# The King of Braves GaoGaiGar

The King of Braves GaoGaiGar (勇者王ガオガイガー, Yūsha Ō Gaogaigā) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise's internal "Studio 7" division alongside Tokyu Agency. It is the eighth installment in the Brave series franchise. Yoshitomo Yonetani is its director, with Yoshitake Suzuki handling series scripts, Takahiro Kimura as character designer, Kunio Okawara designing mechanical elements, Tomoaki Okada as art director, and Kohei Tanaka as music producer. The series aired on Nagoya TV and TV Asahi affiliate stations from February 1, 1997, to January 31, 1998.
The series follows the exploits of two protagonists: One is a cyborg named Guy Shishioh, who pilots the titular Gaogaigar, and the other is a mysterious boy Mamoru. Together, they must defend the world against the malevolent Zonders all while Mamoru’s connection with them begins to unfold.

## Plot

On a winter night, a mysterious mechanical lion appeared before a married couple, carrying a mysterious baby with it, and left as they took the baby in. About seven years later, high school astronaut Guy Shishioh is aboard the space shuttle Spirits when it collides with an unknown object bound to Earth. Despite being mortally wounded, the lion rescues him and he returns to Earth, holding a mysterious green jewel that Leo Shishioh uses to revive him as a cyborg.
Two years later, in 2005, the mysterious baby, now under the care of the Amami family and named Mamoru, lives a normal life until a mysterious group called Zonders begins invading Earth. In response, the Earth Defense Brigade Gutsy Geoid Guard, also known as the GGG, organizes to fight against them. During an attack by the Zonders, Mamoru encounters Guy, who is now a member of the GGG. Equipped with the green jewel, which is known as the G-Stone, he becomes the pilot of the lion robot, which is called Galeon, fusing with it alongside three assist vehicles the GGG created to become the giant robot GaoGaiGar. After a battle against one of the Zonders, the GGG discovers that Mamoru can purify people who became Zonders and seeks to uncover his origins and how he is connected to the appearance of the Zonders.

## Development

The King of Braves GaoGaiGar was produced by Sunrise, with Takara promoting the toys for the series. Billed as the final installment of the Brave series, director Yoshitomo Yonetani originally named the series as "The King of Braves Gaggatti", with other proposed names including "GargaiGaa" and ""GO Gieger" until the finalized name was accepted. The series' overall theme was based on the folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, reflecting on the mysterious origins of Mamoru Amami, the series' kid protagonist, with the message of "If you have the courage, you can call in any miracle", woven into the series' narrative.
To differentiate the series from other Brave series, Real Robot terms and concepts alongside Super Robot concepts were woven into the narrative, being more ambitious in execution. The narrative was made similar to a hot-blooded manga, centering on the battle between a powerful extraterrestrial life form and a giant robot that brings together the best of human science, while also incorporating detailed depictions of mechanical elements throughout the series. The creation of such realistically oriented mecha designs also influenced the development of toys, resulting in a gap between how the mechas were depicted in the series and the toys that were commercialized. As a result, elements regarded as "standard" in the Brave series, such as swords and guns as weapons and power-ups in the form of "Super Combinations", were not present in the series. To balance this out, in both the series and the toys, the gimmicks and individuality of each mecha were fleshed out more.

## Media
### Anime

The King of Braves GaoGaiGar aired on Nagoya TV from February 1, 1997, to January 31, 1998, consisting of 49 episodes. Masaaki Endoh performed the series' opening theme "Yuusha Oh Tanjou!" (勇者王誕生!, Yūshaō Tanjō!, The King of Braves is Born!) while Satoko Shimonari performed the series' ending theme "Itsuka Hoshi no Umi De" (いつか星の海で, "Someday, in the Sea of Stars"). Media Blasters once licensed the series on April 19, 2006, for North American territories in DVD format, with only 25 out of the 49 episodes dubbed in English. However, due to multiple issues followed with poor sales, the series was dropped. The show was available as part of a digital subscription package from Daisuki until the service was terminated in 2017. Muse Communication later licensed the series alongside its sequel, with Muse Asia's YouTube Channel streaming the series in Southeast Asian territories on February 1, 2022. Discotek Media later rescued the license from Media Blasters and announced a release of the series, alongside the OVA sequel, on Blu-ray in Winter 2023.
The show's popularity later resulted in the production of an eight–part sequel OVA,The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final, which was released from January 21, 2000, to March 21, 2003, and the spinoff TV series Betterman, which aired on TV Tokyo from April 1, 1999, to September 30, 1999.

#### Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Storyboarded by | Original air date |
| 1 | "The King of Braves is Born!" Transliteration: "Yūsha-ō tanjō!" (Japanese: 勇者王誕生！) | Gorō Taniguchi | Yoshitake Suzuki | Yoshitomo Yonetani | February 1, 1997 (1997-02-01) |
| 2 | "The Boy With Green hair" Transliteration: "Midori no kami no shōnen" (Japanese: 緑の髪の少年) | Kunihisa Sugishima | Yoshitake Suzuki | Kunihisa Sugishima Yoshitomo Yonetani | February 8, 1997 (1997-02-08) |
| 3 | "The Holy Left Arm" Transliteration: "Seinaru hidariude" (Japanese: 聖なる左腕) | Yūji Yamaguchi | Yoshitake Suzuki | Yūji Yamaguchi | February 15, 1997 (1997-02-15) |
| 4 | "Escapee Zondar" Transliteration: "Tōbōsha Zondā" (Japanese: 逃亡者ゾンダー) | Kazuhito Kikuchi | Yasushi Hirano | Kazuhito Kikuchi | February 22, 1997 (1997-02-22) |
| 5 | "Blue and Red" Transliteration: "Ao to aka" (Japanese: 青と赤) | Mamoru Hamatsu | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Mamoru Hamatsu | March 1, 1997 (1997-03-01) |
| 6 | "Its name is ChoRyuJin" Transliteration: "Sono na wa ChōRyūJin" (Japanese: その名は超竜神) | Gorō Taniguchi | Yūichirō Takeda | Mamoru Hamatsu | March 8, 1997 (1997-03-08) |
| 7 | "Drive Away the Black 300!" Transliteration: "Kuro no 300 o oe!" (Japanese: 黒の300を追え！) | Kunihisa Sugishima | Yoshitake Suzuki | Kunihisa Sugishima | March 15, 1997 (1997-03-15) |
| 8 | "The Day The Sun Disappeared" Transliteration: "Taiyō ga kieru hi" (Japanese: 太陽が消える日) | Yasuhiro Minami | Yasushi Hirano | Yoshitomo Yonetani | March 22, 1997 (1997-03-22) |
| 9 | "Element Z0" Transliteration: "Soryūshi Z0" (Japanese: 素粒子Z0) | Shinji Takamatsu | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Shinji Takamatsu | March 29, 1997 (1997-03-29) |
| 10 | "The Lightless World" Transliteration: "Hikari todokanu sekai" (Japanese: 光届かぬ世界) | Eiji Yamanaka | Yoshitake Suzuki | Atsuko Kase | April 5, 1997 (1997-04-05) |
| 11 | "Gate of Izolude" Transliteration: "Izorude no mon" (Japanese: イゾルデの門) | Mamoru Hamatsu | Yūichirō Takeda | Mamoru Hamatsu | April 12, 1997 (1997-04-12) |
| 12 | "Tomorrow" Transliteration: "Ashita" (Japanese: 明日) | Yoshitomo Yonetani | Yoshitomo Yonetani | Yoshitomo Yonetani | April 19, 1997 (1997-04-19) |
| 13 | "Legacy of Cain" Transliteration: "Kain no isan" (Japanese: カインの遺産) | Kunihisa Sugishima | Yūichirō Takeda | Kunihisa Sugishima | April 26, 1997 (1997-04-26) |
| 14 | "The Valley That Calls Forth the Mist" Transliteration: "Kiri ga yobu keikoku" (Japanese: 霧が呼ぶ渓谷) | Yūji Yamaguchi | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Kazuhito Kikuchi | May 3, 1997 (1997-05-03) |
| 15 | "GGG Targeted" Transliteration: "Nerawareta GGG" (Japanese: 狙われたGGG) | Gorō Taniguchi | Hiroaki Kitajima | Gorō Taniguchi | May 12, 1997 (1997-05-12) |
