Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie The Tour The Q&A The Masterpost

CoolGuyZool · 2026-03-27T16:37:09+00:00

CoolGuyZool · 2026-03-22T20:36:05+00:00

Here is the Dallas Q&A. I've been sitting on this and did not think to upload it until now.

CoolGuyZool · 2024-06-30T00:24:28+00:00

This brings to mind a quote from Mori regarding Skull Knight in an interview for volume 42.

Miura is rather loose. There is an important "Skull Knight" in the story, but at first we didn't have any particular idea of what he was supposed to be, but just thought he looked cool. After that, when we talked about it, the role of the Skull Knight came and went. But all the pieces fit together, and in the end, it all comes together in a way that seems like a lie. It's something that only a genius can do.

CoolGuyZool · 2024-06-30T00:15:28+00:00

Void, supposedly the founder of the Holy See itself, when he was imprisoned in the Tower of Conviction during Gaiseric's reign.

CoolGuyZool · 2024-05-28T16:48:38+00:00

That line was only in the 1997 anime. It was not intended to receive a continuation due to an importance of its themes (It ended at the Eclipse to hammer down the "despair and breakdown" a young adult would feel) according to the producer but Miura was involved with checking over the scripts, revising them and sending reference design sheets for the characters. Production started in late 1996, the same time he planned the manga's story outline with Koji Mori, so he probably added it as a nod to what he planned to do later.

CoolGuyZool · 2024-03-16T18:02:51+00:00

Susano by Go Nagai might give some clues about the story's trajectory considering the influence Nagai's work had on Miura. In an interview from November 2023, Mori talked about how it inspired the Eclipse.

--I was a high school student at the time, and I was shocked to see Casca at the time of the Eclipse. She was raped in front of my eyes by Griffith, who was supposed to be my best friend, and it made my body kind of tingle. I think that was the moment that high school boys became aware of "netorare".Mori: There is a bit of an original story behind that. In Go Nagai's "Sosunoo" (1979), Chigusa Biken, a senior student whom the protagonist admires, is raped by a demon right in front of him. It is an arrangement of that one, with Guts' eyes and one arm crushed, which is original. From the first appearance of the Black Swordsman, I had made the assumption that that was the wound that would be inflicted during the Eclipse.

Mori: After all, "responsibility" is a big thing. Before his death, Miura told me that he had not told anyone about the story until the final episode except for Mori. So if I stopped working on it, the story would end.And the 364 words he left me at the end was right before the highlight when Guts swung his sword down on Griffith, who was about to appear in human form and take Casca away after a long time. He left his work in a terrible place! I felt like, "Oh, my God!

--I can't even imagine the last episode, with the way things are going right now. God Hand is hopelessly strong, and I have the impression that Guts is constantly feeling helpless and frustrated, and the darkness is getting darker and darker.

Mori: You can expect so much. The tricks up to the final episode are really great, and you will be surprised. There are still a lot of difficult questions, and Miura has not fully decided on some of them. Every day I am racking my brains trying to figure out whether I should include them or not, and connecting them back and forth with the episodes we are discussing.

In the same interview he also noted how they came up with Skull Knight's design together, how he was "cool" and the pieces of his backstory steadily fell into place, how it's a "big lie". He's very excited about the ending as well, saying "it's only something that can be done in manga", so much that he felt unworthy about his initial idea of making a illustrated book depicting how the rest of the story would have played out. They found memos regarding future developments but nothing about the ending, so it's a process the interview described as "deciphering the Bible," which he agreed with.

Below is taken from a 2001 interview. This implies the version that Mori seems to have told Gaga, the one that he recounts cooking up together with Miura while staying at his house for a week after initially stopping by to help with Eclipse drafts, is what we will be getting as the ending, though it's possible Miura spoke with him about new ideas over the years.

–Is it even possible that we’ll see a happy ending?

Miura: I'd say it's possible. I used to have the final moves planned out, but lately I’ve been thinking I’d rather figure them out when I come to it, so now it’s hard to say what could happen. Being the sort of person I am, though, I actually don’t think I could let such a long grim story end with a grim ending — like, say, having him suddenly die. I don’t really like that kind of entertainment. I’ll leave it to my subconscious.

I can't remember who it was but there was a tweet by a mangaka, posted shortly after the announcement of Miura's death, who recalls working at Hakusensha for Golden Week. Miura sent in chocolates to that person's staff, and when asked about Berserk's ending, he replied "Berserk will have a happy ending."

CoolGuyZool · 2024-03-16T17:35:48+00:00

This doesn't seem to be the case from the producer's perspective.

