Shad Facts: Shad tried to play golf. He just got frustrated because he kept slicing the ball, by the third ball he was told to put the sword away and use a golf club. He is however the only person to score 2 and a half holes in one on his local golf course.
There is no true way to express my appreciation for your Shad Facts. Shad is the next Chuck Norris, and you are documenting it video by video. Keep up the heroic work!
Shad, I have studied Viking history, and Vikings did a lot of naval combat. At least half the battles in the sagas I read were sea battles between Viking warlords. Please up-vote so Shad can see this. His statement that they "rarely did naval combat" can't slide.
I would like to add the fact that the specified time (987 AD), place (outside the coast of Sunnmøre) and some of the people involved (the jomsvikings including Thorkell the Tall) clearly indicates that this battle is supposed to depict the battle of Hjörungavágr (despite the fact that this battle is believed to have been held in 986 AD, the location of it is somewhat moot and the Norwegain opponents were probably not christianized yet (assuming they were all from Lade)), which indeed was a naval combat.
@Badger0fDeath EGIL'S SAGA. - Chapter 9: "The fleets met south in Rogaland in Hafr's Firth. There was fought the greatest battle that king Harold had had, with much slaughter in either host. The king set his own ship in the van, and there the battle was most stubborn, but the end was that king Harold won the victory... nor was there a man unwounded in the king's ship before the mast, except those whom iron bit not to wit the Berserks" - Chapter 27:"They slew all that came in their way, the same did Skallagrim where he boarded the ship; nor did father and son stay hands till the ship was cleared. When Kveldulf came aft to the stern-castle, he brandished high his battle-axe, and smote Hallvard right through helm and head, so that the axe sank in even to the shaft; then he snatched it back towards him so forcibly that he whirled Hallvard aloft, and slung him overboard. Skallagrim cleared the forecastle, slaying Sigtrygg. Many men plunged into the sea; but Skallagrim's men took one of the boats, and rowed after and slew all that were swimming." - Chapter 58: "They leapt armed into the cutter, and rowed forward between the land and the long-ship that was advancing nearest to the land; this was king Eric's ship. But, as it happened suddenly and there was little light, the two ships ran past each other. And when the stern-castles were opposite, then Egil hurled a spear and smote in the middle the man who sat steering, Kettle Hod to wit, and at once he got his bane. Then king Eric called out and bade men row after Egil and his party, but as their vessels ran past Egil's merchant-ship, the king's men leapt aboard of that. And those of Egil's men who had been left behind, and not leapt into the cutter, were all slain who could be caught, but some escaped to land. " BRENNU-NJAL'S SAGA. -Chapter 5: "Meantime Hrut's ships ran on, and as soon as either side could hear the other's hail, Atli stood up... caught up a spear and hurled it at Hrut's ship, and the man who stood before it got his death. After that the battle began, and they were slow in boarding Hrut's ship. Wolf, he went well forward, and with him it was now cut, now thrust... Atli leaps up on Hrut's ship, and clears it fast round about... There they took much goods, and brought away with them two ships which were best, and stayed there only a little while. But meantime Soti and his crew had sailed past them, and he held on his course back to Norway." -1st sea battle in Chapter 30: "Andil caught up a grappling-iron, and cast it between their ships and Gunnar's ship, and began at once to drag it towards him. Oliver had given Gunnar a good sword; Gunnar now drew it, and had not yet put on his helm. He leapt at once on the forecastle of Vandil's ship, and gave one man his death-blow. Karli ran his ship alongside the other side of Gunnar's ship, and hurled a spear athwart the deck, and aimed at him about the waist. Gunnar sees this, and turned him about so quickly, that no eye could follow him, and caught the spear with his left hand, and hurled it back at Karli's ship, and that man got his death who stood before it. Kolskegg snatched up a grapnel and casts it at Karli's ship, and the fluke fell inside the hold, and went out through one of the planks, and in rushed the coal-blue sea, and all the men sprang on board other ships." - 2nd sea battle in Chapter 30: "just when they were boun they see ships coming up to them. And now a fight sprung up between them, and they fought long, and many men fell. Gunnar slew many a man. Hallgrim and his men leapt on board Gunnar's ship, Gunnar turns to meet him, and Hallgrim thrust at him with his bill... After that the sea-rovers begged for mercy." - Chapter 81: "Then they sailed south along the land... One day when the weather was good, Kol saw the ships as they sailed up towards him... and bade [his people] to take their weapons... a fight arose; and they fought long, so that neither side had the mastery. Then Kol sprang up on Thrain's ship, and cleared the gangways fast, and slays many men...Thrain hews at Kol, and the stroke came on his leg so that it cut it off. After that they slew Kol, and Thrain cut off his head, and they threw the trunk over-board, but kept his head. There they took much spoil, and then they held on north to Drontheim." And many more!
As a national level swimmer. We do drills where we have to kick as hard as we can with weights on us. It’s possible for someone as strong as thors to stay afloat underwater with the weight on him.
I think his issue was that Thors is just casually floating without even needing to exert any effort. It's not an inability to swim really, just it'd be a constant battle against the negative buoyancy with all that heavy gear.
Solution: Thors is 80% body fat, so he doesn't need to kick in order to float with armor on. The armor is the only thing keeping him underwater past the waist.
@@LuciusC I think showing Thors with moving legs (like an underwater treading) would've been a nice touch. I'll blame the animation budget on that, as showing a nearly still image is cheaper. Do that a couple hundred times an episode, and you save thousands of dollars and can put that money elsewhere. It is otherwise realistic. I can see a dude that can jump like that wearing 35-60 pounds and swimming fine no problem. I think I could do it myself, but it certainly wouldn't be comfortable or easy. And to be fair, for all this dude's strength, he's panting hard by the time he's on shore and can barely walk away despite only really getting hit by a single arrow.
Same! I'd absolutely LOVE it if chad did a reaction to the whole series. I dont care if each episode take like 4+ hours! Watching an actual historian review a series like this is priceless!!
I hate to say this, but I only watch this man so I know what not to become when I get to be that age. Acting like a historian on TH-cam and being an "Expert" on subjects you dont understand.
His gleeful smile is the source of his charm. Even discovering him reading the manga would make you fall in love with that giant ; as he just looks like he's enjoying himself all the time but when forbidden to fight ; in which case he just pouts like a child.
It should be said that Thors is meant to be straight up broken in terms of strength and fighting in the story, he’s an allusion to the Viking heroes of old.
Not just that, but in anything he writes. His other award-winning work PlanetES for example, so much research and knowledge of the science of orbital space stationing.
I binge watched the first 15 episodes last Sunday. For a Viking epic coming out of Japan they got a lot right...I'd say at least as accurate as the 13th Warrior or the Vikings series on History Channel. I accepted the inaccuracies because it was a good action series, but what I really appreciated about the 1st 7 episodes is that the writer , unlike so many Hollywood movies these days, really know how to follow the formula of the hero's journey. Even though it was the early 11th century, and by this time a great deal of Norse culture was converting to Christianity, the second 7 episodes centered too much on Christian theology...when you watch a Viking Saga, you want to see more of the old Norse culture...but that said, I highly recommend this series.
yeah, he mentioned that he wanted to show the Japanese audience the similarities between their cultures so that they could better understand the decisions the characters make later and not be put off for not understanding how brave of a choice they're actually making due to the cultures they've lived and breathed and how they got to those points.
People put horns nshit on their helmets _now._ Humans haven't changed that much in the last thousand years (just look at the graffiti at Pompei). So there were probably guys who did the same thing back then.
Loinnir S in fairness as someone who studies history academically, he actually called out some things that were realistic, like a lot of Norse had turned Christian at the time because it made any kingdoms, duchies, etc. they set up more legitimate if they were of the ‘true faith’ etc.
Divers carry, as a rule of thumb, 10% of their body mass in lead to become neutrality buoyant. A mail hauberk is, according to a quick Google search, 6-9 kg and would experience about 12% of its weight in buoyant force when submerged in water - more so in cold salt water. Swimming in mail armour would certainly be difficult, but you most certainly wouldn't sink like a rock.
@@serafinschaller1688 Well good for the manga/anime that its authenticy and accuracy lies in the world the story takes palce, not necessarily the characters. Which is fine from a storytelling point of view.
As a Viking historical buff of sorts, and after watching the full season. I can say it’s the most historical representation of Viking culture and conflicts of the time. I would love to see a full analysis on the series as a whole. Especially by somebody like you.
@@Vulcano7965 absolutely loved it. Although it took some creative liberties, I definitely feel they are adequate and somewhat minor. It is clear the author who wrote the series has done in depth research into viking culture which is surprisingly rare for pop cultural depictions. I am interested in seeing how he decides to depict the challenges of settling Vinland, and how many more historical figures he will choose to add.
They did fight in ships usually against other Vikings one instance would be the Battle of Hafrsfjord which was the battle that unified Norway. They usually fought by grappling their ships together and boarding the enemy ship.
@@synapse0 Harald Hårfagre was not the one that christianized most of Norway atleast. That was Olav Haraldson's and Feite Olav's (St. Olav the Holy) doing.
@@tingispingis I've only seen the first season of the anime and I liked it tbh and i'm looking forward to the proceeding seasons bro. It's not bad at all, the first season might've been better than the first season of vikings, so it could surpass it if it continues on this trajectory.
I love this anime. Dont know if you have gotten that far yet, but essentially the main cast are all connected to the more mythasized version of jomsvikings so they are treated as demi gods or super humans. The guy that wrote the manga said that's what he was shooting for and they handled it perfectly imo in the anime
I'm a Swedish archaeologist specialized in late viking and early medieval Scandinavia and have some points to make about this. Firstly, you called the Viking age early medieval Scandinavia. Here the Viking age is considered to be late iron age, the medieval period doesn't start until in between 1050-1100 CE. When it comes to the beards we actually don't have much to go on, but we do have finds of combs and razors from that time period which indicates that they where well groomed, so a gotie is not that hard to imagine. If I remembered right the battle in the beginning where set in the 970's and by that time there where defenetly people that where christians I'm Scandinavia. And even if they where not christians the cross was in fashion and there is a possibility that people could use that symbol even though you're a pagan. The clothes on the other hand where a little bit unhistorical especially that main characters boots. We have no finds of boots that high instead they used leg wrapping upp to the knee.
steel-mastery.com/image/catalog/articles/VikingClothingMainCategory/x28.VikingMensBoots.jpg.pagespeed.ic.XHelhYt3bt.jpg here you can see a picture of a viking boot find that covers above mid-shin.
Vinland Saga is actually one of few medieval Anime that passes the line of being authentic enough to earning itself some leeway when it comes to having OP characters or MC's with an unrealistic fighting style. Also with semi-historical shows like this i think it's best to take them in as a tale that's told to you many years later, in which certain scenes and characters were embellished a bit here and there.
@@bowmanc.7439 thorfin karsifi was a real explorer that along with leif Ericsson tried to settle vinland (canada) and if I'm correct is the oldest nordic ruins in America that we know of. And yes I'm aware im not spelling their names correctly.
The moment you realize Greek and Viking story tellers would have gotten along beautifully. Stupid OP heroes who exist in the sort of middle space between history and folk-tale. The exagerated re-tellings of the great heroes of old.
It's sad when an island nation on a completely different continent, halfway across the world gets the Viking aesthetic more honestly and accurately in a cartoon than a game studio that prides itself with historical accuracy.
