The Berserk anime is the most well-known and also the most controversial within all the existing adaptations of Kentaro Miura’s popular long-running manga series.
Thanks to its raw, brutal, and emotional story depth, Berserk manga has made a noteworthy impression since it opened up in 1989.
This article explains the Berserk anime, chronicling its different adaptations, characters, themes, and why people still love it all around the globe.
The Origins of Berserk: The Manga
Before diving into the anime, it’s essential to acknowledge the original Berserk manga, which lasted from 1989 until Miura’s unexpected death in 2021.
The manga is set in a dark fantasy world inspired by medieval Europe, with the main story following Guts, a lone fighter, and Griffith, the flamboyant and ambitious head of the Band of the Hawk mercenary force.
Berserk’s plot has gained accolades for a variety of reasons, including its deep-rooted character arcs, action-packed yet relevant-to-the-story action scenes, and themes as profound as ambition, fate, and pain.
Berserk Anime Adaptations
The 1997 Anime Series
The year 1997 witnessed the first anime adaptation of Berserk, and some of the positive reviews went that it was the truest one to its manga.
Despite the low quality of the animation, which is still impressive for that time sans the budget constraints most anime are prone to today, this adaptation is recognized for its dark mood and overall emotionality.
However, this adaptation did not feature some of the supernatural aspects of the manga; the 1997 series is more character-focused, more dramatized, and less episodic, which is the main reason why Berserk anime is so popular.
The series finale of Berserk anime turned the audience in shock and grief.
The story ends in an Eclipse, in a dreadful episode, where Griffith sacrifices his allies in order to become a member of the God Hand, leaving Guts and Casca both physically and emotionally traumatized.
The Golden Age Arc Films (2012-2013)
In an effort to modernize the Berserk story for a new generation, Studio 4°C produced a film trilogy between 2012 and 2013, adapting the same Golden Age Arc covered in the 1997 series.
These films are titled Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I—The Egg of the King, Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II—The Battle for Doldrey, and Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III—The Advent.
Although the films promise better animation and some character redesigns, they have had varied responses from the fan base. The use of CGI was especially controversial, as it appears sometimes jarring when mixed with the rest of the traditionally animated show.
They did well with the adaptation of the work, although the films had some controversies.
They respected the arc of the manga, which allowed for a more comprehensive conclusion of the Golden Age Arc than the 1997 series.
The 2016 Anime Series
The 2016 Berserk anime attempted to continue the story from where the Golden Age Arc left off, covering the Conviction Arc and parts of the Falcon of the Millennium Empire Arc.
Fans were initially excited to see the continuation of the story, but the series quickly became infamous for its poor animation quality, especially the heavy reliance on CGI.
Even though the 2016 season made a more earnest effort to stay true to the manga, it did not make great strides in terms of the animation style.
Many fans and critics alike were disappointed by the inertia of some characters who were made in CGI, which ruined the feeling of the most crucial scenes.
In spite of these assumptions, the series managed to bring new centres of gravity into the obsession with the Berserk world, and for a viewer that did not appreciate the low-quality animation, the story remained captivating and true to Miura’s work.
The Memorial Edition (2022)
In the year 2022, a Memorial edition of the Golden Age Arc was released, derived from the cut-together version of the original three films.
This included some new footage and a new narrative intended to alter the slow pacing noticeable in the original pictures.
The Memorial edition of the series Deluxe Edition was released as a TV series and was an effort to give some closure to the Golden Age Arc storyline.
Themes and Symbolism in Berserk
Ambition and Sacrifice
Central to Berserk’s narrative is the relationship between Guts and Griffith.
Griffith’s relentless ambition to rule his own kingdom drives much of the plot, and his eventual betrayal of his comrades during the Eclipse is a shocking and brutal representation of the cost of unchecked ambition.
It acts as a chilling example of what can happen to a person when they are obsessed with power, as hygiene restricts Griffith from most of the intimidation used on those dear to him.
Trauma and Healing
Guts too has a history of pain, but instead of breaking, he is able to heal and wants revenge on the evil that has caused him such sorrow.
One of the major themes that run throughout the series is the battle between retaining oneself and succumbing to all the evil that surrounds oneself.
Free Will vs. Fate
Throughout the series, there is a lot of debate as to whether an individual has the ability to influence their future or if such outcomes are predetermined.
The Brand of Sacrifice that Guts and Casca bear after the Eclipse ties them to a dark destiny, and yet Guts continuously fights against the idea that his future is predetermined.
Conclusion
Berserk anime adaptation is an interesting and sometimes imperfect adaptation of one of the darkest and most complicated plots in the history of manga.
Be it the uncompromising yet incomplete 1997 series, the 2016 violent yet aesthetically pleasing movies, or the unredeemable 2016 television show, the story of Berserk grips the masses.