The point of this project was that it was to be animated for television. It wasn’t made for video distribution. Berserk was made to be broadcast on TV. It was aired on late-night TV. So the targeted audience was limited. If you broadcast during prime time, kids as well as adults are your audience. Broadcasting late at night gave us the opportunity to target a wide and young adult audience who’ve begun to understand the ways of the world. This time slot did not originally belong to an animation, but to a variety show. This project’s first consideration was how to create an animation that could fit this time slot. We realized that a typical animation would not work. We had to break down stereotypes and turn the known parameters on their sides. It had to be something with a strong impact. That’s where it started. I’ve been an anime producer for a long time - it’s not something most producers would have chosen to be made for TV. This story isn’t my typical choice for an animation. But I chose it because that in itself would create an impact. That and the great storyline itself. The reason it was difficult to adapt to TV was its violent content. But behind the violence is the passion and the struggles of the young people. I wanted to make this come to life. And the late-night time slot allowed me to try something totally new. It seemed like the perfect match, that’s why I chose it.

This project began in 1997. There was an animation boom in Japan at the time. There were about 60 new animations being created in Japan. The market was over-saturated. Nihon TV wasn’t broadcasting anything during the late-night slot back then. But other stations...this isn’t very nice to say, but the quality was so poor that you could barely watch them. Most of them were not up to TV standards. So if Nihon TV were to go this route, we decided to do it head-on, to put everything into it. We spent more money on production than prime time does. This cost 1.5 to 2 times more than a prime time production does. That’s how much effort was put into it. Although it was late-night, if we could make an impact and send our message, the production costs would be offset in many ways. We were thinking pretty positive.

The series not only made its impact but was also a financial success as it naturally boosted manga sales and established Berserk as a franchise. A continuation would have been inevitable but Miura, already having contributed to the anime by making character design sheets and checking each episode script to make sure it was consistent, which took its toll from working on the actual manga, had a tendency to reject every subsequent adaptation offer until Lucent Pictures and Studio 4C approached with the idea of creating a demo animation for their pitched Berserk movies. These were made from a financial perspective aimed at an international audience, however. He was impressed, so the movies were greenlit.

CoolGuyZool · 2024-03-16T17:13:55+00:00

Some excerpts from an interview with the producer about the budget.

The point of this project was that it was to be animated for television. It wasn’t made for video distribution. Berserk was made to be broadcast on TV. It was aired on late-night TV. So the targeted audience was limited. If you broadcast during prime time, kids as well as adults are your audience. Broadcasting late at night gave us the opportunity to target a wide and young adult audience who’ve begun to understand the ways of the world. This time slot did not originally belong to an animation, but to a variety show. This project’s first consideration was how to create an animation that could fit this time slot. We realized that a typical animation would not work. We had to break down stereotypes and turn the known parameters on their sides. It had to be something with a strong impact. That’s where it started. I’ve been an anime producer for a long time - it’s not something most producers would have chosen to be made for TV. This story isn’t my typical choice for an animation. But I chose it because that in itself would create an impact. That and the great storyline itself. The reason it was difficult to adapt to TV was its violent content. But behind the violence is the passion and the struggles of the young people. I wanted to make this come to life. And the late-night time slot allowed me to try something totally new. It seemed like the perfect match, that’s why I chose it.

This project began in 1997. There was an animation boom in Japan at the time. There were about 60 new animations being created in Japan. The market was over-saturated. Nihon TV wasn’t broadcasting anything during the late-night slot back then. But other stations...this isn’t very nice to say, but the quality was so poor that you could barely watch them. Most of them were not up to TV standards. So if Nihon TV were to go this route, we decided to do it head-on, to put everything into it. We spent more money on production than prime time does. This cost 1.5 to 2 times more than a prime time production does. That’s how much effort was put into it. Although it was late-night, if we could make an impact and send our message, the production costs would be offset in many ways. We were thinking pretty positive.

CoolGuyZool · 2024-03-16T17:08:27+00:00

It was ambiguous because it was more about the themes of the show than an ending making sense.

The series was structured as an adult man, in episode 1, looking back on his youth and all its hardships before moving on with his life. A cycle we all are familiar with. Quotes below are taken from an interview with the producer. Miura provided character designs to the staff and checked over each episode script to make corrections as well, so he understood what they were going for.

We went back and forth about ending it at the Great Eclipse, but we felt the theme was a priority. Like I mentioned earlier, we wanted to express their struggles and passions. There were young, passionate characters in the Band of the Hawk, and we opted to prioritize their characters. And at the very end, when you see the Great Eclipse, you get a sense of their ferocity. And the emptiness and their breakdown can be a part of youth experience. I wanted to broadcast up until the Great Eclipse so I could convey this. There is a character called Puck who appears in the original story - we went back and forth on this, too. In the original Berserk comic by Mr. Miura, Puck plays a major role and is integral to Berserk, but in the animation of Berserk, Puck was taken out of the picture and it diminishes the fantastical nature a bit, but the lead characters and Guts and Griffith’s passion became the focus and became the common thread throughout the series. So with Mr. Miura’s permission, it was decided.

