Kenpuu Denki Berserk

  • Genres: ["Action","Adventure","Drama","Fantasy","Horror"]
  • Type: TV
  • Status: Finished Airing
  • Year: 1997

Summary: Guts, a man who will one day be known as the Black Swordsman, is a young traveling mercenary characterized by the large greatsword he carries. He accepts jobs that offer the most money, but he never stays with one group for long—until he encounters the Band of the Falcon. Ambushed after completing a job, Guts crushes many of its members in combat. Griffith, The Band of the Falcon's leader and founder, takes an interest in Guts and duels him. While the others are no match for Guts, Griffith defeats him in one blow.

Incapacitated and taken into the Band of the Falcon's camp to recover, Guts wakes up two days later. He confronts Griffith, and the two duel yet again, only this time with a condition: Guts will join the Band of the Falcon if he loses. Due to his fresh injuries, Guts loses the fight and is inducted by Griffith.

In three years' time, Guts has become one of the Band of the Falcon's commanders. On the battlefield, his combat prowess is second only to Griffith as he takes on large groups of enemies all on his own. With Guts' immense strength and Griffith's leadership, the Band of the Falcon dominate every battle they partake in. But something menacing lurks in the shadows, threatening to change Guts' life forever.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]


Description

Guts, a man who will one day be known as the Black Swordsman, is a young traveling mercenary characterized by the large greatsword he carries. He accepts jobs that offer the most money, but he never stays with one group for long—until he encounters the Band of the Falcon. Ambushed after completing a job, Guts crushes many of its members in combat. Griffith, The Band of the Falcon's leader and founder, takes an interest in Guts and duels him. While the others are no match for Guts, Griffith defeats him in one blow.

Incapacitated and taken into the Band of the Falcon's camp to recover, Guts wakes up two days later. He confronts Griffith, and the two duel yet again, only this time with a condition: Guts will join the Band of the Falcon if he loses. Due to his fresh injuries, Guts loses the fight and is inducted by Griffith.

In three years' time, Guts has become one of the Band of the Falcon's commanders. On the battlefield, his combat prowess is second only to Griffith as he takes on large groups of enemies all on his own. With Guts' immense strength and Griffith's leadership, the Band of the Falcon dominate every battle they partake in. But something menacing lurks in the shadows, threatening to change Guts' life forever.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]


Kenpuu Denki Berserk Trailers


Kenpuu Denki Berserk Pictures


Kenpuu Denki Berserk Review

Kenpuu Denki Berserk — Guts, a man who will one day be known as the Black Swordsman, is a young traveling mercenary characterized by the large greatsword he carries. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.

Thematically, It sits firmly within Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.6). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.

Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.

On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.

The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.

Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.

No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.

In sum, Kenpuu Denki Berserk offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.


Characters & Voice Actors

Casca

Casca

Main

Miyamura, Yuko
Miyamura, Yuko
Japanese
Casca

Casca

Main

Keranen, Carrie
Keranen, Carrie
English
Casca

Casca

Main

Volpé, Isabelle
Volpé, Isabelle
French
Casca

Casca

Main

Massironi, Cinzia
Massironi, Cinzia
Italian
Casca

Casca

Main

AmbrĂłs, Carmen
AmbrĂłs, Carmen
Spanish
Casca

Casca

Main

BarragĂĄn, Alicia
BarragĂĄn, Alicia
Spanish
Griffith

Griffith

Main

Morikawa, Toshiyuki
Morikawa, Toshiyuki
Japanese
Griffith

Griffith

Main

Takayama, Minami
Takayama, Minami
Japanese
Griffith

Griffith

Main

Taylor, Veronica
Taylor, Veronica
English
Griffith

Griffith

Main

Collins, Kevin T.
Collins, Kevin T.
English
Griffith

Griffith

Main

Montalto, Jean-Marco
Montalto, Jean-Marco
French
Griffith

Griffith

Main

Bonino, Giorgio
Bonino, Giorgio
Italian
Griffith

Griffith

Main

Chemin, Pascale
Chemin, Pascale
French
Griffith

Griffith

Main

Leal, Miguel Ángel
Leal, Miguel Ángel
Spanish
Guts

Guts

Main

Canna, Nobutoshi
Canna, Nobutoshi
Japanese
Guts

Guts

Main

Prata, Patrizio
Prata, Patrizio
Italian
Guts

Guts

Main

Diraison, Marc
Diraison, Marc
English
Guts

Guts

Main

Fukushima, Orine
Fukushima, Orine
Japanese
Guts

Guts

Main

Silvestri, Marcella
Silvestri, Marcella
Italian
Guts

Guts

Main

Lambotte, Jessie
Lambotte, Jessie
French

Staff

Nakatani, Toshio

Nakatani, Toshio

Producer

Okuno, Toshiaki

Okuno, Toshiaki

Producer

Takahashi, Naohito

Takahashi, Naohito

Director, Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation, Chief Animation Director

Amiya, Masakazu

Amiya, Masakazu

Episode Director, Storyboard

Fukazawa, Kouji

Fukazawa, Kouji

Episode Director, Key Animation

Geshi, Yasuhiro

Geshi, Yasuhiro

Episode Director, Storyboard

Hiiro, Yukina

Hiiro, Yukina

Episode Director, Storyboard

Matsumura, Yasuhiro

Matsumura, Yasuhiro

Episode Director, Storyboard

Okazaki, Yukio

Okazaki, Yukio

Episode Director

Oono, Kazuhisa

Oono, Kazuhisa

Episode Director

Tsurumaki, Kazuya

Tsurumaki, Kazuya

Episode Director

Yamaguchi, Mihiro

Yamaguchi, Mihiro

Episode Director

Yoshikawa, Kouji

Yoshikawa, Kouji

Episode Director

Fujita, Shinzou

Fujita, Shinzou

Script

Imagawa, Yasuhiro

Imagawa, Yasuhiro

Script, Series Composition

Oohashi, Yukiyoshi

Oohashi, Yukiyoshi

Script

Tomioka, Atsuhiro

Tomioka, Atsuhiro

Script

Yonemura, Shouji

Yonemura, Shouji

Script

Hidaka, Masamitsu

Hidaka, Masamitsu

Storyboard

Isako, Kiyotaka

Isako, Kiyotaka

Storyboard