Dark fantasy has long been one of the most popular genres in anime, and is only becoming bigger thanks to a recent trend of more mature stories appearing in magazines like Weekly Shōnen Jump in Japan. However, when most fans think of the genre, the first title that typically comes to mind is Berserk.
The masterpiece series by the late Kentaro Miura is one of the most successful and influential the medium has ever seen, and those who stumble across it rarely ever forget it. Berserk is haunting, gritty, brutal, but also deeply moving and inspiring.
There aren’t many stories in fiction quite like it, but there are some that capture similar elements. These anime titles could never replace Berserk, but they’ll do the job of filling the void for fans once they’ve finished it.
10
Claymore
Animated by Madhouse, Based on the Manga by Norihiro Yagi
Medieval fantasy is incredibly common in anime and manga, though in the age of power fantasy isekai, there aren’t many titles that take the setting as seriously as some used to. One classic title that does, however, is Claymore, based on the long-running manga series of the same name by Norihiro Yagi.
Set on an island where humans are threatened by shape-shifting demonic creatures called Yoma, an organization of half-human, half-Yoma hybrids are tasked with fighting them. Claymore is an action-packed dark fantasy affair with emotional depth and complex characters—perfect for fans of Berserk.
Unfortunately, the anime only partially covers the manga’s version of events, but that won’t be anything new to Berserk fans.
9
Made in Abyss
Animated by Kinema Citrus, Based on the Manga by Akihito Tsukushi
Berserk fans will undoubtedly be drawn to a dark, gritty aesthetic, and might take one look at Made in Abyss before instantly writing it off. However, the bright, bubbly art style of the series isn’t exactly a great representation of the sort of story at hand. Made in Abyss, as a coming of age, dark fantasy adventure series, is downright disturbing at times.
The series follows an orphaned girl named Riko and her half-robot companion Reg as they travel down the titular abyss in search of Riko’s lost mother. There, they make a number of disturbing discoveries, and no matter how accustomed to violence fans of Berserk might think they are, the situation becomes very different when children are involved.
Nevertheless, Made in Abyss is a moving story about the loss of innocence, the nature of humanity, and the danger of greed and unchecked ambition.
8
Attack on Titan
Animated by Wit Studio and MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Hajime Isayama
Few shows have enjoyed more success than Attack on Titan has over the past 15 years. Though the series trades the familiar swords, shields, and magic for ODM gear and large-scale titan clashes, the violence and dark nature of Attack on Titan‘s world should appeal to fans of Berserk all the same.
In many ways, Eren Yeager reads a bit like an inverted Guts—a sort of what-if, had Berserk‘s protagonist lost himself entirely in his rage and revenge aspirations rather than cling on to his humanity. Attack on Titan is one of the most popular titles of the 21st century for a reason, and Berserk fans will certainly find something to love in its world and characters.
Animated by Animate Film, Original Anime Movie
Nothing speaks to Berserk fans quite like lone, wandering swordsmen, and the ’90s saw the arrival of another in the vein of Guts in the 1993 stand-alone film Ninja Scroll. The movie follows Kibagame Jubei, a mercenary during Japan’s Edo period, who fights otherworldly ninjas after saving the life of a young woman named Kagero.
Ninja Scroll is dark, moody, and unapologetically violent, and should land nicely with viewers who enjoyed Guts’ lone survival in a world that wanted nothing more than to break him. A sequel series was produced by the illustrious studio Madhouse in 2003, and follows Jubei through further supernatural conflicts.
6
Re:Zero
Animated by White Fox, Based on the Novel Series by Tappei Nagatsuki
Some fans of Berserk, or dark fantasy in general for that matter, might be tempted to roll their eyes at the mention of isekai, but Re:Zero is a series that explores what might happen if the transported main character’s life doesn’t exactly become sunshine and rainbows.
Where other protagonists in the genre leave their sad lives behind and take on the undeserved role of the hero, Re:Zero‘s Subaru Natsuki is even more helpless in his fantasy world than he ever was before, and is forced to endure repeated, horrific violence until he finds a way to avoid death.
It might not be entirely reminiscent of Berserk, but the struggle of living in a dark fantasy setting is on full display in Re:Zero.
5
Devilman Crybaby
Animated by Science Saru, Based on the Manga by Go Nagai
Go Nagai’s Devilman manga series is one of the most influential in the dark fantasy genre, and 2018’s Devilman Crybaby was studio Science Saru’s attempt at taking that story and setting it in the present day. The series is as dark, shocking, brutal, and violent as fans of Berserk could ever want, all while telling a story about humans fighting demons.
The series follows best friends Ryo and Akira, after the latter takes on demonic powers and becomes the titular Devilman. Devilman Crybaby remains one of Netflix’s most acclaimed anime series, though a fair warning is owed to viewers about its overly graphic content.
4
Chainsaw Man
Animated by MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto
It might be strange for fans of Berserk to imagine, but Guts and Chainsaw Man‘s Denji are somewhat similar. Both lived cursed lives, and were molded into weapons at an early age, before they knew much about how the world worked. Though Denji might be a bit crude compared to the ever-endearing Guts, both are simply trying to survive a world that wants them dead.
Chainsaw Man is chaotic, violent, and unapologetically badass, and though its protagonist might come off a bit hollow in its earliest sections, it doesn’t take long for the series to reveal his redeeming qualities. If Guts had been placed in 1990s Tokyo, rather than the medieval world he inhabits, he and Denji might not have turned out very different at all.
3
Hellsing Ultimate
Animated by Satelight, Madhouse, and Graphinica, Based on the Manga by Kouta Hirano
Hellsing ditches the medieval fantasy setting in favor of 1999 England, and rather than having a human protagonist battle with supernatural forces, it places a vampire in the leading role. Those familiar with the story of Dracula will recognize names like Alucard and Van Helsing, but the series uses them in largely unexpected ways.
Alucard is defeated by and pledges loyalty to the Van Helsing family, and as a result protects England from both human and demonic threats. Hellsing Ultimate is action-packed, dark, gritty, and violent, and is the ultimate adaptation of the series’ gothic source material, following the disappointment of 2001’s Hellsing anime.
2
Vampire Hunter D
Animated by Epic/Sony Records and Madhouse, Based on the Novel Series by Hideyuki Kikuchi
Sticking with the theme of vampires, the Vampire Hunter D films, based on the long-running and highly successful light novel series of the same name, bring along the grittiness and retro visual aesthetic fans of Berserk should find no trouble vibing with.
The movies follow the half-human, half-vampire hunter named D, who is forced to fight vicious foes while grappling with his own inner conflict about his nature. The second of the two movies, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, features a far more polished, straightforward, and darker narrative with impressive visuals, and remains a cult classic 25 years on from its premiere.
1
Dororo
Animated by Tezuka Productions and MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Osamu Tezuka
2019’s Dororo is the ultimate take on the 1967 manga series by the father of anime himself, Osamu Tezuka. The series follows a ronin named Hyakkimaru, who, as a child, was sacrificed to demons by his father, and became severely disfigured as a result. Discovered by doctors who fitted him with prostheses, Hyakkimaru sets off on a revenge quest against the demons who wronged him.
Fans of Berserk won’t have to be told why they might enjoy a story like Dororo, and Tezuka Productions alongside studio MAPPA did the series justice with their 2019 adaptation, effectively bringing Dororo into the modern age 50 years after its original adaptation debuted.
