Kiba (anime)

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Kiba
牙-KIBA- (Kiba)
Genre	Action, Fantasy
TV anime
Directed by	Hiroshi Kōjina
Studio	Madhouse Production, Aniplex
Network	TV Tokyo
Original run	April 5, 2006 – N/A
No. of episodes	Ongoing - 36 (as of December 4, 2006)

Kiba (牙-KIBA-, Kiba^? literally fang), a fantasy anime by Madhouse Production, began broadcasting on TV Tokyo on April 5, 2006. The series is directed by Hiroshi Kōjina with Upper Deck Japan, a trading card game company, as the main sponsor. ^[1] The anime is expected to be broadcast in the United States^[1] but no American producer has yet been announced.

The series has been more violent than other trading-card-game-tie-in animations with many characters being killed. According to an interview with the March 2006 issue of Animage, Hiroshi Kamishina, the show's director, noted that the show "absolutely will not have any plot elements that curry favor to children".^[1] The producers of the show has also commented that Kiba will not be the type of show to put "human drama" on the back burner while concentrating on promotional tie-ins.^[1]

Contents 1 Plot 2 Characters 2.1 Main characters 2.2 Tempura 2.3 Jimoto 2.3.1 Jimito Usurpers 2.4 Neotopia 2.5 Tusk 2.6 Kalab-fu 2.7 Ulbaks 2.8 Other Characters 3 Countries 4 Episodes 5 Music (Anime) 5.1 Opening Themes 5.2 Ending Themes 6 References and External links 6.1 References 6.2 External links

[edit] Plot

Kiba's main character is Zed, a 15-year-old boy who lives in a place called "Calm". He is frustrated by his current situation in life and feels that somewhere out there is a place where he can live more fully. One day, at the invitation of a mysterious wind, Zed dives into a space-time crevasse (portal), seeking the "answer" that might be there. Riding on the wind, he gets transported to a war-torn world where warring magic users called "Shard Casters" fight endlessly with each other, using magical crystals called "Shards". These "Shards" appear to be color coded and assigned an element each: Red is fire, blue is water/ice, yellow is lightning, and orange-brown is earth, purble-black is darkness & green is air. With the power of the Shards, the Shard Casters are able to use magic and control monsters called "Spirits". Fascinated by that power, Zed aims to become a Shard Caster. However, he still doesn't know that residing in his body is "Amil Gaul", a mighty Spirit with the power to influence the world's future. It also suggests that Amil Gaul is one of the "Key Spirits" that, when together with the other Key Spirits, can destroy the world. Currently there are three known Key Spirits: Amil Gaul, Puronimo, and Sachura.

[edit] Characters

Note: Some names have not yet gotten straightforward English-language equivalents. Until the official English-language version of the anime is released, the most popular English translation of the name should be used with other name variants listed somewhere in the article.

[edit] Main characters

Zed

Zed is a 15-year old boy originally from Calm, a land where no wind blows. While in Calm, Zed had a somewhat unusual habit: breaking doors. He claims that by doing this he "feels that he can go anywhere."^[2] While on the run from the police of Calm, he encounters a space-time crevasse that leads him to the land of Tempura, where he meets the sage Jico and his disciple, Roya. He draws his Shards from a set of three crystals on his left arm. The blade he wields is red, requiring three Shards to form. His Spirit, Amil Gaul, appears to be a wind-based entity that uses two large, white-feathered wings as weapons. These wings have proven capable of slicing through other Spirits, as well as humans.

At first he is frustrated with his inability to control Amil Gaul but desiring power to help the Jimoto Princess Rebecca, he acquired a new spirit, Rambos (ランヴォス, Ranvosu^?), 'the soul of power', as well as a more powerful sword that creates a wider blade. While less powerful then Amil Gaul, Rambos nonetheless lives up to its nickname, able to destroy a fearsome water beast simply by grabbing it. With this new power, he was able to easily defeat Dumas and Gláucio. He eventually discovers his friend from Calm, Noah, in the land of Tusk, in possession of the Key Spirit Sachura.

Later, Zed participated in the Neotopian Joust as a representative of Tempura along with Roya and Rhobes. He was at first happily reunited with his friend Noah, but their relationship was severed by a series of events soon after the Joust began. First was when Roya was arrested by Neotopia and Noah refused to help. The second was when Noah 'defeated' Zed during a latter match of the Joust and revealed that Roya would be executed for her 'crime'. After his defeat, Zed's key spirit was stolen by Hugh, who was in disguise, but had it returned later by Noah.

