Guts, a man who calls himself "The Black Swordsman", looks back upon his days serving as a member of a group of mercenaries. Led by an ambitious, ruthless, and intelligent man named Griffith, together they battle their way into the royal court, and are forced into a fate that changes their lives.
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
Air date: 1997-10-08
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: A blacksmith is forging an enormous sword while a dark man with only one eye and one arm stands back and watches.
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
Air date: 1997-10-15
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: There is a great battle taking place at a fort. The attackers are doing well, except one thing stands in their way - a grey knight and he states that none shall pass him.
Writer: Makoto Itakura
Air date: 1997-10-22
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Guts and Griffith begin their sword fight.
Writer: Shouji Yonemura
Air date: 1997-10-29
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Guts reminisces about his childhood.
Writer: Shinzo Fujita
Air date: 1997-11-05
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Guts is now a commander of Griffith's army, taking many risks in battle, Casca takes him to task for it. Griffith is knighted in the Midland court much to the nobles' dismay.
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
Air date: 1997-11-12
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: In another raid, Guts and Griffith come across a demon known as Nosferatu Zodd.
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
Air date: 1997-11-19
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Princess Charlotte of Midland strikes up a friendship with Griffith.
Air date: 1997-11-26
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Griffith and Guts continue their success in battle and Griffith is made a Count.
Writer: Shouji Yonemura
Air date: 1997-12-03
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Griffith saves Charlotte when her horse bolts during a fox hunt. Yurius, the king's younger brother, attempts to have him assassinated.
Writer: Shinzo Fujita
Air date: 1997-12-10
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Guts, sent by Griffith, assassinates Yurius and his son Adonis. Griffith gets closer to Charlotte. The Hawks depart for yet another mission.
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
Air date: 1997-12-17
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: On a stormy battlefield, Caska, Griffith's second in command, is wounded while fighting the leader of an enemy army. Guts runs to her rescue but when she passes out at the edge of a cliff, he cannot catch her in time and they both fall into the river below.
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
Air date: 1997-12-24
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Caska is still unconcious, so Guts shelters them in a cave while the rain pours down. She comes to and tells Guts about her past and about Griffith's.
Air date: 1998-01-07
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Guts and Caska try to fight their way back to the Hawks while the enemy army they were fighting from before try to stop them.
Air date: 1998-01-14
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Caska finds Judeau's division of Hawks and leads them back to where Guts was fighting alone. Although injured, he defeated all the enemy soldiers by himself. They return to the Hawks' camp and Caska tends to Guts' wounds.
Writer: Shinzo Fujita
Air date: 1998-01-21
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: The King of Midland and his various generals confer about Doldrey Castle, long since captured by the Chudan Empire. Griffith plans an attack and the King agrees despite the protests of his other officers. Only one other general supports Griffith's actions. The Hawks attack Doldrey.
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
Air date: 1998-01-28
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: With the help of Nosferatu Zodd, Guts defeats the defender of Doldrey Castle.
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
Air date: 1998-02-04
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: With the victory at Doldrey, Griffith is promoted to White Phoenix General, an aristocratic title. The Queen of Midland and other court conspirators try to poison Griffith.
Air date: 1998-02-11
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Griffith has his revenge by having the Queen's castle burned down.
Writer: Shouji Yonemura
Air date: 1998-02-18
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Griffith will not let Guts simply leave. He says that Guts belongs to him.
Writer: Shinzo Fujita
Air date: 1998-02-25
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Guts arrives at the home of Godo the swordsmith and stays there for a while while Godo crafts a new sword for him. Guts practices more on his sword techniques with the help of Godo's little daughter Erika.
Writer: Shinzo Fujita
Air date: 1998-03-04
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Guts returns in time to save the remaining Hawks from annihilation.
Air date: 1998-03-11
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: With Guts help, Caska and the Hawks hope to rescue Griffith.
Writer: Shouji Yonemura
Air date: 1998-03-18
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Breaking away from the King's pursuing armies, the few Hawks left contemplate their future. Guts comforts Caska, who is despondent over Griffith's condition. Griffith begins to dream.
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
Air date: 1998-03-25
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Seduced by the promises of demons and his dreams from his childhood, Griffith agrees to fulfill his destiny and become one of the God Hand demons.
Writer: Shinzo Fujita
Air date: 1998-04-01
Runtime: 23 min
Overview: Griffith's men are sacrificed to the demon's appetites. Guts fights on, at first to save Griffith, then to save himself from the result of Griffith's ambition.
