"Kenpû denki beruseruku" (1997) TV series

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Creator:

Kentaro Miura

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

28 May 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Gatsu is a skilled swordsman who joins forces with a mercenary group named 'The Band of the Hawk', lead by the charismatic Griffith, and fights with them as they battle their way into the royal court.

Plot Keywords:

Mercenary | Fight | King | Killing | Force

Cast

Nobutoshi Kanna

...

Guts (unknown episodes)

Also Known As:

Berserk (International: English title)

Runtime:

21 min (25 episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Certification:

Spain:18 | Chile:18 | UK:15 (some episodes) | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:MA (some episodes) | UK:18 (some episodes)

Company:

OLM-Animation Studio

Trivia:

When Guts' massive sword is unsheathed from his back the sheath often looks similar to a devil's tail. This is most likely a reference to the numerous times Guts or those he encounters are said to have "The Devil's own luck".

Quotes:

Griffith: He so badly wanted to be a knight. I remember this boy well. When he looked at me his eyes filled with wonder as though I were a hero. Was he happy, I wonder? He died while pursuing his dream but...I think it was my dream that killed him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in We Are the Strange (2007)

So much more then an anime

Wow!!!! Berserk was amazing, if you like anime you will love berserk. The Berserk television series is 26 episodes long, and is based off of the Berserk manga series (graphic novels). The 26 episode series covers the first 14 manga volumes of Berserk. Also Dark Horse comics have started to translate and distribute the Berserk manga volumes into book stores across America. One volume is translated and distributed every three months. So far the first 11 volumes are being sold. I would highly recommend seeing the anime series of Berserk first. The anime is more of an introduction into the world of Berserk. If you are interested in Berserk I stress that you see the anime first. The reason is that the anime series purposely left out a few characters, and events that happen in the manga. this was all done on the request of the writer and creator of the Berserk manga series, who was overseeing the entire production. So therefor reading the manga volumes first (which is the uncut/original story) would ruin the anime series because it would feel incomplete and stupid. So after you watch the anime go out and buy the manga, which introduces more characters, and gets you to understand the storyline more.

The anime was truly incredible. Berserk is a medieval fantasy story. The anime (like the mangas) first episode is actually the last episode.This is because the entire series is a flash back of the main character.The first episode has a lot of fantasy aspects to it. The second episode through the 23rd episode is entirely real life based. During these episodes every once and awhile a scene will occur that contains fantasy aspects. YOU MUST TAKE the first episode and these other fantasy scenes into consideration when watching the Berserk anime series. When doing this you will realize that something beyond human knowledge is at work in the world. This is what you will then come to find out in the last 3 episodes of the Berserk anime, and the rest of the series in the manga is for the most part all fantasy (which is what the writer was planning the whole time).

I have never seen an anime with such in-depth character development. By the fifth episode you will become attached to, and care about what is going to happen to each of the characters. The two main characters are especially interesting characters that you will be wanting to learn more about. Berserk raises issues such as love, friendship, the experiences that develop a person into what they will become for the rest of their lives, and berserk also touches on many other issues of morality. If you've seen the series or want to see it, I would highly recommend seeing the movies Mistic River and Good Will Hunting, to get more of a grasp on what the two main characters of Berserk are going through. Also the writers biggest influence was from the movie Flesh and Blood.

The Berserk anime series also has very good voice acting, there are no corny voice overs that bring down the series. Each voice seems to fit each characters traits and personalities. Also the music is very well down, bringing the right mood to every scene. Berserk is a great medieval/fantasy sword fighting series. The series does a great job of laying out the tactics of each battle, and the battle scenes are very graphic.

Berserk is not treated as a cartoon show, it could have been a television show with real people if wanted. However due to all the gore, sexual themes, and issues on morality I would highly recommend not seeing Berserk if your under the age of 15. If you are not a mature person you won't get everything out of the series you should be getting. Also just to add: the production of Berserk coasted 3 times more then the average prime time show in japan "due to all the issues I said".

In conclusion: after you are done watching the entire 26 episode anime of Berserk, as I said in the beginning it isn't over. It is just the beginning. Go out and buy the manga "the first three vol. happen after the last episode of the anime". Also there was a Dreamcast video game of Berserk called Sword of Berserk. Then there is also a Playstation 2 import video game which starts up right after the anime ends.If you liked Berserk, and want this game please go to the berserk forum and sign the petition to bring the game to America. There was a Berserk anime second season that was going to be made but it never followed through because it would have coasted to much. But don't worry the manga is up to volume 31 and an end to the series is still no where in sight. So go and buy the anime from Best Buy for about $50.00 or from one of amazon.com whole sellers "I got the box set from a different distributor for only $23.00 . But if you really want to get the best deal on all anime go to discountanimedvd.com

So go now and see Berserk, one of the greatest anime series of all time.