One of the best-selling and most popular manga in Japan, Berserk is perhaps the quintessential action fantasy title. Placed in a medieval setting, it tells the story of Guts, a powerful swordsman who carries a sword that’s as big as he is. The anime focuses on his time spent in the mercenary guild, The Band of the Hawk, and his relationships with the members of the guild during the period of The Hundred Year War. Though the premise itself is straightforward, it is the story that helps Berserk become something truly gripping, allowing Berserk to shine amongst its peers.

Arguably the greatest strength of the show is found in its characters. Guts, the protagonist of the tale, first appears as a swordsman with a simple ideology: swing your sword and win battles. But over the course of the show, his character opens to reveal a life riddled with misery and a desire for something more purposeful. These developments are aided by his time interacting with members of the Band of the Hawk, most notably Griffith and Casca. In sharp contrast to Guts’ role as a wandering mercenary, Griffith is a shrewd man with grandiose ambitions. A man born as a commoner, he wishes to have his own kingdom despite the resistance of the nobility. He’s a charismatic individual, playing a variety of roles to accomplish good standings with others while simultaneously concocting the most devious of schemes. Casca is a female knight who forfeited her feminine side to show strength on and off the battlefield. Despite this, she holds Griffith in great regard due to his leadership and for teaching her the importance of fighting during their first encounter. Though many other characters are important to the Band of the Hawk, such as the wise-beyond-his-years Judeau or the snarky Corkus, they are often limited to supporting roles for the 3 characters listed prior. That said, the dynamic range in character growth these three have over the course of the series is astounding. What is thought to be certain can change over a single battle or dialogue, as the characters realize the feelings and hopes of one another. Loyalty and love can be easily traded for betrayal and hatred and vice-versa.

Medieval settings are seen quite often in fantasy works, most notably in the isekai trend. It’s a simple setting that opens a lot of opportunity for exploration and world-building. Sadly, it seems to have fallen out of favor with audiences as it has become clichéd. Too many shows have come out with this setting and submit to the usual tropes that were better suited in the role-playing games of old. While Berserk does not eschew these elements completely, it uses them in a much more appropriate way by showcasing the brutality of yesteryear. Several battles are fought over the course of the anime, with seemingly insurmountable odds needing to be overcome by the rogue mercenaries. It is the cunning tactics of their leader Griffith and the strength of their commanders that allow them to be seen as a threat to even the strongest of armies. Yet even during these fights, an ominous atmosphere hangs over the cast. Secret ploys and a slow unveiling of the show’s fantasy themes often make it so there is never a point of safety. These additional burdens serve to further strengthen the cast, allowing them to realize not everything is as it seems. These properties made the show a joy to watch and I was always eager to see what would happen next for the cast of characters. Perhaps the greatest part lies in the show’s twists and turns as a result of these conflicts. Even when things seem to border on ridiculous, there is an organic flow to how events transpire. Characters act accordingly and no one ever says or does anything that would betray their own character – they merely adjust to the current events with a new perspective. Perhaps the opening is true, with its solemn statement of “man having no control, even over his own will” – they are actors in a cruel and barbaric play, forced to adapt to what the script demands.

Though the story and characters are rich with complexity and intrigue, I do have some problems with the tale. A very minor one is found in the battles midway through the anime. Though there is some satisfaction to be had seeing Guts massacre a horde of enemy troops, it can occasionally get tiring. Obviously, it is required to continually build up the reputation of the swordsman, as well as provide a harder hitting introspection later in the series, but the “kill ‘em all” approach over an excess of time can become a bit tiresome. Perhaps this could be tied to the animation, as in a manga format, this wouldn’t be as problematic. A more major concern is one that will put me at opposition with the core fans of the series: it’s supernatural themes. Most of the series is that of medieval warfare and customs, with the character’s motivations and ideals serving as an interesting clash to otherwise tired clichés. However, by the end, the fantasy elements become very prevalent, serving to shock the viewer similarly to titles such as End of Evangelion. Though it perhaps is hypnotically horrifying to the fans, I personally do not care for it. Even so, I will admit it is necessary for the story, as the foreshadowing and direction of the story could only lead it in that direction.

One element that may be dividing is in the animation. The studio OLM (most famous for their works on the Pokemon series) is behind this production and unfortunately does not show the detail or fluidity that many would hope for in the adaptation. Examples of this can be found in the action scenes, where the intensity is represented by a single drawn frame. That said, it would be hard to show the level of detail that is found in the manga in an animated form for such a studio, so I find the work to be at the very least serviceable. I adore the cel animation and find its desaturated colors to work in the favor of the show’s overall dark and gritty environment. The characters can look a bit off in mid-range or faraway shots, but closeup have good multi-tone shading and detail to give striking character profiles. Though the anime did not receive the greatest production for its time, it still holds a consistent quality through its 25 episodes.

Despite the limits of the animation, the sound for the anime is superb. Each seiyuu displays a wonderful breadth of emotions for their characters, from their sorrow to their rage. More key is the OST that provides backing for the adventures of the Band of the Hawk. Each piece provides a mystical quality that entangles the viewer deeper into the story, evoking emotion when the animation cannot. Perhaps the definitive piece is “Gats”, or Guts’ theme. A heartbreaking piece for piano and vocal, it expresses the introspection and the passion of the main characters. The female vocal wails like a siren luring sailors to their death, while the harrowing cry of the male vocal is a haunting yet lachrymose beauty. In sharp contrast, opening “Tell me Why” by PENPALS is a delirious alternative rock anthem. An off-key guitar solo gives way to a slacker vocal delivery that speaks in freeform, stream-of-conscious “Engrish”. It is as disjointed as it is catchy. Even if there’s no relation to the anime promoted, there is a strange bond formed between them. The iconic opening 4 beats will forever be tied to that burning picture of Guts and the many travails he undergoes. Though not as iconic, other pieces like “Behelit” provide a sinister tone to provide mysticism to this dark fable, while ED “Waiting so Long” is a gothic release to the agonizing events in each episode.

Overall, I give Berserk a 7.5/10. Berserk is a tale of determination. It is a tale of iron-clad grit in the toughest of conditions. It is brutal and soul-crushing, yet also sweet and sensitive when it needs to be. Regardless on your feelings of its setting or animation, I would advise anyone to at least watch a few episodes to see its strengths in story and characters. Those that already are looking for a dark fantasy or medieval show should definitely watch it, if they haven’t already.

Do you like or dislike this anime? If you haven't watched it, are you encouraged to watch it or not? Leave a comment on my profile telling me what you think of the anime and/or my review.

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