Berserk

Berserk

剣風伝奇ベルセルク
1997 –1998 OLM Nippon TV 25 episodes Completed
Action Dark Fantasy Drama Horror
Details & Synopsis
Born from a hanging corpse and raised on the battlefield, Guts is a wandering mercenary who wields a sword larger than a grown man. His life of aimless violence changes when he meets Griffith, the charismatic and fiercely ambitious leader of the Band of the Hawk. What starts as a gritty medieval war story slowly descends into one of the most harrowing and legendary dark fantasies in fiction.

The 1997 adaptation of Kentaro Miura's masterpiece captures the Golden Age arc with a raw, hand-drawn aesthetic that modern CGI reboots have never been able to replicate. The soundtrack by Susumu Hirasawa — featuring the iconic, jarringly upbeat opening "Tell Me Why" and the sweeping battle anthem "Forces" — is etched into anime history. 25 episodes. It culminates in the Eclipse, a finale so traumatizing it changed the medium forever. Read the manga afterward.
Alt Title 剣風伝奇ベルセルク
Studio OLM
Network Nippon TV
Aired 1997 – 1998
Episodes 25
Genre Action, Dark Fantasy, Drama, Horror
Status Completed
Episode List
Black Swordsman Arc (1) Golden Age Arc (24)
001 The Black Swordsman Oct 8, 1997 canon ►
A flash-forward to a broken future. Guts, missing an eye and an arm, hunts an Apostle in a tavern. The original broadcast immediately establishes a tone of bleak, unflinching dark fantasy. There are no heroes here, only survivors. The heavy ink and shadow of the 1997 animation set a standard that modern CGI has never touched.
002 Band of the Hawk Oct 15, 1997 canon ►
The timeline snaps back to the Golden Age. A young, feral Guts fighting as a mercenary catches the eye of Griffith, the beautiful and lethal leader of the Band of the Hawk. The duel on the grassy hill is a masterclass in 90s combat choreography—weighty, visceral, and historically significant.
003 Baptism of Fire Oct 22, 1997 canon ►
Forced into the Band of the Hawk, Guts experiences his first true military campaign under Griffith’s command. The episode captures the grime of medieval warfare and the quiet, unsettling realization that Griffith’s charisma is as dangerous as his sword.
004 Hand of God Oct 29, 1997 canon ►
A glimpse into the supernatural. Griffith reveals the Crimson Behelit, the "Egg of the King." The raw, hand-drawn cels capture the eerie, off-putting nature of an artifact that will eventually doom them all. The atmospheric dread of the series begins to build.
005 A Wind of Swords Nov 5, 1997 canon ►
Three years pass. Guts is now the feared Raiders Captain of the Hawks. The tactical brilliance of Griffith and the overwhelming physical dominance of Guts turn the tide of the Hundred-Year War. A brilliant showcase of the camaraderie that makes the eventual tragedy so devastating.
006 Zodd the Immortal Nov 12, 1997 canon ►
The reality of the world shatters. Guts and Griffith encounter Nosferatu Zodd inside a dark keep. This is the moment the gritty historical fiction bleeds into absolute monster horror. The sheer scale and terror of Zodd, rendered in the original 90s grain, remains a high-water mark for the medium.
007 The Sword's Owner Nov 19, 1997 canon ►
Recovering from the massacre of Zodd, Guts and Griffith share a quiet philosophical moment. Griffith outlines his absolute, terrifying definition of a "true friend"—a philosophy that will eventually burn the world to the ground.
008 Conspiracy Nov 26, 1997 canon ►
The battlefield shifts to the political courts. As the Hawks gain favor in Midland, the aristocracy plots their demise. The series proves it is just as lethal in the quiet, shadowed halls of the nobility as it is in the mud of the trenches.
009 Assassination Dec 3, 1997 canon ►
Griffith tasks Guts with a wetwork operation to eliminate a political rival. A dark, haunting episode that forces Guts to confront the moral cost of Griffith’s dream. The tragic collateral damage of the assassination attempt leaves a permanent scar on the swordsman’s soul.
010 Nobleman Dec 10, 1997 canon ►
The political maneuvering reaches a climax. Griffith orchestrates a masterclass in ruthless survival, turning an assassination attempt against him into the complete eradication of his enemies. The mask of the "White Hawk" slips, revealing the cold ambition underneath.
