It's not often that fans would want to hunt down an older anime adaptation with a newer one easier to watch but with Berserk, things get a little bit muddier. Many have been mourning the passing of mangaka Kentaro Miura and have been lamenting just how disappointing the 2016 adaptation of his most famous story was.
Does this still make it worth it to check out the older adaptation of the show from 1997? There are many differences between it and the modern interpretations of Berserk which are worth discussing so that casual and die-hard fans alike can decide whether it's worth hunting down this older version of the show.
The Animation
Most anime lovers agree that some studios’ choice to use 3D animation ruins the viewing experience. Studios often employ this tactic to animate large action pieces for a cheaper price, but it is oftentimes overused and undeveloped in appearance. Back in 1997 however, the classic 2D look reigned supreme. Thankfully, Berserk was given what many agree to be the best animated adaptation it's seen so far right out of the gate. Many fans of Berserk have been fans for years, but even newer fans still find that retro 90s look to be nostalgic. It reminds many of the early Toonami days.
Honoring The Manga
Berserk is easily one of the most influential, well-written, and well-drawn manga of all time, and the late Kentaro Miura’s work is heralded for the amazing world-building, character development, and polarizing moments throughout the story. From an early age, his ideas for Berserk were seen by others as legendary despite him being a novice. Honoring this level of expertise, the 1997 anime remains pretty faithful to the manga.
Despite only having one season and ending on one of the most pivotal moments in all of Berserk, this anime starts off exactly like the manga. Introducing us to Guts in his Black Swordsman stage, fans are treated to a brutal, apostle-slaying monster. This older, grizzled Guts wields the legendary Dragon Slayer, the massive sword that inspired dozens of others to replicate it, and is seen in his all-black garb missing an eye.
The story then jumps back and begins the Golden Age Arc. The anime is faithful to the manga all the way up until the moment Guts and Casca get together. In the manga, Guts is visited by the ominous Skull Knight who gives Guts an omen of impending doom. In the 97’ anime, the fan-favorite Skull Knight doesn’t get to make his debut and is sorely missed. Despite this omission, the event known as the “Eclipse” is still every bit as impactful and horrific.
Speaking of the Eclipse, fans will be pleased to know that the most pivotal moment of Berserk makes it into the 97’ anime almost complete. The introduction of the God Hand is every bit as terrifying as it is in the manga. With the horrors unfolding in front of the Band of the Hawk, seeing the Brands of Sacrifice mark the heroes gives fans the sense of dread that Miura intended. Seeing the members being brutally slaughtered will surely leave the fans stunned to their cores.
No Worthy Competitors
With all this talk about how amazing the 97’ Berserk anime is, it would be reasonable to wonder how it compares to the more recent adaptations of the series.
The first anime adaptation after the original was the series of movies that most saw on Netflix. These three films also adapt the Golden Age Arc, but stray from the manga in different areas than the original. While the 97’ anime started with the true beginning from the manga, showing Guts as the Black Swordsman, the trilogy of films starts with Guts as a young mercenary killing Bazuso. These movies are seen as decent by the Berserk community, thanks to ok animation and a true adaptation of the Eclipse.
The next adaptation was the 2016 Berserk anime that has been both critically panned and hated by audiences everywhere. Some of the voice acting is ok at best, but the thing that ruins this adaptation is the atrocious animation. It is all 3D and drawn terribly. Characters don’t look like themselves and settings give no life or sense of wonderment like Miura intended when he drew these amazing landscapes.
Adaptations Created By Fans
Despite these official adaptations not living up to the hopes fans’ had for the series, some fans have taken it upon themselves to create the anime they’d love to see. One fan in particular has been working on an adaptation of Guts vs. Rosine from the Lost Children Arc.
With no worthy adaptations, the 97’ anime’s respect for the source material, and its pleasing animation, it stands out as an anime adaptation of the beloved Berserk worth checking out.