10 Best Anime Inspired by Berserk

Kentaro Miura’s Berserk is one of the most popular and important manga series in history. Throughout the dark fantasy genre, across the most popular battle shōnen stories, and into various other mediums of entertainment, Berserk‘s influence can be felt in the personalities of characters, story lines, visual aesthetics, and so many other aspects of the biggest fantasy titles.

When it comes to popular anime, most will have taken something from Berserk, even if fans can’t pinpoint what exactly it is. Regardless of their genre or subject matter, the creators behind these 10 shows have admitted that Kentaro Miura’s masterpiece series influenced their work in some way, or included direct homages to Guts and his ongoing journey.

Goblin Slayer

Animated by White Fox and Liden Films, Based on the Light Novel by Kumo Kagyu

Goblin Slayer might be a bit divisive among fans of Berserk, largely because of how it includes sensitive subject matter that might not be handled with as much grace as it is in Kentaro Miura’s epic manga. Nevertheless, its dark fantasy elements and characters take clear cues from Berserk.

The titular Goblin Slayer’s unbreakable will to kill all goblins in sight, along with his singular glowing red eye when in battle are both reminiscent of Guts during his Black Swordsman period, or when he flies into a rage while fighting. Though the creators of the series never confirmed its influence, traces of Berserk aren’t hard to find in Goblin Slayer.

Nier: Automata Ver1.1a

Animated by A-1 Pictures, Based on the Video Game by PlatinumGames and Yoko Taro

2017’s Nier: Automata is one of the most popular games of the last decade, and in 2023, it was adapted into an anime series that followed the characters in a sort of alternate timeline. Yoko Taro, the famed creator of the Nier and Drakengard series of games, used Berserk as inspiration early on in his work.

Taro revealed that the main character of Drakengard, Caim, was directly inspired by Guts, with both powerful characters driven by little else than their own desire for vengeance. Later on, in Nier: Automata, Taro cited Neon Genesis Evangelion as a main inspiration, but the foundation of his series leaned heavily on Berserk‘s influence.

Blue Exorcist

Animated by A-1 Pictures and Studio VOLN, Based on the Manga by Kazue Kato

Blue Exorcist is one of the more underappreciated dark fantasy series to have come from the Shōnen Jump family of magazines, and its anime adaptation has been ongoing since 2011. Series creator Kazue Kato has cited Berserk as an influence on her work, and it isn’t difficult to find similarities.

The series is set in a world which includes two dimensions, one inhabited by humans, and the other by demons. A select few people are able to perceive the presence of demonic creatures, and are tasked with exorcising them. The premise is similar to Berserk‘s interstice concept. Kato has drawn members of the Band of the Hawk in her own art style.

Tokyo Ghoul

Animated by Pierrot, Based on the Manga by Sui Ishida

Tokyo Ghoul, despite becoming somewhat controversial in the direction of the series after its first season, was one of the defining anime titles of the 2010s, and the original manga by Sui Ishida remains one of the most popular ever. As a supernatural dark fantasy, there’s a lot to Tokyo Ghoul that fans of Berserk would enjoy.

Though Sui Ishida has never directly mentioned Berserk as an influence, the manga version of Tokyo Ghoul includes panels that take clear direction from certain moments in Kentaro Miura’s work. To commemorate Berserk‘s return after the Miura’s passing, Sui Ishida posted his own illustration of Guts.

My Hero Academia

Animated by Bones, Based on the Manga by Kohei Horikoshi

My Hero Academia is one of the most popular battle shōnen series of the last decade, topping bestseller lists in the United States while receiving endless praise for its masterful use of tried and true shōnen tropes. Which is why it might surprise fans that the series and its creator, Kohei Horikoshi, were heavily inspired by Berserk.

Throughout the series, especially in the original manga, several panels are direct references to Berserk, while the cover of My Hero Academia‘s 37th volume takes heavy inspiration from the cover of Berserk‘s 13th volume. Horikoshi has even shouted out the series in his author’s notes.

Black Clover

Animated by Pierrot, Based on the Manga by Yuki Tabata

Black Clover has been Shōnen Jump‘s landmark epic fantasy series since its debut in 2015, and after the anime’s lengthy hiatus dating back to 2020, it was recently announced that the series would return for a new season. Black Clover‘s brand of fantasy isn’t nearly as dark as what’s found in Berserk, and that was intentional by its creator.

Yuki Tabata has not only cited the series as an influence, but once revealed that he wanted to create a story like Berserk that was suitable for a shōnen audience. There are similarities between the worlds and characters, with Asta’s entire personal battle against his own destiny containing shades of Guts and his ongoing struggle.

Vinland Saga

Animated by Wit Studio and MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Makoto Yukimura

Vinland Saga, the only member of what fans have coined seinen’s ‘Big Three’ to have come to a true finale, was heavily inspired by Berserk in its earliest sections, before pivoting to explore a protagonist who lets go of his rage and desire for revenge.

Beyond the similarities between their medieval settings and often over-the-top violence, both Vinland Saga and Berserk explore similar subjects like grief, revenge, moving forward, and personal growth. Series creator Makoto Yukimura cited Berserk as an influence on his social media accounts.

Dandadan

Animated by Science Saru, Based on the Manga by Yukinobu Tatsu

Though the wild and wacky world of Dandadan is quite different to the dark and gritty world of Berserk, series creator Yukinobu Tatsu has cited the dark fantasy masterpiece as a major influence on his work, and listed it as one of his favorite manga series ever.

Though both series have come under fire for their depictions of certain sensitive topics, Tatsu focused on the world-building and setting of Berserk as something that truly stuck with him. Both Berserk and Dandadan feature some of the highest quality artwork in manga, and the success of the latter’s anime adaptation has continued throughout its recently aired second season.

Chainsaw Man

Animated by MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto

Chainsaw Man, like Berserk, is dark, gritty, violent, and wildly entertaining, and though it might surprise fans of either series, both Denji and Guts have quite a bit in common. Both are on a journey discovering and clinging onto what makes them human, while attempting to move on from childhood trauma and battling a world that wants nothing more than to see them dead.

Series creator Tatsuki Fujimoto revealed that one scene in the upcoming Reze Arc movie was directly inspired by Berserk‘s members of the God Hand. Chainsaw Man likely has more in common with Berserk than it does any of its other shōnen contemporaries, and fans of either series are likely to enjoy the other immensely.

Attack on Titan

Animated by Wit Studio and MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Hajime Isayama

Not many anime and manga series have ruled the industry and fandom quite like Attack on Titan did during the 2010s and early 2020s. The post-apocalyptic dark fantasy series has remained incredibly popular since its debut, and it shares quite a bit in common with Berserk.

Attack on Titan‘s violent and grim world is reminiscent of the hopelessness found throughout much of Berserk‘s setting. Series creator Hajime Isayama admitted that Mikasa Ackerman was heavily inspired by Berserk‘s Casca, particularly in her strong demeanor and combat skills.