Warning: SPOILERS for Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – Memorial Edition episode 5A new Berserk series that has been adapting Studio 4°C’s three movies into TV show format just included the pivotal “bonfire” or “campfire” of dreams scene that was left out of the original trilogy. Unfortunately, the adaptation doesn’t come close to how the 1997 anime portrayed the moment.
The “bonfire of dreams” speech is a pivotal moment in not just the Golden Age but the entirety of Berserk since it’s the first time that Guts and Casca connect after their battle against Chuder’s General Adon Coborlwitz. Following their defeat at Adon’s hands, Guts and Casca had been forced to survive together in the wilderness, and the fact that Casca was both emotionally and physically vulnerable as a result of that altercation brought her closer to Guts. Leading up to the “bonfire of dreams” scene, Casca chooses to heal and speak with Guts, during which time Casca learns that he might leave the Band of the Hawk, stirring conflicting emotions about him and Griffith for the first time.
In episode five of Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – Memorial Edition entitled “Campfire of Dreams,” viewers finally get to see that moment within the context of Studio 4°C’s artistic direction. For the most part, the 1997 anime and Berserk Memorial Edition’s renditions are practically identical, with the biggest visual difference being the scale at which the latter effort’s captures the night sky and the far expanse of the campfires. But those who initially fell in love with the original anime will find it almost impossible to fully embrace Studio 4°C’s adaptation.
How “Guts’ Theme” Changes Everything in the 1997 Berserk Anime
Besides the new Berserk series’ egregious use of CGI, what this new scene lacks is the 1997 anime’s song “Guts’ Theme.” Although the new track is beautiful, it lacks the emotional build-up of the original. Part of the problem lies in how the newer song is lyric-heavy, resulting in the singer’s words conflicting with what both Casca and Guts are saying. Conversely, the entirety of “Guts’ Theme” is a heart-wrenching compilation of non-lyrical vocalizations that don’t distract from the dialogue. The original Berserk anime had an uncanny knack for expertly utilizing the two-part structure of “Guts’ Theme” to highlight specific emotional moments. In the Memorial Edition, the new track plays throughout the “campfire of dreams” speech, making the conversation feel monotonous. Meanwhile, the 1997 anime brought its soundtrack in halfway through the scene right when Casca says “… like a bonfire of dreams.” So from that moment on, as Casca and Guts continue to speak poetically, everything they say is naturally elevated.
The fact that there are notable highs and lows in “Guts’ Theme” adds to the overall experience, so when those highs come, the already emotional moment is heightened even further. The first time this happens, Guts talks about how much his philosophy on life has changed. And when the second crescendo comes, it’s at that moment that Casca realizes that Guts might be thinking of leaving the Hawks.
Aside from the original’s theme masterfully elevating Casca’s bonfire metaphor, the evolution of Guts’ philosophical outlook on life, and Guts’ eventual departure, the Memorial Edition failed to adapt the entirety of the scene. The moment when Guts pushes Casca into Griffith is still missing. Not long before, Guts had just realized how important Griffith was to Casca, and in the 1997 anime, he’s acting upon that knowledge to help her. So while Berserk‘s Memorial Edition is valiantly trying to capture a crucial moment from the 1997 anime, the overall emotional weight leaves much to be desired.
