Berserk

8.5
199723m

A wandering, sword-wielding mercenary joins a charismatic leader in his ruthless pursuit of glory and recognition in this epic medieval tale.

Production

Logo for OLM
Logo for VAP
Logo for Hakusensha

Trailers & Videos

Thumbnail for video: Complete 1997 Series Blu-ray Trailer

Complete 1997 Series Blu-ray Trailer

Thumbnail for video: Trailer

Trailer

Thumbnail for video: Opening | Tell Me Why - Penpals

Opening | Tell Me Why - Penpals

Seasons

25 Episodes • Premiered 1997

The Black Swordsman has flash backs to years past and his trials and tribulations in the Band of the Hawk.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 1: The Black Swordsman

1. The Black Swordsman

7.2

A blacksmith is forging an enormous sword while a dark man with only one eye and one arm stands back and watches.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 2: Band of the Hawk

2. Band of the Hawk

7.3

There is a great battle taking place at a fort. The attackers are doing well, except one thing stands in their way - a grey knight and he states that none shall pass him.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 3: First Battle

3. First Battle

7.3

Guts and Griffith begin their sword fight.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 4: The Hand of God

4. The Hand of God

7.4

Guts reminisces about his childhood.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 5: A Wind of Swords

5. A Wind of Swords

7.2

Guts is now a commander of Griffith's army, taking many risks in battle, Casca takes him to task for it. Griffith is knighted in the Midland court much to the nobles' dismay.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 6: Zodd the Immortal

6. Zodd the Immortal

7.8

In another raid, Guts and Griffith come across a demon known as Nosferatu Zodd.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 7: The Sword`s Owner

7. The Sword`s Owner

7.1

Princess Charlotte of Midland strikes up a friendship with Griffith.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 8: Conspiracy

8. Conspiracy

7.2

Griffith and Guts continue their success in battle and Griffith is made a Count.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 9: Assassination

9. Assassination

7.3

Griffith saves Charlotte when her horse bolts during a fox hunt. Yurius, the king's younger brother, attempts to have him assassinated.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 10: Nobleman

10. Nobleman

8.0

Guts, sent by Griffith, assassinates Yurius and his son Adonis. Griffith gets closer to Charlotte. The Hawks depart for yet another mission.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 11: The Battle

11. The Battle

7.2

On a stormy battlefield, Casca, Griffith's second in command, is wounded while fighting the leader of an enemy army. Guts runs to her rescue but when she passes out at the edge of a cliff, he cannot catch her in time and they both fall into the river below.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 12: Together

12. Together

6.6

Casca is still unconscious, so Guts shelters them in a cave while the rain pours down. She comes to and tells Guts about her past and about Griffith's.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 13: Prepared for Death

13. Prepared for Death

7.7

Guts and Casca try to fight their way back to the Hawks while the enemy army they were fighting from before try to stop them.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 14: Bonfire of Dreams

14. Bonfire of Dreams

7.8

Casca finds Judeau's division of Hawks and leads them back to where Guts was fighting alone. Although injured, he defeated all the enemy soldiers by himself. They return to the Hawks' camp and Casca tends to Guts' wounds.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 15: The Decisive Battle

15. The Decisive Battle

7.3

The King of Midland and his various generals confer about Doldrey Castle, long since captured by the Chudan Empire. Griffith plans an attack and the King agrees despite the protests of his other officers. Only one other general supports Griffith's actions. The Hawks attack Doldrey.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 16: The Conqueror

16. The Conqueror

7.6

With the help of Nosferatu Zodd, Guts defeats the defender of Doldrey Castle.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 17: Moment of Glory

17. Moment of Glory

7.5

With the victory at Doldrey, Griffith is promoted to White Phoenix General, an aristocratic title. The Queen of Midland and other court conspirators try to poison Griffith.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 18: Tombstone of Flames

18. Tombstone of Flames

7.5

Griffith has his revenge by having the Queen's castle burned down.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 19: Separation

19. Separation

8.2

Griffith will not let Guts simply leave. He says that Guts belongs to him.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 20: Sparks

20. Sparks

7.4

Guts arrives at the home of Godo the swordsmith and stays there for a while while Godo crafts a new sword for him. Guts practices more on his sword techniques with the help of Godo's little daughter Erika.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 21: Confession

21. Confession

8.1

Guts returns in time to save the remaining Hawks from annihilation.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 22: Infiltration

22. Infiltration

8.0

With Guts help, Casca and the Hawks hope to rescue Griffith.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 23: Eve of the Feast

23. Eve of the Feast

7.7

Breaking away from the King's pursuing armies, the few Hawks left contemplate their future. Guts comforts Casca, who is despondent over Griffith's condition. Griffith begins to dream.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 24: The Great Eclipse

24. The Great Eclipse

6.9

Seduced by the promises of demons and his dreams from his childhood, Griffith agrees to fulfill his destiny and become one of the God Hand demons.

Still image for Berserk season 1 episode 25: Time of Eternity

25. Time of Eternity

7.3

Griffith's men are sacrificed to the demon's appetites. Guts fights on, at first to save Griffith, then to save himself from the result of Griffith's ambition.

Cast

Photo of Nobutoshi Canna

Nobutoshi Canna

Guts (voice)

Photo of Toshiyuki Morikawa

Toshiyuki Morikawa

Griffith (voice)

Photo of Yuko Miyamura

Yuko Miyamura

Caska (voice)

Photo of Tomohiro Nishimura

Tomohiro Nishimura

Corkus (voice)

Photo of Unsho Ishizuka

Unsho Ishizuka

Narrator (voice)

More Like This

Reviews

Z

Zak_Jaggs

8/10

Seriously underrated in the wider anime community, this is a wonderful story told very well. The character of Guts is utterly compelling, and his development is just flawless, which makes the emotional stakes and the gut punch moments all the more impactful. Casca as well is a great character, one of the truly great anime women of the 90s. The production is dated but still very enjoyable, I like the art style and the fight direction even though it is mostly static. It must be said that the music is godly, several iconic tracks. The acting in English, Japanese and Russian (Which I've heard snippets of) is really good. Watch this anime.

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