Shortly after escaping from Neotopia, Zed was 'abducted' by Neotopian soldiers and taken to the barren outskirts of Neotopia. They attempted to execute him, but Zed was saved by the artificial shardcasters from Ulbek. It was at this time that Zed witnessed the invasion of Neotopia by Hugh's forces and the beastmen of Tusk. ^[2]

Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino

Roya (ロイア, Roya^?)

^[3]

Note: The name Roya, is originally referenced from the Persian girl's name meaning, to dream, fantasy. Thus elimating the unknown name "Roia"

She is a 16-year-old girl from Tusk living in Tempura. She is the disciple of the sage Jico who rescued her from Tusk at the age of 6. She was to be killed after it was predicted that she would kill her father Morocco. As she was growing up in Tempura, she was told that she was an orphan. She is a friend of Zed and Miki and it hints that she may be interested in a more

romantic way to Zed, though he is completely oblivious to this and doesn't seem to feel the same about her. ^[4] She draws shards from a crystal on her neck resembling a brooch. She has two weapons resembling sais. These blue weapons require three shards each to activate. Her Spirit, Afkareru, is a water-based entity capable of flight. It also is able to call forth a harp. Upon plucking the strings of said harp, energy shots fly from it. She has been revealed to have been a native of Tusk.

Voiced by: Nana Mizuki

Noa

^[3]

He is Zed's friend from Calm. He is sickly, but nevertheless insists on pursuing his goals whole heartedly. After Zed goes through the portal to Tempura, Noa is eventually teleported to a militaristic land called Neotopia and begins making friends while staying with Carter, the man who found him, and his wife. He is healed by healing shards, to the point where he no longer feels sickly. He also befriends Kis and Aisha, and spends a lot of time with them until their friend Gale comes back. Gale is a soldier, and as such adheres to Neotopia's "ultimate rules" with inhuman resolve. Noa is disturbed by Gale's actions, and tries his best to save the town, but is arrested and taken away. From then on, he is firmly in the clutches of Neotopia's elite warrior class, who value him for his latent shard casting abilities, and for his posession of a dark key spirit named Sachura. They manage to psychologically warp him to the point where he embraces Neotopia's laws whole heartedly. He appears though, to still be the kind person he once was, but he has since changed and will follow Neotopia's laws whenever someone breaks them. Aisha sends him to another land in order to "live on". He meets Zed, takes back Kis and kills him after Zed and Roia are shifted. Eventually he meets Zed again in a tournament held in Neotopia, but they shift from friends to adversaries. Noa is determined to be a more powerful shard caster than Zed, since he has always felt inferior to Zed physically and in spirit. Voiced by: Kazuma Horie

[edit] Tempura

Jiko (or Zico (ジーコ, Jīko^?) Voiced by: Tamio Ohki ^[5]):

Jiko is one of six sages of Tempura, and has the appearance of an old man. Jiko has a rather calm and wise personality, in which he regularly performs rather sagely tasks such as meditation and fishing, while equipped with a mind of void. Jiko is the teacher of Roia, a girl of noble birth that he had saved many years back while she had been a child. After Zed arrives, Jiko as well acts as his mentor, and gives him advice at many times. Throughout the whole of the series, it seems that Jiko doesn't every really leave Tempura but stays to regulate their politics and authority. Jiko also regularly tells Zed to protect Roia and to keep closeful watch over his wellbeing.

As seen very early on within the anime, Jiko possesses a very strong spirit (due to his own strong will) that seems to want to be captured by the military of Jimoto. His Spirit is probley on a power level with Rambos (Zeds second Spirit) . Jiko's spirit is a large red dragon that has many curves on its body, in which it regularly breathes large amounts of fire to completely destroy its opponents.

Robès Redondo (ロベス・レドンド, Official from the trading card game.^?)

His name and mansion "Redondo House" all inherited from his father before him Altajid Redondo. He is a princely figure living in Tempura. He recently became the Shard Champion after winning the Shard Casters tournament. For fun he wears a mask and under the name "No Face" likes to rob the townspeople of their riches. He wishes to know who is stronger between Dumas and himself, but was denied the chance when Dumas let Zed fight in his place against Robès in the tournament. Robès draws his Shards from a yellow crystal on his right hand. His weapon is yellow and resembles a rapier. It uses two Shards, placed in the hilt of his weapon. His Spirit, Belladonna (ベラドンナ, beradonna, sometimes erroneously romanized as Era Donna^?), resembles a ballerina, and slashes down foes with its arms. It has also been shown that Belladonna is capable of flight. As of episode 13, it is revealed that Robès can use water shards as well as lightning shards, though at this time it is unknown whether using two shards is common or if it is a more advanced form of casting.