History channel has basically been fantasy and conspiracy channel and even at the start when all they talked about was ww2, if you want actual viking stuff netflix has alot more accurate things like northmen (also the russians made the movie "viking" which is damn accurate and also fitting since russians have swedish descent)
@@oliviertrudel2384 yes and no, that depends on what you mean. In japan anime is used as synonymous to animation they use it for disney for example. Anime gained another meaning in the rest of the world were it became the animations that were made and aired by Japanese companies. So you can say that anime is a cartoon
Honestly, when I look at older productions like the Lawrence Olivier Henry V and Richard III, or the Czech Hussite trilogy of movie, there is much more historical authenticity. Like, every costume looks like the person just walked straight from a manuscript or museum. But today it feels like either the studio is cheep when it comes to costumes or they simply don't care, or maybe even worse, the studio decides that giving the historical stuff an overhaul to make it more "fashionable" to modern tastes, like when they turned the Tudor fashion into something from a Disney live action movie, or when they dressed Vikings as metal concert-goers.
18:19 the original translation was “Marie.. I’m... s-sorry” he was basically saying goodbye to his wife and he’s sorry for dying and leaving her alone. This ties into Thors’ pacifist ideology and why he decides to abandon war cause of all the harm it does.
@@dinurieldinusdono6002 its still unrealistic. A pacifist can never force a war monger to be peaceful without resorting to methods that make him a war monger himself. Its still as unrealistic as ever
This anime did something no other anime does: actually having the swords wither and *BREAK* after multiple clashes, as it should in real life (fans know which fight I'm talking about)
Well, I didn't watch more than a couple of minutes of this show because I wasn't in the mood for what it seemed to be, but judging by how strong the characters are and how hard they hack and swing about, it's probably realistic that their swords break that quickly - though for a normal person, I doubt that actually snapping a decently crafted sword that isn't flimsy by design with, what I assume to be a couple dozen hard swings on hard targets, strikes me as quite unlikely
@@justaguywithamask6505 I think he's talking about about Thors, Askeladd, etc. There's also Thorkell but I don't think I saw him using a sword at all in the show.
There are 5 battles I know in which naval warfare involving vikings. Battle of Helgeå Battle of Hjörungavágr Battle of Nesjar Battle of Niså Battle of Svolder
In Egils saga alone i want so say there are like 3 battles large and small scale that take place exclusively on long ships. Also in Egils saga they reference just how important and what an honor it was to be the warrior in the prow of a long ship as you'd often be the first to make contact with the foe in a ship to ship engagement.
Beowulf swims in mail and fights sea monsters. If you are willing to forgive some things because of the viking sagas, then you should forgive that as well.
Shad is right, thors is downright superhuman. But I appreciate that the other guy also amazed by thors and says that "weight mean nothing to him" which explain thors is extraordinary warrior even among vikings.
I doubt want to spoil anything but this is pretty accurate it is implied that thors and some of the other cast members are actually demi gods or at least mythical strong to highlight some of the crazy shit that happens in the sagas and show the scenes as if it was real. The action really takes of at around episode 5, and is genuinely very well done
Missionaries were in full swing during the late 900's and were fairly successful at converting Scandinavians to Christianity. Of course, there were plenty that were brutally murdered in their attempts, but hey, you win some you lose some.
@@beurteilung713 Technologically, most definitely. In terms of social wellbeing, there's room to argue a sizable number of people found purpose in their faith and thus, were "saved." I for one think that some other religion would've filled in the Abrahamic faiths were they not to exist. It doesn't take a genius to realize religion is an excellent motivator to get people to do what you want (e.g. Zen Buddhism, ancient Egyptian paganism, Confucianism (though more a philosophy.))
More precisely, the Vikings were mercenary’s for the Byzantine empire. U can see runes carved in the Hagia Sofia. That’s where and how Christianity was brought to them
@@BlackEpyon I didn't say "vikings." I said "Norsemen." So that includes some viking, but also includes other people, non-combatant ones, such as Leif Erikson, merchants, and many others.
The norse religion has a god called Baldur (Baldr) that was similar to Jesus Christ in the way that he died and was ressurected. This made it easier for the Scandinavian people to accept the new faith of Christianity.
@@Knackebrodz Question is, did the Christians invent Baldur, or co-opt an already existing deity? I'm not expert, but it looks like the Poetic Edda could (?) have been from around the same time or after the early Christian missionaries. Just reading the description, he seems a little "too" familiar, similar to how the Greek Aphroditie was split into a figure representing agape love, and more in line with the Virgin Mary than the fickle horny divine slut she used to be.
I think this naval battle might be a reference to the Battle of Hjörungavágr EDIT: Uh yeah, as soon as the hailstorm started, it's DEFINITELY a reference to Hjörungavágr.
@@sindrethun-smith7052: Yeah, but I wasn't sure about the year. The creators could've chosen the location for any reason if I just went with the location alone. But the other clues made it a done deal.
I'm pretty sure in other translations (this one seems a touch inaccurate) it straight up says it's at Hjörungavágr, or something that looks close enough to that (I can't read/pronounce those older viking words unless I hear them said first :P )
This battle is based off Slaget ved Hjørungavåg As described off the coast of Sunnmøre. 120 Danish ships faced a fleet of 300 Norwegian ships! Due to a storm most of the ships couldnt do a landing. So much of the battle was done at seas. Alot of danes were christians.
Except the character in this is a Jomsviking who fought for the Danes, so the Christian in this scenario was a Norwegian. There were also many mixed pagans and christians on both sides at this point otherwise Olaf Tryggvason, who was a "convert or be killed" type of christian, would never have become king of Norway a few years later.
There was also another naval battle against a norwegian king I have heard of, he was christianising norway the pagan Norwegians formed a coalition with the Svea Götar and Gutes(everything here is something I heard 10 years ago its probably inaccurate) and they managed to defeat the Christians at sea then something else happened that I don't remember
- For Vinlad saga, I think the source manga version is far more "historically authentic" 'cause the author draw most weapons with proper lengths & sizes while the fight scenes a lot more "grounded" (still a superhuman though). The anime kinda exaggerates a bit imo, maybe 'cause of being an "animation?" it's hard to say . . . - another layer of clothes over a mails are very common & logical so I think It's more than plausible imo. - You should totally check out "Wolfsmund" too. It's not an anime (yet), more of a manga. The story is a historical retelling of the rise of Switzerland. & yes, it even has a "mordhau" too LOL
in original manga they show it's like a very strong human not this much anime typo all of this video is not in manga at all even the jump in trailer is actually just a jump to the river below and sneaky climb up a wall while the enemy distract by ambush which not impressive enough for anime people i guess
I was genuinely disappointed when I saw Thors effortlessly beating up elite soldiers with bare hands - like, defaq, you thought it's going to be realistic and then this shit happens...
I first picked up the Vinland Saga Manga, almost by accident when I was just starting to get interested in the Vikings. What I will say is that I was surprised that it is very aesthetically accurate, it is more accurate than inaccurate when it comes to culture and playing loosely with historical events. You can say that Vinland Saga is much more historically authentic than historically accurate. However, I think that Vinland Saga is much more accurate and much more authentic to the Viking period than the TV-series Vikings is in every aspect. With regards to Naval battle, the Vikings definitely had Naval Battles with each other. One of them was the Battle of Svolder where Danish, Swedish and Norwegian Vikings challenged Olaf Tryggvasson's rule over Norway. Olaf had a huge ship, greater than any Longship, according to the Sagas, called The Long Serpent. I would also disagree with you that the Viking period was toning down in the 10th century. The Vikings invaded all of England in the early 11th century and Vinland Saga takes place during that invasion of England. Otherwise, great review Shad and I hope you enjoy the series as much as I do!
Týr's homage to their native tradition is why they're awesome. And the ballad does indeed describe (in obviously exaggerated terms) the Battle of Svolder. Here's a more traditional version of the Faroese ballad, which Týr rendered in equally stirring fashion: th-cam.com/video/KvjdBelNFZM/w-d-xo.html
I'm pretty sure that this battle depicted in the anime is supposed to be the Battle of Hjörungavágr, which is one of the few famous naval battles fought between vikings. It is in the same place with the same factions the only issue being that most estimate it to have happened a year before what it says in the anime, though I seem to recall this series playing a bit loose with the dates in a few other places as well.
@@barethor5869 Oh, pardon, didn't mean to imply that it was not. I myself wasn't familiar with the Battle of Hjörungavágr, but immediately recognised the mention of the Battle of Svolder, since the ballad about it is sung each year during the midnight song during Ólavsvøka (or Ólavsøka, "St Olaf's Wake") July 29th in the Faroe Islands. Of course, the ballad is instead about Olaf Tryggvason, not Olaf Haraldson, but that never stopped a good ballad. That aside, I think I saw a comment either farther up or farther down mentioning that the hail in the battle scene does indeed point to it being the Battle of Hjörungavágr.
@@Slokkatron I wasn't replying to you specifically, I was simply sharing more details on what is happening in the show, giving it more historical context, and showing another example of naval combat among vikings. I did not intend on implying there was anything wrong with your comment
I read the manga after watching 3 episodes. I was completely hooked. Not only does the artstyle rise to the quality of berserk/vagabond, but it becomes a masterpiece in character building/storytelling. All the "supernatural" feats of combat/strength are in the early parts for a reason.
21:30 During my lifeguard test, one of the things I had to do was to swim with clothes while carrying a 10 pound ring of weight. As such I only swam using my legs. It would be absolutely possible to me to swim with 20-25 pounds of mail armor. Not for long, but I could swim with it and stay over water.
Yeah. Some people are not smart to do commentary. Because they don't know lot of knowledge. And that means they not suitable to do commentary in the first place.
You spelled it correctly, they're called kite shields because they resemble (sort of) kites, altough heater shields (to me) look more like kites than actual kite shields do.
Based on what? He doesn't say gomen or anything resembling an apology. He pretty clearly says "Maria-sama" and Maria is how the Japanese (and many others) call Mary.
@@kenshin1368 In the video, Shad paused the episode before he could completely say “マリア、すめない。。。”(maria, sumenai...). (“Sorry, Mary”) When arranged in English) What you heard when he paused the video, was “マリア、すめー”(maria, sume-). The “すめ”(sume) you heard sounded very similar to "ーさま"(-sama). It is used as I know as the highest ranking you can give someone in Japanese -as you said. As in English, different words in mean the same thing in other languages too. "ごめんなさい"(gomennasai) or "ごめん"(gomen), basically translate into "sorry". But that's not the only word in Japanese that means sorry. (I looked "すめない"up on google translate for clarification, as I just started learning Japanese two months ago).
@@anevtuscrynis3954 I think you meant すまない, which means to ask for forgiveness. すめない means something along the lines of "can't live here" or "be lived in".
@@feng_stop I clarified it again, and I wasn't wrong. "すめない" and "すまない" mean about the same thing. I think on google translate you pressed "住めない", which means "can't live". I can't explain that now, so I'd suggest looking it up.
Shad: This is a crime against Medieval Realism!!! Comments: Actually slot of this is right, can be proved in the Vinland Saga, and author studied the culture by going there.
The author going there doesn't really mean much though. I could go get hit by a freight train and still not know shit about freight trains. There is a ton of studying that goes into this stuff, and while i admit the show has a ton of accuracy, there is some wrong things as well.
He clearly didn't pick up too much, since he tries to turn certain Norse characters into samurai (in terms of attitude and beliefs), which makes no sense
This is an Author who went really deep with details of space ship and astronaut when they make Planetes. He even have 2 JAXA (Japanese NASA counterpart) scientist on call for consultation. Hell, The Anime DVD have NASA's astronaut giving bonus commentary, so yeah, this particular Author will do his fair share of research.
Yes, but in English many names for types of swords are just the word 'sword' in the native language. It's just to give it a common name to ease discussion.
