Little Thorfinn was introduced to the tales of seasoned sailors who had traversed the seas and arrived at Vinland, the location of mythology.
Not at all like the frigid hamlet in Iceland where he was born, and most definitely not like his current existence as a mercenary, it is believed to be warm and fruitful, a place where there would be no need for warfare. His current home is at war.
Despite once hearing from his father, “Nobody is your enemy, even you. There is nobody you can safely damage.” Thorfinn realized that nothing could be further from the truth as he matured.
With each passing year, the conflict between England and the Danes deteriorates. The Viking mercenaries are enjoying every second of the constant death.
The Vikings are content to build a reputation for themselves and grab any spoils they acquire along the road because allying with either side would result in a significant shift in the balance of power.
Thorfinn must exact revenge on Askeladd, the perpetrator of his father’s death, in the midst of the mayhem. The ongoing cycle of battle and death seemed to be the sole heaven for the Vikings.
| Written by | Makoto Yukimura |
| Published On (Manga) | October 14, 2013. |
| IMDB Rating | 8.8/10 |
What is Vinland Saga?
Makoto Yukimura is the creator and designer of the Japanese historical manga series Vinland Saga. The series was first serialized in the boys’ youth-targeted manga magazine Weekly Shnen Magazine before switching to the monthly manga magazine Monthly Afternoon, which is geared towards young adult men.
Its chapters have been collected in 26 tankbon volumes as of May 2022. Kodansha USA has licensed Vinland Saga for English-language broadcast.
Thorfinn, who used to sit at the feet of the famous Leif Ericson and listen to strange tales of a land far to the west, is central to the plot. A mercenary raid, however, crushed his childhood fantasies.
Raised by the Vikings who slaughtered his family, Thorfinn grew into a formidable warrior obsessed with assassinating the band’s commander, Askeladd, and avenging his father. Throfinn’s pride in his family and his aspirations of a bountiful westward land, free of conflict and slavery…the land Leif called “Vinland” sustained him through his struggle.
What is the plot of the Vinland Saga?
Vinland Saga is my fourth favorite anime and one of the greatest of all time, and it has the potential to be one of the best anime ever made.
Vinland Saga begins slowly for the first five episodes or so. The first five episodes essentially establish Thorfinn and Thors’ characters.
The name ‘Vinland’ appears early in the series. Vinland is the ideal location, with no winter and fertile land. There are no conflicts or anything, and you may call it a paradise.
Vinland Saga is one of those programs that many anime fans anticipated would be action-packed because it is set in the Viking era. If you’re searching for action, this isn’t the place for you.
This show is more concerned with character development. The plot begins straightforwardly. Thorfinn set out to avenge his father’s death by killing Askellad.
Vinland Saga is much more than mindless vengeance; it is a multilayered story with superb characters and topics such as anti-revenge and pacifism. War and violence expose a lot about human character and culture.
Is The Vinland Saga worth watching?
Yes, it is.
A large cast of likable people is introduced in the brilliant Anime historical series Vinland Saga, whose personalities and activities keep you interested at every step. The opening episode sets a high bar for the rest of the series with its powerful graphics, voice acting, and plot.
It’s satisfying in ways you wouldn’t anticipate from a show of this caliber, and its horror conceals a raw beauty.
Vinland Saga is highly worth watching right away if you’re looking for a great character study along with some of the most terrifying combat you’ll ever witness on this side of Berserk.
Even while the Vinland Saga is full of complexity and subtext, it is still primarily an action and battle narrative.
Sadly, this is where Anime struggles the most. It’s important to note that this program does excel artistically; studio BAMBOO’s art director Yusuke Takeda and his team have created some breathtaking digital backdrop artwork that perfectly captures the gravity of moments of sadness and sorrow.
The hardships and emotions are vividly brought to life by the voice acting, especially Thorfinn’s. Although Takahiko Abiru’s character designs don’t quite match Yukimura’s artwork in terms of attention to detail or vivid displays of savagery, they are nevertheless pretty enough for TV animation.
There is a misconception that Vinland Saga ranks among Manga adaptation challenges like Berserk, Kingdom, and Vagabond.
This is exaggerated because, aside from the Vagabond aesthetic, each of them may be realistically portrayed in Anime, mostly depending on personnel, finances, and schedule. Focusing on terrible initiatives over the previous ten years just lowers the bar that fandoms will set for future endeavors.
