MANGA
Berserk (ベルセルク Beruseruku?) is a long-running dark fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura. Miura premiered a prototype of Berserk in 1988. The first volume of the manga was published on November 26, 1990 by Hakusensha in its Jets Comics collection. After three more volumes were published, Berserk was serialized in Young Animal in 1992 and is still being released.
The series was adapted into a twenty-five episode anime series, Kenpū Denki Berserk (ベルセルク剣風伝奇 Beruseruku Kenpū Denki?), by Oriental Light and Magic. It debuted in Japan on October 7, 1997, on Nippon Television; the final episode aired on March 31, 1998. It covered the first arc: Golden Age. Two video games were also created for the series: an action adventure for the Dreamcast and another for the PlayStation.
Berserk's setting is inspired by medieval Europe. It centers around the life of Guts, an orphaned mercenary warrior, and Griffith, the leader of a mercenary band called the Band of the Hawk (鷹の団 Taka no Dan?). As he ages, Guts changes from a solitary boy into a man who realizes the value of camaraderie. The story contains elements of both fantasy and horror, as it explores both the best and worst of human nature. Both the manga and anime are noted for their heavy violence.
ADAPTATIONS
With director Naohito Takahashi at the helm, the first animated version of this Seinen series was produced by Oriental Light and Magic. This adaptation follows the manga's Black Swordsman and Golden Age arcs, showcasing Guts' burgeoning relationship with the Band of the Hawk. Several manga characters were entirely excised, like Puck and Donovan.
However, cutting out the Skull Knight resulted in an infamous plot hole as it fails to explain how Guts and Casca escape Femto after the Eclipse. The overt violence and mature tone of the original manga was drastically toned down for the anime, although the show inevitably ends on a mournful note. Further, removing some of the manga's gags helped make the anime narrative more solemn.
The Egg of the King
A soldier named Guts attracts the attention of a mercenary group, The Band of the Hawk, when he kills an enemy champion during a siege. He is forced into joining the group after being defeated in single combat by its leader, Griffith. The Band of the Hawk are employed by the Kingdom of Midland for its Hundred Year War against the Tudor Empire, and Griffith rises in the kingdom's hierarchy after a successful battle. During another siege, Guts and Griffith encounter the demon Nosferatu Zodd, who notices the pendant around Griffith's neck and warns Guts that Griffith will be his doom. Griffith's rise in status is ill-received by Midland's noblemen, and there is a failed assassination attempt on Griffith by the king's brother, Julius. Griffith charges Guts with murdering Julius, and Guts also kills the noble's young son. Guts, emotionally scarred by his actions, overhears Griffith say that The Band of the Hawk are his comrades, but for people to be friends they must purse their own dreams and not someone else's.
The Battle for Doldrey
Guts and Casca are separated from The Band of the Hawk, and fend off attacks by the Tudor's cruel commander Adon and his men. Guts defeats most of Adon's men while covering Casca's escape, but begins to lament his life's path and decides he will eventually leave the Band of the Hawk, find and pursue his own dream, and become a true friend to Griffith. Later, the Band of the Hawk participates in the battle to capture the impenetrable Fortress of Doldrey and end the Hundred Years War, wherein Casca kills Adon. A month after the war's end, Guts parts ways with Griffith after defeating him in a duel. Griffith is distraught at Guts' departure, and in a lapse of judgment he is caught sleeping with the king's daughter, Charlotte. Griffith is charged with treason and imprisoned in the Tower of Rebirth while the members of the Band of the Hawk are branded outlaws.
The Advent
A year after Guts' departure from the Band of the Hawk, he returns to aid them in freeing Griffith from the Tower of Rebirth. However, when they find Griffith he is barely alive, rendered mute, and physically withered after months of torture. Griffith attempts suicide, and his pendant reacts to his despair, opening a portal to another dimension experiencing a solar eclipse that draws in him and The Band of the Hawk. There, they encounter archdemons known as The God Hand and Griffith is told that his tribulations have been leading to this moment, when Griffith agrees to sacrifice his allies in exchange for being reborn as Femto, a member of the God Hand. The Band of the Hawk are slaughtered by the God Hand's monstrous Apostles (former humans like Nosferatu Zodd) and Femto rapes Casca. Guts loses his left arm and right eye trying to save Casca, but Casca loses her sanity from the nightmarish ordeal. Guts and Casca are spirited back to their world by the mysterious Skull Knight, who tells Guts he has been branded by the God Hand and will be subjected to nightly attacks by evil creatures. Guts leaves Casca under the care of former comrade Rickert and embarks on a journey to hunt down Apostles and the God Hand.
Compared to The Golden Age Arc films, the Memorial Edition isn't radically different in terms of story and plot. However, this remastered adaptation directed by Yuta Sano has been repackaged in the form of a TV show, with minor tonal and visual modifications. The first episode of the Memorial Edition, titled "The Golden Age," was released on October 2nd, 2022.
The entire show will run for 12 episodes and includes the legendary "Bonfire of Dreams" sequence from the manga and the 1997 series. This is a crucial moment for both the narrative and the fandom, as it contextualizes Guts' changing relationship with the Band of the Hawk. Although the Berserk fandom was unquestionably delighted with this recent adaptation, most would rather have the Fantasia arc animated.
COSPLAYS