| 16 | "Demon of Midday" Transliteration: "Shōgo no akuma" (Japanese: 正午の悪魔) | Nana Harada | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Hiroshi Nishikiori | May 17, 1997 (1997-05-17) |
| 17 | "That Which Controls Space" Transliteration: "Kūkan o seisuru mono" (Japanese: 空間を制する者) | Akihiko Nishiyama | Yoshitake Suzuki | Tetsuya Watanabe Kunihiro Mori | May 24, 1997 (1997-05-24) |
| 18 | "A Promise is the Other's Light" Transliteration: "Yakusoku wa hikari no kanata" (Japanese: 約束は光の彼方) | Kunihisa Sugishima | Yūichirō Takeda | Akira Nishimori | May 31, 1997 (1997-05-31) |
| 19 | "The Destructive Right Arm" Transliteration: "Horobu beki migiude" (Japanese: 滅ぶべき右腕) | Yasuhiro Minami | Yūichirō Takeda | Kazuhito Kikuchi | June 7, 1997 (1997-06-07) |
| 20 | "Teacher Zondar" Transliteration: "Zondar-sensei" (Japanese: ゾンダー先生) | Gorō Taniguchi | Hiroaki Kitajima | Gorō Taniguchi | June 14, 1997 (1997-06-14) |
| 21 | "Gold-Colored God of Destruction" Transliteration: "Konjiki no hakaishin" (Japanese: 金色の破壊神) | Yūji Yamaguchi | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Kōjin Ochi | June 21, 1997 (1997-06-21) |
| 22 | "Towards the Polluted Sky" Transliteration: "Kegasareshi sora e" (Japanese: 汚されし空へ) | Mamoru Hamatsu | Yoshitake Suzuki | Mamoru Hamatsu | June 28, 1997 (1997-06-28) |
| 23 | "Mike 13" Transliteration: "Maiku 13" (Japanese: マイク13) | Akihiko Nishiyama | Yūichirō Takeda | Shinichi Watanabe | July 5, 1997 (1997-07-05) |
| 24 | "Disconnected "Protect"" Transliteration: "Hazusareta purotekuto" (Japanese: はずされた鍵) | Gorō Taniguchi | Hiroaki Kitajima Yoshitomo Yonetani | Yoshitomo Yonetani | July 12, 1997 (1997-07-12) |
| 25 | "Voice of Ruin" Transliteration: "Horobi no koe" (Japanese: 滅びの声) | Takeshi Yoshimoto | Hiroaki Kitajima | Akira Nishimori | July 19, 1997 (1997-07-19) |
| 26 | "Cross the Dimensions" Transliteration: "Jigen o koete" (Japanese: 次元を越えて) | Yūji Yamaguchi | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Kōjin Ochi | July 26, 1997 (1997-07-26) |
| 27 | "Great Tokyo Destruction" Transliteration: "Dai-Tōkyō shōmetsu!" (Japanese: 大東京消滅！) | Nana Harada | Yoshitake Suzuki | Susumu Nishizawa | August 2, 1997 (1997-08-02) |
| 28 | "Crash! The Big Four of Destruction" Transliteration: "Gekitotsu! Kikai shitennō" (Japanese: 激突！機界四天王) | Kunihiro Mori | Yūichirō Takeda | Mamoru Hamatsu | August 9, 1997 (1997-08-09) |
| 29 | "Phoenix" Transliteration: "Hi no tori" (Japanese: 火の鳥) | Akihiko Nishiyama | Yūichirō Takeda | Hiroshi Nishikiori | August 16, 1997 (1997-08-16) |
| 30 | "Braves, Death at Dawn!" Transliteration: "Yūsha, akatsuki ni shisu!" (Japanese: 勇者、暁に死す！) | Gorō Taniguchi | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Gorō Taniguchi | August 23, 1997 (1997-08-23) |
