Despite Hakusensha’s
recent statement that Studio Eclypse’s “ Berserk:
The Black Swordsman ” fan project constitutes copyright infringement,
the studio has announced that it will continue with the project ,
albeit with some changes. This stance has sparked growing concern among fans
and critics in the industry, as the production lacks official approval and has
been questioned for its practices.
©Studio Eclypse
In a post on
Twitter, Studio Eclypse claimed to have not received “any kind of
formal cease and desist order, takedown request, or letter asking us to stop
the project.” They also stated that they are attempting to establish
communication with the copyright holders of Berserk and mentioned a “major
company in the industry” that would be supporting them in their goal of
adapting the Black Swordsman arc. They even plan to become an official
studio next year, and are already preparing pre-production materials and
animation tests to present to the intellectual property holders.
Hakusensha’s
reaction last month was blunt, as it directly called out Studio Eclypse for
working on a Berserk anime without the necessary authorization, something that
is rarely seen in the industry when it comes to fan projects. While fan projects are nothing new
within the Berserk community, Studio Eclypse has been criticized for abandoning
their initial stance of not profiting from the project, especially after they
began funding it through Patreon. Although they have voluntarily
removed their Patreon and related videos “as a sign of respect and good faith,”
the damage has already been done, and many are wary of the studio’s intentions.
These types of
unauthorized projects not only violate copyright, but also raise ethical
questions about exploiting a work that belongs to its original creators. While
Studio Eclypse has encouraged fans to support official releases, the fact that
they are moving forward with a project of this magnitude without formal
permission from Hakusensha is concerning.
Additionally,
Studio Eclypse is facing additional controversies with its “AOT Requiem”
project, which aims to offer an alternative ending to the “Attack on Titan”
manga. This project,
also made by fans, has generated divided opinions, and although Studio Eclypse
promised to release the first and only episode before the end of the year, the
lack of clarity regarding copyright and the impact of unofficial projects remains
a sensitive topic within the community.
Source: OfficialTwitter Account
