Start with the 1997 series (25 episodes) or the three Golden Age films (2012 to 2013); both adapt the same Golden Age story. Then watch the 2016 and 2017 seasons, 12 episodes each, which skip ahead in the manga. No anime reaches the current manga, and the 2022 Memorial Edition is an optional remaster of the films.
Last checked: 3 November 2026. Streaming details can change, so treat the availability notes below as a snapshot.
The short answer: two routes
Berserk has five anime releases that overlap in confusing ways. You do not need all of them. Choose one of two routes for the first chapter of the story, then continue to the 2016 series.
- Series route: Berserk (1997), then Berserk (2016), then Berserk (2017). This is the fullest version of the early story, and the one most longtime fans started with.
- Film route: the three Golden Age films, then 2016 and 2017. This is the faster option, at 288 minutes (4 hours 48 minutes) for the three films.
Both routes retell the same material, so there is no need to watch both before moving on. If the manga is your goal, jump to where the anime stop and the manga picks up. Berserk is a cornerstone of seinen anime, and it is graphic: expect heavy violence and sexual violence.
Pick your path
| If you want | Watch | Time |
|---|---|---|
| The best story with the least time | The three Golden Age films, then 2016 | 288 minutes plus 12 episodes |
| The fullest early story | The 1997 series, then 2016 and 2017 | 25 + 12 + 12 episodes |
| To read the manga next | Either Golden Age version, then the manga from volume 14 | Your choice |
| A remastered picture | The Memorial Edition instead of the films | 13 episodes |
One caveat on the 2016 series: Anime News Network's Jacob Hope Chapman criticized its computer-generated animation in his review of the first three episodes, though he liked the source material and action direction. If the look puts you off, the manga covers the same ground.
Berserk watch order, step by step
- Berserk (1997), TV series, 25 episodes (8 October 1997 to 1 April 1998), studio OLM. Covers the Black Swordsman prologue and the Golden Age arc, roughly the first twelve volumes and part of the thirteenth. It ends abruptly. Skip this step if you take the film route.
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I, The Egg of the King, film, 77 minutes (4 February 2012), Studio 4°C. The first third of the Golden Age. Film route only.
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II, The Battle for Doldrey, film, 98 minutes (23 June 2012). The war arc. Film route only.
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III, The Advent, film, 113 minutes (1 February 2013). Concludes the Golden Age. Film route only.
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc, Memorial Edition (optional), TV recut, 13 episodes (2 October to 25 December 2022). A remastered, edited version of the films with new scenes. Not needed if you have seen the films. No catalogue page yet.
- Berserk (2016), TV series, 12 episodes (1 July to 16 September 2016), Liden Films with animation by GEMBA and Millepensee. Adapts the Conviction arc and picks up after the Golden Age.
- Berserk (2017), TV series, 12 episodes (7 April to 23 June 2017). The second season, covering the first half of the Falcon of the Millennium Empire arc. Some pages call the same arc "Hawk of the Millennium Empire". No separate catalogue page yet.
The 2016 and 2017 seasons also have two recap specials, listed on Wikipedia as episodes 12.5 and 21.5. They are safe to skip.
Release order vs story order
For Berserk the two orders barely differ, which surprises people. The overlap is the only trap: the 1997 series, the films and the Memorial Edition all tell the Golden Age. Watching all three is repetition, not progress.
| Order | Sequence | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Release order | 1997, films (2012 to 2013), 2016, 2017, Memorial Edition (2022) | Seeing how the adaptations evolved |
| Story order | Golden Age (1997 or films), 2016, 2017 | A first watch of the story |
1997 series or the Golden Age films?
| 1997 series | Golden Age films | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 25 episodes | 3 films, 288 minutes in total |
| Studio | OLM | Studio 4°C |
| Coverage | Black Swordsman prologue plus the Golden Age, ending abruptly | The Golden Age only, with a complete ending |
| Released | 1997 to 1998, on Nippon TV | 2012 to 2013, in cinemas in Japan |
| English dub | Yes, by NYAV Post | Yes, with the same lead voice actors |
The series gives the story room to breathe, with more time on the Band of the Hawk, and Anime News Network's Brittany Vincent praised its atmosphere despite the abrupt ending. The films compress the story but finish it. If you have a free weekend, take the films. If you want depth, take the series.
The films and the series share English voice cast: Marc Diraison voices Guts and Kevin T. Collins voices Griffith in both, per Wikipedia.
