Does Mori even know the ending Miura had settled on?

[triplelife]

The continuation's main driving emotion is fear. Mori and Studio Gaga are scared of getting things wrong, so they don't even try to flesh things out in a way that would create any kind of depth or gravity. But being scared to apply their own creativity to the story to fill in the inevitable gaps means what they're delivering is boring and nonsensical. I think I'd have an easier time accepting it if I felt like they were putting their full effort into telling the best story that they can instead of avoiding responsibility for whatever might go wrong in the attempt.

I do believe that they got into it with the sincere intention of honoring Miura and giving the fans the story that they wanted, but the weight was too much and they, Mori especially, crumbled. They would all be better off just walking away from the project at this point.

 

[Ithier]

- A nice conclusion to Farnese. I feel like she deserved to end up with Guts more than Casca, but since this will never happen, I hope she doesn't just die in the war

Hard disagree (I’ve never really understood how her worthiness has anything at all to do with how Guts himself feels about both women), but I am anxious that they don’t actually have specific, known fates for party members and that they’ll essentially just be drawing straws by the end of it just like with Elfhelm. Part of the reason why I think this project was a doomed effort from the start, but we can’t be sure of that until they fess up about it at the end when they release the notes (which they might never do).

 

[Aazealh]

It's clear at this point that the dialogues will be as poor as possible because they don't wanna risk doing anything Miura wouldn't

The dialogue is bad because whoever's writing it lacks talent. It's not as if they're holding back some great potential.

Mori and Studio Gaga are scared of getting things wrong, so they don't even try to flesh things out in a way that would create any kind of depth or gravity. But being scared to apply their own creativity to the story to fill in the inevitable gaps means what they're delivering is boring and nonsensical. I think I'd have an easier time accepting it if I felt like they were putting their full effort into telling the best story that they can instead of avoiding responsibility for whatever might go wrong in the attempt.

Same thing as above. This extremely abbreviated, bastardized version of the story is something they crafted for their own convenience... and they still completely botched it. I don't see any reason to believe they would succeed at a longer and much more complex endeavor. It's like when people were saying that more dialogue would make things better. It did not.

This whole idea that they're somehow holding themselves back is a big misconception to me. After the dozen episodes they've released so far and the various interviews Mori has given, my understanding is that while Mori's the one who decided on the overarching path this would take, the episodes themselves are pretty much left up to Kurosaki. And within that space, I have no doubt he and the others are giving it everything they've got.

So, would more episodes make it better? I really don't think so. Would adding more of their own ideas to the mix make things better? I mean, you've seen what they've done to the story and characters already. It would make things even worse, 100% guaranteed. Personally I just hope they keep things as brief as they can going forward, because the more they expound on scenes, the more incoherencies we'll see.

 

[Gambler]

The dialogue is bad because whoever's writing it lacks talent. It's not as if they're holding back some great potential.



Same thing as above. This extremely abbreviated, bastardized version of the story is something they crafted for their own convenience... and they still completely botched it. I don't see any reason to believe they would succeed at a longer and much more complex endeavor. It's like when people were saying that more dialogue would make things better. It did not.

This whole idea that they're somehow holding themselves back is a big misconception to me. After the dozen episodes they've released so far and the various interviews Mori has given, my understanding is that while Mori's the one who decided on the overarching path this would take, the episodes themselves are pretty much left up to Kurosaki. And within that space, I have no doubt he and the others are giving it everything they've got.

So, would more episodes make it better? I really don't think so. Would adding more of their own ideas to the mix make things better? I mean, you've seen what they've done to the story and characters already. It would make things even worse, 100% guaranteed. Personally I just hope they keep things as brief as they can going forward, because the more they expound on scenes, the more incoherencies we'll see.

Yeah, you've got a point, for me it seems like the Continuation is a mix of both things - lack of talent in storytelling and fear of making complex dialogues that would not sound Miura-like (anyone compared to Miura lacks talent anyway)

Anyway, what I've said about "more chapters", was about the slow pacing of chapter releases, i want it to end as soon as possible so we can speculate what is Miura's and what isn't. Gonna edit the post

 

[Vitris]

Anyway, what I've said about "more chapters", was about the slow pacing of chapter releases

The fact that they slowed down the releases still seems strange to me. Like, they planned the first six (then seven) episodes to reach Elfhelm's climax and have a consistent monthly schedule, and now episodes come out whenever. Volume 43 was advertised to be out this year, and yet there are only 3 episodes and nothing is coming out in the first half of August. Are they going to release more YA issues with two episodes to meet the expectations last moment? Has this ever happened with Berserk or another series?

 

[Aazealh]

The fact that they slowed down the releases still seems strange to me. Like, they planned the first six (then seven) episodes to reach Elfhelm's climax and have a consistent monthly schedule, and now episodes come out whenever.

