Berserk Blu-ray Review: "The Struggle For A Good Adaptation Ends"

Summary The 1997 Berserk anime is finally available in HD on Blu-ray, capturing the essence of the manga's epic brutality and poetic storyline.

The Blu-ray release includes special features like an interview with Kentaro Miura and captivating extras, making it a must-have for fans.

Berserk's 2024 anime release offers vibrant visuals, maintains the original aspect ratio, and enhances the viewing experience.

The Berserk series has ascended to the ranks of being among the world's most iconic dark fantasy franchises, and now the 1997 anime, arguably its best adaptation yet, is available on Blu-ray with a US release that's never looked better. Kentaro Miura's legendary manga series began in 1989. Since then, several attempts have been made to capture its epic brutality and poetic storyline. Still, none have gotten as close as the stunning hand-drawn 25-episode 1997 anime, an adaptation that's been remastered in HD, and more.

For being a series as beloved as Berserk, it's shocking a prestigious Blu-ray hasn't been released in the US with a proper HD release of the 1997 series until now. Berserk: The Golden Age Arc film trilogy (2012 - 2013) remade the first major arc with a heavy emphasis on CGI animation that also cut out a lot of Berserk's story that was included in the 1997 version's 25 episodes. Thankfully, that series is now available in a new Blu-ray collection that's packed with a surprising amount of extras, including a fantastic interview with Kentaro Miura himself.

Despite Miura's tragic passing in 2021, his talented studio continues the storyline, with Berserk's return earning the top-selling manga spot in the US. However, more recent anime adaptations have failed to captivate fans as well as the 1997 series did. With previous versions of Berserk 1997 currently difficult and expensive to obtain, the stunning 2024 Berserk Blu-ray is a welcome package that is now the best way to watch the series.

Despite the screenshots featured in the review, Berserk's 2024 Blu-ray release is presented in 4:3 as it was originally intended.

The Struggle For A Proper HD Release Of Berserk 1997 Is Over

Berserk Manga by Kenatro Miura, Anime Directed By Naohito Takahashi

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The 1997 Berserk anime by studio OLM adapts the first 13 volumes of Kentaro Miura's manga, commonly known as The Golden Age arc. However, like the manga, the 1997 anime begins with its own version of the Black Swordsman arc, peeking ahead at the relentless and mighty warrior that Guts would eventually become. In its 25 episodes, viewers are able to experience Guts' beginnings as a young mercenary who eventually becomes a giant sword-wielding, canon-armed man capable of slaying monstrous foes, as well as the struggle and betrayal he's suffered.

Reading Kentaro Miura's Berserk manga is still the best way to consume the story of Guts and Griffith and their psychologically heavy quests. However, the 1997 anime series includes action, character building, a beautifully haunting and ethereal score, and incredibly well-written dialogue that are missing from the other anime adaptations. Plus, it all sounds magnificent with the Blu-ray's dub and subbed versions, which have also been updated with more accurate subtitles.

Besides the deep characters, shocking twists, and brutal fights, Berserk is a series well known for its incredible visuals, which OLM effectively adapted from Muira's legendary art. The latest remaster makes Berserk - The Complete 1997 TV Series - Blu-ray the best-looking version of the anime to date, with vibrant colors and incredibly effective smoothing that helps everything flow together and pop visually. The release, thankfully, is in the original 4:3 aspect ratio, so none of the image is cut off by zooming in to force the display to be fullscreen.

However, a few of the flaws in remastering an anime that was originally drawn by hand for 90s television sets present themselves in Berserk's 2024 physical release. Several scenes where the vibrant picture on a large TV screen makes it easier to notice when characters (especially those in the background) are drawn with minimal details, some with comical results. However, that may be a feature only noticeable to those looking for it and in no way ruins the viewing experience.

Special Features As Bulky As The Black Swordsman

Long-time fans should appreciate the classic menu screens with the background score in the Blu-ray's two discs. The second disc includes the last half of the 1997 anime series and a considerable amount of extra special features. One being the Special Episode R-0, which is a well-edited collection of extras, such as music videos featuring the full versions of the series iconic songs, clean versions of the anime intro and outro, and more are effectively spliced together with clips from the anime.

Arguably, the most fascinating extra in the Berserk Blu-ray are the interviews with author Kentaro Muira and the anime's Producer, Toshi Makatani. Both interviews have been previously released in past home releases. Still, their inclusion is greatly appreciated in the latest and greatest Berserk collection so far. Muira's conversation reveals how he initially began to write Berserk and the many influences that inspired him throughout his life, one being the over-the-top horror films from Sam Raimi like Evil Dead 2. Meanwhile, Toshi Makatani's interview reveals details such as the challenge of adapting Berserk to television and much more.

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The extras listed above already sound like a worthy selection of special features, especially in modern times where streaming apps have effectively gotten rid of the beloved extras. Still, Berserk - The Complete 1997 TV Series - Blu-ray includes even more for fans to enjoy, like fascinating storyboards from the series production, hilarious outtakes from the English dub, and a wonderful short documenting incredibly talented artists creating Berserk murals on the streets of Japan in "Paint It Berserk."

A Release Worthy Of Kentaro Miura's Masterpiece

Fans of the legendary series have waited long for a conclusion of the story and a satisfying anime adaptation to show some of Berserk's best scenes that have yet to be animated from the manga. However, Berserk's new Blu-ray updates the best way to consume the story, aside from reading Kentaro Miura's manga, with beautiful results. Many extras also make the release a step above, ultimately making Berserk - The Complete 1997 TV Series - Blu-ray a must-have for fans and the best way to introduce new age-appropriate fans to Miura's masterpiece of literature.

Source: Discotek Media/YouTube

The Berserk - The Complete 1997 TV Series - Blu-ray Is available for purchase from Crunchyroll and Amazon

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