Image: Makoto Yukimura / Kodansha
AMBot | 01/11/2023 | Reading Time: 3 Min.
Vinland Saga, the critically acclaimed anime series based on the manga of the same name, is back for its second season. The first season of the anime was widely regarded as a masterpiece, but fans of the manga were eager to see how the anime would adapt the final story arc, which readers have dubbed "Farmland Saga." This arc is divisive, as it moves away from the action-packed and violent narrative of the previous arcs and instead focuses on character development.
There were concerns that the switch in animation studios from Wit to MAPPA could mean a drop in quality, but director Yabuta Shuuehi, who has been with the series since the first season, has managed to maintain the high standards of animation and storytelling. The new season is set to run for 24 episodes, giving ample time to fully adapt the story arc and even add some original elements.
In the first episode, viewers are introduced to Einar, a slave living with his mother and sister in northern England. We see them happily living on a small farm, but we also know the history of Viking raids in the area, and it’s clear that Einar’s family is in danger. Einar’s father was already killed in a previous Viking raid, and Einar himself trains to prepare for the next one.
When the raid comes, it is brutal and merciless, as one would expect from the Vikings. Einar’s determination to protect his family isn’t enough, and they are killed while he is taken into slavery. The story then follows Einar’s journey as a slave, including a sea voyage back to the land of the Norwegians, which many did not survive. Einar struggles to come to terms with his new life as a slave and the loss of his family, but he is determined to survive and find a way to escape.
As the story progresses, it intersects with familiar characters from the first season, including Thorfinn, the main protagonist. The anime excels at humanizing the story and highlighting its emotional depth, making it more than just another action series about Vikings. It also adds original material from the manga to flesh out the characters’ backstories, seamlessly integrating it into the source material—a credit to series writer Seko Hiroshi.
Overall, this season premiere of Vinland Saga is a strong start for the series, maintaining the high standard of storytelling and animation set by the first season while introducing new elements that will undoubtedly be explored in the coming episodes. Fans of the manga and anime alike will eagerly await the next episodes to see how Einar’s story unfolds and how it connects to the larger narrative of the series.
There were concerns that the switch in animation studios from Wit to MAPPA could mean a drop in quality, but director Yabuta Shuuehi, who has been with the series since the first season, has managed to maintain the high standards of animation and storytelling. The new season is set to run for 24 episodes, giving ample time to fully adapt the story arc and even add some original elements.
In the first episode, viewers are introduced to Einar, a slave living with his mother and sister in northern England. We see them happily living on a small farm, but we also know the history of Viking raids in the area, and it’s clear that Einar’s family is in danger. Einar’s father was already killed in a previous Viking raid, and Einar himself trains to prepare for the next one.
When the raid comes, it is brutal and merciless, as one would expect from the Vikings. Einar’s determination to protect his family isn’t enough, and they are killed while he is taken into slavery. The story then follows Einar’s journey as a slave, including a sea voyage back to the land of the Norwegians, which many did not survive. Einar struggles to come to terms with his new life as a slave and the loss of his family, but he is determined to survive and find a way to escape.
As the story progresses, it intersects with familiar characters from the first season, including Thorfinn, the main protagonist. The anime excels at humanizing the story and highlighting its emotional depth, making it more than just another action series about Vikings. It also adds original material from the manga to flesh out the characters’ backstories, seamlessly integrating it into the source material—a credit to series writer Seko Hiroshi.
Overall, this season premiere of Vinland Saga is a strong start for the series, maintaining the high standard of storytelling and animation set by the first season while introducing new elements that will undoubtedly be explored in the coming episodes. Fans of the manga and anime alike will eagerly await the next episodes to see how Einar’s story unfolds and how it connects to the larger narrative of the series.
This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
Comment(s) 0