@@qwormuli77 Sword and sverd are direct cognates, and many of the words that we use for foreign swords could be translated as "Sword" or "Cutter." I personally think that it's silly to insist on using native words for specific weapons when the native speakers themselves often don't care to distinguish. Just state the culture and time period.
@@hoonterofhoonters6588 Now-a-days they do, just like "us"(I've no idea where you're from, which kinda exemplifies the point. Finland here BTW). It's only in times, where there was way less concentration on categorizing and researching, they just called every sword a sword. Regardless of their spot on this globe. Even the type names of the western history are things we mainly made up in today's time. And without a way to name something, it's really hard to discuss about it, so it's a necessity. This way just stuck.
It's literally the same logic we've got applied to most other swords. "Gladius" is just the Roman word for "sword." "Talwar" is just the Sanskrit word for "single-edged sword." "Jian" is just the Chinese word for "sword." Yet we associate those words with not all swords, but only the swords of their culture. Shad is just being consistent to that naming scheme.
Dane here who happens to remember this from History Class. While there are debates of the exact when and where of the incident, the Battle of Svolder was between warring viking factions and took place at sea in either the year 999 or 1000 (Depending on sources.)
The beginning in the anime is actually solely on the anime In the manga this battle was simply talked bout in a conversation between [PERSON] and [PERSON] when they were [ACTIONING]
I appreciate this anime more because of shads videos and i appreciate shad more for reviewing this anime. I also love this kind of content, I hope for more. Great content
Just to note, there were christian vikings around this period as Harold Bluetooth of Denmark converted around the 960s and the first church was built by Ansgar in Heiðaby (Hedeby) around 840
I think I've read that some weren't even just christian, they just thought of Jesus, God, the Saints as "well yeah a couple more deities to add to our pantheon, nothing strange."
Shad, in regards to the Virgin Mary comment, he was indeed a Norseman. Circa 1000 AD many Norse, including Leif Erickson were beginning to convert to Christianity. In fact, the wearing of Mjolnirs were inspired by Christians wearing crucifix pendants and began as a show of defiance by the Norse that kept to the old religion
Yes vikings did naval engagements. Vikings even had special smaller ships for their chiefs to zip around the battlefield to form strategies and command his men.
Yeah, I mean it makes sense, Pirates did naval battle all the time, Vikings were largely Norse pirates for all intents and purposes, why wouldn't they do naval battles
@@usakenvi Well historically many nicknames were underexaggerated almos to joking points. I know someone called the "hairy" who was fking bigfoot, and a "handsome" who was ugly af.
If it come to Vindland Saga, I can’t recommend enough that you should take a look at the manga. 1. Way more accurate depictions of Viking period Armor. 2. More accurate fighting. 3. More obvious historical battle and war. You won’t regret it.
@@AgentSephiroth your statement doesn't really make sense since the manga has at least the anime's story but actually more gruesome images to show how cruel vikings can be. So yeah. I know, reading is hard
I love seeing all the stuff he brings up that actually gets referenced or used in later episodes. God I wish he did a react series for the whole show. I'd love to see his face when some of that stuff comes up.
A thing that I really appreciated in the first episode is the fact that in Iceland people use peat instead of wood for fire, and right at the start you see a guy with a shovel getting some. Very fine detail
As an avid reader of the VS manga I've always been astonished by the degree of attention to detail the author pours into his work. Surely, it still has many "over the top", typically japanese action scenes. Sometimes it gets some historical details wrong (like common people reading the bible in their native language, or warriors performing CPR). Yet the attention and study mr Yukimura put into Vinland Saga is laudable. Maybe in this first season it won't show up so much, but this care to historicity goes beyond the armors, the weapons and the general imagery. On a side note, Shad seems to exclude the fact that vikings could be christian. Obviously I'm not an expert on the matter, but it is my understanding that the nordic peoples were christianised gradually over the course of many centuries, mantaining some of their old belifes in some sincretic way for a long. In VS this is shown for istance in the first episodes where the explorer Leif Erikson, despite being a devoute christian, still belives that the wrath of Thor is to blame for the storm that is ensuing.
That battle in the first episode is part of a conflict resulting from the first Christian king of Denmark attempted to convert his Norwegian vassal to convert to Christianity
Well we don't know that they didn't do CPR. They knew that the heart was a pump for something very important (though they were uncertain what exactly it did) and manually pumping it to keep someone alive isn't unreasonable.
I really like the weaving of bushidos resolute acceptance of death into both religions as the prince basically resolves to make outter heaven after the monk tells him about death.
8:53 The cutting the mast (and several nearby enemies) in half sounds like the sort of thing that the Vikings would have thought was totally awesome and added it to their sagas to make them more bad-ass.
A few weeks ago, I bought the first volume of Vinland Saga. Then I bought another. Then I bought another. I now have eight, and as soon as I get my paycheck, I’m buying more.
Even with watching thus anime, I can't comprehend the amount of pain and fear one must feel when getting hacked by an axe through the collar bone while arrows rain down on your friends and brothers. Man, that's some crazy shit.
Oh hey, if it isn't my friend that I came to know via Micah Curtis! 😁 As a Martial Artist and Historical European Martial Arts connoisseur this series has piqued my interest...
@@nickchavarria8052 I mean the author seems to care about keeping a good level of historical accuracy. It doesn't matter to you but it matters to other people. It's not every day there's a fairly accurate depiction of viking culture
@@suf1an658 but this is manga&anime. Of course the history need to be sprinkled with some fictional spices. If not, then it won't be so intense. If you want to know about real history, I guarantee you that it's boring for lot of people. Especially for people that attached too much with fantasy world. In real life, you can't jump so high especially with armor, you can't fly when you got hit with weapon, etc. The war will be so boring in their eyes obviously. No flashy movements. When you got stabbed or sliced, you die instantly. It's simple like that.
All the main Characters are from Norse History, Thorfinn, Leif Erikson, Thorkell, Askeladd, etc...so like you said they go the Viking Saga route specifically with them, they all do gnarly stuff and everyone else is confused as they should be
@@linamouzi6335 They did not run with ships at that pace, let alone be able to do it steadily and then be able to battle afterwards. This is just impossible
NO U It's the same in the manga. I am a manga reader but that doesn't make me blind to the fact that moving at any type of pace with those ships was literally just not physically possible. It is just anime/manga rule of cool. Sorry to burst your bubble.
'that dane axe is too big' shad, that guy (spoiler) is so big, he can spear holes in boats with tree trunks, if he can lift a tree, he can lift a extra big axe
Sure he can lift it, but the reason that you don't want that extra heft is simple inertia: the heavier the axe-head the more likely it is to drag you off balance when you swing it, and no amount of superstrength will remedy that fact. Now if the character had the established supernatural power to ignore inertia it would be fine, but otherwise it is something that needs to be addressed in the design of the axe. Granted there are much worse examples of ridiculously heavy weapons out there, and what was depicted in this vido probably wasn't too big of a deal, all things considered. Both Shad and Skallagrim have made videos where they talk more indepth about this issue.
@@henleinkosh2613 yea of course the heavier axe would drag him more, but i would not compare this to levels of dragging him off ballance, when things (as in the man and the axe) scale up its not a perfect conversion of his size to the size of the axe, but it does scale somewhat still and i believe the axe is easily within this margin not to make a disadvantageous decision for its size. For another comparison, when you were a small child, if you swung something like a wood cutting hatchet, you would feel it drag your arm around and loose lots of control, if you swing a hatchet now, since you are heavier and stronger, you can, or most people can, stop a hatchet without it dragging your ballance or atleast not noticably, and you have full control, so does this not count for being even bigger and even stronger say if you switch the child for a man, you now for a insanely strong giant viking, and a common hatchet for an extra big dane axe?
@@Tao_7891 fair point, I missed the part of him actually being significantly larger than an average man, but my point still holds for other people using that heavier design of axe, I think I saw a few different people using them in the video. (note I haven't watched the anime/read the manga, I only just heard about it here, though it is now added to my to-do list)
@@henleinkosh2613 np, fair enough, he towers above all! And yes I completely agree that a normal man should not have such a heavy axe head, and you were right about seeing others using these much too heavy axes also, that's been annoying me to see ever since shad pointed it out, not to mention it would also be a waste of good steel too.
As much as I love the Thorkell/Thorfinn fight, the heroes are superhuman phenomenon makes any reasonable historical analysis...well, silly. He has taken what I find to be the best way to analyze this show historically, which is to "just go with it" on the ridiculous superhuman stuff and only worry about the important stuff. Like how tapered the Dane axes are😉
I definitely agree with what you said at the beginning, it's absolutely fascinating to see how other cultures interpret/portray our own past and present societies. I'm not a weeb by any stretch of the imagination, but pretty much the only reason I do occasionally watch anime is when it's an adaptation of a Western work or set in a Western/pseudo-Western society, just to see the Japanese take on things. And the results are usually...interesting? Entertaining, if generally innacurate--often hilariously so. You definitely learn more about Japanese culture/mentality than European, but it's great. Idk, can someone weebier than me recommend good anime that showcase this Japanese perspective on Western media/history? Realistic and wacky both welcome! Edit: thanks for the recommendations!
The only one off the top of my head is One Piece but that is a monster. A lot of characters and arcs are representations of countries, historical battles, and even the actual historical figure. Some of them are really obvious like Zoro is Japanese and William D. Teach is Blackbeard but others not so much like Trafalgar Water D. Law, a man whose name includes the two major battles of Napoleon and who is the catalyst to an arc where the end goal is to defeat short man with a huge army who is trying to take over the world.
Hm, think I got some nice ones for you. Saga of Tanya the Evil(Or Youjo Senki), 12 episodes: Setting is close to WW1, playing in definitely-not-germany. There is magic in that - however, the magic is more of a combination of actual magic and technology and used only military. The main character is a... very interesting one. Watch 2 episodes of it, see if you like it. Code Geass, about 52 episodes: Hmm... Hard to summarize this. In short: Alternate version of britain(located where america would be) named Brittania wages war against the rest of the world. Their military supremacy comes from technology - as they have access to a rare resource to power Mechas with called "Knightmares", giving them military supremacy. Brittania is a fascist country led by royal family - however, the way it is portrayed is fascinating. The story plays in "Area 11" - formerly known as Japan, now occupied by Brittania. The main character, Lelouch, is an exiled prince of Brittania with an intense hatred for his country and family. Due to some events, he is granted the power of "Geass" - this power allows him to issue a command to someone they cannot disobey. He uses this as well as his intellect to lead a group of japanese rebels against Brittania. The story is very interesting and the main character isn't exactly a hero. Supremely strong characters and does a lot with english themes especially. Banana Fish, 26 episodes: Basically a gangster/drug drama in america? I don't wanna spoil too much, but if you choose to watch this, you are in for something... This one is... despairing. Very, very sad drama. Baccano, 16 episodes: Mafia action without an actual main character, but following many different stories intertwining eachother, told un-chronological(think Pulp Fiction, maybe?). Hilarious and thrilling, this one is a work of art. Cowboy Bebop, about 24 episodes: Timeless classic, this one. It's... a space opera. Pretty realistic overall for being sci-fi. Episodic show and a ton of fun to watch. Hard to dislike this, really. So, those are the ones I could think of off the top of my head. Hope I could help you out. I'd count all of those as some of my favourites I'd even rewatch, so they should at least be good.
Cowboy Bebob was mentioned a few times. It's also started Girls With Guns image. Not a cultural thing, but check out Planets. Same mangaka as Vinland. It's about life in an orbital station. MC is Japanese. They got Indian, Amazonian Indians, Americans, Chinese, Russians and Afro Americans. (Cannot use the N word)
Gadget yoyo, _Planetes_ (not Planets) is excellent indeed! Highly recommended! And it's a real "hard sci-fi". The mangaka is quite the perfectionist, does proper research of his subjects, and it shows (even if Shad does not find the result "realistic", which it never claimed to be - it's a freakin' *Saga* ).