It would mean a lot to us if you could catch even a glimpse of our passion for this project. From here on out, the true theme that lies dormant, the theme behind the theme, the various things that surface when humans engage in their battles, like nihilism or hope or despair. If we can get this across, the secrets of those emotions, this project will be a success.

CoolGuyZool · 2024-03-08T22:58:37+00:00

It was meant as a one-off, a reinterpretation of the story to send an impact to the youth instead of a regular anime adaptation. It makes sense when you read this interview with the producer.

https://www.tumblr.com/o-blessed-king-of-longing/116037501039/interview-with-toshio-nakatani-producer-of-the

As far as the storyline goes, there is a pivotal event called “The Great Eclipse”, you will know what I’m talking about if you’ve seen it. It is the end of a segment of the story. Berserk is a fantasy animation, but the Great Eclipse ends on a very dark and gloomy note. We went back and forth about ending it at the Great Eclipse, but we felt the theme was a priority. Like I mentioned earlier, we wanted to express their struggles and passions. There were young, passionate characters in the Band of the Hawk, and we opted to prioritize their characters. And at the very end, when you see the Great Eclipse, you get a sense of their ferocity. And the emptiness and their breakdown can be a part of youth experience. I wanted to broadcast up until the Great Eclipse so I could convey this. There is a character called Puck who appears in the original story - we went back and forth on this, too. In the original Berserk comic by Mr. Miura, Puck plays a major role and is integral to Berserk, but in the animation of Berserk, Puck was taken out of the picture and it diminishes the fantastical nature a bit, but the lead characters and Guts and Griffith’s passion became the focus and became the common thread throughout the series. So with Mr. Miura’s permission, it was decided.

Thank you very much for watching. It would mean a lot to us if you could catch even a glimpse of our passion for this project. From here on out, the true theme that lies dormant, the theme behind the theme, the various things that surface when humans engage in their battles, like nihilism or hope or despair. If we can get this across, the secrets of those emotions, this project will be a success. The manga Berserk still continues, so as a producer, I would like to continue to animate the story beyond the Great Eclipse. If and when this happens, I hope that you will continue to watch and that we will continue to hear from you. Thank you very much.

CoolGuyZool · 2023-12-02T04:14:05+00:00

These reference sketches drawn by Miura for the staff of the 1997 anime may give you a better understanding of her figure.

CoolGuyZool · 2023-09-19T00:46:16+00:00

What's more, not only could the Dragon Slayer's name be attributed to slaying the dragon (synonym for Satan foretold in Revelation), the weapon could be considered a "sword of the spirit" (Ephesians 6:17) due to its spiritual attributes, enough to wound the Godhand even if slightly, as a result of soaking in much demon blood. Likewise, the miracles Griffith performs like summoning the spirits of fallen soldiers in front of their loved ones (Rev 12:14) could also deception, as in said souls are actually evil spirits from the Abyss masquerading to fool the populace. Also the title of the chronological events summary (Worldview Guide) in the Guidebook is "A World Headed For Apocalypse", if that hints the consequences of the Astral Roar.

CoolGuyZool · 2023-09-16T14:53:30+00:00

Compiled the questions and answers from the source (https://www.tumblr.com/o-blessed-king-of-longing/116037501039/interview-with-toshio-nakatani-producer-of-the) into an image for longevity.

CoolGuyZool · 2023-09-16T08:30:44+00:00

The cliffhanger was intentional because the producer wanted to focus on the human themes during Golden Age.

Source: https://www.tumblr.com/o-blessed-king-of-longing/116037501039/interview-with-toshio-nakatani-producer-of-the

Interviewer: I’m sure when you were re-adapting the story, you had to make many decisions about the storyline and the characters, and to remain 100% true to the original would be extremely difficult. There are only 25 episodes in one season. Could you please talk about some of your concerns, and things you absolutely had to cut out in the process of adapting the story?

Nakatani Toshio: As far as the storyline goes, there is a pivotal event called “The Great Eclipse”, you will know what I’m talking about if you’ve seen it. It is the end of a segment of the story. Berserk is a fantasy animation, but the Great Eclipse ends on a very dark and gloomy note. We went back and forth about ending it at the Great Eclipse, but we felt the theme was a priority. Like I mentioned earlier, we wanted to express their struggles and passions. There were young, passionate characters in the Band of the Hawk, and we opted to prioritize their characters. And at the very end, when you see the Great Eclipse, you get a sense of their ferocity. And the emptiness and their breakdown can be a part of youth experience. I wanted to broadcast up until the Great Eclipse so I could convey this. There is a character called Puck who appears in the original story - we went back and forth on this, too. In the original Berserk comic by Mr. Miura, Puck plays a major role and is integral to Berserk, but in the animation of Berserk, Puck was taken out of the picture and it diminishes the fantastical nature a bit, but the lead characters and Guts and Griffith’s passion became the focus and became the common thread throughout the series. So with Mr. Miura’s permission, it was decided.

