Garo (TV series)

GARO
Title screen.
Genre	Tokusatsu Horror Drama
Created by	Keita Amemiya
Written by	Kengo Kaji Yuji Kobayashi Sōtarō Hayashi Keita Amemiya Kei Taguchi
Directed by	Keita Amemiya Makoto Yokoyama Kengo Kaji Ryu Kaneda
Starring	Hiroki Konishi Mika Hijii Ray Fujita Masaki Kyomoto
Composer(s)	Shinji Kinoshita Kōichi Ōta
Country of origin	Japan
Original language(s)	Japanese
No. of episodes	25 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Minoru Kubo Kiyotaka Ninomiya Makoto Shiraishi
Producer(s)	Kōichi Ishida Hiroyuki Hattori Junpei Nakagawa
Running time	24-25 minutes (per episode)
Broadcast
Original channel	TV Tokyo
Original run	October 7, 2005 – March 31, 2006
Chronology
Followed by	Garo Special: Byakuya no Maju

Garo (牙狼〈GARO〉（ガロ）, literally "Fanged Wolf" in English), sometimes referred to as Golden Knight Garo (黄金騎士ガロ, Ōgon Kishi Garo), is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It was broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 7, 2005 to March 31, 2006, lasting 25 episodes (with one additional "Overview" special, summarizing the events of episodes 1 through 13, aired before episode 14).

On December 15 and December 22, 2006, a special entitled Garo Special: Byakuya no Maju aired. A 2006 article in Total Licensing Magazine about a Licensing Asia event mentions Garo as having been "sold into the US and Spain," but the buyer is not named in the article.^[1] Since 2007, the show has also been aired in other countries like Italy (on MTV), Malaysia (on 8TV), and Spain (on Canal Buzz).

On October 30, 2010, an original film titled Garo: Red Requiem was released in Japanese theaters. In May 2011, two new projects in the Garo franchise were announced: a second television series titled Garo: Makai Senki, debuting on TV Tokyo on October 6, and the spin-off V-Cinema Kiba Gaiden. In 2013, the series was continued further through the film Garo: Soukoku no Maryu in February, another sequel television series Garo: Yami o Terasu Mono in April, and another film Garo Gaiden: Tougen no Fue scheduled for July.

Production

The series was created and chief directed by Keita Amemiya (Kamen Rider ZO, Zeiram). It is directed by Makoto Yokoyama (Power Rangers) and Kengo Kaji (Uzumaki). The creature designer is Yasushi Nirasawa, well known later as the designer of the Imagin for Kamen Rider Den-O, also designing the monsters of Kamen Rider Blade and Kamen Rider Kabuto.

Plot

Garo focuses on the life of Kouga Saejima, who has assumed the title of Makai Knight to protect humanity against dark demonic manifestations called "Horrors". In his quest to purge them, he encounters a young girl named Kaoru whom he saves from a Horror, but learns that she is stained with its demonic blood. As a rule, those that have been stained by the blood of a Horror shall be cut down, or else they will die painfully in approximately 100 days. Kouga spares Kaoru and tries to find a way to purify her before her remaining time expires. Thus, the series focuses on Kouga's developing relationship with Kaoru and his stand in protecting humanity in accordance with the wishes of his father, the previous Garo. In the process, encountering another Makai Knight named Rei Suzumura who eventually becomes his ally, Kouga confronts his father's former disciple who is also the cause of a recent string of Horror attacks in preparation of a more sinister advent of the Horrors' originator, Messiah.

Horrors

The main villains of the series, Horrors are created from the negative feelings of humans and come from a netherworld realm. They hunt humans as their prey.

Video game

A video game based on the series was produced by Bandai for the PlayStation 2, under the name Golden Knight Garo. Two versions were released: a 'normal' version with the game disk, instructions, and standard pamphlets, and a more expensive 'Limited Edition' version which came with a green 'Fire' recolor of the metal Zaruba ring from the "Equip and Prop Vol. 1" Garo toy.

Episodes

Byakuya no Maju

Garo Special: Byakuya no Maju (牙狼＜GARO＞スペシャル 白夜の魔獣, GARO Spesharu: Byakuya no Majū, subtitle literally "Demon Beast of the White Night") is a two-part mini-series that premiered at the end of 2006.

