Review of Berserk: Volume 2

Introduction

These days I mark the inexorable passage of time with the relentless trickle of anime releases. With most series released at a rate of one volume every two months, it amounts to an elaborate Japanese water torture. The logical thing to do would be to watch one episode every two weeks, allowing for an uninterrupted regularity in a series. But who has the willpower, patience, and flawless memory to make that work? This is all a roundabout way of telling you that the second volume of Berserk is here for review.

The European mediaeval period has been the setting for countless films and shows, but I have trouble recalling whether I have seen it done in anime before. If uniqueness is a selling point then Berserk gets off to a good start in that respect. Set in the fictional nation of Midland, it follows the story of a young mercenary named Guts, who wields an unfeasibly large sword, one that would have Cloud Strife of Final Fantasy green with envy. After proving his prowess on the battlefield, he is recruited by a powerful mercenary lord named Griffith into his Band Of The Hawk, in the ongoing war between Midland and the neighbouring Chuder Empire.

The previous volume offered a tantalising glimpse at the conclusion of an epic feud, between the mysterious Black Swordsman, and the hated king of Midland, before flashing back to earlier days when a capable young mercenary joined the Band Of The Hawk, a group that became indispensable to the then king. By far the most capable and successful of Midland`s warriors, they began their relentless rise in the royal court, leading to many whispers among the nobles, threatened by the rise of a commoner like Griffith. As we concluded that volume, the Band Of The Hawk was assigned to break a seemingly impervious siege. The story continues in this second disc from MVM with four episodes.

6. Zodd The Immortal
We pick up at the end of the battle, with the castle overrun and the Band Of The Hawk triumphant. Triumphant against all but the commander that is, who is holed up in the keep, slaughtering all those who try to capture him. With many of Guts` company falling to him, it`s down to Guts to try and subdue him alone. But the rumours are that the commander is Nosferatu Zodd, a 100-year-old immortal warrior who has never been defeated, and cannot be killed. Guts finds a warrior who is even stronger than him, and against who he is totally outclassed. Hearing that Guts has gone to face Zodd alone, Griffith takes a group in to rescue him, but what they find is more supernatural demon than human. Seeing the Behelit around Griffith`s neck, Zodd has a dire warning for Guts.

7. The Sword`s Owner
As the Band Of The Hawk return to the capital to rest and recover, their tale of a supernatural being is hard to stomach among the nobles, yet their victorious track record is hard to speak against, especially with Griffith in the king`s favour. The recovering Griffith is being isolated from his men, with sycophants and royal courtiers constantly at his bedside. It`s a rare moment when he can get some fresh air. The daughter of the king, Princess Charlotte catches his eye, but once again his common origins raise a few eyebrows in the royal court. It isn`t long before the Band Of The Hawk is assigned another impossible mission.

8. Conspiracy
There is a river that separates Midland from Chuder, and the sole bridge crossing it has been transformed into a formidable fortress manned by Chuder`s elite warriors. It`s down to the Band Of The Hawk to take this castle and by doing so make the first major inroads into Chuder territory. It`s another impossible mission, but if Griffith can pull it off, the king`s gratitude will be unprecedented, and certain to ruffle a few feathers at court.

9. Assassination
The king has a hunt planned, and going against all tradition, he chooses the Band Of The Hawk to escort him, rather than his own guards. It`s the straw that breaks the camel`s back, and soon certain figures are plotting Griffith`s downfall. As Griffith takes the opportunity to get better acquainted with Princess Charlotte, an assassin stalks him with a poison arrow.

Video

Berserk gets a 4:3 transfer that takes us back in time to when CGI was an expensive tool for only the biggest budget productions, and when people still animated with paints, pen and ink on little pieces of acetate. Even when compared with its contemporaries like Trigun, Berserk seems to fade into the background, with a dull and understated feel, an uninspiring palette of colours, and animation that only ever does enough, and nothing more. Having said that, there is a consistency and level of detail that never makes you feel as if you are watching something cheap and rushed.

The transfer itself is pretty creaky. There is a slight degree of print damage and grain, but never enough to really stand out. More obvious are videotape artefacts and an overall softness that simply can`t match up to contemporary efforts.

Audio

You have a simple choice between DD 2.0 English and Japanese, with optional translated English subtitles. I opted for the Japanese as always, and found the audio to be suitable. There isn`t a great degree of separation, but the dialogue is clear. I wasn`t too impressed with the theme tunes, but the incidental music is excellent, suiting the action and the quieter moments well. It`s no surprise when you see Susumu Hirasawa`s name in the credits, the composer who would later go on to collaborate with Satoshi Kon on his films, as well as the Paranoia Agent series.

I had forgotten what older dubs sounded like. I always opt for the original language track, and while I can nitpick modern dubs, they are a world away from what dubs used to be like ten or so years ago. Berserk`s dub sounds as if it overlays the action, instead of being part of it. It`s of the type where voices are chosen for the look of the character. And none of it is really all that good.

Features

The extra features offer little more than the average anime disc; beginning of course with the obligatory animated menus and jacket picture. You`ll also find 35 line-images in a Production Sketches gallery, 10 images in an Art Gallery, 7 minutes of English voice actor screw-ups in Outtakes, and the Berserk trailer.

Conclusion

The novelty that came with the first volume has worn off, the sheer impact that the story made with its first few episodes obviously won`t be repeated, and the archaic feel of the animation stands out even more boldly than before. With Volume 2, Berserk settles down to tell its story, laying the foundations of Guts` relationship with Griffith, which will eventually lead to the confrontation of the first episode. It`s just that when all is said and done, Berserk has a damn fine story, one that ensures that I`m glued to the screen despite whatever drawbacks there are to the animation.

The friendship that has developed between Guts and Griffith is tested early on in this volume. Guts has never been comfortable with the interest Griffith has shown in him, certainly more than he shows in the rest of his followers, and once again Griffith risks his own life when Guts faces Zodd. It`s their first encounter with the supernatural, with Zodd more demon than man, and both are severely outclassed. What saves them is the Behelit that hangs around Griffith`s neck, and it also provokes Zodd into warning Guts of Griffith`s eventual treachery.

This early rift is exacerbated while they are healing from the battle, as courtiers isolate Griffith and his loyal followers are denied access. Caska`s loyalty is tested though, first when she blames Guts for Griffith`s foolhardy actions, and then when Griffith shows interest in Princess Charlotte. For a commoner to be knighted is one thing, but then raised to a Count, virtually becoming the King`s right hand man, and worse, daring to associate with the Princess as an equal, is all too much for some men, and the plotting and machinations in the royal court come to a head with an attempt on Griffith`s life. This has implications for Guts by the end of the volume, as he is asked by his friend to cross the line and become as sneaky and underhand as the rest of the royal court, rather than facing a foe in open battle. Griffith knows he is asking him to go against his personal code, but by asking instead of ordering, Guts becomes morally complicit if he agrees.

Everything technical about Berserk points to the sort of lacklustre animation that would normally have me reaching for the eject button. But the dynamics in Guts and Griffith`s friendship, as well as the rest of the Band Of The Hawk, the continuing conflict between Chuder and Midland as well as the Machiavellian manoeuvres in the royal court make for a compelling, multi-layered story. This second volume lives up to the promise of the first, and as such this disc is just as easy to recommend.