Hakusensha, the publisher of Kentaro Miura’s beloved manga *Berserk*, recently issued a statement on Twitter condemning a fan-made anime adaptation called *Berserk: The Black Swordsman*. The publisher emphasized that this project is not official and, crucially, utilizes the intellectual property (IP) and copyrighted images without authorization from Studio Gaga or the late Miura.
*Berserk: The Black Swordsman* is currently in production by Studio Eclypse, a fan animation collective based in the United States. The project is funded through Patreon donations ranging from $5 to $20 monthly. A teaser is already available, with the first episode slated to premiere in 2025.
We just can’t have nice things…https://t.co/8Fiu8Zxbcz
— Josh! (@YourNobleTruths) September 17, 2024
Following Hakusensha’s announcement last week, many *Berserk* enthusiasts anticipated a response from Studio Eclypse or potential legal actions from the publisher. Nonetheless, the fan project has yet to issue any public comments on this matter, even as their *Berserk*-related tweets continue to gain traction in the community.
Reactions from the Fan Animation Community
Meanwhile, other *Berserk*-related fan projects have reacted to the controversy. Studio Taka, a fan collective dedicated to creating motion comic adaptations of *Berserk*, announced to their followers that they are ceasing their adaptation efforts in light of Hakusensha’s statement.
Studio Taka is bringing its adaptation to an end by u/Cesped2 in Berserk
The studio announced that it would discontinue any future *Berserk* animation projects. Known for producing high-quality animated content based on the *Berserk* manga, Studio Taka relied on community contributions, with 258 Patreon subscribers supporting their work.
Studio Taka cited Studio Gaga’s recent statement on social media as the reason for their decision concerning the unauthorized release of *Berserk* content. While Studio Gaga specifically addressed Studio Eclypse’s adaptation, Studio Taka believes that “this has implications for all *Berserk* fan projects, including ours. We feel it’s the right thing to do to honor the rights holders and their intentions.”
After thoughtful consideration and the exploration of all possible options, we have made the very difficult decision to bring this project to a close. While we are incredibly passionate about continuing our work, we acknowledge the potential legal risks involved and feel it is important to respect the intellectual property rights of Studio Gaga/Hakusensha.
This choice was not made lightly. For many years, this project has been a significant part of our lives, and we are deeply appreciative of the overwhelming support and enthusiasm you all have shown for the episodes we’ve created. It has been a rewarding journey, and your positive feedback has meant the world to us.
About the Beloved Fan Studio, Studio Taka
Studio Taka is a fan-driven studio “motivated by an unwavering passion to deliver high-quality videos to the manga and anime enthusiast community.” The studio launched Part 1 of its *Berserk: The Animated Manga* in December 2021, which has collected nearly 500,000 views. Part 2 was released just five months ago and has already achieved close to 200,000 views.
— Rage Of Berserk (@RageOfBerserk) September 11, 2024
Studio Taka also understands the importance of honoring Kentaro Miura’s legacy by introducing *Berserk* to new audiences and encouraging others to appreciate the manga.
*Berserk: The Black Swordsman* Disavowed by Copyright Holders
While *Berserk* is highly regarded as one of the greatest manga series of all time, the anime adaptations produced have often fallen short of expectations. Numerous fan initiatives, like Studio Miura’s, aim to offer a faithful representation, with *Berserk: The Animated Manga* being regarded as one of the highest quality adaptations.
Studio Gaga did not specifically name Studio Taka’s *Berserk: The Animated Manga* in their statement, which is a significant detail to consider. Instead, they addressed Studio Eclypse directly in relation to *Berserk: The Black Swordsman*. Many believe that Studio Eclypse’s decision to charge fans for the project has led to this crackdown on fan-made content, as it constitutes unauthorized commercial use of copyrighted materials.
As of now, Studio Eclypse has not publicly responded to Studio Gaga’s statement regarding *Berserk: The Black Swordsman*.
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