Berserk

Director
Naohito Takahashi
Production
Nippon TV, VAP
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
25 episodes
Year
1997

Berserk - Region 1 Anime - Entire Series

By Flynnstudio
27th Feb 05

Berserk is in my opinion a top ten anime series. To that I simply mean it's up their with the greats and in my personal top ten favorites. It has a great pedigree in that it was created from the manga by Kentaro Miura and is currently Japan's no1 best selling manga. Things don't get a lot better than that!

Why should I trust you in believing it's so great? Well, I mostly agree with the general global consensus as to what is a great anime AND non-anime friends can actually watch, enjoy and salivate for more episodes.

Yes they can sit still and not make a noise ( as long as I feed them regularly) for the vast 625 minute running time of this series.

Now firstly I am reviewing the region 1 US english dub version. Personally I usually prefer a dub to a subtitle - only because it leaves my eyes free to soak in the visuals and in this case you have no fears - The voices are great and blend seamlessly with the characters. The voices are subtle, memorable and well acted. In fact I can still hear Griffith's soft knowing tones in my imagination right now if I try.

Ok..So what's it all about ?

In the first episode we are introduced to the main character Guts.

He is the big guy with a sword the size of a minimal surfboard ( that about 7' 3" and about 18" wide). Ridiculous you may cry - No - COOL!!!. When he begins to wield his sword the blood geysers begin to spurt and generally keep on that way until there is no one left standing. Now at this stage I should point out that it's not an anime for your little 10 year old. However, there is no sex or nasty violence, no gratuitous slaughter or hideous close-ups but there is a lot of blood bathing death battles, but that's not at all what this anime is about. It's got a real heart and soul. The actual depiction of Blood and Battles do not represent what this anime is really about and they are not the mainstay of it's appeal whatsoever - so please don't confuse this with your usual mindless hack and slash war epic - its not - it's got a proper story and a truly epic plot!.

In the beginning we see Guts battling with some supernatural creature. It's a dark intro, moody and grim. We see he has a little branded mark on the back of his neck. The mystery of the first episode is not truly revealed until the last - but I don't want to spoil it so I'll say no more on the matter.

Beserk is set in a sort of nondescript european eighteenth century landscape of feuding kingdoms. Guts joins a group of mercenaries called 'The band of the Hawk', led by the charismatic and mysterious Griffith who is unnaturally gifted with the 'blade'.
The band of the Hawk are employed in the service of the King of Midland to spread his empire and fight his battles. It is in the service of the Hawk that Guts meet's Caska, a feisty little female captain who comes to resent Guts for the admiration he draws from Griffith.
As the series unfolds we learn about each of the characters and we see their individuality and personal destinies beginning to take form and how their fates have been intertwined. Their supremacy on the battlefield sees them rise in stature and favor. As they fight ever increasingly dangerous and powerful enemies their skill in battle grows and their understanding of who they are and what they have become begins to influence their actions and the destiny of them all.

It is this almost seamless unfolding of character and the main story throughout the many varied and interesting sub plots in each episode which keeps you gripped. You are literally just swallowed up in it's journey like a leaf floating downs a fast moving stream. About half way through you begin to think you understand Berserk and what it's all about, where it's going, what might happen next - when BAM!! in strides a character to remind you that this is no ORDINARY STORY. This leaves you exhilarated, questioning and desperate to push on till the very bitter end.

Everything you thought you knew has been erased and so it continues unfolding, piece by piece until it takes a very dark and incredibly mind-blowing twist towards the end. An ending which is just staggering and nothing like anything you've seen before. An ending that will live on in your imagination for days to come...An ending that will make you yearn for more...

Overall Berserk is a great and often overlooked title. It is beautifully animated and well written with great sound. Personally I'd say get the dubbed version because this is a series you'll want to watch over and over again and share with those who have a hard enough time coming to terms with anime to begin with never mind subtitles and there is a great deal of fast moving dialogue in parts!!

It's in my Essential Collection.

9.2 out of 10

-- Flynnstudio 27th Feb 05

Berserk Images