@@the_cringe_nerd so he mostly did it so bjorn can pass in peace... felt like he hated himself for saying that he was hisi only friend,, realizing he did kill his only friend 🥹
Shad Mail is depicted acurately. Thorfin the main character specifically goes for the weak exposed points and avoids armor is his opponent is wearing it. One character is even wearing a gambeson ;-)
Thank you for this Shad! Vinland Saga is one of my favorite anime/manga and seeing you analyze it is great. I would love if you did this more with Vinland Saga or any other anime in general. Either way this is a great vid as always, keep it up!
Oh no Shad, you've summoned them... There is no turning back now! Everyone prepare to defend! Our goal? To stop... No... To survive the ANIME INQUISITION!
I think beards are a victim of being able to display the characters' expressions in a clearer manner. Anime very often ends up using "moustache twitching" to show a massively bearded character talking.
and there was literally no need to say that because NOBODY FUCKING ASKED and you may have spoiled it for people who havent watched the anime and even if its literally said in the start... nobody fucking asked.
@@tingispingis You call that being an asshole? Dude just said nobody asked about the spoiler. You literally called the guy a waste of space for not liking someone using spoilers, you called him an asshole over something so minor. He didn't even insult the person. Yet you ironically insulted him several times and went farther than he ever did. I think your own statement applies to you more then it does him, your hypocrisy is outstanding.
Shad: he should have sunk like a rock Thorkell: its like he doesnt weigh a damn thing. W0t3rdog: well, if he doesnt weigh a damn thing, and his maille weigh about 10-20 kg, and the bouyancy of a human body... sure.
The battles are the equivalent of a viking epic saga, with superhuman feats left and right. I was hoping you'd dive into the day to day life aspects of the characters, as that's where the historical attention to detail really shines. The day to day chores and living feels super authentic, which Golden Kamuy also managed to nail. My favorite thing is how the characters are influenced by the culture of the time, no one feels "out of time and place". The men have an expectation and glorification of battle, slaves were common, the strong ruled the weak; yet it crafts incredible characters who break from that mold without breaking the time period and culture they are surrounded in.
Shad Facts: Shad tried to play golf. He just got frustrated because he kept slicing the ball, by the third ball he was told to put the sword away and use a golf club. He is however the only person to score 2 and a half holes in one on his local golf course.
Sword swing is best swing.
Right before they conquer England hell yeah wait untill he gets to later episodes!
There is no true way to express my appreciation for your Shad Facts. Shad is the next Chuck Norris, and you are documenting it video by video. Keep up the heroic work!
thats awful what golf club doesnt allow sword usage such a discrace
please review more battles episode vinland saga
Shad, I have studied Viking history, and Vikings did a lot of naval combat. At least half the battles in the sagas I read were sea battles between Viking warlords. Please up-vote so Shad can see this. His statement that they "rarely did naval combat" can't slide.
He did say he wasn't sure
666, nice
I would like to add the fact that the specified time (987 AD), place (outside the coast of Sunnmøre) and some of the people involved (the jomsvikings including Thorkell the Tall) clearly indicates that this battle is supposed to depict the battle of Hjörungavágr (despite the fact that this battle is believed to have been held in 986 AD, the location of it is somewhat moot and the Norwegain opponents were probably not christianized yet (assuming they were all from Lade)), which indeed was a naval combat.
@Badger0fDeath
EGIL'S SAGA.
- Chapter 9: "The fleets met south in Rogaland in Hafr's Firth. There was fought the greatest battle that king Harold had had, with much slaughter in either host. The king set his own ship in the van, and there the battle was most stubborn, but the end was that king Harold won the victory... nor was there a man unwounded in the king's ship before the mast, except those whom iron bit not to wit the Berserks"
- Chapter 27:"They slew all that came in their way, the same did Skallagrim where he boarded the ship; nor did father and son stay hands till the ship was cleared. When Kveldulf came aft to the stern-castle, he brandished high his battle-axe, and smote Hallvard right through helm and head, so that the axe sank in even to the shaft; then he snatched it back towards him so forcibly that he whirled Hallvard aloft, and slung him overboard. Skallagrim cleared the forecastle, slaying Sigtrygg. Many men plunged into the sea; but Skallagrim's men took one of the boats, and rowed after and slew all that were swimming."
- Chapter 58: "They leapt armed into the cutter, and rowed forward between the land and the long-ship that was advancing nearest to the land; this was king Eric's ship. But, as it happened suddenly and there was little light, the two ships ran past each other. And when the stern-castles were opposite, then Egil hurled a spear and smote in the middle the man who sat steering, Kettle Hod to wit, and at once he got his bane. Then king Eric called out and bade men row after Egil and his party, but as their vessels ran past Egil's merchant-ship, the king's men leapt aboard of that. And those of Egil's men who had been left behind, and not leapt into the cutter, were all slain who could be caught, but some escaped to land. "
BRENNU-NJAL'S SAGA.
-Chapter 5: "Meantime Hrut's ships ran on, and as soon as either side could hear the other's hail, Atli stood up... caught up a spear and hurled it at Hrut's ship, and the man who stood before it got his death. After that the battle began, and they were slow in boarding Hrut's ship. Wolf, he went well forward, and with him it was now cut, now thrust... Atli leaps up on Hrut's ship, and clears it fast round about... There they took much goods, and brought away with them two ships which were best, and stayed there only a little while. But meantime Soti and his crew had sailed past them, and he held on his course back to Norway."
-1st sea battle in Chapter 30: "Andil caught up a grappling-iron, and cast it between their ships and Gunnar's ship, and began at once to drag it towards him.
Oliver had given Gunnar a good sword; Gunnar now drew it, and had not yet put on his helm. He leapt at once on the forecastle of Vandil's ship, and gave one man his death-blow. Karli ran his ship alongside the other side of Gunnar's ship, and hurled a spear athwart the deck, and aimed at him about the waist. Gunnar sees this, and turned him about so quickly, that no eye could follow him, and caught the spear with his left hand, and hurled it back at Karli's ship, and that man got his death who stood before it. Kolskegg snatched up a grapnel and casts it at Karli's ship, and the fluke fell inside the hold, and went out through one of the planks, and in rushed the coal-blue sea, and all the men sprang on board other ships."
- 2nd sea battle in Chapter 30: "just when they were boun they see ships coming up to them. And now a fight sprung up between them, and they fought long, and many men fell. Gunnar slew many a man. Hallgrim and his men leapt on board Gunnar's ship, Gunnar turns to meet him, and Hallgrim thrust at him with his bill... After that the sea-rovers begged for mercy."
- Chapter 81: "Then they sailed south along the land... One day when the weather was good, Kol saw the ships as they sailed up towards him... and bade [his people] to take their weapons... a fight arose; and they fought long, so that neither side had the mastery. Then Kol sprang up on Thrain's ship, and cleared the gangways fast, and slays many men...Thrain hews at Kol, and the stroke came on his leg so that it cut it off. After that they slew Kol, and Thrain cut off his head, and they threw the trunk over-board, but kept his head. There they took much spoil, and then they held on north to Drontheim."
And many more!
Yeah a culture known for having great sailors never did naval combat
Shad: The axe is too heavy
*Me who knows Thorkell is strong enough to uppercut a horse*: I think he’ll be fine
lol thorkell is strong enough to throw a 600 lbs rock half a mile away with one hand that dude is other lvl
He fought a bear and won barehanded
Anyone can uppercut a horse. The question is effectiveness. You didn’t pose the right question
@@shinobifirecracker6671 let me rephrase that, He’s strong enough to uppercut a horse and send it flying through the air😂
@@odinseinherji9719 lmaoooooo 😹😹😹
As a national level swimmer. We do drills where we have to kick as hard as we can with weights on us. It’s possible for someone as strong as thors to stay afloat underwater with the weight on him.
Everybody gangsta till professional swimmers come in
I think his issue was that Thors is just casually floating without even needing to exert any effort. It's not an inability to swim really, just it'd be a constant battle against the negative buoyancy with all that heavy gear.
Solution: Thors is 80% body fat, so he doesn't need to kick in order to float with armor on. The armor is the only thing keeping him underwater past the waist.
@@LuciusC I think showing Thors with moving legs (like an underwater treading) would've been a nice touch. I'll blame the animation budget on that, as showing a nearly still image is cheaper. Do that a couple hundred times an episode, and you save thousands of dollars and can put that money elsewhere. It is otherwise realistic. I can see a dude that can jump like that wearing 35-60 pounds and swimming fine no problem. I think I could do it myself, but it certainly wouldn't be comfortable or easy. And to be fair, for all this dude's strength, he's panting hard by the time he's on shore and can barely walk away despite only really getting hit by a single arrow.
@@AggressiveAegyo Not people from landlocked countries like Tibet lol...
"If I did a full commentary of the first episode, it would be 4 hours long"
*Me, sitting here disappointed*
Same! I'd absolutely LOVE it if chad did a reaction to the whole series. I dont care if each episode take like 4+ hours! Watching an actual historian review a series like this is priceless!!
I was hoping he would get to the village stuff as I think that stuff is what really makes or breaks historical accuracy, especially in anime.
Would be totally up for 4h of chad.
I want to know where the subsequent episodes are.
I hate to say this, but I only watch this man so I know what not to become when I get to be that age. Acting like a historian on TH-cam and being an "Expert" on subjects you dont understand.
The naval battle in the anime depicts the semi-legendary Battle of Hjörungavágr.
Make sense, since that battle supposedly took place 986, a year off from what the anime states.
Thorkell's design is so successful lmao everyone just loves him as soon as he appears
Make way Speedwagon; The new ultimate waifu has arrived !
I’d say its the voice actor that gives him his charm
His gleeful smile is the source of his charm.
Even discovering him reading the manga would make you fall in love with that giant ; as he just looks like he's enjoying himself all the time but when forbidden to fight ; in which case he just pouts like a child.
I loved him even more in the manga, he is just a war loving idiot lol
@@Dja05
Blasphemy
It should be said that Thors is meant to be straight up broken in terms of strength and fighting in the story, he’s an allusion to the Viking heroes of old.
Thors and Thorkell both are. Thors even has a legendary name "Troll of Jom" like something straight from a Saga.
Also, every male member of his close family: Thors, Thorfinn, & Thorkell, all have ‘thor’ in their name, nuff said.
Yeah, Thors, Thorkell and a couple other characters are the only ones able to pull those "super-human" feats...
@@depingchen330 Aye, but Thors and Thorkell aren't related. They're just bros in arms.
@@DonVigaDeFierro Thorkell is Thors uncle-in-law. He is brother the Jomsviking chief, whose daughter Thors married.
I love how you can see how much the author of Vinland Saga really has a passion for the history and culture he's writing..
Not just that, but in anything he writes.
His other award-winning work PlanetES for example, so much research and knowledge of the science of orbital space stationing.
@@joke_d Yes, both are from the same author
I binge watched the first 15 episodes last Sunday. For a Viking epic coming out of Japan they got a lot right...I'd say at least as accurate as the 13th Warrior or the Vikings series on History Channel. I accepted the inaccuracies because it was a good action series, but what I really appreciated about the 1st 7 episodes is that the writer , unlike so many Hollywood movies these days, really know how to follow the formula of the hero's journey. Even though it was the early 11th century, and by this time a great deal of Norse culture was converting to Christianity, the second 7 episodes centered too much on Christian theology...when you watch a Viking Saga, you want to see more of the old Norse culture...but that said, I highly recommend this series.
yeah, he mentioned that he wanted to show the Japanese audience the similarities between their cultures so that they could better understand the decisions the characters make later and not be put off for not understanding how brave of a choice they're actually making due to the cultures they've lived and breathed and how they got to those points.
