The Enigmatic Brilliance of Kentaro Miura: Propelling the Dark Fantasy Genre to New Heights

The tragic death of Kentaro Miura has not only impacted the world but has also sparked a much-needed discussion about the working conditions of authors in this unforgiving industry. Instead of dwelling on the pain, it is important to focus on the positive aspects of his dark fantasy work and acknowledge his lasting influence in the genre.

While many become engrossed in the brilliance of Berserk, its unresolved ending, and the ongoing debates surrounding the correct way to experience it or the merits of various anime adaptations, it is crucial not to overlook Kentaro's legacy. For those who have used his vision as a guide to expand the niche world of dark fantasy, his contribution will never be forgotten.

Early Steps And Latent Ideas

Miura's path to greatness began early in his life, showing flashes of talent as a child. This came as no surprise to his parents, both of whom were Art School graduates. His father worked as a designer for TV commercials, while his mother was an art teacher. Growing up, Miura attended his mother's classes and drew alongside much older students. This, along with his father's storyboards, seemed to solidify his destiny to become a manga creator.

By the age of 10, Miura had already completed his first manga, Miuranger. However, it wasn't until the end of high school that he attempted to get published, unfortunately without success. It was during this time that he met his friend and rival, Koji Mori. Miura compared their friendship to the relationship between Guts and Griffith, an example of strong male friendship. Additionally, while attending university, Miura crossed paths with George Morikawa, who was a year ahead of him. Morikawa became Miura's assistant for Kazuya NOW. During this period, Miura had already created preliminary designs for a warrior with a large sword. When he showed these designs to Morikawa, the author of Hajime no Ippo, he was amazed by the level of detail and expression in Miura's unique thick line style.

His debut in the editorial world came with Noa (1985), but due to its poor reception, it was eventually canceled. Three years later, he submitted a complete pilot of Berserk to a competition and secured second place. However, the work did not go unnoticed as Hakusensha became hooked on it and requested him to continue developing the series while he simultaneously grew as an author with other projects. In August 1989, Berserk began its publication, forever transforming the world of dark fantasy.

A Growing Shadow

Compiling a comprehensive list of Berserk's exceptional qualities is a simple task. However, a significant number of these qualities possess such distinctive elements that any attempt to replicate them would inevitably result in missteps. Kentaro Miura's primary intention was to explore the theme of rage, and this dark fantasy genre provided the ideal backdrop for his endeavor. Undoubtedly inspired by the works of Lovecraft, Miura incorporated elements from closer sources like Guin Saga, Violence Jack, and Fist of the North Star, sculpting an idea that would serve as a benchmark for future authors.

It is difficult to replicate or base a series on someone with such unique talent, as his drawing style was not easily imitated. However, what truly stood out in Berserk was the tone, theme, narrative, character development, personalities, and action. These aspects inspired numerous successful dark fantasy mangas, including Black Clover, Blue Exorcist, Attack on Titan, Bleach, Chainsaw Man, Black Butler, and many more.

Miura revolutionized the dark fantasy genre and made it a global phenomenon. His action-packed storytelling, complex characters, and captivating aesthetics popularized the darkest of fantasies. As a result, series like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen are now breaking sales records. The elements Miura introduced decades ago have become inseparable from the genre, completely redefining it.

Beyond Manga

Kentaro Miura's impact extended far beyond a single entertainment industry, with his greatest influence arguably seen in the JRPG genre. The video game industry struck gold with Berserk, as the archetype of a tormented warrior wielding a massive sword to navigate a perilous world infested with monsters has become a widely used trope throughout history. Many creators have openly acknowledged their inspiration from Berserk, including Hidetaki Itsuno and Hidetaka Miyazaki. Itsuno implemented this trope throughout the Devil May Cry franchise, redesigning the series based on the lessons he learned from Berserk, with the protagonist Dante embodying his version of Guts. In Dragon's Dogma, Itsuno paid homage to Miura more directly by incorporating Guts and Griffith armor sets. Miyazaki, a revered genius in the industry, not only embraced this trope but also made it the defining characteristic of the Souls games. Slave Knight Gael, a boss in Dark Souls III, is a clear reference to Guts in terms of his fighting style while wearing the berserker armor. Even Castlevania, a franchise predating Berserk, publicly acknowledged the direct influence for their anime adaptation and recent works.

When discussing JRPGs, it's hard not to mention Final Fantasy. Cloud's Buster Sword closely resembles the Dragon Slayer, and his troubled mercenary persona adds to the similarities. Sephiroth also bears some resemblance to Griffith, but overall, the Final Fantasy franchise shares an aesthetic with Berserk. This is evident in various elements such as the Dark Knights in Final Fantasy XIV and the character and world designs in Final Fantasy XVI, including Clive's armor and appearance. It's difficult to imagine the impact of an unfinished series that has reached the same heights as Kentaro Miura's work. You can watch Berserk on Crunchyroll.