Vinland Saga is surprisingly exceptional, in recreating the Vikings theme way better than most Western adaptations ever could. The series is built upon a rich human narrative that stands taller than most of the generic anime, portraying the balance between the horrors of war and the joys of freedom.
While the anime community often draws comparisons between Vinland Saga and Attack on Titan, one can argue that the former portrays similar aspects of war far more comprehensively. Such was proven in a recent interview with the creator, Makoto Yukimura, where he shared his humble opinions about the creative journey of this one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Vinland Saga Has a More Profound Narrative Direction That Attack on Titan Certainly Lacks
In a very recent interview with Anime Corner, Yukimura-sensei explained how he had initially come up with several character interactions in Vinland Saga (suggesting, especially Thorfinn & Canute) and talked about the series’ iconic lines, such as “I have no enemies“. His insight turned out to be a rather rare glimpse into the mind behind this world-class manga series.
According to Yukimura, he has always held on to his original direction of the series, saying that it is just how he had envisioned 20 years ago. Even after such a long gap, he still remembered those days when he first read the stories about Europeans coming to the Americas, as a child.
What I was thinking at the very beginning when I started writing, and now, 20 years later with the end approaching, there isn’t that big of a difference. I believe I’m progressing the story the way I originally thought.
The fact that there isn’t much difference between what he was thinking when he first began and what he’s been thinking for the past 20 years is already a huge difference from Attack on Titan. Unlike Attack on Titan, which seemed lost near its conclusion, Vinland Saga has maintained a clear direction. The sheer strength of its foundation is what sets Vinland Saga apart from other series with similar themes. So with all due respect, the audience should expect a perfect and genuine ending to land this iconic series on its two feet.
Vinland Saga’s Inevitable End is Nigh
Vinland Saga is finally on its inevitable way of wrapping up once and for all. It surely has come a long way since the time it was first released, but now seems like the last few chapters of the story are waiting to be told. Although Yukimura-sensei had already laid down all the plot elements, for some reason, the actual ending is well-kept by the author.
As of now, October [18] 2024, I only have a few more chapters to write for the story of Vinland Saga… Honestly, I don’t know how this is going to pan out at the end. I’m going to do my best, though.
He claims that there are not many chapters left, but he is still pretty clueless about what the actual specifics of the ending even are. In any case, one can rest assured that he is sure to bring the perfect conclusion, that he originally envisioned.
Yukimura also hopes that the themes in Vinland Saga can bring about a positive change in the world and that his message would inspire a more profound understanding of the value of peace and a war-free world.
Both Season 1 & 2 of Vinland Saga are available to watch on Crunchyroll.