Fortunately, this translation successfully converts much of the Manga’s visuals and panel layouts into animated form. Expect one essential component: the action.
However, these issues seldom detract from the overall enjoyment that makes Vinland Saga such a unique work of fiction in the worlds of Manga and, now, Anime. The plot certainly involves retaliation, but there is also a constant sense of equilibrium.
It follows a straight course that reaches its promise to be intellectually engaging while also riding a line that prevents it from being too heady for its own benefit.
It draws you in with a barrage of violence before revealing deeper significance when the layers are peeled back. Consider the reasons behind these deeds rather than just the bloody acts committed by pawns.
Vinland Saga just invites us to consider what is portrayed as it throws a mirror over this period in history, on both well-known individuals and those who have fallen into obscurity through time. Think about if Thorfinn truly has any adversaries to support his quest for vengeance.
Think about the priest’s thoughts, which the majority of Vikings ignore. And consider if there were a place free from slavery and the ravages of war.
Why Vinland Saga is the best?
The epic story of the Vinland Saga, written by Makoto Yukimura, immerses you in a world of terrible carnage and battle-hungry warriors. At least, it is what the Manga‘s first chapters show readers.
The animation, created by Wit Studio with director Shuuhei Yabuta at the helm, chooses to present the saga’s story chronologically in order to take a fresh approach.
Apart from a brief fighting scene, viewers aren’t directly exposed to devastation but rather to a peaceful community on Iceland’s shore that hasn’t been affected by the war’s aftereffects.
This results in a trade-off between the fast-paced sense of the story’s original telling and a more methodical slow burn, which thankfully keeps enough suspense to prevent it from being boring to watch.
The contrast between Thorfinn and Askeladd drives the plot of the Vinland Saga. A man who embodies the qualities that any Viking would seek in a leader—strong, intellectual, strategic, and charismatic—and a kid whose innocence has been destroyed with nothing but wrath left in its stead.
While one wears his deadened heart on his sleeve, unconcerned about his “comrades” and willing to watch the world burn, the other wields a silver tongue and maintains a laid-back demeanor while secretly seeking influence by all means possible.
Although he is only a pawn in Askeladd’s larger game, Thorfinn is eager to participate in whatever atrocity is requested of him if doing so will enable him to murder his boss.
Their relationship is precariously balanced, and this uncertainty permeates all of their encounters. It’s challenging to foresee not just how the narrative will develop and where it will lead this ragtag group, but also how Thorfinn will get his revenge, if at all.
Why Is Vinland Saga so underrated?
Being a seinen, it is geared toward an adult audience. Therefore, it lacks the broad range of the shonen genre.
However, because it is a Seinen, it avoids the kinky, very violent, and almost sexual content that Berserk did up until at least volume 26. This further lessens its attractiveness to the general people.
Many Japanese viewers are probably not interested in the medieval Viking Europe backdrop.
Because of the isolationist nature of Japanese culture and the patriotic and culturally homogenous nature of the Japanese people, they have never shown much interest in learning about other people’s cultures, customs, or faiths.
The lack of fascinating primary female characters and practically any sexual fanservice in at least the first 15 volumes is another reason why this Anime is underrated. Ylva (Thorfinn’s older sister) has a minor part in volume 1 and returns in book 14.
The “cute girl” epidemic has recently afflicted the Japanese comic and animation industries, forcing them to create several ridiculously gorgeous female characters whose sole aim is to appeal to the country’s predominately male audience.
I would argue that Vinland Saga is a really good comic that suffers from being published in a field that doesn’t value it.
Conclusion
- A large cast of likable people is introduced in the brilliant Anime historical series Vinland Saga, whose personalities and activities keep you interested at every step. The opening episode sets a high bar for the rest of the series with its powerful graphics, voice acting, and plot.
- The epic story of the Vinland Saga, written by Makoto Yukimura, immerses you in a world of terrible carnage and battle-hungry warriors. At least, it is what the Manga’s first chapters show readers.
- Many Japanese viewers are probably not interested in the medieval Viking Europe backdrop. This is because of the isolationist nature of Japanese culture and the patriotic and culturally homogenous nature of the Japanese people.