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Vinland Saga is a historical drama set in the early 11th century, when Danish Vikings were fighting for control of England. It follows Thorfinn, a boy from Iceland who grows up among warriors and spends his youth chasing revenge, and later the very different life he faces after the war. The cast falls into a few groups: Thorfinn's family and neighbours in Iceland, Askeladd's mercenary band, the Danish royal court and the Jomsvikings in season 1, and the people of Ketil's farm in Denmark in season 2. This page covers 15 characters across those groups. Each description stays at the point where the character is introduced, without revealing who survives or how their stories turn out.
Thorfinn is the protagonist, a boy from a quiet village in Iceland who ends up in Askeladd's mercenary band. He travels with the man he hates most, carrying out dangerous jobs to earn the right to challenge him to a formal duel. He is fast, agile and fights with short daggers, but he is hot-headed and often loses control in battle. Japanese voice: Yūto Uemura (Shizuka Ishigami as a child).
Canute is a 17-year-old prince of the Danes, the son of King Sweyn. When he first appears he is quiet and timid, rarely speaks for himself and relies on his guardian Ragnar for almost everything. His sincere Christian faith makes the rough Vikings around him mock him. He becomes central to the story when the war brings him into Askeladd's path. Japanese voice: Kensho Ono.
Einar is a farmer from northern England whose village is attacked. He is sold as a slave and brought to Ketil's farm in Denmark, where season 2 begins. He openly hates war and injustice and has almost no fighting skill, but he is honest, hard-working and loyal. He meets Thorfinn on the farm and the two become partners in clearing a field. Japanese voice: Shunsuke Takeuchi.
Thorkell is a giant Jomsviking general who loves a good fight more than anything. Early in season 1 he leaves the Danish side to fight as a mercenary for the English, simply because he expects stronger opponents there. He swings two axes and has enormous physical strength, and his followers share his love of war. His cheerful attitude makes him one of the most memorable rivals. Japanese voice: Akio Ōtsuka.
Thors is Thorfinn's father, a former general of the Jomsvikings who was once known as the Troll of Jom. He left the battlefield to live with his family in Iceland and has become a calm, thoughtful man who avoids violence. His few words about what a true warrior is stay with Thorfinn for the rest of the story. He appears in the opening episodes. Japanese voice: Kenichirou Matsuda.
Bjorn is Askeladd's second-in-command, a big, rough warrior who fights because he enjoys it. In battle he works himself into a berserker rage. Of all the men in the band, he is the one closest to Askeladd and the one who seems to want a real friendship with him. He often deals with Thorfinn on Askeladd's behalf. Japanese voice: Hiroki Yasumoto.
Leif Erikson is a cheerful old sailor from Greenland and a friend of Thorfinn's family in Iceland. He says he once sailed west to a rich, peaceful land called Vinland, and his stories fill young Thorfinn's head with dreams of a place with no war. He refuses to give up on Thorfinn even after years without news. Japanese voice: Yōji Ueda.
Ylva is Thorfinn's older sister. She stays behind in Iceland with their mother and grows into a strong, practical woman who takes on the work their father and brother would otherwise do. She is blunt, energetic and runs the household with a firm hand. She appears mostly in the early episodes and in scenes set in Iceland. Japanese voice: Hitomi Nabatame.
Ragnar is Prince Canute's chief retainer. He has looked after Canute since the prince was a small boy, acting as his guardian and something close to a foster father, a role King Sweyn gave him. He is protective of the prince and distrustful of the mercenaries around them. Japanese voice: Jin Urayama.
Ketil is a wealthy Danish landowner who buys Thorfinn and Einar to work on his large farm. He has a reputation as a fair and kind master who treats his workers better than most, and he offers them a way to earn their freedom through their work on the land. Japanese voice: Hideaki Tezuka.
Olmar is Ketil's younger son. He hates farm work and dreams of becoming a warrior and going to war, but he has no real experience and is quick to lose his nerve. He spends his time with the hired guards rather than on the land. Japanese voice: Yū Hayashi.
Snake is the leader of the hired swordsmen who guard Ketil's farm. He is far smarter and more experienced than the men he commands, easygoing on the surface but sharp when it counts. Hints about a past in faraway lands make him one of the most mysterious figures of season 2. Japanese voice: Fuminori Komatsu.
Arnheid is a woman held as a servant on Ketil's farm, where she works in Ketil's house. She is kind, honest and hard-working, and she tries to get through each day without trouble. She becomes a gentle presence for Thorfinn and Einar, who come to care about what happens to her. Japanese voice: Mayumi Sako.
Askeladd is the leader of a small but feared band of Viking mercenaries, and the man Thorfinn wants to defeat. His strength is his mind: he reads situations and opponents before they move, and he is one of the best fighters in the story. He keeps Thorfinn in his band by using the boy's desire for revenge. He smiles easily and speaks with irony, which makes it hard to tell what he really thinks. Japanese voice: Naoya Uchida.
Floki is a Jomsviking commander who serves under King Sweyn during the invasion of England. He cares above all about his own position and flatters anyone who can give him more power. He holds a long grudge against Thors, who he feels looked down on him. He is one of the first antagonists the story introduces. Japanese voice: Atsushi Ono.
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