Voiced by: Shinichiro Miki

• Miki A baker by trade and a former apprentice to Dumas. He is a friend of Roya and Zed. He is given Dumas's spirit after Dumas was killed and had serious difficulty controlling it. He seems to be romantically interested in Pino, a maid of Robès. He is voiced by: Nobuhisa Nakamoto

Miki seems to first of all be the childhood friend of Roia, a beautiful young girl of noble descent. Miki makes his first appearance within episode 2, in which he elaborates on his will to live up to the expectations of his sensei, Dumas. Miki works hard every day within a field like area, accomplishing simple tasks with Dumas. However, after Dumas was forced to be rid of his house, Miki was forced to live within an abandoned house with Zed and Roia. This is when Miki decides to start baking unique style bread as his new occupation, as to attain money. Other than baking bread, Miki attempts to regularly become stronger as a Shard Caster, but seems to always fail in this endeavour due to having a kind and gentle heart. After Miki later hears of Dumas's death, he relatively seems to go almost insane. He afterwards kept continuously striving for more power as to quell his suffering about how he could have been able to save Dumas if he had been supposedly stronger at the time. This insanity had been truly caused when Robes had handed Miki Dumas's spirit, which seems to be a possessing spirit that will take over its user if they happen not to be strong willed. This seems to be a primary factor within the ways of the spirit. Miki later recovers from this, and continues to sell a large quantity of bread as his occupation afterwards.

Miki's Spirit: Miki's spirit's name is Aremadenu. It never seems to accomplish anything within the series due to being rather undisciplined, hence which reflects Miki's weak will. Miki had attempted to use this spirit when training with Roia, along with when battleing at the Joust tournament. After Miki attaned Dumas's spirit, Aremadenu never made another appearance.

Dumas Schuramux (デュマス・シュクラムクス, dyumasu shukuramukusu^?)

Tempura's previous Shard Champion, a title given to the strongest Shard Caster in the country. Even though he held the prestigious title, he works as a farmer. He also, however, had turned the basement of his house into a hospital for those of the country of Jimoto who have been cast into exile, but when they started attacking the castle he helped to defend it against them. Dumas draws his Shards from an aqua-colored crystal on his right shoulder. His weapon is a brownish-orange and is about twice the width of Zed's sword. His shard element is earth. It requires six Shards to activate. His Spirit Suraguna (Slugna/Slagna) resembles a knight and fights with a weapon that's something of a cross between a lance and a double-bladed sword.

Dumas bears a cross-like mark on his left palm, an inherited symbol of servitude that has run in his family for generations. He is obsessed with changing this 'destiny', and sought to do so by becoming the Shard Champion. To his chagrin, however, all that came with the title of Shard Champion was, "useless honor" and being the first person to call when trouble came about, with absolutely no change in his station or position. Obsession turned to madness, and he became the Jimoto usurpers' spy, the Joker, in exchange for marriage to Princess Rebecca, and thus by extension king of Jimoto.

Hugh, however, had no intention of honoring his bargin with Dumas, and intended to have him and a captured Robès kill each other off. The duel was more or less even (though Suraguna defeated Belladonna) until Zed showed up. Armed with a new sword and his more controllable spirit Ramvos, Zed easily defeated Dumas. Afterwards, Gláucio executed the exhausted Dumas by shocking with his spear and throwing him into the fire pits surrounding the Jimoto Jousting ring.

Voiced by: Hiroshi Yanaka

• Sebastian.

One of the several members of the Templar. Voiced by: Umeji Sasaki

[edit] Jimoto

• Rebecca a princess who is the last surviving member of the Jimoto royal family. Seeing Zed's powerful spirit, she asks for his help to regain her country. Voiced by: Marina Inoue

Rebecca, who takes the appearance as a beautiful young girl, is the princess of Jimoto. After Hugh had lusted to attain the power of the key spirits, he attempted to steal one of these key spirits which was in the hands of Rebecca's father, who had been the king of Jimoto. Before the king was to supposedly die however, he placed the spirit within the crest which is always on Rebecca's head. Rebecca is then continuesly saved by her retainer, Elda at many times after being captured by Hugh. At one time in which she had been saved, she stayed with Zed and Roia at their house. After she finds out that Zed wields the mighty Amil Gaoul, which is a key spirit, she immediately asks Zed to accompany her to Jimoto, as to serve amongst her established defense against Hugh. Hugh eventually gets his hands on her and tricks Dumas into thinking that he can become the new king of Jimoto if he is to marry her. However, Dumas is maniupulated, in which he is killed, leading for Rebecca to soon find out that her father was truly alive, due to the fact that only he can release the spirit from Rebecca's forehead. After this objective is completed, Hugh kills Rebecca's father and let's Rebecca do whatever she wants, due to now being useless to him. Rebecca then traveled out within the desert area, blurting the words that she would have liked to be reborn as a bird, as to be free of her misery.

