Studio Eclypse Suspends Its Ambitious ‘BERSERK: The Black Swordsman’ Fan Anime Project

Summary

• Studio Eclypse’s fan‑made BERSERK: The Black Swordsman adaptation is now on indefinite hiatus after rights‑holder objections
• The studio was “forced to stop publishing” due to Studio Gaga’s disapproval, with legal issues stemming from unauthorized IP use

Studio Eclypse has confirmed that BERSERK: The Black Swordsman, its widely anticipated fan‑made adaptation of Kentaro Miura’s Berserk, has been placed on hiatus. The project first surged in visibility in May 2024 when its trailer went viral, offering fans a rare glimpse at what many hoped would become the first faithful, atmospheric 2D adaptation of the manga’s earliest arc. In a new statement shared on the studio’s X account, the team explained that they were “forced to stop publishing” the project after continued disapproval from the rights holders, Studio Gaga.

The fan animation set out to adapt the “Black Swordsman” arc — an early storyline that many fans feel has never received a proper on‑screen treatment, having been condensed in the 1997 anime and largely bypassed in later adaptations. Studio Eclypse aimed to deliver a high‑quality, traditionally animated version of the arc, with its first episode originally planned for a Summer 2025 release.

Despite strong community enthusiasm, the project quickly drew legal scrutiny due to its unauthorized use of the Berserk IP and its reliance on fan‑funded donations. The situation escalated when Studio Gaga and publisher Hakusensha issued a public statement condemning the animation and clarifying that the project had no official approval.

In response, Studio Eclypse attempted to open communication with the rights holders in hopes of securing a legitimate path forward. The team removed all videos and shut down its Patreon page as a gesture of good faith while seeking a resolution. However, those efforts did not lead to an agreement. In its latest X update, Studio Eclypse noted that Studio Gaga has instead chosen to move forward with a separate, officially sanctioned adaptation produced by a Japanese studio, leaving no pathway for the fan project to continue in any authorized form. As a result, BERSERK: The Black Swordsman has entered an indefinite hiatus while Studio Eclypse reassesses its future and considers shifting away from fan animation entirely.

𒉭Strugglers, with extreme disappointment we’re sharing the news that The Black Swordsman project has NOT been approved by the owners.
-A lot of people believe that we chose to not continue the project, but in reality we were forced to stop publishing after the IP Holders sent… pic.twitter.com/f2rZZzEHTx

— Studio Eclypse (@studio_eclypse) December 12, 2025