The Berserk Saga is an animation project from STUDIO4℃ with plans to span the entire series, beginning in February 2012 with the first of three theatrical releases set in the Golden Age arc of the series. No further information is available about how future releases will be handled. This thread is where news will be gathered about the Berserk Saga Project so you can peruse the history of everything we know about it in one convenient thread.
In August 2009, the following pictures surfaced on the Internet:
One year later, we got word that a new anime project was being launched:
Smeghead said:http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-09-27/new-berserk-anime-project-launching.
The wraparound jacket band on the 35th volume of Kentarou Miura's Berserk fantasy manga is announcing this month that a new anime project is launching.
More information will be provided in Hakusensha's Young Animal magazine and the affiliated Young Animal Web site.
Aazealh said:Anyway, a series of four TV commercials have also been announced with Gackt as the salesman (well, he's doing the narration). The "Berserk Official Corner" is getting a revamp as well (should happen in about 9 hours), and it looks like they've opened an official Twitter account for the series. The TV commercials will be available on the website along with a special one made only for the web.
Aazealh said:... here's the Twitter account for those interested: http://twitter.com/berserk_project
Walter said:... early reports on the first commercial that aired today on NTV were that it is an animated project for television (so, not OVA and not 3D/CG), being produced by STUDIO4℃, who generally does OVA type productions, but have also done some TV (see their full works here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_4%C2%B0C). In the west theyre known for doing things like the Animatrix shorts, and Halo Legends. They also recently did an OVA for Detroit Metal City, another Young Animal series.
CM1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lihPs4BoDvoCM1 released September 28, 2010
Walter said:Just checked http://www.younganimal.com to find this:
Clicking it links to the official corner, where there's no new information. Just more fuel for the anime fire... If anything though, it just confirms that THIS IS the anime, folks!
CM2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4m9sDeor3oCM2 released September 30, 2010
CM3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWibBuWvZbACM3 released October 1, 2010
CM4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAqSkxKAKFMCM4 released October 2, 2010
CM5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7fn_SMH284CM5 released October 4, 2010
The flurry of news ceased in October, and didn't start back until January 2011.
"The theatrical release is targeted for mid 2011! ! This is the official announcement!"
Walter said:Some English tweets this time for the English fans.
Asahi Shimbun article regarding Berserk Saga published January 22, 2011:
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201101210303.html
An animated feature film based on the dark fantasy epic manga "Berserk" is destined to hit theaters this year, publisher Hakusensha Inc. said this month.
The much-anticipated feature film will be the first part of the "Berserk: Saga Project," in which all episodes of the original comic will be adapted as anime.
"Berserk," manga artist Kentarou Miura's best known work, has been running in Hakusensha's biweekly Young Animal comic magazine for more than 20 years.
The series, set in a war-torn medieval world, is hailed as a masterpiece of dark fantasy. The story follows Guts, a sword warrior who carries a huge blade as he sets out on a journey of revenge.
The original manga is now in its 35th volume, with a combined total of 30 million copies in print.
The manga has been recognized for its excellence, winning the outstanding award at the sixth installment of Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2002.
It also enjoys immense popularity outside Japan. The manga has been translated and published in 15 countries, especially in Germany, France and other parts of Europe.
"Berserk" was adapted into an animated TV series in 1997. But that series only covered 25 episodes, giving just a glimpse into the epic. In the more than 10 years since, the manga has grown to an even wider scale.
The Berserk Saga Project aims to include all the original episodes of the spectacular series.
See (http://www.younganimal.com/berserk/).
Berserk Saga featured in February 2011 issue of NewType magazine.
Aazealh said:Indeed, it doesn't say anything new. It's basically just promotional material.
Something more or less interesting: the producer says he chose to make Berserk because it's about young people and the main hero, Guts, doesn't surrender to his fate. While the era depicted is very harsh, he has the power to break through the common hardships of his time (implying a parallel with Japan nowadays?). Other than that, they say about how Japanese swords are different from Western ones so they put a lot of effort into depicting the swords faithfully, the armors are well detailed, etc.