Yeah like 0
The vikings d'ont have horns on the helmets at least there's that
Also they get some things right it's not all wrong
Swimming in Chain Mail is Possible th-cam.com/video/5cBKPr6Y-CQ/w-d-xo.html
People put horns nshit on their helmets _now._ Humans haven't changed that much in the last thousand years (just look at the graffiti at Pompei). So there were probably guys who did the same thing back then.
@@Serahpin no, no ne exept a total lobotomite would do that it's like having a rusted sword insteas of a clean one it's just retarded
@@Serahpin there are cermonial viking helmets with horns, but for battle no it is not something we can prove that they had.
Shad is the first reviewer I've ever seen who acknowledged unrealistic stuff to be a part of 'Heroic saga'.
Very epic, thank you.
Loinnir S in fairness as someone who studies history academically, he actually called out some things that were realistic, like a lot of Norse had turned Christian at the time because it made any kingdoms, duchies, etc. they set up more legitimate if they were of the ‘true faith’ etc.
Divers carry, as a rule of thumb, 10% of their body mass in lead to become neutrality buoyant.
A mail hauberk is, according to a quick Google search, 6-9 kg and would experience about 12% of its weight in buoyant force when submerged in water - more so in cold salt water.
Swimming in mail armour would certainly be difficult, but you most certainly wouldn't sink like a rock.
Underrated comment right here
How fast would you freeze to death in cold saltwater? Average water temperature off the Norwegian coast is 5 degrees Celsius.
@@AvangionQ Minutes. Not sure how much time precisely, but probably minutes.
@@mateuszjokiel2813 what if he's wim hof?
@@segment9007 He's a whole different beast entirely lol
Shad "I'm going to evaluate realism"
Me "I remember it to be pretty accurate from the manga"
Anime opens with Thors and Thorkell
Me "...Damn"
Yeah, those two are definitely more unrealistic than the rest of the manga
@@serafinschaller1688 Well good for the manga/anime that its authenticy and accuracy lies in the world the story takes palce, not necessarily the characters. Which is fine from a storytelling point of view.
@@Vulcano7965 Dude, i love Thors, i love Vinland Saga, I wouldn't change a thing
@@serafinschaller1688 are you implying that throwing wood logs using your hands is unrealistic?... unimaginable
@@khareckless6769 Uh... Well... I guess scottish people would disagree with me?
Shad: "If I made a commentary on the full episode, it would be four hours long I think."
Me: "Excellent"
*laughs in norse*
Shad should do a post commentary for each episode, that way he could plan on how long his analysis would be and which part does he want to talk about.
another way to enjoy vinland saga? count me in
Let's pester him until it happens, brethren!
full series DO IT!!!
As a Viking historical buff of sorts, and after watching the full season. I can say it’s the most historical representation of Viking culture and conflicts of the time. I would love to see a full analysis on the series as a whole. Especially by somebody like you.
So, how'd you appreciate the second season?
@@Vulcano7965 absolutely loved it. Although it took some creative liberties, I definitely feel they are adequate and somewhat minor. It is clear the author who wrote the series has done in depth research into viking culture which is surprisingly rare for pop cultural depictions. I am interested in seeing how he decides to depict the challenges of settling Vinland, and how many more historical figures he will choose to add.
They did fight in ships usually against other Vikings one instance would be the Battle of Hafrsfjord which was the battle that unified Norway. They usually fought by grappling their ships together and boarding the enemy ship.
This is also, I believe, a point in history where many norse were christianized. This is all post Danelaw.
@@synapse0
Harald Hårfagre was not the one that christianized most of Norway atleast. That was Olav Haraldson's and Feite Olav's (St. Olav the Holy) doing.
Sure. I mentioned the Danelaw more because it establishes well how they settled themselves in England
Considering the design of their ships, that does make a lot of sense.
Actualy that may be the battle this episode was referencing.
when anime is more historically accurate then the live action series Vikings
I mean.
It is Vinland saga....
That doesn't make it better.. Vikings seasons 1 to 4 is masterful
@@jojo_n_dat7325 Why are you talking like Vinland Saga isn't fantastic?
@@tingispingis I've only seen the first season of the anime and I liked it tbh and i'm looking forward to the proceeding seasons bro. It's not bad at all, the first season might've been better than the first season of vikings, so it could surpass it if it continues on this trajectory.
@@jojo_n_dat7325 there's only one season, it finished in Dec 19
I love this anime. Dont know if you have gotten that far yet, but essentially the main cast are all connected to the more mythasized version of jomsvikings so they are treated as demi gods or super humans. The guy that wrote the manga said that's what he was shooting for and they handled it perfectly imo in the anime
Yeah, its half true and half is myth. Basically like the story of the viking on the bridge.Or the legends about the viking berserkers.
Ferry the Viking on the bridge actually happened although it was actually 2.
@@kamronspencer4910 yeah i know. But it was a bit overblown. Although it was still an amazing feat
Like 300? And the actual battle of Thermopylae?
In general I think the whole story plays out more like a saga than a literal historical account
I'm a Swedish archaeologist specialized in late viking and early medieval Scandinavia and have some points to make about this.
Firstly, you called the Viking age early medieval Scandinavia. Here the Viking age is considered to be late iron age, the medieval period doesn't start until in between 1050-1100 CE.
When it comes to the beards we actually don't have much to go on, but we do have finds of combs and razors from that time period which indicates that they where well groomed, so a gotie is not that hard to imagine.
If I remembered right the battle in the beginning where set in the 970's and by that time there where defenetly people that where christians I'm Scandinavia. And even if they where not christians the cross was in fashion and there is a possibility that people could use that symbol even though you're a pagan.
The clothes on the other hand where a little bit unhistorical especially that main characters boots. We have no finds of boots that high instead they used leg wrapping upp to the knee.
steel-mastery.com/image/catalog/articles/VikingClothingMainCategory/x28.VikingMensBoots.jpg.pagespeed.ic.XHelhYt3bt.jpg here you can see a picture of a viking boot find that covers above mid-shin.
Everybody gangksta before the Historians arrived
@@meginna8354 where's that picture from?
@@JoelK1991 National museum of Denmark. Here's a source, scroll to mid page steel-mastery.com/viking-clothing
@@meginna8354 alright, I stand corrected, for West Scandinavia, still have seen no evidence for east Scandinavia though
Vinland Saga is actually one of few medieval Anime that passes the line of being authentic enough to earning itself some leeway when it comes to having OP characters or MC's with an unrealistic fighting style.
Also with semi-historical shows like this i think it's best to take them in as a tale that's told to you many years later, in which certain scenes and characters were embellished a bit here and there.
also, I think the MC is supposed to be based on a real person.
The op characters themselvs are totaly authentic. The Show is meant to mimic a saga. It is even in the title. Real sagas have über op characters.
@@bowmanc.7439 thorfin karsifi was a real explorer that along with leif Ericsson tried to settle vinland (canada) and if I'm correct is the oldest nordic ruins in America that we know of. And yes I'm aware im not spelling their names correctly.
I strongly agree with you here
The moment you realize Greek and Viking story tellers would have gotten along beautifully.
Stupid OP heroes who exist in the sort of middle space between history and folk-tale.
The exagerated re-tellings of the great heroes of old.
It's sad when an island nation on a completely different continent, halfway across the world gets the Viking aesthetic more honestly and accurately in a cartoon than a game studio that prides itself with historical accuracy.
History channel has basically been fantasy and conspiracy channel and even at the start when all they talked about was ww2, if you want actual viking stuff netflix has alot more accurate things like northmen (also the russians made the movie "viking" which is damn accurate and also fitting since russians have swedish descent)
vinland saga isn't a cartoon
@@oliviertrudel2384 yes and no, that depends on what you mean. In japan anime is used as synonymous to animation they use it for disney for example. Anime gained another meaning in the rest of the world were it became the animations that were made and aired by Japanese companies. So you can say that anime is a cartoon
@@joaogarcia6170 yes, Japanese just call cartoons outside of Japan anime aswell, they dont differentiate
Honestly, when I look at older productions like the Lawrence Olivier Henry V and Richard III, or the Czech Hussite trilogy of movie, there is much more historical authenticity. Like, every costume looks like the person just walked straight from a manuscript or museum. But today it feels like either the studio is cheep when it comes to costumes or they simply don't care, or maybe even worse, the studio decides that giving the historical stuff an overhaul to make it more "fashionable" to modern tastes, like when they turned the Tudor fashion into something from a Disney live action movie, or when they dressed Vikings as metal concert-goers.
Weebs appreciate knowledgeable weebs.
Weebs of the highest order!
RhinoBarbarian fuck you 😂
@@RhinoBarbarian More like they were all 'slaweebs'
@Singha Mura although most Slavic groups have some Scandinavian blood flowing here and there.
@@oneebjilani7457 nordics are germanic not slavic
18:19 the original translation was “Marie.. I’m... s-sorry” he was basically saying goodbye to his wife and he’s sorry for dying and leaving her alone. This ties into Thors’ pacifist ideology and why he decides to abandon war cause of all the harm it does.
And then abandoning war causes harm to him and his loved ones. GG pacifism
Except Marie or Maria was not a name used in Scandinavia during that time.
Are you sure it's not -sama?
@@fukkendermohammed unfortunately the vikings dont know the word "peace",the thors’ peace ideology is FUKING impossible in a WAR world literally.
@@dinurieldinusdono6002 its still unrealistic. A pacifist can never force a war monger to be peaceful without resorting to methods that make him a war monger himself. Its still as unrealistic as ever
This anime did something no other anime does: actually having the swords wither and *BREAK* after multiple clashes, as it should in real life (fans know which fight I'm talking about)
Well, I didn't watch more than a couple of minutes of this show because I wasn't in the mood for what it seemed to be, but judging by how strong the characters are and how hard they hack and swing about, it's probably realistic that their swords break that quickly - though for a normal person, I doubt that actually snapping a decently crafted sword that isn't flimsy by design with, what I assume to be a couple dozen hard swings on hard targets, strikes me as quite unlikely
Most of the time, characters receive heavy special weapon even though they look like a skinny mf
@@Karma-cj1wu and who are these characters you speak of
@@justaguywithamask6505 I think he's talking about about Thors, Askeladd, etc. There's also Thorkell but I don't think I saw him using a sword at all in the show.
A few more anime have done this I’m sure, including Demon Slayer which is EXTREMELY popular.
There are 5 battles I know in which naval warfare involving vikings.
Battle of Helgeå
Battle of Hjörungavágr
Battle of Nesjar
Battle of Niså
Battle of Svolder
Upvote for alphabetical order
@@stanislavzoldak2198 You can thank wikipedia for that.
The battle depicted in the anime is the battle of Battle of Hjörungavágr btw :)
In Egils saga alone i want so say there are like 3 battles large and small scale that take place exclusively on long ships. Also in Egils saga they reference just how important and what an honor it was to be the warrior in the prow of a long ship as you'd often be the first to make contact with the foe in a ship to ship engagement.
This was the battle of Hjörungavágr it said it in the manga and at the beginning of the anime
I can confirm as a scandinavian.... If i retold a story about war to a babe i was going to bone... This is a totaly acccutate description
"If they're trying to be accurate to certain Viking sagas.."
"Vinland... Saga"
Beowulf swims in mail and fights sea monsters. If you are willing to forgive some things because of the viking sagas, then you should forgive that as well.
