The Complete Watch Order for Berserk in Anime

 

 

 

Few dark-fantasy franchises inspire the same reverence—and the same frustration—as Berserk. Kentaro Miura’s monumental manga has been adapted multiple times since the 1990s, each attempt capturing fragments of its brutality, tragedy, and philosophical weight. None of the anime versions are perfect, and seasoned fans will always tell you: The manga is the real masterpiece.

Still, for viewers who want to experience Berserk in animated form, the adaptations each offer something different. Some lean into atmosphere and character drama, others push cinematic action, and others attempt to continue the story beyond the famously devastating Golden Age arc.

In this post, I’ll guide you through every major Berserk anime adaptation, explain their strengths and weaknesses, and give you a practical watch order. This expands on the Korean overview you provided, but I also supplement it with additional research and context so you can fully understand how each version fits into the franchise.

 

1. Why Berserk Is So Hard to Adapt

 

 

Before we jump into the watch order, it’s important to understand why Berserk keeps getting re-adapted. Miura’s manga is known for:

• extremely detailed, almost Renaissance-level artwork
• brutal and explicit violence
• psychologically heavy themes
• dense world-building
• complex character arcs

Recreating this visually, faithfully, and consistently is an almost impossible task. Even modern studios struggle to animate the scale and detail of Miura’s battles. This is why every adaptation compromises differently—some cut content, others simplify designs, others use CG to manage production cost.

The result? A franchise with multiple incomplete adaptations, each tackling different story arcs with different production philosophies.

 

2. Berserk (1997) – Kenpuu Denki Berserk

 

 

 

The first and arguably the most beloved adaptation is the 1997 TV series. It covers the entirety of the Golden Age arc, from Guts’s childhood up to the horrifying Eclipse.

Strengths

• Outstanding atmosphere
  The 1997 version captures the grim medieval mood better than most later adaptations. The limited animation is compensated by strong direction and heavy, mature storytelling.
• Memorable soundtrack by Susumu Hirasawa
  Hirasawa’s tracks—“Guts’ Theme,” “Tell Me Why,” “Forces”—help define Berserk’s identity. Many fans associate his music with the franchise as deeply as they do with the characters themselves.
• Faithful emotional depiction
  It focuses heavily on human relationships, political tension, and the tragic bond between Guts and Griffith.

Weaknesses

• Outdated visuals
  Younger audiences may struggle with the 90s style and limited animation. Action is more suggested than shown.
• Heavy censorship and omissions
  Many violent scenes, monsters, and characters are removed. The manga's supernatural elements, especially early on, are toned down significantly.

Overall

Still considered a classic and the adaptation with the strongest emotional weight. If you value storytelling and atmosphere over spectacle, this is the best place to begin.

 

3. Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – The Movie Trilogy (2012–2013)

 

 

 

The franchise returned a decade later with a big-budget movie trilogy:

1. The Egg of the King
2. The Battle for Doldrey
3. The Advent

These films revisit the Golden Age arc but with modern production values—primarily hybrid 2D/3D animation.

Strengths

• More dynamic battle scenes
  The larger scale fights, especially the siege of Doldrey and the Eclipse, feel more visually intense than the 1997 version.
• Covers events the 1997 series skipped
  Since the runtime is shorter, the trilogy still compresses a lot, but it does restore some supernatural scenes and characters.
• Modern pacing
  For viewers who prefer faster, more cinematic storytelling, this is ideal.

Weaknesses

• Controversial CG
  The mix of 2D and 3D animation received criticism for stiffness and emotional disconnect.
• Fast pacing
  Relationships and character motivations sometimes feel rushed.
• New voice cast
  All roles were recast compared to 1997. Some fans welcomed the fresh tone; others missed the older dramatic deliveries.

Overall

A streamlined, action-focused retelling of the Golden Age. If you want spectacle and don’t mind CG, the trilogy works well.

 

4. Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – Memorial Edition (2022)

 

 

This TV recut of the movie trilogy updates the visuals, reorganizes the story for episodic format, and adds new scenes.

What’s New

• improved image quality
• additional animated moments
• expanded character-focused scenes
• new transitions to smooth pacing

Why It Matters

For many viewers, Memorial Edition is the best compromise between the 1997 emotional experience and the trilogy's visuals. It’s far from perfect, but it’s the most polished version of the movies.

The Music

As with other Berserk productions, Susumu Hirasawa’s music is a standout. Even small sequences feel elevated by his unmistakable style—strange, ethereal, and majestic.

Overall

A solid, accessible entry point for new fans who want a modern presentation of the Golden Age.

 

5. Berserk (2016–2017) – Post-Eclipse Story Continues

 

 

 

After decades, fans finally got an adaptation that continues Guts’s journey after the Eclipse. The 2016–17 series covers:

• the Conviction arc (partially)
• the beginning of the Falcon of the Millennium Empire arc
• Guts forming his travelling party

Strengths

• It finally animates new story material
  This is its greatest value. Even if flawed, it is the only anime that adapts the Black Swordsman–era story in any substantial way.
• Good voice cast
  Carries over from the movie trilogy.

Weaknesses

• Widely criticized 3D animation
  The CG is clunky and inconsistent, and even fans who defended the movies struggled with the 2016 series.
• Pacing issues
  Some arcs feel rushed while others drag.
• Inconsistent character models
  Heavy use of 3D switching to 2D causes visual dissonance.

Overall

This series is divisive, but if you want to follow Guts’s journey past the Golden Age—and you can tolerate the animation quality—it’s essential viewing.

 

6. Recommended Watch Order

 

 

Because the Golden Age has multiple versions, you only need to watch one of them before moving to the 2016–17 continuation.

Option A: Traditional & Emotional

Best for viewers who appreciate narrative depth.

1. Berserk (1997)
2. Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – Memorial Edition (2022) (optional recap)
3. Berserk (2016–2017)

Option B: Modern & Action-Focused

For viewers who prioritize updated visuals.

1. Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – Memorial Edition (2022)
2. Berserk (2016–2017)

Option C: Quickest Route

For viewers who want the shortest path to the post-Eclipse content.

1. Golden Age Movie Trilogy (2012–2013)
2. Berserk (2016–2017)

My Personal Recommendation

Start with the 1997 series, then refresh the story using Memorial Edition, then move on to 2016–17.

This gives you emotional depth, modern visuals, and the proper continuation order.

 

7. Should You Watch the Anime at All?

A fair question—because even dedicated fans admit that most Berserk anime adaptations are technically flawed.

Why You Should Watch

• The music is unforgettable.
• The Golden Age is emotionally powerful even in animated form.
• The 2016–17 series is the only way to see post-Eclipse events animated.
• Seeing Guts, Griffith, Casca, and the Band of the Hawk move and speak adds layers the manga alone cannot provide.

Why You Shouldn’t Expect Too Much

• No version fully captures Miura’s art.
• CG limitations affect the newer adaptations.
• Every adaptation cuts content.

If you go in with reasonable expectations—wanting atmosphere and story rather than perfect animation—the anime is still worthwhile.

 

To watch Berserk in the most coherent way:

1. Choose one of the Golden Age versions
   • 1997 TV series (best atmosphere)
   • 2012–13 movie trilogy (fast and modern)
   • 2022 Memorial Edition (polished and accessible)
2. Then watch the 2016–17 series to continue Guts’s journey.

No matter which route you take, you’ll experience one of the most devastating and iconic stories in the history of dark fantasy.