On July 8, 2019, the Japanese anime “Vinland Saga,” created by Makoto Yukimura, premiered in Japan before spreading to the United States to become one of the most popular anime series in the country.
The series begins with an enraged boy named Thorfinn who seeks vengeance against the Viking who murdered his father right in front of him. The young boy keeps his promise by doing everything he can to avenge his father as he follows Askeladd, the man he seeks, hoping to one day duel and kill him.
The setting stays consistently harsh to mirror Thorfinn’s anger. From the slaughter on the battlefield to the fires that consume whole villages, every scene reflects his rage; the gray skies, snowy landscapes and ship-wrecking storms all help in understanding the isolation Thorfinn faces for years.
Thorfinn’s battles are not fought with his bare hands, but with his distinct choice of weapon: the two daggers given to him by his father right before he was killed. The daggers follow him into every battle until he is known as the boy who wields the strange weapons. In a way, Yukimura intentionally wrote Thorfinn to wield this unique weapon; even visually, the twin daggers set him apart from other Vikings.
Small details in the animation and pacing shape Thorfinn’s journey. The battles and challenges Thorfinn pursued would not be nearly as emotional if it were not for the music. Beautiful instrument combinations such as the piano paired with the violin build intensity during key moments in the show.
The soundtrack, paired with the animated details from the Viking era, almost places you beside the revenge-driven boy who is feared by many.
That is why, on Jan. 9, 2023, the release of the second season left most of its viewers rethinking whether the main character was the same rageful, murderous boy from the first season.
The details differentiating Thorfinn from the first season start with his new appearance, reflecting the careful design choices made by the producers. His relaxed expression paired with his brown eyes and grown-out hair tell a story by themselves: he no longer lives for the desire to seek revenge.
After years of fighting for revenge, dueling Askeladd countless times and living a life of war, season two shifts to a life of peace for Thorfinn.
The contrast between the two seasons encourages viewers to compare Thorfinn in season one to his character in season two. This leaves viewers to decide which version of Thorfinn they think suits him best.
The blue, clear sky animated along with the soft wind blowing the fields Thorfinn now farms for a living strongly contributes to the producers’ idea of matching Thorfinn’s setting to his inner emotions.
Although Thorfinn never veered off his path of vengeance in season one, the producers included powerful dialogue in the second season that viewers would never expect to hear coming from him. He questions whether people could change and then swears never to kill a soul again.
In just a few words carefully chosen by the producers, Thorfinn’s growth was effectively summarized.
After Thorfinn was sold off into slavery at the end of season one, the creators intentionally did not include how Thorfinn lost his twin daggers: a moment that is considered Thorfinn letting go of his life of vengeance.
The melodic music continues to shape the idea of growth and change Thorfinn faces and motivates viewers into wanting to be better. The beautiful music complements Thorfinn’s transformation and truly shows his development.
This anime series was not only beautifully written, but it also resonated with me like no other anime. Once I started watching it, it became the one series I would actually sit down and fully pay attention to, rather than leaving it playing in the background like other shows.
Although similar to other anime series in its fight scenes, the meaning behind “Vinland Saga” remains truly original and leaves a lasting impact on the viewer.
