Berserk Watch Order: 1997, Movies and Memorial Edition

For a straightforward Berserk anime watch order, start with the 13-episode Memorial Edition, then watch Berserk (2016) and its 2017 second season. Prefer the original TV series? Berserk (1997) is another starting point. The three Golden Age movies tell much of the same early story, so you do not need to watch all three versions.

The catch is that no anime route covers the manga from beginning to end. This guide separates the overlapping adaptations and shows where to go after the version you have already watched, without spoiling the major turns.

Choose your Berserk starting point

Memorial Edition is the simplest starting option if you want the film trilogy, with added scenes, in one TV series. The 1997 version is a good alternative if you want the older, longer introduction to Guts and the Band of the Hawk. Choose the films if you prefer three feature-length sittings.

Before committing to the full anime route: the 2016–2017 series changes the visual presentation again, mixing 3D CG and 2D animation, and leaves parts of the manga unadapted. Its producer discusses the animation approach and adaptation cuts. Continue there for later events on screen; choose the manga from volume 1 if a fuller account matters more to you.

Already finished a Golden Age version? Jump to what to watch next.

1997, the movies and Memorial Edition: what overlaps?

Berserk (1997) is its own adaptation

The original television series is also identified by the Japanese title Kenpu Denki Berserk. Its 25 episodes are one series, not the first 25 installments of the 2016 production. Check the year before pressing play: the short title Berserk can lead to either show.

Memorial Edition revises the films, not the 1997 series

Memorial Edition re-edits the 2012–2013 film trilogy for television, adding scenes and revising existing animation. Its official introduction explains those changes. The 2022 date is its release year, not its place after the 2017 story.

If you are choosing between the trilogy and Memorial Edition today, the expanded TV cut keeps that story in one episode list. If you already saw the trilogy, its additions are a reason to revisit it, not a compulsory next step.

The three Berserk movies in order

If you choose the film route, watch all three in their numbered order. The shared title The Golden Age Arc identifies the trilogy; the subtitle tells you which part you have found.

You may encounter a different English rendering of the first subtitle: STUDIO4°C’s official trilogy catalog calls it The High King’s Egg. That is the first film, not an extra prequel to The Egg of the King. Check the Roman numeral as well as the translated name.

Where Berserk (2016) and Berserk (2017) fit

After your Golden Age starting version, the next anime material in the broad story sequence is Berserk (2016). Its second season followed in 2017. Watch the 2016 season before the 2017 season; the latter is not a remake or a replacement starting point.

The official Blu-ray listing counts 24 episodes across these two seasons. If your service restarts the count in 2017, its Season 2, episode 1 corresponds to episode 13 overall.

What should I watch after Berserk (1997)?

Go to Berserk (2016), then 2017 for later story material on screen. There is no direct episode 26 of the 1997 production. Rewatching the films or Memorial Edition is optional, not a prerequisite for moving forward.

Where should I start the manga after the anime?

If your priority is understanding the whole story, start with manga volume 1 rather than trying to join at a single “anime ending” chapter. That is a reading recommendation, not a claim that the anime covered nothing: each version selects and rearranges material. Starting at the beginning lets you follow Miura’s own sequence and meet characters the screen versions handle differently.

Berserk release order for watching every adaptation

If your aim is to see how the anime adaptations changed over time, release order is the useful alternative. In this version of the list, repetitions are intentional.

1. Berserk — original TV series (1997).
2. The Golden Age Arc I — The Egg of the King (2012).
3. The Golden Age Arc II — The Battle for Doldrey (2012).
4. The Golden Age Arc III — The Advent (2013).
5. Berserk — later TV series, first season (2016).
6. Berserk — later TV series, second season (2017).
7. The Golden Age Arc — Memorial Edition (2022).

Use this list to compare adaptations. For a first watch with less repetition, stick to one of the starting options above and keep each series in episode order; rearranging individual scenes into a strict timeline makes the introduction harder to follow.

Recaps, extras and uncensored versions

Is the first-series digest required?

No. The first-season digest listed with the later series is an optional refresher before its second season.

Does “uncensored” mean a more complete story?

Not necessarily. The Memorial Edition Blu-ray box specifies an uncensored original version, and the later-series box describes removing broadcast restrictions. Those are release-version details. They do not promise that every passage omitted while adapting the manga has been restored. Check the description of the edition you are considering rather than assuming every streaming or disc release uses the same cut.

Do music videos and disc extras add another viewing step?

No. Creditless openings, trailers, interviews and soundtrack material can wait until after the associated series or film.

Looking for another dark-fantasy series afterward? Our Castlevania watch-order guide explains when to switch from the original animated series to Nocturne.