Berserk – Season 1 (2016)
The Black Swordsman’s Curse
Berserk Season 1 marks the true beginning of Guts’ life after the Eclipse — not as a dreamer or mercenary, but as a man condemned by fate itself. This season introduces the Black Swordsman, a lone warrior carrying hatred, grief, and an unbreakable will into a world ruled by monsters and false salvation.
Set after the tragic events of the Golden Age Arc, the season plunges viewers directly into darkness, where survival demands brutality and mercy is a liability. Every step Guts takes is haunted by the Brand of Sacrifice, attracting demons night after night and forcing him into endless combat.
This is not a story of heroism — it is a story of endurance.
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Season 1 Overview
Title: Berserk – Season 1
Japanese Title: ベルセルク
Episodes: 12
Air Date: July 1, 2016 – September 16, 2016
Studios: GEMBA, Millepensee
Original Manga: Written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura
Streaming Platforms: Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video (region-based), DVD / Blu-ray
Opening Theme: “Inferno” by 9mm Parabellum Bullet
Ending Theme: “Waiting So Long” by Silver Fins
Story Summary
Season 1 adapts the Black Swordsman Arc and the harrowing Lost Children Chapter, presenting Guts as a man already broken by betrayal. Armed with the massive Dragon Slayer, a repeating crossbow, and a mechanical arm concealing a cannon, Guts hunts Apostles — former humans who sacrificed everything for power.
Branded during the Eclipse, Guts is cursed to attract monsters every night. Sleep becomes impossible, peace nonexistent. Yet he continues forward, driven by vengeance against Griffith, now reborn as Femto, one of the God Hand.
The Lost Children arc deepens the tragedy by exploring innocence corrupted by cruelty. Through the story of Jill and the pseudo-apostle Rosine, the season confronts the horrifying truth that this world offers no safe haven — not even for children.
Through bloodshed and despair, Season 1 exposes the cost of survival in a world where fate itself is an enemy.
Major Arcs Covered
- Black Swordsman Arc — Guts’ introduction as a ruthless Apostle hunter.
- Lost Children Chapter — A disturbing exploration of innocence, escapism, and monstrous transformation.
- Brand of Sacrifice Arc — The curse that defines Guts’ existence and suffering.
Main Characters
- Guts (The Black Swordsman) — A man forged by trauma, fighting both monsters and destiny itself.
- Puck — An elf who serves as emotional contrast and the last spark of humanity.
- Jill — A lost child caught between escape and reality.
- Rosine — A tragic pseudo-apostle representing corrupted innocence.
- Apostles — Monsters born from humanity’s darkest desires.
Themes and Style
- Endurance Through Pain — Survival as an act of defiance.
- Trauma and Isolation — Life after irreversible loss.
- Innocence Lost — The cruelty of a world without mercy.
- Hatred vs. Humanity — How vengeance consumes identity.
- Defying Fate — Struggling against an unchangeable destiny.
Season 1 establishes Berserk as a psychological and philosophical dark fantasy rather than a traditional action anime.
Animation & Music
Produced by Studio GEMBA and Millepensee, Berserk Season 1 employs a hybrid of CGI and 2D animation. While controversial, the rigid and weighty motion reflects the oppressive atmosphere of Guts’ world.
The opening theme, “Inferno,” sets a raw, aggressive tone, while the ending theme offers a somber contrast, emphasizing exhaustion and emotional isolation after each episode’s violence.
Where to Watch
You can stream Berserk – Season 1 (2016) on:
Amazon Prime Video (region-based)
Popularity & Reception
Despite mixed reactions to its animation style, Berserk Season 1 was praised for its faithful adaptation of key manga arcs and its uncompromising portrayal of trauma and despair. Fans widely agree that its storytelling remains powerful, disturbing, and essential to the Berserk timeline.
Final Thoughts
Berserk – Season 1 (2016) is not meant to be comfortable. It is a descent into rage, loss, and relentless survival.
Guts does not fight because he believes he will win — he fights because stopping would mean surrendering to fate itself.
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