Unofficial Berserk Anime Adaptation Set to Outshine 2016 Series

Recently, Studio Eclypse, an online animation group, announced that they have commenced the pre-production process for a fan-made Berserk anime adaptation based on the original manga. Unlike the manga by Kentaro Miura, their adaptation will not cover the Golden Age arc, but instead, it will focus on the Black Swordsman arc.

In their Berserk anime series, Studio Eclypse aims to adapt the overlooked stories that have not been given proper attention in previous adaptations. While not confirmed, this statement appears to be a critique of the 2016 television anime adaptation of Miura's manga, which fans deemed to be of lower quality.

Fan-made Berserk anime is the most promising 21st-century adaptation of Miura’s manga yet

However, Studio Eclypse's team appears determined to rectify the errors made in the 2016 anime. They have made a promising commitment to deliver a fully 2D adaptation instead of utilizing 3D CGI. The 106 series received significant backlash due to its decision to use a 3D CGI art style during production.

Regrettably, the current promotional material for the fan-made Berserk anime consists of a rather short 30-second teaser video. This teaser provides viewers with a fleeting glimpse of a combat scene and begins with a shot of Casca, a beloved character from the series. However, the focus quickly shifts to the protagonist, Guts, engaging in intense battle. Throughout the video, we are also treated to glimpses of the iconic Crimson Behelit from the series.

The trailer unveils a sneak peek of Omens, a song by Zach Jackson from Depths of Aetherium, which forms an integral part of the project's original soundtrack. Alongside revealing the project's English voice actors and staff, the studio emphasizes the series will be beautifully voiced in both Japanese and English.

Arguably, the most thrilling aspect of Eclypse's Berserk anime is their commitment to maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original artwork without any censorship or toning down of scenes. Accomplishing this feat will require exceptional talent and expertise from the production staff, given the challenges that even well-funded animation studios have faced in the past. Studio Eclypse undoubtedly faces a daunting task ahead.

On May 6, 2021, Kentaro Miura sadly passed away at the age of 54 due to an acute aortic dissection. Consequently, his manga remained on hold for over a year until his childhood friend and fellow mangaka Kouji Mori took over its production.

The return was announced in Young Animal's June 2022 issue. Mori now heads the production of the work at Studio Gaga, Miura's personal studio where his assistants previously worked on the series under his guidance. Keep up with the latest updates on anime, manga, films, and live-action as we move further into 2023.

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of the Berserk manga, I am thrilled about the prospect of a new anime adaptation by Studio Eclypse. The 2016 adaptation left much to be desired, so I am hopeful that this new project will do the series justice.

Studio Eclipse's commitment to a 2D animation style and their promise to remain faithful to the original artwork are particularly encouraging. The fact that they are tackling the Black Swordsman arc, which has been neglected in previous adaptations, is also exciting.

I am eager to see what Studio Eclipse can bring to the table and am cautiously optimistic that they will deliver a Berserk anime that fans can truly appreciate.