011 The Battle Dec 17, 1997 canon ►
The Midland campaign against the Chuder Empire intensifies. Guts and Casca are separated from the main force, leading to a desperate survival scenario in the wilderness. The dynamic between the two warriors begins to shift from resentment to mutual reliance.
012 Together Dec 24, 1997 canon ►
Trapped and surrounded by Chuder forces, Casca’s fever breaks her defenses, forcing Guts to stand alone against a hundred men. A legendary, grueling display of endurance. The hand-drawn animation captures the sheer physical exhaustion of a man who refuses to die.
013 Prepared for Death Jan 7, 1998 canon ►
The aftermath of the hundred-man slaughter. The Hawks arrive to find a battlefield painted in blood and a Guts who has fully embraced his role as the vanguard of death. The bond between Guts and Casca deepens amidst the carnage.
014 Bonfire of Dreams Jan 14, 1998 canon ►
One of the most important episodes in anime history. Around the campfire, the Hawks share their simple dreams, while Guts realizes he is the only one without a purpose of his own. A quiet, masterful piece of character writing before the final campaigns.
015 The Decisive Battle Jan 21, 1998 canon ►
The siege of the impregnable Fortress of Doldrey begins. Griffith stakes the entire future of the Band of the Hawk on a brilliant, suicidal tactical maneuver. The scale of the 90s animation is pushed to its absolute limits.
016 The Conqueror Jan 28, 1998 canon ►
Doldrey falls. The Band of the Hawk achieves the impossible, ending the Hundred-Year War. Guts defeats the legendary General Boscogn in a duel that shakes the very earth. The peak of the Golden Age, scored by Susumu Hirasawa’s triumphant anthems.
017 Moment of Glory Feb 4, 1998 canon ►
The Hawks are elevated to the highest ranks of the Midland military. It is the absolute zenith of their success. But amidst the celebrations, Guts makes the quiet, devastating decision that he must leave Griffith to find his own dream.
018 Tombstone of Flames Feb 11, 1998 canon ►
The final political purge. Griffith eliminates the Queen and the remaining conspirators in a locked-room inferno. A chilling sequence that proves the White Hawk’s ambition has absolutely no moral boundaries.
019 Parting Feb 18, 1998 canon ►
The duel in the snow. Guts announces his departure, and a desperate Griffith attempts to take his life rather than let him go. The clash ends in a single strike. Griffith’s psychological collapse begins the moment Guts’ sword breaks his blade.
020 Sparks Feb 25, 1998 canon ►
The immediate fallout of the duel. A shattered Griffith commits a desperate, catastrophic act of treason with the Princess. The King's wrath is absolute. The Band of the Hawk is branded as traitors, and their golden era burns to ash overnight.
021 Confession Mar 4, 1998 canon ►
A year later, the remnants of the Hawks are hunted like animals. Guts returns from his wanderings to find his family broken. The reunion between Guts and Casca is raw, desperate, and beautiful, culminating in a historic moment of intimacy.
022 Infiltration Mar 11, 1998 canon ►
The rescue mission begins. Guts, Casca, and a small team infiltrate the deepest, darkest dungeons of the Tower of Rebirth. The atmospheric dread of the descent into the earth is perfectly captured by the original broadcast masters.
023 Eve of the Feast Mar 18, 1998 canon ►
Griffith is found. He is no longer the White Hawk; a year of unimaginable torture has left him a broken, mute, and mutilated shell. The despair of the rescue team is absolute. The eclipse begins to cast its shadow.
024 The Great Eclipse Mar 25, 1998 canon ►
The sun goes black. The Crimson Behelit activates, tearing open the fabric of reality and dragging the Band of the Hawk into the Abyss. The God Hand descends. A masterclass in pure, unadulterated cosmic horror that changed the medium forever.
025 Time of Eternity Apr 1, 1998 canon ►
The most traumatizing finale in television history. Griffith makes his choice. The Band of the Hawk is offered as a sacrifice to the demonic horde. The raw, violent despair of this episode is etched into the soul of every viewer who survived it. Read the manga.
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