After a while, Rebecca is seen again, in which she is "reborn" as a warrior, and vows ultimate revenge against Hugh, even to the extent that she is know somewhat away from sanity. To achieve her goal of revenge, she allies with the people of Karbuhu as a primary force against Jimoto, which is mainly because she had heard that Jimoto was planning on launching an attack within that area. Zed and Roia soon assist Rebecca, in which they then end up battleing against many soldiers of Jimoto. After Rebecca spots Hugh, she attempts to run after him, but is soon stopped by Elmeida. A while after this, Rebecca battles relentlessly against Elmeida. However, Rebecca, who jumps in the way as to save one of her fellow people of Karbuhu, is stabbed by Elmeida's blade. After Jimoto then retreats, Rebecca lays on her bed for her last time. She utters how she now feels truly free of her inner hatred, in which she then dies in peace, without any level of regret.

• Elda Rebecca's body guard. She is different from the other members of the rebel army who neglect Rebecca. She later fights to her death against Hugh (Hyu) in order to protect Rebecca. ^[6]
• Philip a member of the rebel army that is fighting against those who have overthrown the Jimito Monarchy. He, however, is only seeking power for himself. He is by Gláucio after seeking a reward from the Jimoto usurpers for being the one who persuaded to get Rebecca to return.

[edit] Jimito Usurpers

The these are three powerful leaders who have overthrown the Jimito Empire. Each is visually depicted as having one of the traits of one of the Three wise monkeys.

Hugh (or Hyu). The head of the three Jimoto Usurpers. He wears a mask over his mouth until Amil Gaul (the Key Spirit he stole from Zed) rejects him. He has a strict personality but acts somewhat insane after Amil Gaul's rejection response. He wields the Key Spirit Pronimo. Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi

Hugh is first of all the leading villain within the Kiba anime series. His first appearance was within episode 9, in which is shows him next to his two primary officers, Gláucio and Elmeida. His 'Joker' is Dumas, in which who believes he will become the next king of Jimoto by marrying Rebecca, as Hugh "promised" him. At an earlier age, Hugh acted as the primary retainer under Rebecca's father, who had been the king. One day however, Hugh had attempted to kill him, in which was when the king placed his half key spirit within Rebecca's spirit summoned area. Due to this fact, Hugh continuously captured Rebecca and later convinces Rebecca's father, who he had made sure lived, that he would marry Rebecca and become the new king of Jimoto. This is only a trick however to make Rebecca's father release the shard within her head. After Hugh receives the shard, he kills Rebecca's father and casts her away, free to do whatever she wishes. After this event, Hugh became the new King of Jimoto, and lusts to obtain every key spirit he can get his hands on. This is Hugh's true ambition.

Hugh then furthers his influence by gaining the trust of many major figures within Task. After Hugh's campaign in the Karbuhu region, he meets up with Zed and finally realizes that he has Amil Gaul in his possession. Hugh flees after he realizes that his key spirit Puronimo (becomes whole after fusing with the fire half) cannot stand against Amil Gaul. After Roia was to be sacrificed at a different time by the creatures of Task, Hugh takes glimpse of Noa's key spirit along with Zed's, in which makes his ambition burn even stronger. Hugh later retreats and continues to elaborate on his superiority within the series.

Hugh later participated in the Neotopian Joust, disguised as a representative of Tusk. After Zed was 'defeated' by Noah and taken to a hospital to recover, Hugh crept into his room at night and stole Amil Gaul. The next day, Hugh, still in disguise faced off against Noah in the final match of the Joust. During the battle, Noah knocked off Hugh's helmet revealing his true identity. At this point Hugh summoned Parinimo to battle against Sachira, but then summoned Amil Gaul to double-team Noah. Just when it seemed that Noah was defeated, Hugh doubled over in intense pain and regurgitated Amil Gaul's shard. Noah, mentioned that Amil Gaul had rejected Hugh, and the pain he was feeling was his punishment. Before he could be captured, Hugh teleported away back to Jimoto.

After returning to Jimoto, Hugh stopped wearing his mask and revealed his true face, a menacing, devilish visage. It seems that the after-effects of having Amil Gaul have also twisted Hugh, making him slightly insane. He has recently begun an invasion of Neotopia along with an army of Tusk beastmen.

Elmeida.Voiced by: Erino Hazuki. The female member of the three Jimoto leaders who wears a mask over her face.