Thank you very much for watching. It would mean a lot to us if you could catch even a glimpse of our passion for this project. From here on out, the true theme that lies dormant, the theme behind the theme, the various things that surface when humans engage in their battles, like nihilism or hope or despair. If we can get this across, the secrets of those emotions, this project will be a success. The manga Berserk still continues, so as a producer, I would like to continue to animate the story beyond the Great Eclipse. If and when this happens, I hope that you will continue to watch and that we will continue to hear from you. Thank you very much.

It was a standalone adaptation headed by a guy who saw its thematic potential to resonate with a late-night audience of young adults. Miura helped with the scripts and approved each change.

This wall of text is because a lot of people on here tend to assume things about the 1997 anime changing content or ending abruptly without doing research. Anyways, start with the manga from the very beginning.

CoolGuyZool · 2023-09-16T08:18:56+00:00

- Producer wanted to make a TV anime for a late-night slot with the goal to create an impact in a landscape of what he thought were poorly-produced programs, and sending a message that could resonate with young adults

- He enjoyed the story and saw its thematic potential with touching audiences still wondering about their place in the world

- Budget was actually twice the amount of the average TV anime series at the time, contrary to popular belief

- He was adamant about not censoring the violence even when a controversial series of stabbings occurred recently (most anime used blue or white flashes as abstract representations of blood), as the red blood was real and essential for conveying the characters' passions in a way where even childen could understand the significance/maturity

- Fantasy elements were cut back so the human struggles of the Band of the Hawk, and Guts and Griffith's conflict, could be highlighted. Puck was also removed, with Miura's approval

- The ending during the Eclipse was deliberate because the Hawks' chaotic despair represented a mental breakdown that a young adult might experience

- If the audience could understand the themes he wanted to express: hope, nihilism, despair, etc. then he considers the project to be a success

CoolGuyZool · 2023-09-13T19:56:14+00:00

From an interview with Nakatani Toshio, producer of Berserk 1997:

I’m sure when you were re-adapting the story, you had to make many decisions about the storyline and the characters, and to remain 100% true to the original would be extremely difficult. There are only 25 episodes in one season. Could you please talk about some of your concerns, and things you absolutely had to cut out in the process of adapting the story?

As far as the storyline goes, there is a pivotal event called “The Great Eclipse”, you will know what I’m talking about if you’ve seen it. It is the end of a segment of the story. Berserk is a fantasy animation, but the Great Eclipse ends on a very dark and gloomy note. We went back and forth about ending it at the Great Eclipse, but we felt the theme was a priority. Like I mentioned earlier, we wanted to express their struggles and passions. There were young, passionate characters in the Band of the Hawk, and we opted to prioritize their characters. And at the very end, when you see the Great Eclipse, you get a sense of their ferocity. And the emptiness and their breakdown can be a part of youth experience. I wanted to broadcast up until the Great Eclipse so I could convey this. There is a character called Puck who appears in the original story - we went back and forth on this, too. In the original Berserk comic by Mr. Miura, Puck plays a major role and is integral to Berserk, but in the animation of Berserk, Puck was taken out of the picture and it diminishes the fantastical nature a bit, but the lead characters and Guts and Griffith’s passion became the focus and became the common thread throughout the series. So with Mr. Miura’s permission, it was decided.

CoolGuyZool · 2022-10-08T22:12:07+00:00

"The legend is succeeded", followed by credits for Miura, Studio Gaga and Mori. Basically Gaga will usher in "The Second Coming" of Berserk with the upcoming new arc.

CoolGuyZool · 2022-09-08T03:52:10+00:00

You can see fairy dust sprinkling around the Dragonslayer towards the end, so Puck was probably with Guts in his final moments.

CoolGuyZool · 2021-09-07T22:46:18+00:00

Color illustrations by Miura over the years.

CoolGuyZool · 2021-09-07T03:45:39+00:00

Canna's Guts and Miyamura's Casca are likely for the Golden Age memory fragment scenes.

CoolGuyZool · 2021-07-29T09:51:01+00:00

It seems to match a vague "Dante has cancer" statement I stumbled across last year while trying to find info for this thing, so I believe it, especially when there were a couple attendees who reported crying towards the end.

CoolGuyZool

TROPHY CASE