As a general warning, if by chance this is the first review you read of the show you must be told that this show is not conclusive. It is a 25 episode series for an extensively lengthy manga with hundreds of chapters. There were 3 additional movies created 15 years following the original airing of the series, yet these titles are just an updated version of the same story arc, not a continuation of the story. However, I will follow that warning with the disclosure that if there is one anime that could push a tv-watcher into a manga reader, it is Berserk. Not just to read the full story but because the characters, plot, and world all work great together. It is an incredibly well structured anime and even if it were conclusive, you would crave much more.
The story opens to the last events chronologically and shifts back to the beginning of the timeline by the end of the first episode. You are left wondering how things come to pass and what events led up to episode one. Unlike many other action series, Berserk doesn't leave behind plot holes or have too much in terms of unexplained content given its size relative to the manga. The pacing steadily builds and the tension increases as the story develops.
The narrative follows the protagonist Guts and the series can only be explained as a chronicling of his life. The viewer watches Guts grow from a young brute to the man he was fated to be. Guts struggles with self-identification, wondering what he lives for and what his aspirations should be. From his journey to self-realization, Guts finds himself tangled within a unique love triangle and finds his dedication consistently tested. The character development within Berserk is by far it's strongest point. Even though most characters within the series are killers, marauders, and mercenaries each character has their own unique voice and style about them. Although the anime stereotypical emotional-to-the-point-they-are-almost-always-in-tears boy that tags along occasionally, the writers have mitigated much of such roles from the show. Almost all roles within the show are relatable to the fan of the shounen and seinen.
The art within Berserk has it's ups and downs. The character design is incredible, and even though Guts is drawn with saiyan-like muscle proportions it never comes across as out of place. Each character is unique and no two look remotely alike while all still retaining a sense of realism. However there were clear budget limitations within the art department. several times there are shots lacking any and all aspects of depth perception almost as if a person standing straight up, were actually laying back against the painted backdrop. Most of the backgrounds are simple and extremely basic when compared to modern anime or even anime of its time. Even some of the actual flow of the animation was cheap or limited. The quality is not even close to comparable to other notable 90s series such as Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995), Serial Experiments Lain (1998), or Cowboy Bebop (1998). Backdrops, flow, and depth aside the show does feature a fair amount of vivid carnage for a 90s anime. There will be blood and there will be dark themes. Nothing outlandish given the nature of the show and what could be done with today's technology but a good amount.
Another hit-or-miss aspect within Berserk is the sound. There is not much in terms of a soundtrack for this anime. Most of the time you will hear a repetition of the same 3-5 tracks throughout the entire show. Personally, it did not detract from the show yet it was another indicator of the budget the creator's were working with. The OP initially annoyed me, yet after a few listens I could not get the engrish lyrics out of my head. I don't know what 'putting my glasses on' has to do with Guts or Berserk but I loved the song regardless by the end of the series.
Overall Berserk is a great show for the young and old alike. Enough action to keep the bloodlust fans satisfied, yet it wasn't the focus of the show either. The plot is intriguing although inconclusive. If you are a heavy manga reader, this show would be a perfect segway. If you are just an anime viewer, you may be let down with the lack of closure but the journey along the way will be well worth the time. If you love stories with a bad-ass character coupled with a story that gives him more than just a hack and slash dimension you won't find one better than Berserk.