Elmeida is one of two supreme commanders of Jimoto that serve under Hugh, the current King of Jimoto. Elmeda typically wears a mask on her face for reasons unknown and seems to like eating snails. It also seems that Elmeida has a rather arrogant personality and is rather merciless in her qualities. Elmeda made her first true appearance within episode 10 when she and Graujio had foughten against the shard casters from Tempura that had invaded their territory. Elmeida is also the one to thank for retrieving Rebecca throughout many times. Elmeda later is sent as the head commander when attacking the area of Karbuhu. While at this area, she duels against Rebecca, whom she later kills through a blade stab through the waist. Elmeda then retreats through Hugh's orders after she finished off Rebecca, who had at this time been long casted away from Hugh and "reborn" as a warrior. Roia however cannot forget what happened to Rebecca, in which she gains a large hatred towards the cruel Elmeda.

Elmeda's Spirit: Elmeda's spirit is a large winged monster that has a skull as its face. This spirit has the ability of being able to extend the spike within its right eye to a large extent, which is used primarily to impale its enemies. This is probably one of the more cooler looking spirits when compared to others.

Gláucio.^[7] The child member of the three Jimoto leaders he wears covers over his ears. Despite being a child, his power is extraordinarily high. Gláucio is assumed to be deceased, as Elmedia accuses Zed of killing him.

Gláucio is seemingly a child with blonde hair that had been recruited by Hugh at a rather young age. Gláucio now serves as one of two main enforcers (the other consisting of Elmeida) under the command of Hugh. Gláucio makes his first appearance within episode 9, in which he unleashes his spirit to dispose of the left over allies that had failed in their mission. Gláucio seems to favor duels when assisted by Elmeida, leading for them to be quite a nuisance. It also seems that Hugh favors Gláucio when it comes to quickly cleaning up messes, such as when he finished off Dumas within episode 13. Gláucio would afterwards have a 1-on-1 duel with Zed, in which he had displayed his skills with the plasma flail to a high extent. However, Zed ends up defeating Gláucio by attaching a certain explosive shard to his body, leading for him to be lying on the ground defeated, in which it supposedly said that he was killed by this.

Image:Gláucio-2.jpg Gláucio's Spirit: Gláucio's spirit takes the appearance of a large monster, in which it can freely open its body (which seems to serve as a large jaw) for quick disposal style tactics. Gláucio's spirit was not shown again after its master had been defeated.

[edit] Neotopia

• Aisha is a young girl that had been a citizen of Neotopia since childhood. Throughout her childhood, Aisha would become friends with a boy by the name of Keith, along with Gale. Aisha and Keith would always want to remain independent in their actions - as to be void of the strict Neotopia by occasionally sitting at night amongst glowing flowers that provide light to the sky and hiding out in their established stone monument. Gale however joined the military when told to, which changed his life to a high extent. Aisha later meets Noa, in which she and Keith treat them as their old friend, Gale. However, when Gale returns and relatively destroys the previous peaceful ways of Neotopia, Aisha is amongst a large conflict. After Gale is about to slash and kill Keith later for destroying the newly established laws, Aisha jumps in the way and is fatally wounded. Aisha survives momentarily later however to transport the terror stricken Noa out of Neotopia to a remote country.

• Gale (Also possilby Gael or Gayle)

He's Carter's son and childhood friends with Keith and Aisha. Though, due to some circumstances he became an obedient servant of Neotopia. After discovering that the village had not informed the Neotopian government of Noah's appearance he kills his father and begins the destruction of Lato. He was killed in his battle with Keith.

• Keith (キース, Kīsu^?, (Also possibly Keyes or Kees)

One of the village youth (most notably the village that Noah was guest at, which's Neotopia) that attacked Noah. At first, he assumes that Noah is some enemy soldier or spy working for the government when he saw Noah looking at the monument at the cliff near the village he was staying at. His spirit is a centurion type of beast. While most people enlist in the Neotopian army as soon as possible, Keith rejects this way of life, seeming to only want to have fun. He fights with Gale after he wounds Aisha. Along with Gale, he was assumed to be dead, but turns up in Tempura as a prisoner escaped from Neotopia. His wounds were healed by the government of Neotopia only so that he could later be executed for treason. Zed and Roya are asked to escort him back to Neotopia. However, due to some circumstances during the shifting teleportation, Keith, Zed and Roya end up in the land of Tusk. Noah, now indoctrinated into the laws of Neotopia, executes him by order of the government. Voiced by: Tōru Nara (奈良徹, Nara Tōru^?)