To be fair mail isn't THAT heavy, it probably is only 10% of his weight.
Shad is right, thors is downright superhuman. But I appreciate that the other guy also amazed by thors and says that "weight mean nothing to him" which explain thors is extraordinary warrior even among vikings.
I doubt want to spoil anything but this is pretty accurate it is implied that thors and some of the other cast members are actually demi gods or at least mythical strong to highlight some of the crazy shit that happens in the sagas and show the scenes as if it was real. The action really takes of at around episode 5, and is genuinely very well done
It's possible to swim in chain mail though. Maybe not dive lol, but swimming is completely viable
@@Carsu12 the momentum would carry him down though, floating like Thors isn't possible
I was waiting for this since I started watching Vinland Saga.
i thought he finally made this review coz he sponsored by crunchy, but until the end, he said nothing about sponsored
@@fathinmedia6340 it not on crunchyroll its on Amazon prime
@@beckydickerson8121 I had no idea. I've been watching it in kissanime.
@@nunya_bizniz dont worry its made by wit youve probably watched aot on crunchyroll or there other works or there famous works
Same! 😀
Missionaries were in full swing during the late 900's and were fairly successful at converting Scandinavians to Christianity. Of course, there were plenty that were brutally murdered in their attempts, but hey, you win some you lose some.
@@beurteilung713 Technologically, most definitely. In terms of social wellbeing, there's room to argue a sizable number of people found purpose in their faith and thus, were "saved." I for one think that some other religion would've filled in the Abrahamic faiths were they not to exist. It doesn't take a genius to realize religion is an excellent motivator to get people to do what you want (e.g. Zen Buddhism, ancient Egyptian paganism, Confucianism (though more a philosophy.))
@@beurteilung713 it was definitely more appealing for your average farmer and the slaves definitely fucked with it
@@beurteilung713 And without you, pig.
More precisely, the Vikings were mercenary’s for the Byzantine empire. U can see runes carved in the Hagia Sofia. That’s where and how Christianity was brought to them
Actually, in that time period a lot of Norsemen had integrated Christianity into their beliefs.
Well, they basically got that for the right to pillage unupposed. Join our cult, and get to be the good guys.
@@BlackEpyon I didn't say "vikings." I said "Norsemen." So that includes some viking, but also includes other people, non-combatant ones, such as Leif Erikson, merchants, and many others.
The norse religion has a god called Baldur (Baldr) that was similar to Jesus Christ in the way that he died and was ressurected. This made it easier for the Scandinavian people to accept the new faith of Christianity.
@@Knackebrodz Question is, did the Christians invent Baldur, or co-opt an already existing deity? I'm not expert, but it looks like the Poetic Edda could (?) have been from around the same time or after the early Christian missionaries. Just reading the description, he seems a little "too" familiar, similar to how the Greek Aphroditie was split into a figure representing agape love, and more in line with the Virgin Mary than the fickle horny divine slut she used to be.
Also this is knid of a spoiler but the character who uses that sword isnt a norse
I think this naval battle might be a reference to the Battle of Hjörungavágr
EDIT: Uh yeah, as soon as the hailstorm started, it's DEFINITELY a reference to Hjörungavágr.
Seven Proxies it Even says on the coast of Sunnmøre, Norway
It’s definately Hjørungavåg
@@sindrethun-smith7052: Yeah, but I wasn't sure about the year. The creators could've chosen the location for any reason if I just went with the location alone. But the other clues made it a done deal.
I'm pretty sure in other translations (this one seems a touch inaccurate) it straight up says it's at Hjörungavágr, or something that looks close enough to that (I can't read/pronounce those older viking words unless I hear them said first :P )
No evidence of unarmed martial arts?
Glima: "Am I a joke to you?"
Yeah but glima is wrestling, not really a striking martial art
@@Kettvnen BJJ has pretty much 0 striking.....its still considered a martial art is it not?
@@Shifty51991 what I'm saying is, people in vinland saga are very skilled in striking martial arts
@@Kettvnen but Thors was delivering a throw in that segment, not a strike
@@groovecrusader7522 thors punches sometimes, if you look at the fight of thors against pirates, then you'll see that he threw a punch
12:53
Shad "Good luck dodging a volley of arrows!"
>Thors will remember that
F-Mega
but gotta admit. not even those brought him down that easily
@@awesomearsam1890 *Ho ho*
shad pulled a jazza face in that little soundbite =P
He dodged so fast that the arrows struck his after image.
If Shad was Thors, the arrows would've simply bounced off of him and he would've said:
*"Omae wa mou shindeiru"*
And those arrows will say *"NANI"* before exploding into a pool of blood
I see shad as thorkell
He would've said ZA WARUDO and stoped the arrows
Shads stand "machicolations"
I know i always say this but why do i see you everywhere
Even Askeladd's immersion breaking armor has a reason. ;)
exactly
@Gr8sc0tt DAS RITE
@@sloppyjoe9070 FOR WELSH!
@Gr8sc0tt hes the impersonification of WE WUZ KANGZ N SHIET
This battle is based off Slaget ved Hjørungavåg
As described off the coast of Sunnmøre.
120 Danish ships faced a fleet of 300 Norwegian ships! Due to a storm most of the ships couldnt do a landing. So much of the battle was done at seas.
Alot of danes were christians.
Except the character in this is a Jomsviking who fought for the Danes, so the Christian in this scenario was a Norwegian. There were also many mixed pagans and christians on both sides at this point otherwise Olaf Tryggvason, who was a "convert or be killed" type of christian, would never have become king of Norway a few years later.
There was also another naval battle against a norwegian king I have heard of, he was christianising norway the pagan Norwegians formed a coalition with the Svea Götar and Gutes(everything here is something I heard 10 years ago its probably inaccurate) and they managed to defeat the Christians at sea then something else happened that I don't remember
- For Vinlad saga, I think the source manga version is far more "historically authentic" 'cause the author draw most weapons with proper lengths & sizes while the fight scenes a lot more "grounded" (still a superhuman though). The anime kinda exaggerates a bit imo, maybe 'cause of being an "animation?" it's hard to say . . .
- another layer of clothes over a mails are very common & logical so I think It's more than plausible imo.
- You should totally check out "Wolfsmund" too. It's not an anime (yet), more of a manga. The story is a historical retelling of the rise of Switzerland. & yes, it even has a "mordhau" too LOL
Wolfsmund you say, definitely will check that out
Thanks man I'll definitely check wolfsman out
Ooh, I didn't expect coming here and finding recommendations so quickly...
Thanks for it. Will be checking it out!
Uff man you want ppl to suffer, wolfsmund is pure suffering and hatred towards the antagonist.
A manga about Swiss history? I NEED IT!
Thanks for talking about it!
Yeah, Thorkell and Thors are absurdly strong, basicaly demigods among human characters.
That's why it's called SAGA.
Current Thorfinn is probably close to Thorkell's level. Because he retained his agility and precision but became levelheaded like Thors.
honestly its an anime I don't really give a shit how strong they are it doesn't bother me
in original manga they show it's like a very strong human not this much anime typo
all of this video is not in manga at all
even the jump in trailer is actually just a jump to the river below and sneaky climb up a wall while the enemy distract by ambush
which not impressive enough for anime people i guess
I was genuinely disappointed when I saw Thors effortlessly beating up elite soldiers with bare hands - like, defaq, you thought it's going to be realistic and then this shit happens...
I would love to see Shad jump 20-feet high and do some flips while he's at it
Hello nerd its a SAGA stuff that on your little gooby teletuby in your head
Vinland Saga: "I wanna be a realistic anime!"
Thorkell: "And I wanna cut a mast in half with a war axe ."
Where did vinland saga ever claim to be realistic? Ow yeah, nowhere.
"Realistic anime" should be an oxymoron.
Well the rock he throws when he reappears... Thorkell is viking hulk.
@@Acepunydefoc "My special move... The logdropper!"
It's a battle shounen with realistic depictions of Nordic culture.
He calls thorkells axe heavy and later on his yeeting logs
Oh boi yeet logs
there was also that time thorkell shot a man with his anti-material spear from a kilometer away
@@Necrodermis Not just a man, he got a triple with one spear from a good 500 meters away when fighting askeladd's men.
He really needs to react to more episodes in the series. Especially Thorkell!
I first picked up the Vinland Saga Manga, almost by accident when I was just starting to get interested in the Vikings.
What I will say is that I was surprised that it is very aesthetically accurate, it is more accurate than inaccurate when it comes to culture and playing loosely with historical events. You can say that Vinland Saga is much more historically authentic than historically accurate.
However, I think that Vinland Saga is much more accurate and much more authentic to the Viking period than the TV-series Vikings is in every aspect.
With regards to Naval battle, the Vikings definitely had Naval Battles with each other. One of them was the Battle of Svolder where Danish, Swedish and Norwegian Vikings challenged Olaf Tryggvasson's rule over Norway. Olaf had a huge ship, greater than any Longship, according to the Sagas, called The Long Serpent.
I would also disagree with you that the Viking period was toning down in the 10th century. The Vikings invaded all of England in the early 11th century and Vinland Saga takes place during that invasion of England.
Otherwise, great review Shad and I hope you enjoy the series as much as I do!
I totally had to blast this song after you mentioned Ólaf and Ormurin Langi - /watch?v=9wuRxSVkbqk
Týr's homage to their native tradition is why they're awesome. And the ballad does indeed describe (in obviously exaggerated terms) the Battle of Svolder. Here's a more traditional version of the Faroese ballad, which Týr rendered in equally stirring fashion: th-cam.com/video/KvjdBelNFZM/w-d-xo.html
I'm pretty sure that this battle depicted in the anime is supposed to be the Battle of Hjörungavágr, which is one of the few famous naval battles fought between vikings. It is in the same place with the same factions the only issue being that most estimate it to have happened a year before what it says in the anime, though I seem to recall this series playing a bit loose with the dates in a few other places as well.
@@barethor5869 Oh, pardon, didn't mean to imply that it was not. I myself wasn't familiar with the Battle of Hjörungavágr, but immediately recognised the mention of the Battle of Svolder, since the ballad about it is sung each year during the midnight song during Ólavsvøka (or Ólavsøka, "St Olaf's Wake") July 29th in the Faroe Islands. Of course, the ballad is instead about Olaf Tryggvason, not Olaf Haraldson, but that never stopped a good ballad. That aside, I think I saw a comment either farther up or farther down mentioning that the hail in the battle scene does indeed point to it being the Battle of Hjörungavágr.
@@Slokkatron I wasn't replying to you specifically, I was simply sharing more details on what is happening in the show, giving it more historical context, and showing another example of naval combat among vikings. I did not intend on implying there was anything wrong with your comment
I read the manga after watching 3 episodes. I was completely hooked. Not only does the artstyle rise to the quality of berserk/vagabond, but it becomes a masterpiece in character building/storytelling. All the "supernatural" feats of combat/strength are in the early parts for a reason.
21:30 During my lifeguard test, one of the things I had to do was to swim with clothes while carrying a 10 pound ring of weight. As such I only swam using my legs. It would be absolutely possible to me to swim with 20-25 pounds of mail armor. Not for long, but I could swim with it and stay over water.
Yeah. Some people are not smart to do commentary.
Because they don't know lot of knowledge.
And that means they not suitable to do commentary in the first place.
@@DBT1007 You can't know everything.
Regarding "kite" (forgive if I spell it wrong) shields they will make several appearances later on.
You spelled it correctly, they're called kite shields because they resemble (sort of) kites, altough heater shields (to me) look more like kites than actual kite shields do.
@@Riceball01 Thanks for the insight!
