Designs and Inspirations

The head designer of From Sofware Hidetaka Miyazaki mentioned in a few interviews that a big inspiration in regards of visiuals and symbolism has been the Manga Berserk.

Berserk is a fantasy-Manga drawn and written by the japanese Manga-artist Kenatro Miura first published in 1989. Berserk is famous for its outstanding artstyle, explicit violence and fights. but also for its complex and deep story targeting an adult readership.

The Manga takes places in a fantasy world oriented on medieval europe.

It tells the story of black swordsman Guts surviving in a dark fantasy world soakedwith motives of revenge and redemption.

In the following comparison you can see the most important paralells between the first Dark Souls and the manga. While some of the NPCs and Manga-characters share Lore, a lot of mob enemies or Bosses are largely influenced in terms of Design.

Guts

VS.

Artorias of the Abyss

Both characters fight with a big greatsword und wear a dark armor sharing an almost identical Design. Just like Artorias, Guts is fight with only one of his arms. Artorias' right arm is broken and Guts lost his left arm during a ritual.

They are both great swordsmen clad in darkness and both are heavily associated with a wolf.

Guts inner beast is portrayed as a wolf-like creature and Artorias' pet is the ernomous wolf Sif. In both fantasy worlds these characters exist in a realm in-between two realities.

Griffith

Vs.

Dark Sun Gwyndolin

In the case of Griffith and Gwyndolin there are fewer obvious paralells. Both are Man with long white hair and white armor/clothing often mistaken for a woman, especially Gwyndolin. Regarding the lore both have deep connection with a dark sun since Griffith was reborn under an ritual than only occurs during a black sun and as soons the player killst he princess in Arnor Londo Gwyndolyns illusion is broken and lets city shine in a dark sun.

Shrierke

Vs.

Beatrice

Beatrice and Schierke don't have a lot in common besides in terms of their lore. Yet both share a similar look and help out the main character.

Beatrice can be summoned for support as a phantom. And ever since Schierke was introdocued into the story of Berserk, she supported Guts on an astral level, similar to the Phantom of Beatrice.

Godo

Vs.

Andre of Astora

Andre and Godo fullfill the same role in their respective universe.

Both are very skilled blacksmiths who support the player (or in the case of Berserk Guts) by crafting and repairing weapons and armor. And they are giving the main character helpful advice, especially Godo