2019 has been an interesting year for anime. It was the year that gave us such great shows like Dororo, Kaguya Sama Love is War, Beastars. High Score Girl 2, Skilled Teaser Takagi San 2 and The Promised Neverland but at the same time it gave such disasters like Fairy Gone, Domestic Girlfriend and The Seven Deadly Sins 3 done by Studio Deen. We also saw the positive decline of the isekai genre thanks to stuff like Isekai Cheat Magician, Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest, Wise Man Grandchild and that unbearable long isekai show that featured the MC mum.
Needless to say, 2019 was a fun year for anime despite its various shortcomings. Out of all the anime that aired in 2019 there was two anime that stood out from the crowd. Two series that managed to outshine every other anime of 2019 thanks to their superb writing, outstanding character development and excellent production values.
The two anime in question are Fruits Basket 2019 and Vinland Saga.
I have high expectations for theses since their annulments back in 2018, yet they managed to meet and surpass my expectations.
If you haven't seen my Fruits Basket 2019 I recommend check it out as I go into detail what made that show amazing because this review will about Vinland Saga and how amazing it is.
Establishing a world is one of the key components for any historical series to succeed and Vinland Saga completely nails it. I was blown away of how Vinland Saga established its world and chararters. The first 6 episodes do a great job at of setting up the tone, theme chararter motivation to the viewer.
Which leads me to the story itself which is astonishing.
The pacing is perfect from the slow but impactful first 6 that manages to establish is setting and character to the fast-paced Viking battles for the rest of the series.
Vinland Saga is at heart a revenge story as well as a story about ageing.
The revenge part of the story centres around Throfin trying to kill the person that led to his father's death. Through his journey we see him achieving and confiting his main goal. He would gladly follow Askeladd's orders just to have another duel with him even if it cost him his life from facing threatening foes that are experienced in combat. As the show progresses we see him slowly conflicting his main goal, especially after he learns about Askeladd backstory in episode 22.
By the end of the show, you would begin to realize t revenge isn't the right source of action. Sure you have had the thrill of planning your revenge against someone but at what cost. Did you have to abandon your sister and your fragile mother for the sake of revenge? Did you have to drastically change your personality for the sake of revenge? Do you still consider delivering the killing blow against the person after they told their backstory to you Vinland Saga is a great revenge story that makes you think?
The ageing part of the story centres around Askeladd facing against time. I don't mean he's dying of illness but his body is slowly deteriorating him due to ageing. He has done so many things in his youth both good and bad and we see this with his past and conversation with the other characters.
(Spoilers)
One of the best moments in the show involves Askeladd and Bjorn fighting each other as a dying wish as a warrior for Bjorn due to an infection. It was a heartbreaking duel that perfectly portrayed the theme of ageing. Askeladd and Bjorn both charge at each other. Askeladd pierces Bjorn chest and collapses in front of him. Bjorn tells him that all he ever wanted was to be considered a friend Askeladd as his dying words as a warrior.'' Askeladd tells him that he was his only friend, and he dies. Keep in mind these people are brutal murderers, bad people who killed countless men, women and children during their lifetime together yet their stories were presented in such a way that they aren't just generic evil guys who are evil for the sake of being evil.
Askeladd losing Bjorn is like losing your best friend. The person has been with you since childhood and you did many great things with them however your best friend body eventually gave up due to ageing. Right after the tragic duel a broken down Askeladd challenges Thorfinn to a duel and as usual, Askeladd beats in a duel but this time he didn't just win the duel. He beats the ever-living crap of him. After that, Askeladd says a couple of lines which are important to Thorfinn and Askeladd characters.
(End of Spoilers)
One of Vinland Saga's main messages is facing against time. Askeladd may still be a ruthless Viking but as time passes on his glory days as a Viking will be a thing of the past as his body is slowly deteriorating him.
If you have a hobby that you are passionate about it, it's best to do it while young otherwise before you know it you become old and fragile. This also plays along with Throfinn character arc as he just ends up killing a deteriorating old man instead of a middle-aged man that Throfinn met 10 years ago as a kid.
This is stuff I want to see in anime. A show that is not only entertaining to watch but it teaches you something and Vinland Saga's, case it taught me the dark side of revenge and ageing.
A well-written plot is only as good as its characters and this is where Vinland Saga truly shines thanks to how multi-layered the cast is.
Thorfinn is a great and well-written lead. From his innocent youth to his cold-blooded individual he still remains to be a compelling chararter from beginning to end.
