What do you usually think when somebody tells you a particular anime is based on some more or less true historical events? Chances are that it’s yet another take on Oda Nobunaga with some weird spin – all the characters are girls or the setting is changed to a high-school, or something in a similar vein. If not that, Japanese do love a good old Victorian setting, Alice in Wonderland included (or no Alice, for a change). One way or another, in all likelihood I‘d freak out after hearing that such a thing like Vinland Saga does exist. Really, what are the chances that a Japanese dude could make a compelling story about damn Vikings? With no anime girls (pretty much), no high-schools and (virtually) no slap-stick comedy?

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