Not manymanga in the dark fantasy genrehave had as substantial an impact asBerserk.The ongoing masterpiece has earned itselfthree anime adaptations over the years, including two series and three films. All these versions, coupled with the manga, have earnedBerserkits legendary status.
Although the manga is in progress, with Kentaro Miura’s friend Kouji Mori taking over the series following Miura’s tragic passing, fans cannot seem to get enough ofBerserk,and not manyanime series have achieved its level of darknessand drama. Although it is not a replacement, Crunchyroll’sClevatessis the closestBerserkhas gotten to a spiritual successor.
Clevatess is Every Berserk Fan’s Dream, Matching Its Predecessor’s Darkness
Created by Yūji Iwahara,Clevatess: The King of Magical Beasts, the Baby, and the Corpse Herois2025’s breakout anime hit,available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The plot follows Demon King, Clevatess, who plans to wipe out humanity, but finds themselves in an unlikely situation when they discover a child left behind in the attack’s aftermath and adopt the baby.
Clevatess’sbattle scenes pull no punches, with gruesome, bloody displays sure to make anyone’s stomach turn.Berserkis also no stranger to gore and violence in battle, so in this way,Clevatesshas a similar feel.Clevatessalso features morally complex themes, another aspect ofBerserkthat fans deeply appreciate.
Humanity and Clevatess are locked in a struggle, and in the series' very first episode, Clevatess murders almost an entire army in a scene straight out of a horror movie. Alicia Glenfall, one ofClevatess’smain characters, also died in battle, but was resurrected by Clevatess and, ironically, forced to help the one being she hates more than any other.
Like Berserk, Clevatess Examines Themes Like Morality and Redemption
One of the major draws ofBerserkis its intense depth, as it explores humanity, revenge, and redemption to a much greater extent than most other stories do. InBerserk,Guts grapples with intense rage atGriffith and the God Handand an unstoppable desire for revenge.Guts' unimaginable despairis at the forefront, alongside his fight to persevere regardless.
Clevatessalso explores similarly meaningful themes by unpacking concepts like what being human even means and what that experience is like. Clevatess is not human, but they lay the fate of everyone in the hands of the orphaned baby. Their judgment of this child as it grows and matures will determine whether Clevatess wipes out humanity forever.
Furthermore, since the baby came from the Hidean family, who are royals, the child has innate powers that could end Clevatess’s life, a task that no other warrior can seem to accomplish. While the baby’s future choices will determine whether Clevatess allows humanity to continue to exist, the child can also control Clevatess’s survival.
BothBerserkandClevatessfeature some of the bloodiest, most brutal battles in anime, but that carnage is not just for shock value. What makes both series so epic and acclaimed is their ability to delve into complex ethical dilemmas and show the darkest sides of humanity that, although horrifying, are necessary to confront.
