Kentaro Miura’s Berserk was a landmark in manga when it began in 1989. At first, it was a standard brutal medieval seinen manga with a protagonist with a bad attitude. It took a few chapters for Miura’s writing, art, and characters to become more defined and fleshed out as the Berserk we know today, but even early on everyone took notice and was inspired by his work as it got better and better.
As Berserk’s art and writing refined, it became impossible to ignore and would get an anime adaptation that premiered in the fall of 1997. This would be the first of many attempts to bring Miura’s magnum opus to life and little did we know that it would be the best we could hope for. Despite its age and low budget, the 1997 Berserk anime is leagues ahead of the computer-animated adaptations that would come decades later.
How did this scrappy anime from the 90s manage to adapt a manga that wasn’t animator-friendly? Berserk was an ongoing manga with no signs of closing in and would continue long after Miura’s tragic passing in 2022. Now that it has been remastered and made available again, was this the best adaptation fans could hope for? Find out in this Berserk Blu-ray review!
Berserk (1997)
Production OLM, Inc.
Distributor: Disotek Media, Media Blasters
Director: Naohito Takahashi
Release Date: March 26, 2024
Like most Berserk media, the 1997 adaptation covers Miura’s manga’s “Golden Age” arc. Several aspects of this story had to be compressed or edited out due to Japan’s TV standards. Many changes are pragmatic since Miura did not have a plan at the start of his manga, so the anime benefitted from hindsight. Despite these limitations, this is as definitive as possible for an animated Berserk adaptation.
The first episode begins with a flash forward, where Guts is already known as the fearsome Black Swordsman, battling demonic creatures and insane thugs. The episode is masterful in visually laying out its thesis, perfectly establishing who Guts is and where his journey will lead. After this episode, the show flashbacks to Guts as a teenager, and the bulk of the story follows his growth from reckless youth, to hardened warrior.
As a lone mercenary, Guts took on jobs and fought like he didn’t deserve to live. His tenacity and fearlessness caught the attention of Griffith, the leader of the Band of the Hawk; a vicious gang of mercenaries. After Guts loses to Griffith’s dick-swinging contest, he has no choice but to work for him as hired muscle. From here on out, Berserk follows the exploits of the Band of the Hawk’s rise to power, Griffith’s increasing influence, and Guts’ quest to find purpose.
As the show unfolds, Guts and the boys participate in many battles and they bond. Griffith’s right-hand, Casca began as a cast-iron bitch who hated Guts, but the story does a lot of legwork to depict their connection and eventual love. They have a sweet relationship and both characters sacrifice themselves for each other in different ways.
Events take a headlong turn when the character of Nosferatu Zodd is introduced. This monstrous brute is one of the first indications of the dark path the Band of the Hawk is heading toward. Even before this harrowing chapter, Berserk is rife with impressive foreshadowing, and some circumstantial lines of dialogue end up having chilling double meanings.
This pragmatic adaptation subtly references events from the manga that were not adaptable to TV. Certain events in Guts’ early childhood are depicted in a surrealist representation. Not everything could fit in here, but it is commendable that the animation staff got as much as they did packed into 25 episodes that unfurl like a rollercoaster.
Berserk is as much Griffith’s story as it is Guts’. Both are incredibly tenacious, but their worldviews and methods for achieving their goals differ vastly. Griffith’s actions at the story’s conclusion are undeniably controversial, and the events continue to shock fans to this day. You either understand him or consider him the most heinous fictional character ever created.
Berserk explores some Nietzschean themes like will to power and his terrifying sword functions as both the instrument to dominate also the terrible weight of his past he carries. He is the übermensch and survives by his own will and nigh limitless determination in the face of harrowing odds. In many ways, Berserk is a spiritual successor to Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian.
Berserk is also a very dark anime that does not shy away from the brutality of human nature. Some extremely harrowing sequences depict sexual assault and graphic violence. Guts’ sword isn’t just for show; it can cause some eye-wincing damage. Sometimes characters won’t bother with weapons and will use their body as an instrument of war, like teeth biting on the point of a sword.
While some of the weapons and battles in Berserk are par for the course in anime, it can also be fairly grounded at times. Characters get infections and when they get injuries, they are permanent and come with psychological damage too. There are genuine consequences for the awesome displays of combat that remind the viewers that these characters are still vulnerable and the stakes are real.
Berserk‘s pacing is pitch-perfect. Episodes flow into each other, making the series feel like one long epic film. Apart from the 4:3 aspect ratio, the only hints that this was shot for TV are some uneven animation and cost-cutting tricks. There are moments when there won’t be any animation and sound effects will try to imply movement. Other times there will be detailed illustrated stills that suggest movement and a passage of time.
For the most part, the corner cutting gets the idea across. However, there is no denying that the lack of budget for Berserk held it back and the animators saved their money shots for key scenes. Some drawings can look awkward in some shots, but even at its worst, the 1997 adaptation is far better than the CGI abominations we got later.
Now that Berserk has been remastered in 1080p, one of its best and most underrated aspects shines brighter than ever: the background art. Berserk’s backgrounds are remarkably painterly and expressive. The brushstrokes are more apparent than ever, revealing the artist’s technique. The textures and colors are richer, and the shadows are more intense.
Discotek’s remaster is as good as Berserk can look. Most anime from the 90s tended to look and feel cold, but Berserk has a warmth to it. You can almost feel the hot sun beating down on characters during the day and the heavy sweaty nights. The atmosphere has been masterfully preserved and the grit and grain enhance the scrappy and rough ambiance of the Midland kingdom.
The music stands out in this show because most of it defies genre conventions. Guts’ theme, for example, is radically different and an incredibly somber piece featuring vocals that resemble the tragic cries of embodied suffering. Guts is a badass, yes, but the composer masterfully captured his character as a damaged individual burdened by an unbearable weight who perseveres against insurmountable odds.
As limited as Berserk‘s music is, it truly is perfect. This is the kind of music that makes you stare longingly into a vast blue sky while standing in an endless grassy field, fists clenched, as the wind whips leaves across your brow and a single tear slides down your cheek.
The only problem with Berserk‘s music is that there isn’t enough of it. Sadly, the sparse tracks become overused to the point of comedy. Guts’ theme, for example, is frequently used, diminishing its impact and becoming a bit of a meme due to its overdramatic application in ordinary character interactions.
The original Japanese audio and the 1997 English dub are both here and sound crisp. The English dub’s actors are perfectly cast, with Guts and Griffith especially embodying their characters so well that they have been reprising their roles in the recent CGI adaptations. The only problem is that the English script made some changes that feel less impactful than what the subtitle would suggest.
All 25 episodes fit comfortably on two Blu-ray discs, but aside from the classic outtakes from the old DVD release, the extras are quite bare. The box art is incredibly basic, and a deep blood-red case would have been a preferable choice to the standard blue. Beyond the outtakes, there’s little else Discotek could have included, perhaps except for a cutscene compilation from the Dreamcast Berserk video game.
When Berserk reaches its final three episodes, the conclusion is brutal and will leave viewers breathless. It’s a shame this adaptation didn’t get a proper continuation to further depict Guts’ quest. Despite its budget constraints and noticeable rough edges, this remains the definitive, most soulful, and most faithful realization of Miura’s work.
Berserk (1997) was reviewed with a Blu-Ray copy purchased by Niche Gamer. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here. Berserk (1997) is now available on Blu-Ray.