[edit] Tusk

Jesara is a somewhat minor character within the anime due to only being shown within small intervals. Jesara is the mother of Roia, the subordinate main character of Kiba. Jesara is first shown within the anime around episode 20 where she had been shown leaning on Cloud's shoulder, in which she seems to have a high level of love towards him. When Jesara later hears that Roia has returned to the land of Task after a time interval of ten years, she asked Cloud to tell Roia to meet her at the fallen cathedral within Task. After Roia comes up to her mother for the first time (within her memory), Roia realizes that she is soon confronting a woman by the name of Despara instead. It is revealed later in the episode that Jesara had merged her spirit within Despara's body right before her death, which had taken place when she had protected Roia from Despara. Jesara is only later seen when she had protected Roia again by jumping in the way of Morocco's blade, who had at the time held Roia and intended on killing her. Despara is the one who had truly received the blow, in which Jesara had faded away in death in Cloud's arms, telling him to "live on".

Morocco is a rather fat man that had been living within the lands of Task since his life had begun. Morocco is the father of Roia, in which he seems to be rather insane due to his great fear of his daughter. Morocco attained this idiotic fear by first dealing with a certain witch that had prophesied that Roia would "be the death of him". This insanity and great superstition greatly prospered after Roia (as a child) had given Morocco a rose as a gift, in which when he held it he realized that it had pricked his finger, causing for a minor amount of blood loss. This threw him into a state of insanity throughout the rest of his life in which he convinced himself that Roia must die. Due to this fact, Morocco hires Despara as his assassin, which he orders Despara to kill Roia. Due to the fact that Roia's mother had joined bodies with Despara right before her death - as a result of her protecting Roia -, Morocco could never look Despara in the face without being thrown into fear as to look at his own wife's face.

Ten years into the future when Morocco sees Roia dressed beautifully as the newly adopted daughter of Norman - a high ranking noble man of Task -, he literally gets on his hands and knees and crawls quickly away from Roia in a moment of extreme fear within his insanity. After Morocco finds the whereabouts of Roia after this, he personally holds her by the throat and attempts to kill her. However, Despara - who became Jesara momentarily - is struck by his blow. Morocco then attempts to flee, but it instantly cut down by Cloud, thus finally ending his life of distortion.

Despara is a rather young woman that had seemingly been a high ranking official of Task even since a young age. Despara always wears a half-mask around her face - a shared trait amongst the people of Task - and has a rather cruel and arrogant personality. Despara is also the right-hand guardian of Morrocco, the father of Roia. At one time in which Despara had been ordered to kill Roia due to Morocco's grand superstition and insanity, Despara had confronted Roia along a small cliff. Roia's mother however had vowed to protect Roia, in which led to Roia accidentally falling of the cliff - later to be saved be Jiko - and the supposed death of Roia's mother. However, Roia's mother had quickly thrown her spirit into that of Despara's, effectively leading Despara to have another person living inside of her.

Despara believes that the only way to get rid of Jesara from her body is to slay Roia. This later leads to Jesara meeting with Roia at a cathedral, but Despara ends up coming out, in which she attempts to kill Roia. However, Cloud holds Despara at bay, effectively allowing Roia to make her escape. Despara later encounters Roia again however, in which Cloud duels her again. After Morocco himself holds Roia, in which he intends on killing her, Despara jumps in the way of the blow (who was taken over by Jesara within a quick moment), and dies. Due to Despara's death, and the unity of their body, they both end up dieing as a result.

Cloud Cloud is a man around the age of 30, in which he always wears a rather cool looking suit of armor with blue large shoulder pads, in which he also seems to have a considerate and kind personality towards others. Cloud is first shown when Hugh had went to Karabuhu with Cloud and Despara. At this point however, the characteristics of Cloud were unknown. Later on within the series, it is revealed that - as like Dumas - Cloud is a Joker of Tempura. Cloud is sent to gather more knowledge about the country of Task, where in which he seems to hold a relationship with Roia's mother, Jesara. After Cloud assists in Roia's escape after holding Despara at bay, Cloud will later elaborate to Roia and Zed about the truth of Roia's past within Norman's mansion. After Cloud explains her past, they are attacked by a group of Tasker worshippers, in which was when Cloud flees with Roia while Zed holds the Taskers at bay with Ramboz and Amil Gaoul. Within this afterpoint, Cloud explains to Roia that he will always proect her, as which is the will of her mother, Jesara.

Very soon after however, Cloud is attacked by a rather angry Despara, who he holds as bay for the second time. After Despara - who at the time became Jesara - get's killed after being struck by Morocco's blade that had been intended towards Roia, Morocco attempts to flee. Cloud however makes quick work out of Morocco by delivering a fatal stab through his stomach, effectively killing him. After Roia and Zed return to Tempura right after this event, Cloud sits by Jesara's side for the last time, due to the fact that he she had been sharing the same body with the now-dead Despara. Cloud thus afterwards returns to Task to continue his ways as a Joker.