They had been working on the Continuation before it was officially announced, so the fact these episodes came out a month apart doesn't necessarily mean much. It also seems like they're spending more time working on the storyboard and the art nowadays, which is a big factor.

That aside, Kurosaki said on June 26 that the next manuscript had already been submitted. Previously, he'd said on February 21 that the manuscript for episode 376 was done (it was released on April 26). This implies that Hakusensha holds them for a while before publishing them. Maybe they're trying to build a stockpile so that eventually the releases can be evenly spaced, maybe there's another reason.

 

[Gambler]

The fact that they slowed down the releases still seems strange to me. Like, they planned the first six (then seven) episodes to reach Elfhelm's climax and have a consistent monthly schedule, and now episodes come out whenever. Volume 43 was advertised to be out this year, and yet there are only 3 episodes and nothing is coming out in the first half of August. Are they going to release more YA issues with two episodes to meet the expectations last moment? Has this ever happened with Berserk or another series?

The way I see is: the art improved (taking more time to do) and maybe they are even more scared now that the ending is near, slowing it even more

Also, Hakusensha is delaying the releases (maybe they get more money this way). If they really want to end this in less than 10 years with 2 chapters per year, just imagine how rushed these chapters will be

 

[Vitris]

That aside, Kurosaki said on June 26 that the next manuscript had already been submitted.

Yeah, I've seen that tweet.

Maybe they're trying to build a stockpile so that eventually the releases can be evenly spaced

If they want the releases to be evenly spaced, then I don't understand why the hiatuses have been longer each time, especially after volume 43's announcement. I mean, maybe they can still technically reach the right amount of episodes, or maybe they already did, but the timing is pretty odd. Though, we are still outsiders looking in, so who knows?

 

[Aazealh]

If they want the releases to be evenly spaced, then I don't understand why the hiatuses have been longer each time

See the first part of my sentence: "maybe they're trying to build a stockpile". Assuming that is the case, which is not at all guaranteed, then once they have a bunch of episodes ready they would announce a bimonthly schedule or something like that. It would provide a buffer to smooth over any small delays.

But really, this is just a guess as to why Kurosaki keeps saying it's done months before the publication.

especially after volume 43's announcement. I mean, maybe they can still technically reach the right amount of episodes

Given that they went over their original estimate for the Elf Island chapter, I won't be shocked if they miss their projected date for volume 43.

 

[Elk Mooser]

Maybe they're trying to build a stockpile so that eventually the releases can be evenly spaced, maybe there's another reason.

Maybe it's going to end soon and they want to draw it out as much as possible. I mean obviously there SHOULD be a lot more story, but if they know as little about Miura's plans as it seems and they don't want to create entire story arcs from scratch, the final confrontation with Griffith could be starting right now.

If they really want to end this in less than 10 years with 2 chapters per year, just imagine how rushed these chapters will be

I think they're already rushing like crazy compared to what Miura would've done. Elfhelm was almost a literal "rocks fall, everyone dies". (Island sinks, everyone disappears )

 

[Gambler]

Maybe it's going to end soon and they want to draw it out as much as possible. I mean obviously there SHOULD be a lot more story, but if they know as little about Miura's plans as it seems and they don't want to create entire story arcs from scratch, the final confrontation with Griffith could be starting right now.


I think they're already rushing like crazy compared to what Miura would've done. Elfhelm was almost a literal "rocks fall, everyone dies". (Island sinks, everyone disappears )

Yeah, Elfhelm fell, the ship teleported to east, the crew magically joined with Rickert and the Bakirakas and we are already on the way to the final confrontation

It's a bit scaring that the pacing is that fast (lots of things just happening and almost no dialogues, like a silent film). But at least, it will end faster and hopefully we can see the end in our lifetime

 

[Aazealh]

Maybe it's going to end soon and they want to draw it out as much as possible.

Hakusensha has nothing to gain by not publishing episodes of the series. In order to "draw it out" in a way that generates money there should be more material published, not less. I don't think there's merit to this line of reasoning.

the final confrontation with Griffith could be starting right now.

Hold your horses, there's probably going to be at least two or three more volumes before the Continuation ends.

I think they're already rushing like crazy compared to what Miura would've done.

Well sure, but it's hardly even comparable. It's pretty clear to me that they know very little about what Miura planned to do with the story, which is why they diverged so fast (and so much) from what he had set up. That's what matters most as far as I'm concerned: not the pace but the story that is being told.

It's a bit scaring that the pacing is that fast (lots of things just happening and almost no dialogues, like a silent film).

There is plenty of (bad) dialogue in the last few episodes they've done.

 

[Grim]

The dialogue is bad because whoever's writing it lacks talent. It's not as if they're holding back some great potential.

