Summary
Every Berserk manga adaptation has featured music by Susumu Hirasawa, giving them a common theme of epic soundtracks. Hirasawa’s unique musical style dates back to the 1997 anime, and his contributions to the soundtracks have been praised for their epic melodies. “Forces” is Hirasawa’s most famous song from the Berserk soundtrack, and it perfectly captures the grim determination of the main character’s plot.
The run is long Hysterical The manga has received many adaptations since its debut in 1989. The most famous and most acclaimed adaptation is the 1997 anime. There is also a 2016 anime series, a trilogy of anime films released released from 2012 to 2013 and was eventually adapted into a third anime series in 2022 and three video games. All these adaptations are united by one key element that truly elevates them: the epic music composed by Susumu Hirasawa.
Following the death of series creator Kentaro Miura in 2021, Miura’s assistants took over the series to complete the story.
The 2010s anime adaptations of Berserk divided the fan community due to the 3D animation style being considered clumsy and stiff. Hirasawa’s contributions to film soundtracks have been praised for their unique musical and vocal styles as well as suitably epic melodies. Thanks to Hirasawa’s unforgettable musical compositions, Berserk’s anime adaptations feature some of the best soundtracks in anime history. Given Hirasawa’s lasting contributions to Berserk’s music, this has been true since the early episodes of the 1997 anime.
Each Berserk adaptation has featured music by Susumu Hirasawa
Hirasawa’s unique musical style dates back to the 1997 anime.
Although Susumu Hirasawa is not well known outside of Japan, in Japan he has had a successful and prolific career since his start in the early 1970s. Hirasawa’s official website lists 16 albums Film soundtracks were composed and performed by him, in addition to many albums he composed in both his solo career and as a member of the band P-Model. Notably, Hirasawa is no stranger to anime soundtracks. In addition to his long-standing musical work with Berserk adaptations, Hirasawa also composed and performed the soundtrack for each anime film directed by the late Satoshi Kon.
Hirasawa composed and performed the soundtrack for each anime film directed by the late Satoshi Kon.
Hirasawa’s most famous and beloved song from the Berserk soundtrack is “Forces”. First played in episode three of the 1997 anime, the epic musical tone of “Forces” helps elevate a fairly minor Band of the Hawk raid into one of Berserk’s most memorable battle scenes. “Forces” also perfectly sums up Hirasawa’s unique musical style.
While the heavy use of synthesizers and electronic bagpipes may initially seem out of place in a medieval fantasy world, the music’s relentless rhythm and lyrics about steadfast determination , steadfast in the face of overwhelming darkness fits Guts’ story perfectly. Variations and remixes of the original “Forces” have appeared throughout the Berserk series and were even included in Hirasawa’s live performances.
While more recent Berserk anime adaptations have not reached the level of instant classics of the original 1997 series, Susumu Hirasawa’s musical contributions have helped elevate every Berserk adaptation. Thanks to Hirasawa’s amazing music, an iconic franchise has been accompanied by an iconic soundtrack since the first adaptations of the original manga. Hirasawa’s great musical contributions are a common menace to every adaptation of Hystericaland is one of the best elements of the franchise.
Source: Susumu Hirasawa Official Website / Soundtracks, Side Projects, Other, YouTube / BERSERK -Forces-