Have to say, that this story played out like a huge mashing of Shakespearean plays. I'll call it a tragic romantic comedy. Now don't get me wrong, the story did flow and characters did progress from where they started off at, but I felt like they only had a superficial depth to them. Plot wise, Basara has a lot in common with Romeo and Juliet, only without the double suicide and a civil war instead of a war between 2 families. Such themes as revenge, emotional manipulation and the overused point of falling in love with ones enemy and how the lovers over come all to be together in the end are strongly represented. Government intrigue with a mixing of Japanese historical references and influences help the plot to be interesting and distinguish is from other shojou manga at the time and keeps readers reading, but the characters lacked depth. It's a cute read with the Middle Eastern influence, with some tedious areas and a lot of dramatic shojou thrown into the mix.
When comparing Basara to 7 Seeds, it is very obvious that this manga was written by a Tamura that was still in the maturing stage as a writer. While Sarasa and Shuri are fun characters and can be easily identified with by a younger audience, they are no where near as dynamic and realistic as her characters in 7 Seeds. Of course, this is a fantasy story, but the lack of depth in Sarasa and Shuri in Basara shows how much Tamura has matured as a character builder. Another area that shows her development is in how she uses the theme of the apocalypse in both mangas. In Basara Tamura turned part of Japan into a desert and imported a Middle Eastern culture and then sent Japan back to the feudal age within her post apocalyptic Japan, but in 7 Seeds she actually creates a realistic new world. Instead of reusing themes and ideas from other fantasy writers, Tamura was able to use the evolutionary theory to remake Earth. By remaking the world in this fashion, she is able to give her readers a setting that they can imagine without having to borrow a completely different culture to make its foundation.
The way that Tamura uses comedy between the two stories is also an interesting point. Throughout Basara Tamura uses the side characters, who I personally liked better than the main characters, to offset the rather overly dramatic Sarasa and Shuri with sheer randomness. It is very obvious that Nachi's only use in Basara was comic relief. He and other side characters pop in and out along the sides of panels in chibi form and then vanish again to break up the serious mood, in good old manga style. 7 Seeds has very different ways of breaking up the drama and seriousness that make up most of the plot. Younger characters such as Nobita are used to bring in a nostalgic and carefree atmosphere. Humor is used by certain characters, like Semimaru or Ban, to round him out as a character and not to only be the comedic timing for the whole manga which shows a maturity in character and plot building.
In the end, it is obvious which manga I think is better, but also how much Tamura has developed as a mangaka. Setting, plot, and character building are all areas where writers show their maturity as writers and Tamura show cases her maturity in flying colors in 7 Seeds.
nicely written. I like 7 seeds more because the characters are all richly developed into people we can relate to.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agreed my anonymous friend! Hands down the characters in Seeds are much more complex and dynamic.
DeleteThanks for commenting! I hope to read more of your comments.
I read Basara first and it was what made me aware of how awesome Tamura Yumi is. Basara is definitely a whole lot more flawed than 7 Seeds, but I personally love Basara. I don't find Sarasa or Shuri flat at all (especially when you compare them to other shojo characters, and even some josei characters), and I believe they develop nicely as the plot progresses. Their love was certainly contrived, but I felt like it wasn't in your face all the time (I actually prefer their love to Hana and Arashi's ^^;;). There was a lot of emphasis on the actual revolution and the politics, and I feel the romance was more a plus on the side. 7 Seeds hasn't ended yet, but I feel that overall Basara has more direction than 7 Seeds. You can clearly see how well planned out Basara was, and the author knew how it was going to end. I don't feel that same direction with 7 Seeds, I'm still not quite sure where Tamura Yumi is going with it, and how it will end (endings always worry me, they're rarely done well!). I guess the emphasis is more on character development and treatment, rather than plot development? ^^;;
ReplyDeleteThat said, 7 Seeds is amazing and definitely my favourite ongoing series. Each and every character gets their moment to develop and shine, and you end up crying and laughing with them as if they're real people. I can also honestly say that I love each and every character of 7 Seeds (save the purely antagonistic ones like Ukai), none of them are black and white!
I really liked your analysis on the themes of 7 Seeds too! :) You pointed out heaps of stuff that makes 7 Seeds such a fantastic series! I only wish less people were put off by Tamura Yumi's art, it really is gorgeous once you get over the old-fashioned shojo style. ^^;;
First off, thank you so much for the comment! I really want to connect more with other manga readers, so I was so excited when you commented!!
DeleteI completely agree with you that compared to other shojo characters, Sarasa and Shuri are much more dynamic and they actually evolve and grow with the series. That being said, I still feel that they are predictable; which is always a turn off for me as a reader. Part of my problem is that I read 7 Seeds before Basara and part of it is that I feel that Tamura just put together different themes into a manga of her liking without really putting more of her own ideas in the setting. I've had friends tell me how much they like Basara because it was little known by the community and that it was beautifully drawn. I'm glad I stopped being an art style snob and read it.
I am so with you on the 7 Seeds and not seeing how it can actually end. I've thought about that while I was reading, but left it out of my post because there was so much more I was impressed with. Tamura creates such a unique and believable world in 7 Seeds that I just want to know more and more and find myself dying to learn more about it each chapter. My prediction is that they all come together and finally start one community; which will represent hope for the future and have a flash forward to show who got together with who and to remember the characters who died. I particularly love how unapologetic Tamura is in 7 Seeds. Characters die, are manipulative, combative, ugly, and heartbreaking and I just cannot get enough of how these people are suppose to live together.
Sorry, although I said I really love Basara, I'm actually pretty obsessed with 7 Seeds so I stalk every 7 Seeds related thing that appears on the internet! XDD That's how I found your blog. :3
DeleteYeah, I thought about that after I commented. It's like a trend, people I've talked to who read Basara first usually like Basara more (or love it at least), and people I've talked to who read 7 Seeds first usually like it better. I think it's because Tamura Yumi is so different from other writers of the genre! I went into Basara not knowing what to expect, it was new and exciting and overwhelming, leaving a lasting impression on me. I went into 7 Seeds knowing exactly what to expect, of course Tamura managed to completely blow me a way with another masterpiece, but I knew she would! Likewise, for those starting with 7 Seeds, it's a completely new experience for them, but when they read Basara second, their expectations are high so it doesn't shine as much. xD It's true that their actions were more or less predictable, but every now and again Sarasa and Shuri did something surprising. X3 I also cried a bucket concerning Ageha, even though I knew it was coming (crossing my fingers Aramaki isn't Ageha #2 D:)...
I feel like your prediction may be true, or close enough, though I'm pretty excited to see how she goes about achieving that! There's more than one crack running through the groups of Seeders that needs mending. :3 Urgh, some of the deaths are absolutely heartbreaking! Ryugu Shelter, man what an arc! It's probably my favourite along with the Summer A arc. So many feels!
I think I prefer 7 Seeds too, but I absolutely loved Basara. It's true that 7 seeds have more developped characters, but Basara has Ageha and Asagi, which I loved more than any character of 7 seeds...I think... actually it's hard to say haha, really love both of the mangas.
ReplyDeleteDon't you love being able to follow a great mangaka through their careers? I've felt the same way about Urasawa Naoki and Adachi Mitsuru and how much more I have enjoyed their work by seeing how much they have changed through their work.
DeleteAgeha was an interesting character, but I still think feel I've read him in other shojo manga. That being said, I was actually really impressed with how his story ended. One of my favorite things about Tamura Yumi is how she isn't afraid to make the readers deal with death and deep emotional angst in her manga.