Red Requiem

In July 2009, Tohokushinsha Film announced that a GARO feature film will be released in the fall of 2010. Garo: Red Requiem (牙狼〈GARO〉 ～RED REQUIEM～) was theatrically released on October 30, 2010. The story is a sequel to the original TV series, with Keita Amemiya directing once again. Ryosei Konishi and Hironobu Kageyama reprise their roles as Kouga/Garo and voice of Zaruba. Red Requiem will use 3D image technology developed by the Tohokushinsha group company Omnibus Japan. Makoto Yokoyama will also be returning to choreograph the action sequences.

Kiba

Kiba Gaiden (呀＜KIBA＞ ～暗黒騎士鎧伝～, KIBA: Ankoku Kishi Gaiden, lit. "Kiba: Dark Knight Side Story") is a spin-off V-Cinema featuring the story of Barago and Kiba the Dark Knight, released on September 7, 2011.

Makai Senki

Garo: Makai Senki (牙狼〈GARO〉～MAKAISENKI～) is a second season of the Garo television series that premiered in select theaters on September 24, 2011, before beginning broadcast in syndication on October 6, 2011.

Soukoku no Maryu

Garo: Soukoku no Maryu (牙狼〈GARO〉～蒼哭ノ魔竜～, Garo ~Sōkoku no Maryū~, subtitle literally "Demon Dragon of the Blue Cries") was released in theaters on February 23, 2013, serving as an epilogue to Makai Senki, depicting Kouga Saezima's journey to the Promised Ground to retrieve Gajari's body. Ryosei Konishi was initially the only confirmed member of the cast,^[2] but Ray Fujita, Shouma Yamamoto, Ozuno Nakamura, Yukijirō Hotaru, Hironobu Kageyama, and Hiroyuki Watanabe have also been confirmed to appear in the film.^[3] The guest stars in the film are Yuki Kubota as Kakashi, Anna Aoi as Meru, Tetsuya Yanagihara as Esaruto, and Keiko Matsuzaka as Judam.

Yami o Terasu Mono

A third TV series titled Garo: Yami o Terasu Mono (牙狼〈GARO〉～闇を照らす者～, lit. "The One Who Shines in the Darkness") began broadcast on April 5, 2013. The series features an entire new story with a new Garo named Ryūga Dōgai venturing into the Horror plagued Vol City. The series also presents a brand new main cast that includes Wataru Kuriyama, Tsunenori Aoki, Junya Ikeda and fashion model Miki Nanri. So far the only reprisal confirmed is Hironobu Kageyama as the voice of Zaruba.^[4]

Tougen no Fue

In March 2013, the Garo team announced a new film titled Garo Gaiden: Tougen no Fue (牙狼外伝 桃幻の笛, Garo Gaiden Tōgen no Fue, lit. "Garo Side Story: The Whistle of the Phantom Peach"), released on July 20 of that year. Set during the time of Soukoku no Maryu, Tougen no Fue follows Makai Priestesses Jabi and Rekka as they travel to the northern forests to protect the mystical and titular whistle. Yasue Sato, Mary Matsuyama, Masahiro Kuranuki, and Kanji Tsuda reprise their roles from the franchise as Makai Priestess Jabi, Makai Priestess Rekka, Makai Priest Shiguto, and Makai Knight Kengi, respectively, and also stated to appear in the film are Kumi Takiuchi and Miku Oono.^[5]

Zero: Black Blood

Zero: Black Blood (絶狼＜ZERO＞-BLACK BLOOD-, Zero -Burakku Buraddo-) is a spin-off six-episode miniseries starring Ray Fujita as his character Rei Suzumura from the original TV series. Rounding out the cast are Riria as Yuna, Naoki Takeshi as Kain, and Thane Camus as Ring. Keita Amemiya serves as executive director, with Ryū Kaneda directing and Yasuko Kobayashi writing. It will begin broadcast in the beginning of March 2014 and will also be shown in theaters in a limited release. It will have an opening theme performed by JAM Project and an ending theme performed by Fujita's band Dustz.^[6][7][8][9]

Makai no Hana

A fourth Garo television series titled Garo: Makai no Hana (牙狼〈GARO〉-魔戒ノ花-, lit. "The Makai Flower") will begin broadcast in April 2014, starring a new cast consisting of Masei Nakayama as Raiga Saezima (冴島 雷牙, Saejima Raiga), the son of Kouga and Kaoru and the newest Golden Knight Garo, Atomu Mizuishi as Kurou, and Natsumi Ishibashi as Mayuri.^[10][11]

