When two warring ninja clans each find themselves supporting a different son of Hidetada Tokugawa as the next shogun, they each send 10 representatives to fight to the death. The winner of this fight not only gets Tokugawa support, but they earn the right to wipe out the other clan.
Everyone loves a battle royale, and furthermore, everyone loves a series that gets a sequel series a million years later. If you are looking for anime recommendations for Basilisk, then look no further.
Anime Like Basilisk
For Fans of Ninja Clan Clash
Ninja Slayer
In years past, ninja would commit honorable suicide to strengthen their souls for resurrection, now in the future city of Neo-Saitama, resurrected ninjas from thousands of years ago cast a shadow over the city. After having his wife and child killed in a ninja turf war, Kenji Fujikido is possessed by an enigmatic ninja soul that craves only vengeance.
Vengeance and bloodshed. That is what both of these series are about. They have their similarities deeply steeped in their dark tones and their plots that are focused on ninja-on-ninja violence. However, Basilisk does a better job fleshing out and creating interesting characters.
Nabari no Ou
In this modern world, ninja clans still survive and thrive in secret all around us. In the midst of this sits Miharu, a relatively apathetic young man that is the bearer of a powerful ninja technique. There are many ninja clans that seek his power in order to become ruler over Nabari, the ninja world. Enduring several attacks, Miharu has no choice but to accept the protection of his English teacher and the resident Banten ninja clan.
In terms of characters, Nabari no Ou takes place on a much smaller scale. However, it does focus on multiple clans trying to take ownership of one person and their power. While not quite as violent as Basilisk, each ninja character does come with some super flashy techniques.
Naruto
Orphaned at a young age and ostracized by his village due to the nine-tailed fox demon that was sealed within him at birth, Naruto aims for the top. His dream is to eventually become the leader of his village, the Hokage. However, first he must actually become a ninja and gain strength enough to rise to this pinnacle.
Basilisk is infinitely darker than even Naruto’s darkest arcs. However, they do have ninjas and ninja clan wars in common. If you enjoyed Basilisk not so much for its gore, but for the wide array of ninja abilities, there is infinitely more to be seen in Naruto.
For Fans of Vicious Violence
Shigurui
At the beginning of the Edo Era, a time of peace has descended over the land. The Lord Tokugawa Tadanaga, however, has decided to hold a fighting tournament with real steel instead of wooden swords. Within this tournament, the one-armed Gennosuke and blind Seigen are set to face off. As they were both disciples of Iwamoto Kogan, the greatest swordsman in all of Japan, both are determined to prove they are the rightful successor.
Both Shigurui and Basilisk are set during a similar era and actually have a similar plot. While Basilisk follows a large-scale battle royale between two ninja clans, Shigurui follows the events leading up to a battle between two students wanting to take over the same dojo. They are asked to fight in both shows on the behest of a shogun as well.
Akame ga Kill
Tatsumi is a naive boy from a rural village that makes the trip to the city in order to join the military and help his hometown. However, after he is rejected, he ends up joining Night Raid, a group of assassins part of a revolutionary movement to overthrow the government. From there, he must fight a brutal and increasingly bloody shadow war.
Do you like Basilisk’s large cast of characters where most of them will definitely die? Then Akame ga Kill certainly will want to be something you follow up with. It is quite the blood-soaked action show with a large cast of characters that can, and likely will, die horribly.
Berserk
Gutts has been a mercenary for as long as he can remember, caring for nothing but moving to the next battle. One fateful battle puts him at odds with the rapidly rising mercenary group, the Band of the Hawk. Their charismatic, idealistic leader Griffith soon makes him join by force, but the bond he forms with the Band of the Hawk may very well mean the end of the world.
Both of these shows are about the brutalities of war. However, Berserk tends to focus on a war that is a little larger in scope. While the similarities can be hard to spot at first, by the time both series reach their end, their shared brutality becomes apparent.
Blade of the Immortal
Manji is a swordsman who was cursed with eternal life. Growing upset with all the death he has created, he tries to get his mortality back by killing 100 evil men for every good person he had struck down. On this journey, he meets a girl named Rin who seeks her own vengeance against a sword school that killed her family. Together they journey, both trying to find their peace and prevent being consumed by revenge.
Both shows feature seemingly immortal characters, first and foremost. However, their biggest similarity is the general setting and tone of the show. Both take place in a historical era and feature rather bleak tones. Killing is to be expected and when it happens, it is absolutely brutal.
For Fans of Romeo and Juliet Tragic Love Stories
Romeo x Juliet
On the floating continent of Neo Verona, the Montague family murdered every member of the Capulet family to seize control, with the exception of their daughter who was hidden away. Fourteen years later, Juliet has a fateful encounter with the young Romeo Montague that sets off a whirlwind of star-crossed love.
Well, the similarities here are pretty obvious. You have two young people in both series that are separated by a bridge of hate forged by their families. While Romeo x Juliet is more of a clear reimagining of the Shakespeare material, Basilisk merely displays the same themes.
Kemonozume
In this world, a race of cannibal monsters called Shokujinki prey on humanity, and it is the job of elite monster hunters called Kifuuken to stop them. However, Toshihiko Momota, a Kifuuken warrior and son of the organizations leader, ends up falling in love with Yuka, a beautiful woman who also happens to be a Shokujinki.
Both stories are about what would be considered impossible love. Whether it is the two enemy clans in Basilisk or the race of humans and demons in Kemonozume. While love blooms in both shows, they make is very clear that it is not going to end well and the whole affair will be more difficult than necessary.
Did we miss any more good anime recommendations for Basilisk? Let us know in the comments section below.
