Is Vinland Saga worth-watching?

Every year, anime comes and goes. What doesn’t change, are the anime that make up the “Hall of Fame” such as Death Note, Code Geass, Fullmetal Alchemist, and so on. But this season brings us Vinland Saga – an anime with mad potential. With only a few episodes released, the insane excitement and urge to know where this anime will lead is a refreshing feeling.

Verdict

Yes, by all means, you should watch the show. The battle scenes in this anime would keep your eyes glued to the screen and the plot seems to be a build-up to something that we’re yet to see. An interesting set of antagonistic characters have been introduced that add substance to the plot.

As of yet, with interesting characters such as Thors, Thorfinn, and others such as Leif and the villagers, we can definitely see an engaging anime being put together.

Storyline

Vinland Saga’s plot revolves around the son of a mighty warrior, Thors, popularly known as the Troll of Jom, who deserts an important battle. Thors settles in Iceland where he lives a peaceful life with his wife, son, and daughter. The first four episodes set the foundation for our protagonist’s journey in life and an understanding of the person that inspires him – his father.

While Thors deserted the battle in an attempt to live a peaceful life, his son, Thorfinn seeks out adventure and battles. The difference in their philosophies is a jarring one, where we see Thors attempting to advise his son that swords are not the answer to problems in life. That having been said, Thors is not a man of words, he is a man of action. Thors refuses to kill anyone and hopes to settle battle through his fists.

Thorfinn – the protagonist

Thorfinn, as a character, is an enthusiastic child who wishes to become the powerful warrior his father is – except for the peaceful life he’s adopted presently. Thors’ friend, Leif Erikson, an adventure explorer talks about Vinland to the children of Iceland. Vinland is the escape the villagers need from the harsh cold weather that plagues their lifestyle. Vinland, which is actually America, has warm and green grasslands perfect for cultivation. Therefore, Vinland Saga might trace their journey to settle in Vinland, their paradise – along with the adventures of our protagonist, Thorfinn, who will probably be roughened by life experiences.

The anime sets aside Vikings from the image they have as violent raiders in history. It does not glorify violence and attempts to put forth the idea of war as immature.

About the Studios

Vinland Saga is a Viking-themed anime brought to us by Wit Studios. Wit Studios, well known for Attack on Titan, does not drop in quality one bit. In fact, it probably pushes it up a few notches, if I may dare say. The animation’s vivid colours, sharp character design and fluidity complement the setting of Vinland Saga.

The animation style, in the beginning, reminded me of Megalo Box. Megalo Box itself had established that even within a series of superhuman and overpowered action anime, a real-life anime can give us the same amount of thrill with no compromises.

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