Shad, it's a mistranslation.
“Sorry Mary”
Not “Virgin Mary”
Based on what? He doesn't say gomen or anything resembling an apology. He pretty clearly says "Maria-sama" and Maria is how the Japanese (and many others) call Mary.
@@kenshin1368
In the video, Shad paused the episode before he could completely say “マリア、すめない。。。”(maria, sumenai...).
(“Sorry, Mary”) When arranged in English)
What you heard when he paused the video, was “マリア、すめー”(maria, sume-).
The “すめ”(sume) you heard sounded very similar to "ーさま"(-sama).
It is used as I know as the highest ranking you can give someone in Japanese -as you said.
As in English, different words in mean the same thing in other languages too.
"ごめんなさい"(gomennasai) or "ごめん"(gomen), basically translate into "sorry". But that's not the only word in Japanese that means sorry.
(I looked "すめない"up on google translate for clarification, as I just started learning Japanese two months ago).
indeed, it was a very crucial turning point in completing his pacifist character, seeing a dying man apologize to the one left behind
@@anevtuscrynis3954 I think you meant すまない, which means to ask for forgiveness. すめない means something along the lines of "can't live here" or "be lived in".
@@feng_stop
I clarified it again, and I wasn't wrong. "すめない" and "すまない" mean about the same thing.
I think on google translate you pressed "住めない", which means "can't live".
I can't explain that now, so I'd suggest looking it up.
Shad: This is a crime against Medieval Realism!!!
Comments: Actually slot of this is right, can be proved in the Vinland Saga, and author studied the culture by going there.
Boss Umbra Ikr?
The author going there doesn't really mean much though. I could go get hit by a freight train and still not know shit about freight trains. There is a ton of studying that goes into this stuff, and while i admit the show has a ton of accuracy, there is some wrong things as well.
He clearly didn't pick up too much, since he tries to turn certain Norse characters into samurai (in terms of attitude and beliefs), which makes no sense
This is an Author who went really deep with details of space ship and astronaut when they make Planetes.
He even have 2 JAXA (Japanese NASA counterpart) scientist on call for consultation. Hell, The Anime DVD have NASA's astronaut giving bonus commentary, so yeah, this particular Author will do his fair share of research.
@@AeneasGemini Huh? What the hell do you mean? What's so Samurai about them?
«These viking style swords, I like to call them sverds-»
«These viking style swords, I like to call them swords-»
I mean
Svärd is Swedish for sword
Yes, but in English many names for types of swords are just the word 'sword' in the native language. It's just to give it a common name to ease discussion.
@@qwormuli77 Sword and sverd are direct cognates, and many of the words that we use for foreign swords could be translated as "Sword" or "Cutter." I personally think that it's silly to insist on using native words for specific weapons when the native speakers themselves often don't care to distinguish. Just state the culture and time period.
@@hoonterofhoonters6588 Now-a-days they do, just like "us"(I've no idea where you're from, which kinda exemplifies the point. Finland here BTW). It's only in times, where there was way less concentration on categorizing and researching, they just called every sword a sword. Regardless of their spot on this globe. Even the type names of the western history are things we mainly made up in today's time. And without a way to name something, it's really hard to discuss about it, so it's a necessity. This way just stuck.
It's literally the same logic we've got applied to most other swords. "Gladius" is just the Roman word for "sword." "Talwar" is just the Sanskrit word for "single-edged sword." "Jian" is just the Chinese word for "sword." Yet we associate those words with not all swords, but only the swords of their culture. Shad is just being consistent to that naming scheme.
Dane here who happens to remember this from History Class.
While there are debates of the exact when and where of the incident, the Battle of Svolder was between warring viking factions and took place at sea in either the year 999 or 1000 (Depending on sources.)
The beginning in the anime is actually solely on the anime
In the manga this battle was simply talked bout in a conversation between [PERSON] and [PERSON] when they were [ACTIONING]
They talked about [TOPIC] while [ACTIONING]??!? Brutal
@@sourcererseven3858 Yes indeed right before [CHARACTER] [EXPLETIVE] [CHARACTER]s [PART]
I appreciate this anime more because of shads videos and i appreciate shad more for reviewing this anime. I also love this kind of content, I hope for more. Great content
Just to note, there were christian vikings around this period as Harold Bluetooth of Denmark converted around the 960s and the first church was built by Ansgar in Heiðaby (Hedeby) around 840
I think I've read that some weren't even just christian, they just thought of Jesus, God, the Saints as "well yeah a couple more deities to add to our pantheon, nothing strange."
This battle depicted in the anime was part of a conflict started by Bluetooth attempting to convert his Norwegian subjects to Christianity
*Wearing a Thor shirt*
"Bro did you see how high this character jumped though?!"
I got your book for my birthday and I really like it so far but I have just one question: WHAT ABOUT DRAGONS?!
I myself came up with how a Dragon's fire would work, and if you thought the knockback of Skyrim's Unrelenting Force put people into orbit....
Viking had a form for martial arts called Glima.
Ligma balls, lmao
really?
Yes you can try and google it.
Shad, in regards to the Virgin Mary comment, he was indeed a Norseman. Circa 1000 AD many Norse, including Leif Erickson were beginning to convert to Christianity. In fact, the wearing of Mjolnirs were inspired by Christians wearing crucifix pendants and began as a show of defiance by the Norse that kept to the old religion
Yes vikings did naval engagements. Vikings even had special smaller ships for their chiefs to zip around the battlefield to form strategies and command his men.
Yeah, I mean it makes sense, Pirates did naval battle all the time, Vikings were largely Norse pirates for all intents and purposes, why wouldn't they do naval battles
Need more. The intro you reviewed was the most superhuman part of the series until now.
I'd like to appoint Thorkell defending London bridge as a candidate for "the most superhuman part of the series until now".
@@Acepunydefoc Hah, yea true. Forgot about that.
@@usakenvi Well historically many nicknames were underexaggerated almos to joking points. I know someone called the "hairy" who was fking bigfoot, and a "handsome" who was ugly af.
If it come to Vindland Saga, I can’t recommend enough that you should take a look at the manga.
1. Way more accurate depictions of Viking period Armor.
2. More accurate fighting.
3. More obvious historical battle and war.
You won’t regret it.
Im not here for accurate depictions in fiction, im here for a good story which had been given to me. Ill continue watching the anime
@@AgentSephiroth they both have it
@@AgentSephiroth and it has some of the greatest artwork in all of manga
@@heavymetal1ization By the Gods,, The art i So good.
@@AgentSephiroth your statement doesn't really make sense since the manga has at least the anime's story but actually more gruesome images to show how cruel vikings can be. So yeah. I know, reading is hard
You brought up record of lodoss war. My love for you has increased 10 fold.
27 minutes to comment on 5 ? What is this a Mauler video ?
He must miss EFAP
I love seeing all the stuff he brings up that actually gets referenced or used in later episodes. God I wish he did a react series for the whole show. I'd love to see his face when some of that stuff comes up.
Same here, like the thing with the chainmail not being able to be cut. Both times Thorfinn duels Thorkell he is unable to cut through his chainmail
You kidding me, Shad? I did not expect this, this is such a treat bloody hell!
The Vinland Saga manga is amazing- excellently told story.
A thing that I really appreciated in the first episode is the fact that in Iceland people use peat instead of wood for fire, and right at the start you see a guy with a shovel getting some. Very fine detail
I read most of the manga, and honestly it looks like a documentary of an epic story.
Farming documentary if yoy know what i mean
@@consentDracula i hate it when the head of my dead father keeps following me around as i try to take over the world smh
@@Jeff1999PB2 >is now the leader of the most powerful group of warrior
>disbands
@@Jeff1999PB2 Whose taking over the world? Thorfinn? no he did not.
@@Gadget-Walkmen if you read the manga, you should know what im talking about
As an avid reader of the VS manga I've always been astonished by the degree of attention to detail the author pours into his work. Surely, it still has many "over the top", typically japanese action scenes. Sometimes it gets some historical details wrong (like common people reading the bible in their native language, or warriors performing CPR). Yet the attention and study mr Yukimura put into Vinland Saga is laudable. Maybe in this first season it won't show up so much, but this care to historicity goes beyond the armors, the weapons and the general imagery.
On a side note, Shad seems to exclude the fact that vikings could be christian. Obviously I'm not an expert on the matter, but it is my understanding that the nordic peoples were christianised gradually over the course of many centuries, mantaining some of their old belifes in some sincretic way for a long. In VS this is shown for istance in the first episodes where the explorer Leif Erikson, despite being a devoute christian, still belives that the wrath of Thor is to blame for the storm that is ensuing.
That battle in the first episode is part of a conflict resulting from the first Christian king of Denmark attempted to convert his Norwegian vassal to convert to Christianity
In the manga there's a few pictures of Yukimura in Denmark or Norway somewhere, so yeah he sure did research.
The Saga start with Svein Haraldson being the king of Denmark. His father christianized Denmark so...
Commoneers did read the bible in their native language. This anime is just a few hundred years quicker than Martin Luther.
Well we don't know that they didn't do CPR. They knew that the heart was a pump for something very important (though they were uncertain what exactly it did) and manually pumping it to keep someone alive isn't unreasonable.
This is an amazing anime, it incorperates historical events incredibly well and doesnt bastardize. You feel like the viking age is being utilized well
I really like the weaving of bushidos resolute acceptance of death into both religions as the prince basically resolves to make outter heaven after the monk tells him about death.
8:53 The cutting the mast (and several nearby enemies) in half sounds like the sort of thing that the Vikings would have thought was totally awesome and added it to their sagas to make them more bad-ass.
A few weeks ago, I bought the first volume of Vinland Saga.
Then I bought another.
Then I bought another.
I now have eight, and as soon as I get my paycheck, I’m buying more.
Rich guy
@@maomekat2369 You dont need to be rich to afford manga.. just get a job
@@CritiasBG sadPepe must put food in the fridge & pay the rent/bills
Maome Kat dont we all need to do the same tho
@@CritiasBG yes that which is keeps me from buying all the saga vinlands & other good stuff
Even with watching thus anime, I can't comprehend the amount of pain and fear one must feel when getting hacked by an axe through the collar bone while arrows rain down on your friends and brothers.
Man, that's some crazy shit.
shad vinland saga, skallagrim maria the virgin witch. now it needs one for metatron
Metatron defintely appriciate one about Nobunaga
If Vagabond gets a fucking anime
The holy trio
@@HiopX The Ambition of Oda Nobunaga or something else?
Oh I knew this was coming lol. Loving the show and manga.
Loving the ozen
Oh hey, if it isn't my friend that I came to know via Micah Curtis! 😁
As a Martial Artist and Historical European Martial Arts connoisseur this series has piqued my interest...
Lets do the same with Harry potter and call it '' Harry potter first impressions : CRIMES AGAINST SCIENCE. ''
Yukishiro 14 I was thinking the same thing 😂 Like does it really matter how historically accurate it is
@@nickchavarria8052 I mean the author seems to care about keeping a good level of historical accuracy. It doesn't matter to you but it matters to other people. It's not every day there's a fairly accurate depiction of viking culture
@@suf1an658 but this is manga&anime.
Of course the history need to be sprinkled with some fictional spices.
If not, then it won't be so intense.
If you want to know about real history, I guarantee you that it's boring for lot of people. Especially for people that attached too much with fantasy world.
In real life, you can't jump so high especially with armor, you can't fly when you got hit with weapon, etc.