| 31 | "Adieu, GGG" Transliteration: "Saraba GGG" (Japanese: さらばGGG) | Yūji Yamaguchi | Hiroaki Kitajima | Yūji Yamaguchi Yoshitomo Yonetani | August 30, 1997 (1997-08-30) |
| 32 | "Counterattack! Machine World 31 Primevals" Transliteration: "Gyakushū! Kikai 31 genshu" (Japanese: 逆襲！機界31原種) | Shinji Takamatsu | Yūichirō Takeda | Shinji Takamatsu | September 13, 1997 (1997-09-13) |
| 33 | "Departure to the Freezing Point" Transliteration: "Hyōtenka e no tabidachi" (Japanese: 氷点下への出航) | Takeshi Yoshimoto | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Atsuko Kase | September 20, 1997 (1997-09-20) |
| 34 | "Brave's Rebirth" Transliteration: "Yūsha fukkatsu" (Japanese: 勇者復活！) | Nana Harada | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Setsuo Takase | September 27, 1997 (1997-09-27) |
| 35 | "Wind and Lightning" Transliteration: "Kaze to ikazuchi" (Japanese: 風と雷) | Akihiko Nishiyama | Yūichirō Takeda | Gorō Taniguchi | October 4, 1997 (1997-10-04) |
| 36 | "Its Name is GekiRyuJin" Transliteration: "Sono na wa Gekiryūjin" (Japanese: その名は撃龍神) | Setsuo Takase | Yūichirō Takeda | Masamitsu Hidaka | October 11, 1997 (1997-10-11) |
| 37 | "The Coming of Cain" Transliteration: "Kain raigō" (Japanese: カイン来迎) | Yūji Yamaguchi | Hiroaki Kitajima | Yūji Yamaguchi Gorō Taniguchi | October 18, 1997 (1997-10-18) |
| 38 | "The Great Battle of Darkness" Transliteration: "Ankoku no daikessen" (Japanese: 暗黒の大決戦) | Kunihisa Sugishima | Hiroaki Kitajima | Kunihisa Sugishima | October 25, 1997 (1997-10-25) |
| 39 | "Machine World's Greatest 7 Primevals" Transliteration: "Kikai saikyō 7 genshu" (Japanese: 機界最強7原種) | Shinji Takamatsu | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Shinji Takamatsu | November 8, 1997 (1997-11-08) |
| 40 | "Children of the Stars" Transliteration: "Hoshi no kodomo-tachi" (Japanese: 星の子供たち) | Takeshi Yoshimoto | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Mitsuru Hongo | November 15, 1997 (1997-11-15) |
| 41 | "A Distant Victory Song" Transliteration: "Haruka naru gaika" (Japanese: 遥かなる凱歌) | Nana Harada | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Atsuko Kase | November 22, 1997 (1997-11-22) |
| 42 | "Return From Ancient Times" Transliteration: "Taiko kara no kikan" (Japanese: 太古からの帰還) | Akihiko Nishiyama | Hiroaki Kitajima | Mamoru Hamatsu | November 29, 1997 (1997-11-29) |
| 43 | "GenRyuJin, GoRyuJin" Transliteration: "Genryūjin, Gōryūjin" (Japanese: 幻竜神・強龍神) | Setsuo Takase | Hiroaki Kitajima | Akira Nishimori | December 6, 1997 (1997-12-06) |
| 44 | "Prelude to the Coming of Death" Transliteration: "Shūen jokyoku" (Japanese: 終焉序曲) | Shinji Takamatsu | Yūichirō Takeda | Shinji Takamatsu | December 13, 1997 (1997-12-13) |
| 45 | "GGG, Towards Jupiter!" Transliteration: "GGG, Mokusei e!" (Japanese: GGG、木星へ！) | