Many studios have tried, with OLM's 1997 series still held in high regard by Berserk's community. The adaptations which followed, however, range from divisive to utterly disastrous. The most recent 2016 adaptation fits the latter description.
In the years since, fans have awaited any news about the possibility of an Berserk anime, only to be met with crickets. Berserk's fan base is dedicated though, and during the drought of new anime content, talented of the community have tried their hand at animating the series themselves. Just this week, a new short by artist and animator, SWEETHEARTIST, was released on their YouTube channel, bringing the epic Black Swordsman arc to life.
Berserk Looks Incredible in a Newly Released Fan Animation
The Battle Between Guts and the Snake Baron Comes to Life
Of Berserk's three major anime adaptations, only the 1997 series covered the battle between Guts and the Snake Baron. The Golden Age trilogy of films from 2012 and 2013 covered only the titular arc, while 2016's Berserk picked up where the manga continues following the post-Eclipse time skip. In the fan animation by SWEETHEARTIST, the most recent second episode revisits the early gruesome conflict in all its glory.
The short includes breathtaking artwork and faithfully pays homage to the original source material, often incorporating Kentaro Miura's trademark gritty, rough line work during action sequences, when Guts succumbs to his rage and goes all out in battle. It's a shame Berserk hasn't been adapted to completion with all the care it deserves by a major studio, though talented fans willing to do the series justice is always a positive for any anime community. The episode ends with Guts and Puck alone in the forest, just as his brand begins to bleed and the undead move in for an attack.
Berserk Fan Projects Continue Despite Past Difficulties
Other Berserk Fan Projects Have Been Forced to Come to an End
In recent years, Berserk fan projects have been a growing trend, with several groups of artists and animators delivering excellent takes on the series. However, some have been forced to cease production, as Studio Gaga, the rights holder of Berserk, hasn't been shy to strike down uses of their property. Most notably, a motion comic by Studio Taka, which animated and voiced Kentaro Miura's original manga, was halted after Studio Gaga took a public stance against the project in 2024.
Berserk Could Make For a Really Good Anime, And One Artist Just Showed Us It's Possible
Berserk has exploded in popularity in the last few years, and a new fan animation shows how cool an anime adaptation could be.
Despite controversy, however, talented artists like SWEETHEARTIST are continuing to bring Berserk to life through their own animated projects. Until the masterpiece series is given the proper anime adaptation it deserves, fans should be on the lookout for more high-quality works from talented of Berserk's devoted community. SWEETHEARTIST can be found on X here, and the latest episode of their Black Swordsman fan animation can be found on YouTube.
Berserk is a dark fantasy manga series by Kentaro Miura, first published in 1989. Set in a medieval Europe-inspired world, it follows Guts, a lone mercenary, and his struggle against demonic forces after his betrayal by Griffith, leader of the Band of the Hawk. The franchise has expanded into multiple anime series, films, video games, and merchandise.