Anime

An anime adaptation of Garo is planned for the fall of 2014, with Yasuko Kobayashi serving as the head writer.^[11][12]

Yami o Terasu Mono film

A film part of the Yami o Terasu Mono television series is planned for release in 2014, with Wataru Kuriyama reprising his role as Ryuga Dougai.^[12]

Cast

• Kouga Saezima (冴島 鋼牙, Saejima Kōga): Hiroki Konishi (小西 大樹, Konishi Hiroki)
• Kaoru Mitsuki (御月 カオル, Mitsuki Kaoru): Mika Hijii (肘井 美佳, Hijii Mika)
• Rei Suzumura (涼邑 零, Suzumura Rei): Ray Fujita (藤田 玲, Fujita Rei)
• Karune Ryuzaki (龍崎 駈音, Ryūzaki Karune): Masaki Kyomoto (京本 政樹, Kyōmoto Masaki)
• Gonza Kurahashi (倉橋 ゴンザ, Kurahashi Gonza): Yukijiro Hotaru (螢 雪次朗, Hotaru Yukijirō)
• Jabi (邪美): Yasue Sato (佐藤 康恵, Satō Yasue)
• Keiru (ケイル): Keaki Watanabe (渡辺 けあき, Watanabe Keaki)
• Beru (ベル): Anri Okamoto (岡本 杏理, Okamoto Anri)
• Rose (ローズ, Rōzu): Yukina Kashiwa (柏 幸奈, Kashiwa Yukina)
• Kodama (コダマ): Mark Musashi (マーク武蔵, Māku Musashi)
• Madou Ring Zaruba (魔導輪ザルバ, Madōrin Zaruba, Voice): Hironobu Kageyama (影山 ヒロノブ, Kageyama Hironobu)
• Madou Necklace Silva (魔導具シルヴァ, Madōgu Shiruva, Voice): Ai Orikasa (折笠 愛, Orikasa Ai)
• Keiru (Voice): Fumiko Inoue (井上 富美子, Inoue Fumiko)
• Beru (Voice): Machiko Kawana (川名 真知子, Kawana Machiko)
• Rose (Voice): Akemi Satō (佐藤 朱, Satō Akemi)

Suit actors

• Garo: Masaki Onishi (大西 雅樹, Ōnishi Masaki)
• Zero: Mark Musashi
• Kiba: Hiroshi Maeda (前田 浩, Maeda Hiroshi)
• Demon Beast Armored Kodama: Tomohiko Akiyama (秋山 智彦, Akiyama Tomohiko)
• Beast Gulm: Takana Yatsushiro (八代 峯奈, Yatsushiro Takana)
• Horror: Akira Ohashi (大橋 明, Ōhashi Akira)

Songs

Opening themes

• "Theme of GARO"
  • Music by TRYFORCE and JAM Project
• "Garo ~Savior in the Dark~" (牙狼～SAVIOR IN THE DARK～)
  • Lyrics & Composition: Hironobu Kageyama
  • Arrangement: Kenichi Sudō
  • Artist: JAM Project

Ending themes

• "Garo ~Boku ga Ai o Tsutaeteyuku~" (牙狼～僕が愛を伝えてゆく～, "GARO ~I'll Keep Showing You My Love~")
  • Lyrics & Composition: Masaki Kyomoto
  • Arrangement: Harukichi Yamamoto
  • Artist: Masaki Kyomoto (ep. 1-13) and Garo Project (ep. 22)
• "Boku wa Mada Koi o Shite wa Ikenai" (僕はまだ恋をしてはいけない, "I Shouldn't Still Be Loving")
  • Lyrics & Composition: Masaki Kyomoto
  • Arrangement: Harukichi Yamamoto
  • Artist: Masaki Kyomoto (ep. 14-21) and Garo Project (ep. 23 & 24)

References

External links

• GARO at TV Tokyo (Japanese)
• GARO PROJECT (Japanese)
• GARO - Silver Glossary (Japanese)
• GARO PROJECT - SOUKOKU NO MARYU Official Site (Japanese)
• GARO's channel on YouTube