[edit] Kalab-fu

Guzman

The younger brother of the leader of the Kalab-fu. He was imprisoned in the "dark training grounds" and forced to fight Zed for survival. Rebecca and her party interrupted allowing and assisted both in escaping. Like everyone in the training grounds, Guzman was also forced to undergo harsh training. If he didn't comply, his loved one would have been killed. After Jimoto attacks the underground homeland of the Kalab-fu, Guzman opposes giving into Jimoto demands and assists Rebecca with fighting Hugh.

[edit] Ulbaks

• Ginga

A mysterious youth with the power to reverse spirit summonings. It is currently unknown if this power applies to Key Spirits. However, Key Spirits are able to be temporarily paralyzed with enough summonings. He is first seen in Tusk, where he rescues Roia from the Beast Humans, and later helps Zed stop her execution after she breaks the "Ultimate Rules" during the Neotopia Joust. He counsels Herrick against using the composite spirit Ex-Machina to kill Hairam, but fails to stop Herrick. After Herrick is killed by Ex-Machina, he leaves Neotopia with Herrick's body.

• Herrick

A former contender of the Neotopia Joust tournament. He attempts to recruit Zed to fight against Hairam, the supreme judge of Neotopia that oversees the "Ultimate Rules". After this is unsuccessful, he ignores Professor Bender's advice and takes the composite spirit Ex-Machina, thinking that he can finally kill Hairam with it. He is killed while trying to stop Ex-Machina, which he can no longer control, after defeating Kira and discovering that she is his sister Chelsea.

• Professor Bender

Professor Bender appears to be the leader of the Ulbaks. He is involved with the creation of the composite spirit Ex-Machina, "a spirit that can beat all other spirits," but does not feel that it is complete yet. More details have yet to be revealed, though it seems Ex-Machina may be an artifical Key Spirit.

[edit] Other Characters

• Sarah Voiced by: Kikuko Inoue^[1] Overall, the information behind Sarah and who she truly is is very vague. Sarah is first shown after Zed returns home to show her a certain feathered pendelum that Noa had given him. She stares at the pendulum in a rather strange display of surprise. After Zed is later attacked by a teacher of Calm that was truly a member of Task, Sarah personally battles it out with him. This reveals that Sarah herself is a shard caster and possesses a sense of duty to protect her son, or at least to get rid of this Task member. Most of this battle is not really shown due to fact that she never releases any spirit but instead continuously threw fire shards. It later shows Sarah holding the body of this Task member, in which it can be assumed he is dead. Following this point, Sarah is never truly shown within the series, in which adds in the mystery of who she really is.

• Shard of Happiness A minor filler shard/character that had been featured within Kiba during episode 24. It is known that the Shard of Happiness had been considered as a treasure for a long period of time within Robes's family. This shard is the color of yellow and has a happy face on the top. When the spirit inside of the shard is released, a large cute yellowish creature that is always smiling will appear. Robes's uncle now secretly owns this shard, in which he hid it safely behind a waterfall. However, the Shard of Happiness is a contradicting spirit which is due to the fact that it actually puts despair on its user, not happiness. Due to this, Robes's uncle sealed this shard away for its deception. However, a gang of bandits wish to attain this treasure from him, in which they receive it from Zed, who happened to find it. Three young maid servants had previously used this shard, and one by one figured out that it despairs its user. After they had dropped the shard unknowingly, Zed finds it later. After the bandits realize its fraudulence, it is returned to Robe's uncle, who then supposedly seals the spirit up again.

[edit] Countries

In the July issue of Newtype, the following lands were named for present and future episodes. A few updates might follow due to descripted episodes.[Source Mishicorp]

Calm: The city in which Zed was raised. A world where people don't know about the existence of shard casters.
Tempura: A land that represents harmony and humanity. The place that Zed uses as a base.
Neotopia: A feudalistic state where the people believe in an absolute form of justice. This country revoles around a set of rules referred to as the "Ultimate Rules". Anyone who breaks these "Ultimate Rules" is considered an outlaw and is hunted down and killed. There are no second chances and no exceptions.
Kalbu-fu: A small territory where the people are persecuted by Jimoto.
The Seekers: A floating fort where strangers come together. A place of safe keeping during a worldwide war between the countries. It has been proven that Galba and Sara are both leaders of this land.
Tusk (Hence the term is the source of the anime title "Kiba" which means Fang or Tusk) The axel of evil overseen by the masked Jim, whom placed Gari as a fake king to luring other tuskers to believe that there's a god. Tusk contains two races; Tusk Humans (as shown in ep 1) and Beast Humans (as shown in 17 and beyond) which are recognized by the "tusks" contained on both shoulders. It has been revealed that Roia is from this country.

Ulbaks An observatory like country which is made up of scientists lead by Professor Bender who focuses on gathering information from the best fighters to perfecting their own. This science, known as Ulbaks science, can make men, whom are not shard casters, able to use shards and man made spirits by becoming part machine. This is the current location source for Ginga.

