Search - Berserk - Season One (The Complete Collection) on DVD

Awsome Series that should of lived longer

Ironman | Carmel, IN USA | 10/31/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Berserk like so many Anime Series is an incomplete one. The tales of Guts and his quest to destroy the Godhand were never told as this series was all buildup to that.

The series is basically the first set part of the story on how Guts eventually came to hate the Godshand and their hords of Demons. The battles are violent and the story is actually very good (with good voice acting as well). It plays off as more of a Fantasy epic that ends with a Holy S--- ending that leaves you craving more. The story is very well told but sadly like so many other Anime series the full tales are never told as the series did not last past season 1. Thus there is a major feeling of incompletness that can now only be fullfilled with the Mangas. However what is here is an incredible series that combines wonderful story telling with gut wrenching violence. Highly recomended."

An epic story along the lines of Lord of the Rings

Courtney C. Valdez | San Fran Bay Area, USA | 06/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first thing you may get out of hearing about Berserk is "how good can something called 'berserk' be?" To be honest, upon first hearing about the manga my brothers friend was reading, I was put off. I had no idea until I saw the series how INCREDIBLY deep it was. Guts may seem like a simple monster of a man who swings a big sword, but he quickly begins to peel away the layers that cover his true nature and it becomes clear that he is one of the great anime characters ever devised.

The story begins with a strange episode dealing with monsters. After the first episode, we are thrust back into the early years of Guts' life (I believe the story of the series ranges from Guts being 17 years old to 21). He is sought by a mercenary leader Griffith, who commands the Band of the Hawk. Needless to say, he joins them and from there the viewer is thrown into the middle of an incredible, sprawling epic. Huge battles ensue and characters perfectly compliment one another. The way the episodes are put together, you can't just watch one episode in a sitting. You are forced to continue it. I watched the entire series in one sitting the first time, and since whenever I do watch it I have to do the same thing. The story simply flows like water. It is complete with action, adventure, political intrigue, philosophy, and even a love story. While the music in some parts really falls, like in the intro song, there are some great pieces that are repeated throughout.

One thing that must be pointed out it is called Berserk, and for that it has a lot of violence and even nudity. However, it is toned down considerably from the manga. As the series comes to a close, you find yourself saying "Is that all?" No. In fact, the series entrenches only about a third of the entire story thus far. The manga is currently 29 volumes that run about 250 pages each. The series is roughly volumes 4-14. I suggest watching this series and then finding fan-translated scans of the manga, since only the first six are released in America. Trust me when I say the story of Berserk is unputdownable. The creator, Miura, states that he originally intended Berserk to be about 50 volumes, so even now it is hardly near completion.

Buy this boxed set. You will be hard pressed to find a better anime series than this."

Death, Demons, and Guts Galore

Antonio D. Paolucci | Beaver Falls, PA | 01/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Berserk, as a series, is one of those anime that starts out--at least after the first episode--slowly, and in many moments, boringly. It's essentially a character introduction in a series. We are dragged along by the will of the creators as they show us this massive, angry man named Guts. During the series, we learn of his willpower, his skill with the sword, and of his penchant for murder. Also, we meet two people intricately tied to him, Caska and Griffith, one a future lover, the other a future enemy. Odd thing is, it isn't that clear between the two which is which until about halfway through.

Berserk is a dark fantasy, literally. It takes place in a fantasy setting, often drenched in blood and dread, and men are constantly hewing other men in half with swords, spears, axes, or halberds. There are few morals beyond loyalty and brotherhood in battle, a moral found in every anime, TV show, or movie that deals with war. But the themes are there, and all of the them are dark, dealing mostly with murder, vengeance, and greed (or just about every one of the Seven Deadly Sins). But what's clear is that Berserk never tries to be anything else. It doesn't mislead you with slapstick, or with constant, giggly characters. The atmosphere is thick, and it never lets up. If you don't like the first episode, then you won't like the series. It immediately tries to scare away the faint of heart early on.

Though at times the animation quality could be better, the style here is a little different in that they follow few of the regular anime guidelines. Some of the characters have big eyes, but beyond that they are proportioned perfectly, giving the animation a sense of reality, which of course only adds to the intensity of the story. The animation gets a little better during moments of single combat, usually when Guts is swinging his sword, making the action scenes worth watching. Though rarely, they do recycle animation (moments that's found earlier on in an episode, like firing a volley of arrows, repeated in a later scene or after a commercial break), which can be off-putting at times. Most of this, though, is done in the earlier episodes, so it's easy to forget about.

Beyond that, other bonuses include a decent fantasy soundtrack that matches well to the mood of the scenes in the anime. Most of the characters are unique in some way to anime. And, though this can't really be considered a bonus for some, it has plenty of violence, enough to spread across two or even three different anime. So, if you like this in your anime, then here it is.

It's hard to recommend this anime because Berserk doesn't compare to many other fantasy anime, besides Record of Lodoss War. It does compare to other anime outside Berserk's genre, however, so if you enjoyed 3 x 3 Eyes, Doomed Megalopolis, or are now enjoying Gantz or Elfen Lied, then pick this up. Berserk is a great series, not one of the best, but still close. It has a solid story, with interesting characters that drive the action and the plot."

The struggle

Courtney C. Valdez | 12/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am an anime fan. I had heard of the Berserk anime and manga series long ago, yet haven't touched them thinking nothing of it. One day, I decided to purchase the Sega Dreamcast game "Sword of the Berserk" which is an actual side story from the manga. The game itself was well done; Albeit more sitting and watching than playing, But even moreso the story was excellent and quite moving.

After playing through the game, I decided to tap into the anime.I was shocked. Berserk was far more real to me than any of the candy coated Evangelion and Escaflowne of sorts. You can really feel the emotion erupting straight from the characters - Like you are fighting alongside them, experiencing the pain and the glory and the love and the tragedy - The struggle. You can really identify with the characters. This has fairly much ruined most anime for me now, because there seams to be nothing that comes close to the deep and complex story that is Berserk. Other reviewers can tell you of more details about Berserk. I can only say that if you're brave enough to try something different than the brightly colored happy types - A full range of emotional outpoor and the Black Swordsman are waiting to engulf you."