Senior William Hampson just finished watching “Berserk.” It is a dark fantasy story in the mythical kingdom of Midland that follows Guts, a character driven from battlefield to battlefield searching for a purpose in life, until he finally finds brothers in arms. The mercenary band he joins is called the Band of the Hawk and they become like a family to him. They advance from mercenaries to official nobles for the country by winning the 100 years war for Midland. Originally written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura, the series version of “Berserk” has been running for nearly four decades. Now, the torch is carried by Miura’s lifelong best friend, Kouji Mori. Later in 2012 and 2013, “Berserk” was adapted once again in a three-part movie trilogy, directed by Yuta Sato. The version Hampson watched is a mashup of the two to create the most complete story possible.

What did you enjoy about this film/series?

“I really enjoyed the serious tone that the show portrays. While many animes are loud and jokey, it is very dark and solemn. I also really like the main character, Guts, who is a stoic orphan with a very rough life.”

What was the most memorable part of the film/series?

“[The] most memorable part of the show is most definitely the eclipse, where everything you currently know about the show gets flipped upside down.”

How is this film/series different from others that you have watched?

“It’s different from other shows because of its pacing, its tone, its depth, and its complex character web.”

What other films similar to this one would you recommend?

“I would recommend ‘Vinland Saga.’ It is the most similar style but ‘Attack on Titan’ and ‘Jujitsu Kaisen’ are also pretty serious man vs nature/man.”

If you want to check out “Berserk” you can watch the Golden age movies and recently released memorial edition, including multiple new scenes and improved animation, on Crunchyroll. If you would like to see the version William watched, u/mightyDOOMgiver on reddit had made the coveted “Berserk Redux” edit. These 10 feature-length movies combine the 1997 anime tv series and the movies together to create the best way to watch “Berserk.”