Jimoto (Spelled Zimoto on the official card game): The empire once ruled by the monarchy of King Bakaam, later overthrown by Hugh (Hyu). Most of the royal family was executed, later including surviving members such as Phillip and Princess Rebeca.^[8]

[edit] Episodes

No. Episode Title[9] Airdate 1 "Winds of Fate" "Unmei no Kaze" (運命の風) 4/2/2006 2 "A New World" "Atarashii Sekai" (新しい世界) 4/9/2006 3 "Those Who Have Power" "Chikara wo Motsumono-tachi" (力を持つ者たち) 4/16/2006 4 "The Wind's Determination" "Kaze no Ketsui" (風の決意) 4/23/2006 5 "Country of Commandment" "Kairitsu no Kuni" (戒律の国) 4/30/2006 6 "Premature Ending" "Hayasugita Ketsumatsu" (早すぎた結末) 5/7/2006 7 "Awakened Thoughts" "Mezameta Omoi" (目覚めた思い) 5/14/2006 8 "Betrayal's Whereabouts" "Uragiri no Yukue" (裏切りの行方) 5/21/2006 9 "After the Fight" "Tatakai no Ato" (戦いのあと) 5/28/2006 10 "The Lonely Princess" "Kodokuna Ōjo" (孤独な王女) 6/4/2006 11 "Premonition of Conspiracy" "Inbō no Yokan" (陰謀の予感) 6/11/2006 12 "Advancing Toward the Truth" "Shinjitsu he no Zenshin" (真実への前進) 6/18/2006 13 "Running at Full Power" "Shissōsuru Chikara" (疾走する力) 6/25/2006 14 "Temptation of Power" "Chikara no Yūwaku" (力の誘惑) 7/02/2006 15 "Little Treasures" "Chisana Takaramono" (小さな宝物) 7/09/2006 16 "Tragic people" "Higeki no Tami" (悲劇の民) 7/16/2006 17 "Unreachable Desire" "Todokanu Negai" (届かぬ願い) 07/23/2006 18 "Lasting Prayer" "Kienai Inori" (消えない祈り) 07/30/2006

No. Episode Title[9] Airdate 19 "Land of Darkness" "Ankoku no chi" (暗黒の地) 08/06/2006 20 "Reunion" "Saikai" (再会) 08/13/2006 21 "Un-erasable thoughts" "Nuguenu Omoi" (拭えぬ思い) 08/20/2006 22 "The Maze of Memories" "Kioku no meiro" (記憶の迷路) 08/27/2006 23 "Bonds" "Kizuna" (絆) 09/03/2006 24 "The Yellow Shard of Happiness" "Shiawase no kiiro shadō" (幸せの黄色いシャドー) 09/10/2006 25 "Prologue to The Battle" "Tatakai no josou" (戦いの序奏) 09/17/2006 26 "Lonely Memories" "Kodoku na kioku" (孤独な記憶) 09/24/2006 27 "Warriors" "Senshi-tachi" (戦士たち) 10/01/2006 28 "Proof of Existence" "Sonzai no Akashi" (存在の証) 10/08/2006 29 "Friendship that Slipped Away" "Surechigau Yūjō" (すれ違う友情) 10/15/2006 30 "Confrontation" "Taiketsu" (対決) 10/22/2006 31 "Price of Ambition" "Yabō no Daishō" (野望の代償) 10/29/2006 32 "Expectations of a Nation" "Kokka no Omowaku" (国家の思惑) 11/05/2006 33 "Fading Spark" "Ushinawareta Kagayaki" (失われた輝き) 11/12/2006 34 "Unfolding War" "Makiokoru Senka" (巻き起こる戦火) 11/19/2006 35 "Person who became a Sacrifice" "Ikenie to narumono" (生贄となる者) 11/26/2006 36 "Mended Wing" "Yomigaeru Tsubasa" (よみがえる翼) 12/3/2006

[edit] Music (Anime)

[edit] Opening Themes
Transcription/Translation	Artist	Episodes
Sanctuary	Nami Tamaki	1-13
Hakanaku Tsuyoku	Younha	14-
[edit] Ending Themes
Transcription/Translation	Artist	Episodes
Very Very	Afromania	1-13
Solar Wind	Snowkel	14-26
STAY GOLD	Limelight	27-

[edit] References and External links

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• (Japanese) Official Site
• (English) Kiba (TV) at Anime News Network
• (Japanese) Kiba Blog at Aniplex
• (English) Kiba-Anime.com Kiba Fan Site
• (English) Kiba Episodes at Find That Show Watch episodes