Late Kentaro Miura, the visionary creator behind the dark fantasy manga Berserk, was known for his intricate artwork and complex storytelling. Muira’s work captivated readers with its brutal yet beautiful depiction of a medieval-inspired world, filled with larger-than-life characters and nightmarish creatures. His attention to detail and unique artistic style set Berserk apart in the manga industry.
As the popularity of Berserek grew, discussions about potential adaptations naturally arose. However, his perspective on bringing his creation to life outside the realm of manga was not widely known. He shared his thoughts on the challenges of adapting the manga to different mediums, particularly live-action.
Figures Capture the essence of Kentaro Miura’s Fantasy World
In an interview conducted for the Great Berserk Exhibition in December 2020 via Fandomwiki, the late Kentaro Miura shared his thoughts on why he believed figures and statutes were more suitable representations of his fantastical world than live-action adaptations. The intricate details and elements that define Berserk‘s world are often difficult to replicate in live-action without compromising the original vision.
Figurines, on the other hand, allow for a more direct translation of his artwork into 3D form, preserving the exaggerated features and otherworldly qualities of his characters and creatures. He elaborated:
Manga is different from live action in the sense that no matter how dramatic a scene is, you have to sort of exaggerate the real human beings. For example, rather than making a live-action movie, making figures more accurately represents the setting and how fantastic the world is.
He also emphasized the compelling nature of these figures, describing them as having “the feeling of being ripped directly from the world, it’s more compelling for everyone.” The preference for figures over live-action adaptations speaks to the core of Miura’s artistic philosophy.
The ability to craft every detail to exact specifications, from the designs of armor to the grotesque features of monsters, allows these figures to serve as tangible embodiments of his imagination. In essence, they become physical manifestations of the manga panels, bridging the gap between 2D artistry and our 3d reality in a way that honors the source material’s unique aesthetic.
Kentaro Miura’s Thoughts on Live-Action Adaptation
Throughout the interview, Miura’s comments revealed his deep commitment to the visual style and atmosphere of Berserk. He discussed his transition from analog to digital drawing techniques, comparing the former to calligraphy and the latter to craftsmanship. This attention to detail and artistic expression in his work further underscores why he might have been skeptical about live-action adaptations.
He mentioned:
if I were to use an analogy for analog and digital, analog is like a calligrapher, and digital is like a craftsman… I think that’s interesting in general. Japanese people are surprisingly attracted to analog, I think. But, digital has its advantages and disadvantages as well.
His perspective offered insights into why many fans and creators often find anime and manga adaptations challenging. The unique visual language of these mediums, particularly in fantasy and science fiction genres, can be difficult to translate to live-action without compromising the original vision or relying heavily on CGI, which may not capture the same essence as the source material.
With Kentaro Miura’s passing in 2021, we’ll never see his full vision for Berserk realized. His preference for figures remains a poignant reminder of the power of artistic vision and the diverse ways it can be expressed.
Berserk is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