Some people may label Thorfinn as an edgy empty husk with no personality and I can see why but you have to remember that he was at one point at rock bottom. After losing father he had nowhere to go. His first course of action is to follow and kill the person that killed his father. He develops his survival instinct and dagger fighting skills needed to survive while Askeladd and his men are busy killing people. His transformation from an innocent kid to a cold-blooded warrior was satisfying to watch.
As much as I adored Thorfinn, growth, Askeladd completely steals. He is easily the best character in the show. He's a ruthless Viking but also a twisted father figure for Thorfinn. He knows that Thorfinn has a grudge against him yet he doesn't really care about Thorfinn main goal as he just wants to live his life as a Viking as best he can before time, reaches up to him. I really like his backstory his revenge on his father. I liked his chaddy personality and generally a badass on the battlefield.
Seeing Thorfinn and Askeladd relationship playoff is like watching a master taming an aggressive stray dog. You know the dog will deliver the killing blow to you at any moment but you sent the dog to various dogfight competitions in the underworld just to keep it busy.
This relationship happened until the second half as they respect and care for each other.
He's the true hero of Vinland Saga as well-being the heart of it because it wasn't for him then the show wouldn't have been as astonishing as it is.
One of the things I appreciate about Vinland Saga was how it was able to make its villains as grounded as possible and Thorkell is the best example of this outside of Askeladd. When you first see Thorkell you think to yourself ''another muscular one-dimensional guy that Throhin has to kill just have a duel with Askeladd just for revenge'', however, the show manages to flip people's expectations. Outside his threatening appearance, he's one of the most compelling characters in the show. Despite him being the villain for the majority of the series he has a strong sense of honour towards his opponents in battle. He absolutely hates being interrupted in battle as he thinks that stopping a fight is worst than retreating. This is shown when his facing off Throfinn for the second time. On of all that he has a great backstory that relates to Thor.
The supporting chararter are just as strong as at the main characters and they are all engaging and interesting in their own ways.
The visuals are nothing short of fantastic. You can tell the amount of dedication and effort these people have over Wit Studio put into this anime. Am still surprised that this show was able to look incredible, especially just coming off Attack on Titan Season 3 Part 2.
Some of the scenery in the show looks incredible and they could legitimately pass off as a wallpaper for your computer. The character designs perfectly capture Makoto Yukimura art-style from the manga. The animation is smooth consistent and very well-animated it may not be as stylish as Fire Force or Demon Slayer but it has the substance to back it up.
If I had any issues with the visuals it would be awkward to use of CGI at times. To Vinland Saga's credit, the CGI is mostly competent as it blends in with the 2D backgrounds. However, in some incenses especially towards the middle portion, the CGI becomes janky. Lucky didn't break my immersion as I was so invested with the plot and characters that I didn't notice it but at the same time, I do acknowledge that is a problem for some.
The soundtrack for Vinland Saga was done by Yutaka Yamada the same person that composed the soundtrack for Tokyo Ghoul and sadly his score on Vinland Saga frankly bad.
This is a terrible soundtrack that does a disjustice to the show's setting. Sure it had some okay piano tracks now and then but for the most part, the soundtrack screams dull and aimless with its stock of uninspired historical tracks that put a small dent to an otherwise great show.
When I think of good historical soundtracks I think of Black Butler, The Heroic Legend of Arslan, Golden Kamuy, Rose of Versailles, not this half-fast mess that is called Vinland Saga soundtrack.
The first opening theme MUKANJYO by Survive Said The Prophet is a beautifully composed song that does a masterful job capturing the dark and ambitious tone of the year. I also really like the screaming vocals towards the end of song. It just screams revenge and power.
Too bad the second Dark Crow by MAN WITH A MISSION is nowhere near as good as MUKANJYO. It's not a bad song by any means but it didn't fit with the Viking setting at all. I even go as far as Golden Kamuy's OP Winding Road by MAN WITH A MISSION would have been a better choice for 2nd OP than Dark Crow. It's a decent song on its own right but it's a lacklustre follow up to MUKANJYO.
Despite the lacklustre 2nd opening theme, I found both the ending themes to be great. Not as amazing as the first opening theme but I take them over the second opening any day.
The voice acting is strong and very well-acted. Each of the Seiyuus fit the role characters perfectly.
There is currently no English Dub but I hope it gets one in the near future by Viz Media or BangZoom
Even with its issues, I had a blast with Vinland Saga. It is a show that is filled with passion and love thanks to its well-written story that makes you think, great production visuals that do the manga justice and multi-layered characters that draws you in.
If you're looking for a grounded historical Seinen series that has intriguing thematic exploration, high stakes and kickass relatable characters then Vinland Saga is the anime for you.
Outstanding effort Wit Studio.
