Basilisk : A compelling tale of Romeo and Juliet

Basilisk is a tale of forbidden love amongst the shinobis from birth rival ninja clans of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was a major hit when it played on Japanese television during the summer of 2005. Its very nice to see bloody martial arts action mixed with historical fantasy and a tragic Romeo-and-Juliet tale, the series was based on the manga of the same name written by Masaki Segawa (itself based on Futara Yamada's 1959 novel The Kouga Ninja Scrolls).
It's a very powerful story of love in a time of all-out war. The lovers from two blood sworn clans face their inevitable fate.
The year is 1614. Two rival ninja clans – the Iga Tsubagakure and Kouga Manjidani – are locked in an uneasy truce with both sides more than willing to restart the conflict. Emperor Tokugawa Ieyasu is about to step down when a quarrel over the succession erupts among his two grandsons.
Rather than putting the entire country into civil war, Ieyasu orders the Iga and Kouga clans to select 10 of their best shinobis to fight amongst themselves in a competition to determine which grandson will become the next heir. In so doing, he cancels the truce between the two clans, instantly plunging them into ruthless and bloody war.

Tangled in the middle of this war are Gennosuke of the Kouga Clan and Oboro of the Iga Clan. Initially thought to bring an end to the feud, the two star-crossed lovers must choose between duty and their responsibility to their clans or the longings of their hearts.

Basilisk not only plays fast and loose with history but with reality itself. Gonzo's shinobis not only hide in shadows and throw shuriken at each other, but also possess super-abilities. Both of the clans have developed genetically mutated ninjas in order to defeat the another.

Graphically it is a very smooth one and characters are quite unique and appealing. But the series has been categorized as M(mature) for its gore and some sexual content.

My sketch book

Here is what I do in my sketch book. Just my random sketches. My human anatomy practice. An sketch of a place near my house. A Thor of my version. Some dear sketches.

Bleach

Bleach is a Japanese manga and anime written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. For those who are new to bleach, it is a story set within the real world and the Soul society where the death gods or soul reaper, known as Shinigami in Japanese live. Like most of the Japanese mangas protagonist of the story is a 15/16 year old high school boy named Kurosaki Ichigo.(I wonder why do most of the writer like to make their protagonists a teenager) The regular work of a shinigami is to save the human world from evil souls, "hollow" and guide the human souls to afterlife. Ichigo is more than an ordinary boy who can see the soul from before but he is transformed into a shinigami when a shinigami named, Kuchiki Rukia gives him her soul reaper ability in order to save his family from a hollow. This changes the life of Kurosaki Ichigo forever.

Bleach is without a doubt a very good manga and anime. It has been ranked within top 5 often in surveys and polls. Its because the writer has done a very good job of story telling. Many people might say that the initial parts may be boring but they are wrong. But they are true to say that it gets better after 2 dozen parts. There are many interesting characters like

Ysutora "chad" Sado

Uryū Ishida

Orihime Inoue

Kisuke Urahara

Renji Abarai

Tōshirō Hitsugaya

and many others.

In addition to manga and anime there are 3 feature films base on the main story

Bleach : Memories of nobody

Bleach : The Diamond Dust Rebellion

Bleach : Fade to black

The fourth installment is planned for 2010 realease. Isn't that a good news for the fans.

So better start watchins it.

History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi Shijō Saikyō no Deshi Kenichi

Kenichi is another anime I've recently put my eyes on. It is so obvious and often realized that most of the Japanese anime and mangas have a kind of same story line. There is a protagonist who is initially weak and most of the people inlike him. But as the story continues the protagonist becomes stronger and starts to win people's heart. Kenichi is also follows less or more same kind of plot but believe me its a new wine in old bottle. Kenichi wont let you down.

The story starts with Shirahama Kenichi as an average student who has earned the nickname "Weak Legs" from always getting bullied in his junior high school. He is just a troubled 15/16 year old boy. Even on his entrance in High school he continuously mistreated by the bullies of martial art clubs. One day he accepts the challenge of a karate student of have a battle for the access of the karate club. Having accepted the challenge foolishly confused Shirahama meets a cute girl named Furinji Miu who helps him build the courage to begin training at a mysterious dojo where she lives. Ryozanpaku Dojo.From here the process of changing Kenichi into a courageous boy start. His 5 teachers :

Shio Sakaki : the Karate expert

Apachai Hopachai : the Muay Thai boxer

Shigure Kōsaka : the weapon expert

Kensei Ma : master of Chinese kenpo

Akisame Kōetsuji :the philosophical jujutsu master

and Hayato Furinji, Miu 's grandfather and the owner of Ryozanpaku Dojo.

Here Kenichi faces intense training from masters of many different martial arts styles as he attempts to become stronger. The more stronger he gets the more opponents he starts to attracts. His sensei Sakaki had already warned him about that. He also has an abominable friend Haruo Niijima whom Kenichi often refers as alien because of his appearence and slyness. He always like to poke Kenichi but also shows his friendship time to time. He was the founder of the "Shinpaku alliance" and also co-commands it with Kenichi.

The bottom line is watch if you like Naruto. You won't regret.

Naruto Manga V/S Anime

I started wathching the anime before I started the manga and still I hang on more to the anime. There is this popular tradition of making the mangas into the anime once the manga gains popularity. In that case naruto is a very outstanding manga and anime both. Mashashi Kishimoto is behind both of them and believe me, he has been very successful in that. Usually people think that one among the two is an spoiler but not in Naruto. Its like you may read the manga once and then you will watch the anime and then you may want to read the manga again and that may lead you to watch the anime again.

As the manga was the first one to be launched the anime is quiet behind the manga series but it is a sincere follower of the series. One thing you might notice if you have been analyzing both of them at the same time is that Mashashi Kishimoto has made quiet obvious modifications in his art and design styles in both manga and anime. He has evolved since he started the series.

