10/10: The art is simply beautiful and very detailed. It has a very different setting than what's usually shown in anime today with the your average highschool setting or modern Japan. You just have to watch it to see how lovely it is as on old art fan.

Characters 8/10: There are some holes in the story when it come to character development but it's bearable or how one thing lead to another for characters during the plot.

Enjoyment 10/10: I loved this anime too much. I wish anime could be like anime from the 90s and early 2000s because of the art and each anime had its own touch to it. Also they're very underrated. I was literally so excited while I was watching this anime because I couldn't predict was gonna happen next which is a great feeling for me. Storyline and everything kept me very into it.


(**SPOLIER ALERT***)

Overall 9/10: I do think it could have had more episodes since it did leave some plot holes here and there especially in the end when it came to the main female and male finding out their true identities but there's always the manga to get more deep. Overall I enjoyed it very much. I highly recommend this if you're wanting to take a break from today's anime and for all my old art lovers that are looking for what to watch next.

If you'd like to take a break from all the new shiny mainstream anime and don't mind dipping back into an older era of anime, Legend of Basara can be a hidden gem. I have the bias of reading the entire manga and I will forewarn you the anime is only a taste of the beginning of what is a very epic story. The end WILL leave you wanting more because there IS so much more. The manga is 27 volumes.

The creator likes to break out of the shoujo mold, though clearly with such aesthetics and a romance interest, there is also the horror of ... war and no punches pulled. Characters will die, they will struggle emotionally, and there's no simple good vs evil. Everyone has weaknesses and something they believe in.

The anime will end shortly after the plot arc introducing the Blue King, though I believe they condensed it quite a bit. Even with having the manga I still bemoan it did not go longer but there really is no "satisfactory" spot they could have ended it aside from the end itself. The story is built around a prophecy, a war, and two star crossed lovers who are usually apart. But you can enjoy and appreciate the anime for what it is.