Five months later, new material surfaces in July:
Dar Klink said:
January 2012! Studio 4c! That's what I can get outta this!
Edi said:Berserk Movie official website:
http://www.berserkfilm.com/
Start: 15 July
Edi said:
Aazealh said:Berserk_project is controlled by Young Animal and used for more than just giving news about the film. Clara_de_Porras is likely used by the "Berserk Film Partners" (those interest me more than Warner Bros, by the way) and appears to be some sort of roleplay account to tease the launch of the movie. By the way, there seems to be the title of the first movie at the bottom of the website: Berserk - Golden Age I - The Egg of the Supreme King, along with the mention of a "road show" (meaning a nationwide release apparently).
Berserk Saga featured in Young Animal published July 8, 2011
Gobolatula said:IMAGES AHOY!
IncantatioN was nice enough to take and share some shots from the anime news section of YA.
http://natalie.mu/comic/news/52893
Portrait of Clara de Porras and the last paragraph mentions the Golden Age arc will be animated into three films.
First full trailer released July 14, 2011 on Yahoo! Japan]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKkcY6Sfz5Iwww.berserkfilm.com officially launches on July 15, 2011 along with a 720p HD trailer
[flash=560,349]http://www.youtube.com/v/jKkcY6Sfz5I[/flash]
August 15, a new contest for fans began.
Aazealh said:More info from Clara de Porras about their little twitter game:
If you join the Band of the Falcon, after the August 15 you'll have access to a page called "My Page" on the official site. The contest will start on that precise day, even though "My Page" might not be available right away. People who join before August 14 will get 200 pts right away. Those who do after the 15th will only get 100 pts. Casca got her title as a leader of 1000 soldiers by fighting. But you can get it by collecting points. If you get a higher position, there are many offers to get (digital privileges, special images, invitations to events) in addition to the final goal of being credited in the movie.
August 24, the Project's Staff was announced, including the Voice Acting Cast:
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-08-24/2011-berserk-film-trilogy-main-cast-staff-listed
Guts: Hiroaki Iwanaga (Tomica Hero Rescue Force, Moyashimon, Kamen Rider OOO)
Griffith: Takahiro Sakurai (Toriko, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Boku-tachi wa Mada Shiranai.)
Casca: Toa Yukinari (Grey's Anatomy dubbing, Naruto Shippūden)
Staff:
Director: Toshiyuki Kubooka (Batman: Gotham Knight episode 5)
Screenplay: Ichiro Okouchi (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion)
Character Design/Chief Animation Director: Naoyuki Onda (Gantz)
Animation Director: Satoshi Iwataki (Toaru Majutsu no Index)
Art Director: Yusuke Takeda (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), Goki Nakamura (Cat Soup), others
Art Setting: Mitsuhiro Arita (Final Fantasy XI), others
World Setting Supervisor: Kenichi Iwao (Final Fantasy XI/XIV)
Western Swordsmanship Coach: Jay Noyes (Final Fantasy XII)
September 15, word leaks that Susumu Hirasawa will be providing theme music for the film:
Aazealh said:According to this website, Susumu Hirasawa would be doing the movie's theme song! If true that should make a few people happy.
September 22, two new CMs are released on the official project site:
DirectDK said:THEY ARE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Kiss"
This one is pretty cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF2GaxlyNvk
"Special"
THIS ONE ROCKS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POaFuuuwgV4
November 1, the second trailer is released
[flash=560,315]http://www.youtube.com/v/WF3OP3f2I10[/flash]
November 3, movie poster unveiled
March 8, Blu-Ray/DVD Date Announced
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-03-07/1st-berserk-film-bd/dvd-slated-for-may-23
The Japanese Blu-Ray and DVD release of the first Berserk movie will be on May 23.
October 9, New Saga Trailer Released
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ft-7KSPzHU