The war will be so boring in their eyes obviously. No flashy movements. When you got stabbed or sliced, you die instantly. It's simple like that.
please do more break downs they are very entertaining to watch
All the main Characters are from Norse History, Thorfinn, Leif Erikson, Thorkell, Askeladd, etc...so like you said they go the Viking Saga route specifically with them, they all do gnarly stuff and everyone else is confused as they should be
@@Spr1ggan87 Trust me age this one a few years and him being called skull splitter wouldnt surprise me a bit
"Askeladd" does not come from Norse history.
Einar is from England
@@meginna8354 Yes he does - he's not a real person probably, but he comes from Norweigan folktales.
@@Spr1ggan87 Look up Thorfinn Karlsefni
I would like for him to watch the episode were the carry their ships to a land battle lol
They actually did that tho..
Yes but not in the middle of a battle, to actually use them there, that was a really cool addition
@@linamouzi6335 They did not run with ships at that pace, let alone be able to do it steadily and then be able to battle afterwards. This is just impossible
@@willhoe3272
It was way more detailed in the manga. And the ships felt heavy in the manga. The anime just failed in that part.
NO U It's the same in the manga. I am a manga reader but that doesn't make me blind to the fact that moving at any type of pace with those ships was literally just not physically possible. It is just anime/manga rule of cool. Sorry to burst your bubble.
“Poor execution”
More like... just as planned!
'that dane axe is too big' shad, that guy (spoiler) is so big, he can spear holes in boats with tree trunks, if he can lift a tree, he can lift a extra big axe
Sure he can lift it, but the reason that you don't want that extra heft is simple inertia: the heavier the axe-head the more likely it is to drag you off balance when you swing it, and no amount of superstrength will remedy that fact. Now if the character had the established supernatural power to ignore inertia it would be fine, but otherwise it is something that needs to be addressed in the design of the axe.
Granted there are much worse examples of ridiculously heavy weapons out there, and what was depicted in this vido probably wasn't too big of a deal, all things considered.
Both Shad and Skallagrim have made videos where they talk more indepth about this issue.
@@henleinkosh2613 yea of course the heavier axe would drag him more, but i would not compare this to levels of dragging him off ballance, when things (as in the man and the axe) scale up its not a perfect conversion of his size to the size of the axe, but it does scale somewhat still and i believe the axe is easily within this margin not to make a disadvantageous decision for its size. For another comparison, when you were a small child, if you swung something like a wood cutting hatchet, you would feel it drag your arm around and loose lots of control, if you swing a hatchet now, since you are heavier and stronger, you can, or most people can, stop a hatchet without it dragging your ballance or atleast not noticably, and you have full control, so does this not count for being even bigger and even stronger say if you switch the child for a man, you now for a insanely strong giant viking, and a common hatchet for an extra big dane axe?
@@Tao_7891 fair point, I missed the part of him actually being significantly larger than an average man, but my point still holds for other people using that heavier design of axe, I think I saw a few different people using them in the video. (note I haven't watched the anime/read the manga, I only just heard about it here, though it is now added to my to-do list)
@@henleinkosh2613 np, fair enough, he towers above all! And yes I completely agree that a normal man should not have such a heavy axe head, and you were right about seeing others using these much too heavy axes also, that's been annoying me to see ever since shad pointed it out, not to mention it would also be a waste of good steel too.
every dane axe in vinland saga is like that, it's not some kind of custom axe because he's swole
Honestly you should just go through the whole series. I would watch every minute
*Thors vs. Askeladd*
Review it
_you must_
Oh hell yes. Maybe the whole fight would be better, Thors versus everyone.
Thorkell versus thorfinn
a bit over the top, how about the dane merceneries conquering a city?
As much as I love the Thorkell/Thorfinn fight, the heroes are superhuman phenomenon makes any reasonable historical analysis...well, silly. He has taken what I find to be the best way to analyze this show historically, which is to "just go with it" on the ridiculous superhuman stuff and only worry about the important stuff. Like how tapered the Dane axes are😉
I definitely agree with what you said at the beginning, it's absolutely fascinating to see how other cultures interpret/portray our own past and present societies. I'm not a weeb by any stretch of the imagination, but pretty much the only reason I do occasionally watch anime is when it's an adaptation of a Western work or set in a Western/pseudo-Western society, just to see the Japanese take on things. And the results are usually...interesting? Entertaining, if generally innacurate--often hilariously so. You definitely learn more about Japanese culture/mentality than European, but it's great. Idk, can someone weebier than me recommend good anime that showcase this Japanese perspective on Western media/history? Realistic and wacky both welcome!
Edit: thanks for the recommendations!
Cowboy Bebop is heavily inspired by Westerns and Noir films.
The only one off the top of my head is One Piece but that is a monster. A lot of characters and arcs are representations of countries, historical battles, and even the actual historical figure. Some of them are really obvious like Zoro is Japanese and William D. Teach is Blackbeard but others not so much like Trafalgar Water D. Law, a man whose name includes the two major battles of Napoleon and who is the catalyst to an arc where the end goal is to defeat short man with a huge army who is trying to take over the world.
Hm, think I got some nice ones for you.
Saga of Tanya the Evil(Or Youjo Senki), 12 episodes:
Setting is close to WW1, playing in definitely-not-germany. There is magic in that - however, the magic is more of a combination of actual magic and technology and used only military. The main character is a... very interesting one. Watch 2 episodes of it, see if you like it.
Code Geass, about 52 episodes:
Hmm... Hard to summarize this. In short: Alternate version of britain(located where america would be) named Brittania wages war against the rest of the world. Their military supremacy comes from technology - as they have access to a rare resource to power Mechas with called "Knightmares", giving them military supremacy. Brittania is a fascist country led by royal family - however, the way it is portrayed is fascinating.
The story plays in "Area 11" - formerly known as Japan, now occupied by Brittania. The main character, Lelouch, is an exiled prince of Brittania with an intense hatred for his country and family. Due to some events, he is granted the power of "Geass" - this power allows him to issue a command to someone they cannot disobey. He uses this as well as his intellect to lead a group of japanese rebels against Brittania.
The story is very interesting and the main character isn't exactly a hero. Supremely strong characters and does a lot with english themes especially.
Banana Fish, 26 episodes:
Basically a gangster/drug drama in america? I don't wanna spoil too much, but if you choose to watch this, you are in for something... This one is... despairing. Very, very sad drama.
Baccano, 16 episodes:
Mafia action without an actual main character, but following many different stories intertwining eachother, told un-chronological(think Pulp Fiction, maybe?). Hilarious and thrilling, this one is a work of art.
Cowboy Bebop, about 24 episodes:
Timeless classic, this one. It's... a space opera. Pretty realistic overall for being sci-fi. Episodic show and a ton of fun to watch. Hard to dislike this, really.
So, those are the ones I could think of off the top of my head. Hope I could help you out. I'd count all of those as some of my favourites I'd even rewatch, so they should at least be good.
Cowboy Bebob was mentioned a few times. It's also started Girls With Guns image.
Not a cultural thing, but check out Planets. Same mangaka as Vinland. It's about life in an orbital station. MC is Japanese. They got Indian, Amazonian Indians, Americans, Chinese, Russians and Afro Americans. (Cannot use the N word)
Gadget yoyo, _Planetes_ (not Planets) is excellent indeed! Highly recommended!
And it's a real "hard sci-fi". The mangaka is quite the perfectionist, does proper research of his subjects, and it shows (even if Shad does not find the result "realistic", which it never claimed to be - it's a freakin' *Saga* ).
I would love to see a follow up AFTER Shad has watched all of it.
👏 *Shad Is*
👏 *A Weeb*
👏 _(this confirms it)_
You're one of us now
One of us
One of us
One of us, one of us, one of us
One of us, one of us, one of us, one of us
One of us
One of us
One of us
He finally did it folks!
ASKELAD IS BEST BOOI. Really hoped for that 8 hour analysis
did askeladd really consider bjorn a friend? what do you think? i can argue it both ways.......
leaning towards not 🥹
he never opened up to bjorn regarding his heritage, even bjorn WANTED to be his friend.
"did you know askeladd spoke welsh?" atli bro
@@aSSGoblin1488 agreed. And it's mostly due to Askeladd HATING the nords for what they did to his mother
@@the_cringe_nerd so he mostly did it so bjorn can pass in peace... felt like he hated himself for saying that he was hisi only friend,, realizing he did kill his only friend 🥹
I don't think anyone would mind a four hour long commentary, to be honest.
Not one bit!
True dat boi
Shad
Mail is depicted acurately.
Thorfin the main character specifically goes for the weak exposed points and avoids armor is his opponent is wearing it.
One character is even wearing a gambeson ;-)
After reading the title: Consumes Berserker shroom*
After finishing the video: Lowers axe*
Thank you for this Shad! Vinland Saga is one of my favorite anime/manga and seeing you analyze it is great. I would love if you did this more with Vinland Saga or any other anime in general. Either way this is a great vid as always, keep it up!
Oh no Shad, you've summoned them... There is no turning back now! Everyone prepare to defend! Our goal? To stop... No... To survive the ANIME INQUISITION!
No one expects the anime inquisition!
In the name of the holy weeb kindgom and all weeb saints! I claim this land and all its riches!
Oh please, we are a cuddly bunch.
...
Just watch out for the crazy ones.
Notice how his shoulder did not bleed in the water from the arrow, implying that the arrow was in fact stopped by him armor
That's cool and all but...
WHERE ARE THE BEARDS. I WANT TO SEE WHOLESOME VIKING BEARDS
wait for it.
Blackie
Nonononono, i'm talking about those FULL EPIC MANLY VOLUMINOUS beards, able to rival blackbeard's awesomeness. Yeah, THOSE beards.
@@elendil6144 yes.
@@elendil6144 If shad ever covers more episodes you'll see full on face to mid chest beards.
I think beards are a victim of being able to display the characters' expressions in a clearer manner. Anime very often ends up using "moustache twitching" to show a massively bearded character talking.
"HE BASICALLY FUNCTIONING ON SUPERHUMAN LEVEL"
I know
20:07 later in the anime you would find out that he purposely threw himself overboard in order to fake his death
and there was literally no need to say that because NOBODY FUCKING ASKED and you may have spoiled it for people who havent watched the anime and even if its literally said in the start... nobody fucking asked.
SUKON DIS NUTS are you fucking 12? Pissing yourself over a spoiler for such a minor detail lmao
@@tingispingis you are the cancer police, why are you spreading cancer? i want to see your supervisor
@@torpid2906 It's the principal. People tend to not like things spoiled for them.
@@tingispingis You call that being an asshole? Dude just said nobody asked about the spoiler. You literally called the guy a waste of space for not liking someone using spoilers, you called him an asshole over something so minor. He didn't even insult the person. Yet you ironically insulted him several times and went farther than he ever did. I think your own statement applies to you more then it does him, your hypocrisy is outstanding.
Shad: he should have sunk like a rock
Thorkell: its like he doesnt weigh a damn thing.
W0t3rdog: well, if he doesnt weigh a damn thing, and his maille weigh about 10-20 kg, and the bouyancy of a human body... sure.
I mean, the first thing that happens is a dude cutting 40 or 50 cm of solid wood, like it was nothing, its not that realistic, but its so fun
The battles are the equivalent of a viking epic saga, with superhuman feats left and right. I was hoping you'd dive into the day to day life aspects of the characters, as that's where the historical attention to detail really shines. The day to day chores and living feels super authentic, which Golden Kamuy also managed to nail. My favorite thing is how the characters are influenced by the culture of the time, no one feels "out of time and place". The men have an expectation and glorification of battle, slaves were common, the strong ruled the weak; yet it crafts incredible characters who break from that mold without breaking the time period and culture they are surrounded in.
"If I did a commentary of the whole first episode it'd be like 4 hours or something" Shad, we want this. Alot.