Garo (TV series)

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). Since 2007, the show has also been aired in other countries like Italy (on MTV), Malaysia (on 8TV), and Spain (on Canal Buzz). It is the first installment of the "GARO" franchise, composed of several live action television series, films, TV & film specials, and an anime series.

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 antagonistic form in the series, Horrors are demons that reside in a netherworld realm and thrive on the darkness of humanity. The Horrors that enter the human world through everyday objects that became Inga Gates through amass darkness, also known as Inga Horrors, possess the body of first human with inner darkness they come across. As the Horrors feed on humans, preying on them on a nightly basis, it is a Makai Knight's duty to hunt and slay the demons. Later entries in the series reveal more types of Horrors.

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

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)

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)

Sequels and spin-offs

In all the sequels and spinoffs in the Garo series, Hironobu Kageyama continues to reprise his role as the voice of Zaruba in each entry.

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,^[1] but Ray Fujita, Shouma Yamamoto, Ozuno Nakamura, Yukijirō Hotaru, Hironobu Kageyama, and Hiroyuki Watanabe have also been confirmed to appear in the film.^[2] 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") was broadcast on April 5, 2013. The series is set in the near future and 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.^[3]

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.^[4]

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 Ryu Kaneda directing and Yasuko Kobayashi writing. It was broadcast in March 2014 and shown in theaters in a limited release. JAM Project performed the opening theme "ZERO-BLACK BLOOD-" and Fujita's band Dustz performs the ending "S#0 (Scene Number Zero)" (S#0(シーンナンバーゼロ), Shīn Nanbā Zero).^[5][6][7][8]

Makai no Hana

A fourth Garo television series titled Garo: Makai no Hana (牙狼〈GARO〉-魔戒ノ花-, lit. "The Makai Flower"), which was broadcast in April 2014, takes place between Makai Senki and Yami o Terasu Mono. With the exception of Yukijiro Hotaru reprising his portrayal of Gonza, it features a new cast consisting of Masei Nakayama as Raiga Saezima, the son of Kouga and Kaoru who inherited his father's title as the Golden Knight Garo, Atomu Mizuishi as Crow the Phantom Knight, and Natsumi Ishibashi as Mayuri, a mysterious tool with mystical powers that takes the form of a young woman.^[9][10]

Garo: The Animation

An anime adaptation of Garo was released in October 2014, titled in Japan as Garo: Honō no Kokuin (牙狼〈GARO〉-炎の刻印-, lit. "The Carved Seal of Flames"). It is produced by Studio MAPPA and directed by Yūichirō Hayashi. Taking place in the fictional country of Valiante in the middle ages, head writer Yasuko Kobayashi explained that, with the exception of Zaruba, it is unrelated to any characters or stories in the rest of the Garo continuity.^[10][11] The series has been licensed by Funimation as Garo: The Animation, making it the first Garo installment to see a North American release.^[12]

A second series called Garo: Guren no Tsuki (牙狼〈GARO〉-紅蓮ノ月-, lit. "Garo: The Crimson Moon"), which takes place in Japan's Heian period, was announced to be released in 2015 alongside a film to coincide with the Garo tenth anniversary.^[13]

A film version of the first series, titled Garo: Divine Flame (牙狼〈GARO〉-DIVINE FLAME-), is scheduled for Spring 2016 theatrical release.^[14]

Gold Storm Sho

Garo: Gold Storm Sho (牙狼〈GARO〉－GOLDSTORM－翔, Garo -GOLDSTORM- Shō) is both a film and a television series that serve as sequels to Yami o Terasu Mono. Wataru Kuriyama and Miki Nanri reprise their roles and are joined by new cast members (among them is Masahiro Inoue as the series antagonist Zinga). The film adaptation was released in theatres on March 28, 2015 while the television series was broadcast from April 3, 2015.^[11][13]

Bikuu

Bikuu (媚空－ビクウ－, Bikū) is a film starring Sayaka Akimoto reprising her role as Bikuu from Makai no Hana. It was released in theaters on November 14, 2015.^[13]

Makai Retsuden

Garo: Makai Retsuden (牙狼〈GARO〉魔戒烈伝) is an omnibus television series and is scheduled for Spring 2016 broadcast.^[14]

Zero

Zero (絶狼〈ZERO〉) is a television series starring Ray Fujita (as Rei Suzumura). It is scheduled for 2016 broadcast.^[14]

Raiga film project

A currently untitled film is in production to star Masei Nakayama (as Raiga Saezima) to serve as a sequel to the Makai no Hana television series. As of 24 November 2014, there is no planned release date.^[13]

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