Berserk’s manga is widely known around the world for being among the most fantastic dark fantasy stories of the century, but in one of authorKentaro Miura’s final interviews, he revealed his impression on the series that might have helped make it so unique. Miura spent years crafting the story of Guts, and during that time, he took inspiration from manga of the past to create something that revolutionized the genre.
The veryfirst chapter of theBerserkserieswas published in August 1989 in a Japanese magazine calledMonthly Animal House, which later changed toYoung Animal. A prototype ofBerserkwas released in 1988, an early sign that Kentaro Miura took his time creating his tale and its characters. But a translated interview on theBerserk Wikiduring theGreat Berserk Exhibitionin December 2020 revealed what type of manga he originally intended to make.
“I got a lot of influence from Japanese manga of the 80s, and I started Berserk in 1989 with the intention of a manga from that time period…after reading my manga, if you think that this kind of old style of manga is interesting to you, by all means, check out other manga from the 80s and 70s.”
While most ofBerserkwas released during the 1990s and 2000s, its dramatic flare and intense framing felt completely different from other series released during that time. This makes sense becauseMiura was not trying to make a modern story; he was trying to make one like the stories he loved from the 1970s and 1980s.
BerserkWouldn’t Exist Without The Inspiration Of Certain Mangas
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Compared to the shōnen genre, which includes series likeDragon Ball,Naruto, andOne Piece, seinen manga is considered to be for more mature audiences because of its increased levels of gore and storylines geared towards mature themes that don’t always have the happiest of endings.BerserkandVinland Sagaare some of the best seinen manga, but they exist thanks to the groundwork of older seriesBerserk’s author highly recommended to his fans.
As theGreat Berserk Exhibitionexhibition interview shared, Kentaro Miura brought up thatBerserkwas inspired by manga from the 1970s and 80s, so he hoped that fans who enjoyed his work would go on to check out series from that period. The author has stated that the mangaFist of the North Star, written by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara, was easily one of his biggest inspirations. Series likeViolence Jackby Go Nagai andGuin Sagaby Kaoru Kurimoto also helped inspire the atmosphere ofBerserk. Interviews also shed light on movies that helped Miura developBerserk.
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The First Chapter OfBerserkReleased July 28, 2025
Several interviews with the beloved author have shed insight into his thought process and perspective on the series that fans regard as a pinnacle of the medium.Miura’s quote reveals that he thought ofBerserkas a product of the times he grew up in, and the content released during his formative years played a significant role in manga’s creation, which went on to inspire an entirely new generation of storytellers. Other interviews shed light on the many iconic pieces of entertainment that helped makeBerserkwhat it was.
10 Jaw-Dropping Events Berserk Fans Haven’t Seen Adapted In An Anime Yet
The Berserk manga has set a high standard in the dark fantasy genre, & fans who have only watched the anime have yet to see some of its best moments.
The most recentBlu-Ray release ofBerserk’s 1990 animefeatured another interview with Miura that shared how much of an influence movies like Sam Raimi’sEvil Dead 2had on the creation of the series.Star Wars' first film was another huge inspiration for Miura, and the inspirations from both films can be felt at several critical moments inBerserk, especially with its sense of scale and grotesque monster designs. Still,Berserk’s author hoped to persuade fans to check out other manga series that are not nearly as popular as George Lucus’s lucrative space opera.
Despite the legendary talents' passing, theBerserkmanga has continued to release chapters sporadically, with the hopes that it will someday reach its conclusion with the help of his colleagues and friends who worked with Kentaro Miura at Studio Gaga. Like many great stories,Berserk’s production is the culmination of teamwork and the result of many influences that prove that audiences should not be afraid to try new things.
Source:Berserk Wikitranslations ofGreat Berserk Exhibitiondone by users Eas#8305 and Frostifusionz#8800
Berserk
Berserkis a dark fantasy manga series by Kentaro Miura, first published in 1989. Set in a medieval Europe-inspired world, it follows Guts, a lone mercenary, and his struggle against demonic forces after his betrayal by Griffith, leader of the Band of the Hawk. The franchise has expanded into multiple anime series, films, video games, and merchandise.
