Berserk

Set in a dark fantasy version of medieval Europe, where demons still roam the land,Berserk tells the violent tale of three outcasts; Guts, a troubled warrior whose skill and on the battlefield is nearly unmatched. Griffith is the eerily beautiful, charismatic and brilliant leader of the Band of the Hawk;a mercenary army that is rising to power in the feudal kingdom of Midland. Finally there's Caska a female officer in the Band of the Hawk with quite a few demons of her own, who secretly longs for Griffith. As the Hawks grow in favor among the royal family, and Griffith's aspirations of power become tangible, the three souls fates become irreversibly binded and the stage is set for a tragic fall aided by political treachery, betrayal and Griffiths own horrific secret. Berserk is masterpiece of anime. The complex, multilayered plot is magnificent, surpassing many others in both anime and live action. Berserk also as some of the most complex, three dimensional and well written characters in anime. Griffith especially stands out, he is the greatest villian ive seen in this medium. While the animation is a bit outdated and there are some other minor techinal issues, I hardly noticed them because I was so involved in everything else. Peheps the biggest issue that cant be ignored is the sudden, brutal ending, which no matter how you prepare yourselves is going to leave you shellshocked. Beserk is a anime classic of increadiable pathos, power and depth and amoung the greatest animes ever made.
A must see, sepecially for fans of dark fantasy.

Grade: A+

Reviewed: episodes 1-26(complete) Format: English Dub, DVD