I think the point they're making is that the new writers refrain from adding too much artistic freedom, which would make the continuation more theirs and Moris instead of Miuras. And obviously this is their new vision, but the more they add from their own minds the less Berserk it becomes.

 

[Aazealh]

I think the point they're making is that the new writers refrain from adding too much artistic freedom, which would make the continuation more theirs and Moris instead of Miuras. And obviously this is their new vision, but the more they add from their own minds the less Berserk it becomes.

Hi Grim! Yes, I know what point Gambler was making, but I don't think it's a very good one. :) That's what I'm saying in the reply you quoted: that making it "more theirs" wouldn't be an improvement and isn't the issue to begin with. See what I said in the rest of that post!

 

[Grim]

Hi Grim! Yes, I know what point Gambler was making, but I don't think it's a very good one. :) That's what I'm saying in the reply you quoted: that making it "more theirs" wouldn't be an improvement and isn't the issue to begin with. See what I said in the rest of that post!

"Would adding more of their own ideas to the mix make things better? I mean, you've seen what they've done to the story and characters already."

I see your point and I agree, but this could be due to Mori following the story as he envisioned Miura would have done it and not letting others on the team develop individual dialogues or plot-points. I'm not saying that it would improve, although at this point if Berserk is written into the dirt solely by one person (Mori, since we don't know the extent of who gets continue the story? I'm assuming the story is not a team effort) then giving the reins to someone on the team who might have a better understanding of how the story should unfold could be an idea. Alas, each argument here is only theoretical - I don't even know if such a person exists.

 

[Scott Rugeles]

"Would adding more of their own ideas to the mix make things better? I mean, you've seen what they've done to the story and characters already."

I see your point and I agree, but this could be due to Mori following the story as he envisioned Miura would have done it and not letting others on the team develop individual dialogues or plot-points. I'm not saying that it would improve, although at this point if Berserk is written into the dirt solely by one person (Mori, since we don't know the extent of who gets continue the story? I'm assuming the story is not a team effort) then giving the reins to someone on the team who might have a better understanding of how the story should unfold could be an idea. Alas, each argument here is only theoretical - I don't even know if such a person exists.

My understanding after reading the Mori interviews, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, is that Mori is at the helm mostly to add credibility to the continuation, but it's Studio Gaga that actually develops the story etc.

 

[Aazealh]

I see your point and I agree, but this could be due to Mori following the story as he envisioned Miura would have done it and not letting others on the team develop individual dialogues or plot-points. I'm not saying that it would improve, although at this point if Berserk is written into the dirt solely by one person (Mori, since we don't know the extent of who gets continue the story? I'm assuming the story is not a team effort) then giving the reins to someone on the team who might have a better understanding of how the story should unfold could be an idea. Alas, each argument here is only theoretical - I don't even know if such a person exists.

Well, as I also pointed out in that post, Mori's role is seemingly not as prominent as he made it out originally. See these interviews he did some months ago. It appears to me that a lot of the actual work rests squarely on Kurosaki's shoulders, and besides, he and Mori have commented a number of times on their close collaboration. Bottom line: no matter who's doing what, they've collectively failed at their given task despite the fact they're doing it the way they chose to. As far as I'm concerned, there is simply no ground to think they're somehow being prevented from showing what they can really do.

Now of course, as you say we can always theorize that someone somewhere could maybe craft a better story using their own ideas. But that's not what this group of people set out to do with the Continuation, and to reiterate my previous answer, I just don't believe they'd have the talent for it anyway.

 

[monstersandbrush]

Hi! I was rather bewildered when I found myself holding the continuation of the story, given the low quality of the drawings and the non-existent storyline. I probably had the wrong idea in my head, thinking that with such a great legacy in their hands, they could at least copy Miura's work line by line. It wouldn't have been the same, of course, but there were certainly enough references to try. What I encountered was truly amateurish work. Surely, there are people in the Japanese art market capable of completing the project with the dignity and stylistic quality it deserves. We can't know what's going on in Mori and the studio's minds, and they're probably doing their best under enormous pressure from the entire world. What ultimately surprises me is the low quality of the studio that collaborated with Miura. What were they doing when he was alive? Just filling in the black in the empty spaces?

 

[Aazealh]

What ultimately surprises me is the low quality of the studio that collaborated with Miura. What were they doing when he was alive? Just filling in the black in the empty spaces?

Kurosaki, the "chief assistant", commented on Twitter that Miura did "99.2% of the work" on Berserk. Miura himself mentioned over the years that he didn't let his assistants do much beyond menial tasks and low-stakes background details. This is partly why he started Dur-An-Ki, as a way to help them step up their game, as he realized he would have to rely on them more going forward since he was getting older.

And to be clear, "Studio Gaga" is not some independent company Miura was working with. It was his own company he created, likely for legal/contractual reasons, aroung the time the 1997 TV series came out. "Gaga" means "my drawing" in Japanese.