Few dark fantasy manga have made as big an impact as Berserk. This masterpiece has inspired three anime adaptations over the years, including two series and three movies. Together with the manga, these versions have cemented Berserk’s legendary status.
Recently, a new anime from Crunchyroll has been widely praised as a worthy successor to Berserk thanks to its dark atmosphere and layered storytelling.
Clevatess Matches Berserk’s Darkness
Clevatess: The King of Magical Beasts, the Baby, and the Corpse Hero by Yūji Iwahara is one of 2025’s most groundbreaking anime. The story follows the Demon King Clevatess, who plans to wipe out humanity but faces an ironic twist when he discovers and adopts an abandoned child after an attack.
The battle scenes in Clevatess are relentless, featuring brutal and bloody combat that can shock any viewer. Berserk is no stranger to such violence either, making Clevatess’ tone strikingly similar. Beyond the action, Clevatess delves deeply into complex moral themes, a quality highly valued by Berserk fans.
The series opens with Clevatess nearly annihilating an entire army in a chilling sequence. Alicia Glenfall, one of the main characters, dies in the battle but is resurrected by Clevatess and forced to aid the very enemy she despises most.
Like Berserk, Clevatess Explores Morality and Redemption
One of Berserk’s main draws is its depth, exploring themes of humanity, revenge, and redemption. Guts struggles with rage, a thirst for vengeance, and unimaginable despair.
Clevatess tackles similarly profound themes. Though not human, Clevatess entrusts humanity’s fate to the orphaned child. How Clevatess judges this child as they grow will determine whether humanity is wiped out.
Moreover, since the child comes from the royal Hidean family, they possess innate powers that could end Clevatess’ reign, something no warrior has managed. The child’s future choices will decide if Clevatess allows humanity to survive, while also controlling Clevatess’ own fate.
Both Berserk and Clevatess feature some of the most brutal and bloody battles in anime, but the carnage is never just for shock value. What makes both series epic and critically acclaimed is their ability to explore complex moral dilemmas, revealing humanity’s darkest sides. Though terrifying, these truths are necessary to confront.