This 100% Rotten Tomatoes Netflix Anime Is a Must-See for Fans of Vikings & Berserk

Summary:

• One of the best historical anime titles of recent years, Vinland Saga, is unique – it is not about China or Japan, but about the Vikings.
• Vinland Saga tells the brutal and heartbreaking story of Thorfinn, whose father was killed by the mercenary Askeladd, whom Thorfinn swore to kill to avenge his father.
• The anime depicts the horrors of the medieval wars and Viking raids that turn a boy into a ferocious warrior, and in many ways resembles the iconic Berserk.

What does it mean to be a king? Why does God allow evil to happen? What does it mean to be a true warrior? All these questions are posed by one of the best titles of recent years, which will especially appeal to fans of Vikings and the cult Berserk.

Vinland Saga is one of the few historical anime not set in Japan or China. It is based on the manga of the same name by Makoto Yukimura, which has been published for more than 18 years in a row.

The story is coming to an end: the author plans to finish the manga in 2024. But the anime adaptation is only gaining momentum, so now is the perfect time to get acquainted with the saga.

What Is Vinland Saga About?

XI century, Iceland. Young Thorfinn listens to tales of Viking conquests and dreams of one day leaving his home on a journey of great conquest. One day, his father Thors, a legendary warrior, is called to arms again, and the boy secretly joins him in the journey.

But in a brutal, bloody battle, Thors dies at the hands of the mercenary Askeladd, whom Thorfinn vows to avenge. In pursuit of Askeladd, the young man learns to kill, and finds himself in the midst of Viking conquest.

Vinland Saga is a Deep Story About One Man's Fall And Rise

Vinland Saga is a dramatic story about a man's fall into darkness and his search for a path in life. The first season completely covers the prologue of the first eight volumes of the manga – the most popular, spectacular and gruesome part of the work.

In the prologue, Yukimura shows the horrors of slavery, medieval wars and barbaric Viking raids. We see this through the eyes of little Thorfinn, who turns into a fierce warrior under the influence of constant violence.

In this way, Vinland Saga is similar to the anime and manga Berserk, but without the mysticism and battles with demons.

Vinland Saga is Produced by Attack on Titan Studio

The first season was produced by Wit Studio, known for the first three seasons of Attack on Titan. The second season was released more than three years after the end of the first season, and Wit was replaced by MAPPA.

The plot also took a new direction – in the second season, the creators show us Thorfinn's adult life, or more precisely, the years he spent in slavery. Here, the non-stop action fades into the background, and the focus shifts to Thorfinn's development and life on the farm, where he rethinks his path.