They aimed to bring more original content to the adaptation in order to further develop the characters, like Thorfinn's transformation into a Viking, the nightmares that haunt him, and Einar's life before becoming a slave.

Enraged, Thorfinn starts training and working as a mercenary for the Vikings for several jobs during his growth as a teenager in order to get his proper revenge on Askeladd.

He found the artwork of the manga very detailed which was difficult to animate, and noted that designer Takahiko Abiru was put through some challenges to replicate it.

[14] When the anime finale aired in Japan, Yabuta wrote, "This big incident changed everything for Thorfinn, but his story will continue!".

Producer Naokado Fujiyama said the main theme involves the handling of psychology, most notably in Thorfinn, Einar and Ketil.

In contrast to Thorfinn and Einar who become friendlier and active across the story, Ketil displays a darker tone in the last episodes of the season due to the violent themes[18] The series was announced in March 2018.

Produced by Twin Engine, Production I.G, Wit Studio and Kodansha, the series was animated by Wit Studio and directed by Shūhei Yabuta, with Hiroshi Seko handling series composition, Takahiko Abiru designing the characters,[19] and Yutaka Yamada composing the music.

[20] Due to the pending arrival of Typhoon Faxai on September 8, episode 10 was pre-empted by news broadcasts and instead premiered the following week.

In testing, Yamada provided Yabuta with a demo of 26 songs, made to represent and amplify the emotion a character was displaying.

Meanwhile, Aimer wanted to portray the emotions Thorfinn and Thors share in the early episodes as the song foreshadows the latter's death.

LMYK expressed similar desires but in a more tragic nature as the song is meant to show the hopelessness and regrets the character suffered.

[43] The anime Vinland Saga was received with critical acclaim with several websites like IGN,[48] Kadokawa Game Linkage.

[50] "Mukanjyo" was also listed as one of the best songs of 2019 by Anime News Network for both the music and the lyrics, which focus on Thorfinn's revenge quest and its failure.

[52] Otaku USA called Vinland Saga enjoyed the handling of the revenger's narrative and named it one of the best anime series of 2019 due to its focus of characters and setting.

[58] Hajime Isayama, the creator of Attack on Titan, was surprised by Askeladd's death, most specifically by how Wit Studio animated it in the season finale.

[59] The Fandom Post found the relationship between Thorkell and Thorfinn interesting but lamented how the latter is not changed by the fact that both know Thors or are related by blood.

[62] Both Anime News Network and The Fandom Post praised the episode where Thorfinn realizes mistakes of his life as a Viking and makes an oath of pacifism.

[63][64] The Daily Star agreed and found that Thorfinn's mundane life as a slave brings intriguing stories about "redemption and self-discovery".

Polygon compared Thorfinn's pacifism with anime characters Shigeo Kageyama and Naruto Uzumaki as they look for more peaceful resolution.

[68] In another article, Anime News Network listed the scene where Thorfinn confronts Canute's soldiers as the best from 2023 thanks to the warrior philosophy.