Every major media franchise has a black sheep adaptation that no one likes to acknowledge. For Berserk, it is the 2016 anime that got roasted to hell and back. The franchise itself is still evergreen, and fans naturally want to see a better anime adaptation.
So when publishers of the manga went silent, fans had only one option left: to make sure they left no stone unturned.
Castlevania Director Comments on the Possibility of a Berserk Anime
Fans of Berserk have been pushed to the brink of desperation. Berserk has faced one misfortune after another, much like its author. Thus, a popular Berserk content page on X came to the realization that they have to take matters into their own hands.
The account tagged the director (Samuel Deats) and executive producer (Adi Shankar) of Castlevania to plead for a new Berserk anime adaptation. Surprisingly, Samuel Deats answered the request:
I love Berserk and would love to if it were ever in the cards, for what it's worth. 😀 Not entirely in my hands though, I'm afraid. 😅
— Samuel Deats 🌕 (@SamuelDeats) January 14, 2020
The director confirmed that while he himself loved Berserk, he was not in charge of the decision. There are several steps to be taken before a manga is approved for an anime. There are several more steps before a director and studio are chosen for it.
Fan comments under the thread showed a beautiful dedication to Berserk as people were ready to petition for the anime. Some commented that they want to know who was the right person to reach out to. Others were ready to create a crowdfunding project.
PLEASE, ILL SELL MY LEFT KIDNEY FOR AN ADAPTION OF THE LOST CHILDREN ARC pic.twitter.com/1FBVn7RLRh
— Black Magi (@PT_Hendrix) January 14, 2020
what if….we petitioned for it? you guys are my favorite directors and writers now…this is coming from a girl who hasnt purchased a dvd since 2002… T_T
— CrimsonTangerines – Getting back into gear (@Crimsontangerin) January 14, 2020
Some other hilarious comments included the suggestion of selling one’s body organs just to receive a Berserk anime. One thing is for sure, Berserk fans have pledged utter loyalty to the series and will not give up before a studio hears their demands.
Why is a New Berserk Anime Adaptation a Necessity
Berserk has already received an anime in 2016, so why are fans demanding for more? It’s because if you had read the manga and then watched the anime, you too would want to deny its existence.
The 2016 anime was a 2D/3D hybrid that could never convince the audience. Movements were extremely jerky and characters seemed lifeless. The battle scenes lacked fluidity and it looked like a CGI testing phase.
Additionally, the beautiful and complex artwork of Kentaro Miura was never properly captured by the CGI-filled anime. Apart from the technical errors, the plot of the manga was also shortened, skipped, and often derailed to fit it into the anime. Some of the most important arcs were skipped and with it, the character development of Guts and other characters.
Since Berserk has many graphic scenes, fans never expected a true adaptation, but the censorship in the anime crossed too many borders. The blatant censorship once again watered down the series and its intensity.
The 2016 anime was a reboot version of the previous series. The classic 1997 Berserk anime adapted most of the first 12 volumes but had too many omitted key moments. The Berserk Golden Age Arc movie trilogy also carried a retro tone and was welcomed by fans and critics alike.
Nonetheless, both the previous adaptations were better than the 2016 one. However, the series does need a proper adaptation which does not skimp out on the content and quality of the manga.
You can watch the Berserk anime on Crunchyroll.
