After the tragic and sudden passing of Berserk creator Kentaro Miura final yr on the age of 54, followers had been questioning whether or not the sequence would, and even might, proceed with out him. After over a yr of ready, they now have their reply.
Beserk shall be resuming with six chapters of the present story to be printed, earlier than the group strikes onto a “new arc”. These new entries shall be credited “Authentic work by Kentaro Miura, Manga by Studio Gaga, Supervised by Kouji Mori”, and their numbering will proceed in the identical order as older chapters.
In a sequence of statements posted on their firm website (and social media accounts), the manga’s manufacturing group have stated “We’ll resume the serialization of Berserk” utilizing feedback and sketches Miura made earlier than his loss of life as a place to begin. “We imagine that this coverage, though imperfect, is one of the simplest ways to ship the Berserk that Mr. Miura envisioned to everybody as faithfully as attainable”, they are saying.
The primary assertion, signed by the Younger Animal Enhancing Division, reads:
To our readers
We’ll resume the serialization of Berserk.
Please settle for our apologizes for the lengthy wait earlier than we might make this announcement.
We’ve got learn as lots of your feedback as attainable for the “Dai Berserk-ten (The Nice Berserk Exhibition)”, “Younger Animal Memorial Subject (Younger Animal 2021 No.18)”, and “Berserk Quantity 41”. We’re extraordinarily grateful for each certainly one of your phrases and in your messages despatched to us by social media. We’re actually touched by the love you all have for Berserk and the affect it has had in your lives. It’s actually unhappy that Kentaro Miura himself is just not right here to learn your feedback with us.
Earlier than his passing, Kentaro Miura spoke to his shut good friend Kouji Mori in regards to the tales and episodes he had in thoughts for Berserk. He additionally had related talks together with his studio workers and editor. He questioned, would everybody be stunned if I drew one thing like this? How a couple of character like this? Would this storyline be attention-grabbing? The talks weren’t meant as his final phrases, however had been part of his unusual days as a manga artist.
Such unusual days continued for greater than 1 / 4 of a century. Our minds and hearts are nonetheless stuffed with the ideas Mr. Miura shared with us throughout that point. We’ve got additionally discovered memos of concepts he wrote and designs for characters that he drew and left behind.
We had been reluctant to finish his story with out sharing these together with his followers.
Our hope is for everybody to learn the final episode that we’ve put collectively, till the final body.
Upon resuming the sequence, our manufacturing group selected a fundamental coverage.
“Mr. Miura stated so.” That is what the manufacturing group stored in thoughts.
Since he didn’t depart behind tough drafts, it’s unimaginable for us to create a manuscript precisely in the best way he would have meant. Nonetheless, we are going to write the manga in order to not deviate from Mr. Miura’s personal phrases. We want to take the “Kentaro Miura” that we knew so fondly by our conversations and work and convey this to all of you in a honest method.
We imagine that this coverage, though imperfect, is one of the simplest ways to ship the Berserk that Mr. Miura envisioned to everybody as faithfully as attainable.
From the subsequent difficulty, we are going to first publish six chapters till the top of “Fantasia Arc/Elf Island Chapter”. After this, we are going to begin a brand new arc.
Credit after the resumption shall be “Authentic work by Kentaro Miura, Manga by Studio Gaga, Supervised by Kouji Mori,” and the numbering of the manga books will proceed so as.
Trying again, the primary quantity of Berserk was printed in 1990 with 28,000 copies launched for the primary version. It was not a direct hit and solely a small group of individuals knew about it. Nonetheless, it drew avid followers and was capable of maintain their curiosity as a result of individuals might really feel Mr. Miura’s want to refine his craft. After some time, Berserk grew to become an enormous hit by Mr. Miura’s extraordinary efforts and a few good luck. Right now, the primary quantity has been learn by 2 million individuals all over the world. We imagine that Berserk has touched the hearts of many followers, and Mr. Miura could be pleased to know that his ideas have had a terrific affect on individuals’s lives and work. We hope that everybody will proceed to have the identical reference to Berserk within the chapters to return.
Thanks to all of the followers who despatched us messages.
We’re additionally grateful to the various followers who quietly supported the manga by their ideas.
Each certainly one of you may be the supply of our power as we transfer ahead.
We’re actually grateful to you all.
June 2022
Younger Animal Enhancing Division
A second assertion, signed by Miura’s shut good friend and Holyland creator Kouji Mori and going into extra element in regards to the path the manga’s future storylines will take, says:
Practically 30 years in the past, Miura referred to as me and stated, “I want to speak to you about drawing a tough draft.” I went to his office simply to speak as we at all times do, however Miura appeared extra critical than regular. “I want to attract the Eclipse,” he stated. I sensed it might be exhausting work, however couldn’t imagine it after I was trapped indoors for per week… In that very second, the storyline for Berserk was accomplished, till the final chapter.
Surprisingly, the story for Berserk went on precisely as we mentioned on the time, with virtually no modifications. I continued to speak to Miura usually, each time there was an enormous episode. We did so ever since we had been college students, consulting one another whereas engaged on manga.
I feel individuals with good instinct would understand by now that I do know the story for Berserk as much as the very finish. Nonetheless, I can’t say that I can draw it as a result of I do know it. That’s as a result of solely the genius Kentaro Miura can write a masterpiece like Berserk.
Nonetheless, a terrific accountability has fallen on me.
Whereas he was alive, Miura stated, “I haven’t advised anybody apart from you, Mori, in regards to the story in its entirety.” And that was the reality. It’s too huge a accountability. I assumed, ought to I speak to followers about it by an interview? Or ought to I publish an article with some illustrations? However that wouldn’t convey the scenes that Miura described to me, or the strains of Guts and Griffith…
Simply after I was attempting to resolve what to do, I acquired a message.
“The workers are saying they are going to end the final chapter that was left behind, so are you able to have a look?”
The previous couple of pages of the chapter had been incomplete. Some didn’t even have the characters drawn on them.
I took a take a look at the manuscript, with out anticipating a lot.
Desperation can push individuals to create miracles — There it was, the finished manuscript for Berserk.
“Mr. Mori, will you allow us to do it?”
Miura’s apprentices, who Miura had been so pleased with whereas he was alive, requested me straight.
Firm Director Shimada, a mentor for me and Miura, additionally stated, “In case you do it, the corporate will give our full help.”
I assumed, if I run away now, Miura would say:
“I talked to you about it a lot, however you didn’t do it!!”
Alright. I’ll do it correctly.
I’ve a message and promise to everybody. I’ll recall the main points as a lot as attainable and inform the story.
Additionally, I’ll solely write the episodes that Miura talked to me about. I can’t flesh it out. I can’t write episodes that I don’t bear in mind clearly. I’ll solely write the strains and tales that Miura described to me. In fact, it won’t be good. Nonetheless, I feel I can virtually inform the story that Miura needed to inform.
The expertise Miura’s apprentices have are actual!
They’re sensible artists.
A lot of you will not be absolutely happy with the Berserk written with out Miura, however we hope everybody’s ideas shall be with us.
We ask you in your continued help.
