The imaginations that form the universe of One Piece are a heaven-sent dream for ship lovers. Eiichiro Oda’s magnum opus can never be forgotten, with all the boundless voyages of the Straw Hat Pirates across the seven seas. However, in the darker shores of the manga industry, Kentaro Miura quietly kept drawing some of the most arduously crafted ship designs in the medium.
With the spooky sails of Ghost Ship, the Vandimion’s massive hull vessels, Berserk’s detail knows no bounds. Thus, the question arises if Berserk truly mastered its art better than One Piece with its insanely detailed naval designs.
The Insane Amount of Details Seen in The Ships in Berserk
Amidst this dark fantasy, Kentaro Miura’s keen eye for detail breathes life into the ships of Berserk. The minute details and authenticity of these vessels are astounding, and some have clear inspirations drawn from real-world historical ships. From the majestic Portuguese carracks to the imposing Galleons, his research and attention to detail send readers off to a grim medieval world.
Every plank, every rope, and every cannon was masterfully rendered to include fans in the eerie, gothic atmosphere of Berserk’s naval landscapes.
The vessels in Berserk are also a manifestation of the era’s advanced naval engineering. The use of wood permitted artistic variations that wouldn’t have been possible with steel due to the weight and stiffness of metal. Without these modern material burdens, medieval shipbuilders were able to create both practical and marvelous ship designs.
Miura conveys this accurately and yet allows its darkness and imagination to shine forth. The fruit of it all is a fleet of vessels that are, aesthetically pleasing to look at, yet comprised with rich historical context, giving such depth and richness to the world of Berserk. As always, attention to detail stands out in Miura’s works, creating a visual eye candy that entangles fans in this fantastical world.
However, Ships in One Piece Are Quite Superior For One Certain Reason
From design to the stories they tell, One Piece ships truly stand tall. As Eiichiro Oda weaves history, emotion, and personality into them, every vessel is inevitably an integral part of the story. From the Thousand Sunny to the Moby Dick, every ship has a purpose and reflects the journeys and struggles of its owners.
cope harder lil bro pic.twitter.com/0Yx7bTWLUc
— saint shepherd ju peter (@HiderOfr) September 23, 2024
These convoluted panels cant really compensate for a lack of coherent storytelling
One-piece got that depth, rich narrative and clears your favorites ☝️💯 pic.twitter.com/t7g4XAmuZv
— YUKI 👑 (@NatsumiYuki633) September 24, 2024
The serialization differences between One Piece and Berserk in how the former comes out weekly and the latter as monthly make their approaches quite unique. Oda’s ability to pace and make his ships visually important, while also keeping them vital for the narrative, is a pivotal story element. The detailed style by Miura is astounding and impressive, however, his ships lack emotional reliability.
Enjoy that one chapter a year
— Prophet (@WillOfXebec) September 23, 2024
Yeah comparing this with a WEEKLY manga is really fair 👍
— Nico (@NicoVicenzo491) September 24, 2024
Many say the ships One Piece builds truly surpass Berserk. So instead of comparison, let’s respect both creators for their singular talents. Mutual respect from us to Oda and Miura would create a healthier community, and all these diverse talents should be equally appreciated for their legacy in the manga industry.
One Piece is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
