Originally written by the mangaka Kentaro Miura, the Berserk manga has earned lots popular acclaim and an equal amount of notoriety for its violence and gore and its fantastical storylines. It has had the privilege of winning the coveted Tezuka Osamu Award for Excellence.
However, the anime adaptations produced in 1997 and 2016 have been widely discredited for their lackluster take on the brilliant manga. Though the 1997 version is considered better than the 2016 version, it still is a victim of the backlash of many fans of the original manga.
Do not ruin your love for the amazing plot by watching this anime. Here’s why.
1. Quick Answer
It is a unanimous opinion that the two anime adaptations are nowhere as good as the original manga. The anime adaptations are abridged versions of the manga, which leave out a lot of crucial scenes.
The atmosphere, the setting, and the fight scenes are not as elaborate and detailed as the manga and will be a huge disappointment. However, on a cautious note, the two anime adaptations also differ in their approaches and must be analyzed separately.
2. Why Should You Not Watch It?
I. Difference in Medium
The two art forms – manga and anime are completely different mediums which leads to different interpretations of the same thing. While the manga uses paneling, pacing, and strategic shading to highlight the plot, the anime is an audio-visual medium that uses sound and the illusion of moving images to do the same.
A manga like Berserk depends on the execution of a dreary atmosphere to make its impact. This is provided by the monochromatic (black and white) color framework employed in the manga.
Whereas in the anime, the lack of attention to detail can be clearly seen. Also, it fails to capture the same atmosphere and emotions like the manga does.
The multi-coloured universe creates a drastically different atmosphere that would take a enormous effort to adjust. This can be a huge turn off for many hardcore fans.
II. BAD ANIMATION QUALITY
While the original manga was created with precision and great attention to detail, the anime yielded a very dull and boring product.
While the manga built a very intricate world, the two anime adaptations did not achieve even half of what the manga did. The world-building was not as intricate and hence, was not as believable.
While the 1997 anime adaptation still did a fair amount of justice to the story, the 2016 version was a complete flop. There is absolutely no need to consider watching that version. You will be left with a very bitter taste in your mouth.
III. DELETION OF SOME CRUCIAL PARTS OF THE PLOT
There were huge complaints about the non-inclusion of certain plot elements that had played a very crucial role in the manga. The 1997 version was under heavy criticism for taking a different plot trajectory and added to that, a poor execution.
While the popular anime Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood also explored a different plotline from the manga, both the versions have had overwhelmingly good reception.
The 2016 version was a continuation of the events that had transpired in other movies and the 1997 version, all set in the Berserk universe. It has been at the receiving end of harsh criticism for its unflattering adaptation and its dilution of many beautiful scenes in the manga.
3. Why You Should Read The Manga Instead?
If you really want to love this plot and you wonder whats missing after watching the anime, you should first read the manga. The manga addresses every nook and corner of the plot leaving relatively fewer plot holes.
The anime is riddled with a series of plot holes and confusion as crucial scenes have been removed all together. You will be left feeling more confused.
The manga is the original product of the mangaka. It does justice to the plot through its emotionally engaging fight scenes and beautifully elaborated settings.
4. Author’s Note
While the anime adaptations are very messy and don’t do justice to the manga, they should be forgiven as the two are extremely different mediums.
The anime adaptations, when taken as a separate independent whole, do make sense and can be enjoyable. In fact, there are some fans, albeit very few who prefer watching the anime version.
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