Some of the differences that are there between the manga and the anime:

- The plot of the story. There are some add ins and some miss outs among both of them.

- Many battles in Naruto manga can be pretty lengthy. There are some differences in some of the battles which can't go unnoticed.

- Characters development in the manga and anime may feel a little unparrellel.

The top ten Naruto Characters

Naruto universe is full of fascinating and vibrant characters. Every character has its own value and stands uniquely in the mass. But somebody has gotta come above the other. Every star shines but one among all shines the brightest. This article tries to categorize the characters from Naruto anime series.

1 Uzumaki Naruto
It has to be Naruto in number one. We all know that the anime itself is based on is name but he lives up his name. A parent less boy trying to be the best one in a hostile ninja world. He has more hardships in his way than happiness and consolation. But his stronger than iron will and optimism makes him the leader of the chart.

2 Uchiha Sasuke
Sasuke is one thing Naruto is dying to change but like Naruto he also has a fierce determination but only to drive him toward the destruction. Swore to avenge the annihilation of his clan and brother Itachi. He only grows stronger and destroys everything in his way. (often considered to be very cool by the ladies)

3 Hatake Kakashi
Teacher to Naruto and Sasuke, Kakashi is a very skillful ninja who owns a sharingan eye. He is very intelligent and can copy any jutsu. He has been claimed to copy over 1000 justus. Very less people know whats behind his mysterious mask and he is also a devoted reader of Jiraya's novels.

4 Jiraya
One among the three legendary Sannins Jiraya for most of his life travelled the world and wrote his experience in novels. Often referred by Naruto as pervert he was more interested more in females and Sake(Japanese wine). Carrying the predictions from the elder toad of Mount Gyobu he always believed that he would have a very talented student ninja who would change the ninja world forever. Too bad he died without knowing the chosen student and he also was killed by his own student. I don't know why but I have a feeling that Jiraya may someday come back.

5 Shikamaru Nara
In his ofttimes he gets as lazy as he can but has a very wonderful analyzing and intelligent capacity. He has exposed his excellence in strategy building from time to time. A very easy going character with very less enthusiasm. His sensei Asuma said that he has IQ level over 200. He has a bad taste for bossy women but seems to be fallen for Temari. Likes to take naps and watch clouds while doing nothing. "How troublesome"

6 Uchiha Itachi
Sasuke's big brother and the annihilator of the Uchiha clan. Very mysteriously finished his own clan and left the village to join the defamed Akatsuki. He has a very sad story as later revealed by Madara. He battles his own brother to end his life losing to him. It seems he lived his life just for his little brother Sasuke who hated his all his life.

7 Uchiha Madara
The surviving member of Uchiha clan after Sasuke. Madara was a founding member of the hidden village with the first Hokage for the title but lost. According to calculations he has lived long extraordinarily. He covers himself as Tobi and very few people know about his real identity.

8 Rock Lee
I couldn't wait to put this guy over here. I wanted to put this guy somewhere in third place but he has appeared very scarcely in the recent episode. He has no justus except taijutsu but his courage and valor are second to none. Proud beast to Konoha. His relation with his sensei Maito Gai is nice to watch and it is even nicer to watch him grow.

9 Gaara of the sand
Although he initially appeared as antagonist he was brainwashed by Naruto. He is almost the same age of Naruto but has already become the Kazekage (head) of the sand village. He was formerly a host for one tailed beast which was taken away by the Akatsuki. He showed a very sadistic demeanor and silent complex before losing the battle against Naruto.

10 Minato Namikaze
The last in my top ten list but not the least. Konoha's yellow flash. He is the fourth hokage and Naruto's father. He sacrificed his life to seal the nine tailed fox in Naruto and saving Konoha from destruction. He was Jiraya's student and Kakashi's teacher. His skills and abilities were so great and well known that enemies issued flee on sight order against him. Konoha's yellow flash.
P.S.
(The list above is not based on any poll or interview but my perspective please leave your own comment or list)

Why must you watch Spongebob Squarepants

SpongeBob SquarePants is a hyperenergetic and very optimistic sea sponge. He lives in Pineapple under the sea. He may look to you like an ordinary sponge with a face and limbs but thats not all. He also owns a pet snail called Gary who meows like cat. He is a cook at Krusty Krab.

Patrick the Star is Spongebob's best friend who a pink starfish who has dumb wits and lives under a rock. He does no work except watching TV and hanging out with Spongebob.

Squidward Tentacles is a squid who lives between Patrick and Spongebob in aMaoi. He is very arrongant and egologistical and hates his neoghbours for their child like behaviour. His hobbies are to play clairnet and make portraits. He works as a cashier at Krusty Krab.

Eugene Krabs is the owner of the fast food restaurant "Krusty Krabs". He formerly served for Bikini Bottom Navy Force but is very obssessed about money

Sandy Cheeks is a female squirrel from Texas who is in Bikini Bottom to do research for her chimpanzee bosses. She also is expert in karate and wears an astronaut like suit to survive in the water.

Sheldon Plankton is a tiny copepod who owns a fast food restaurant called "Chum Bucket" which is ranked lower than the Krusty Krabs. His continuously tries to steal Spongebob's recepie for delicious "Krabby patties" but always fails. He even wants Spongebob to work for him.

The whole events take place in a n under water town called Bikini bottom. There are other recurring character as well who are good.

Larry the lobster is a body builder lifeguard

Mrs Puffs is a boating school teacher

Pearl Krabs is the whale daughter of Mr. Krabs

Mermaid man and Barnacle boy are the old superheroes of Bikini Bottom

Patchy the pirate is a live action narrator fo the series.

And there are many other exciting characters which make Spongebob Squarepants a must watch TV show