Where the anime stop and the manga picks up
None of the anime come close to the current story. The manga stands at chapter 386, as our status check on whether Berserk is finished explains. This table uses the chapter list on Wikipedia for volume and chapter numbers.
| Anime | Manga it covers | Read the manga from |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 series | The Black Swordsman and Golden Age, through most of volume 13 | Volume 13, then volume 14 (Conviction begins at chapter 95) |
| Golden Age films | The Golden Age arc, volumes 3 to 13 | Volume 14 |
| Berserk (2016) | Conviction arc: chapters 95 to 176, volumes 14 to 21, with some chapters cut | Volume 22 (the Falcon arc starts at chapter 177), or earlier to fill gaps |
| Berserk (2017) | First half of the Falcon arc; reportedly ends around chapter 249, in volume 29 | Volume 29 |
Fans disagree on exactly where each series stops, and neither Wikipedia nor the publisher gives an official chapter. Treat these as safe starting points: a little overlap is better than missing a scene. Our guide to the Berserk arcs maps each story arc to its volumes without major spoilers.
Where to watch Berserk
As of JustWatch's US guide (published 30 September 2025), Berserk (2016) and the Memorial Edition stream on Crunchyroll. The 1997 series was not streaming, and the films could only be bought. We have not been able to confirm anything newer, so check a service such as JustWatch for your country before you start.
For the 1997 series, Discotek Media announced its license in January 2024 and released a Blu-ray set on 26 March 2024, which carries both the Japanese audio and the English dub. Each catalogue page linked above shows current details for that title.
Questions people ask
In which order should I watch Berserk?
Watch the 1997 series or the three Golden Age films first, then Berserk (2016), then Berserk (2017). The Memorial Edition is optional.
Is Berserk 1997 the same as Berserk 2016?
No. They are separate adaptations by different studios. The 1997 series retells the Golden Age, while the 2016 series adapts the later Conviction arc.
Should I watch 1997 or the films first?
Either one. They cover the same arc, so you only need one of them.
Do I need the 1997 series before the 2016 series?
Not strictly, but the 2016 series assumes you know Guts, Griffith and the Eclipse, so watch one of the Golden Age versions first.
Is the Berserk Memorial Edition worth watching?
Only if you want a remastered version with new scenes. It re-edits the three films into 13 TV episodes, so skip it if you already watched them.
Where does the Berserk anime end in the manga?
The last season, in 2017, reportedly ends around chapter 249 in volume 29, a little over halfway through the Falcon arc.
Is there a new Berserk anime?
No studio, format or date has been announced as of 3 November 2026.
Can I skip the anime and read the manga?
Yes. The manga is the complete source, and it is ongoing. See whether Berserk is finished for the current status.
Is Berserk of Gluttony related?
No. Berserk of Gluttony is an unrelated light novel series by Ichika Isshiki, adapted into a 2023 anime by A.C.G.T. It shares only the word in the title.
Sources
- Wikipedia, "Berserk (1997 TV series)", accessed 3 November 2026: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berserk_(1997_TV_series)
- Wikipedia, "Berserk: The Golden Age Arc" (films and Memorial Edition), accessed 3 November 2026: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berserk:_The_Golden_Age_Arc
- Wikipedia, "Berserk (2016 TV series)", accessed 3 November 2026: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berserk_(2016_TV_series)
- Wikipedia, "List of Berserk chapters", accessed 3 November 2026: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Berserk_chapters
- Wikipedia, "Berserk (manga)", accessed 3 November 2026: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berserk_(manga)
- Dexerto, "Why Berserk 2016 deserves a chance", 19 January 2024 (2016 anime ends near chapter 249): https://www.dexerto.com/anime/why-berserk-2016-deserves-a-chance-2482215
- Anime News Network, Jacob Hope Chapman, review of Berserk (2016) episodes 1 to 3, 2016, as cited by Wikipedia (not opened by us).
- Anime News Network, Brittany Vincent, "Berserk: Past, Present, and Future", 28 June 2016, as cited by Wikipedia (not opened by us).
- JustWatch, "All 'Berserk' Movies And TV Shows In Order", 30 September 2025: https://guides.justwatch.com/us/berserk-movies-tv-shows-in-order
- Siliconera, "1997 Berserk Anime to Appear on Blu-ray in 2024", January 2024: https://www.siliconera.com/1997-berserk-anime-to-appear-on-blu-ray-in-2024/
- Wikipedia, "Berserk of Gluttony", accessed 3 November 2026: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berserk_of_Gluttony
Last checked: 3 November 2026
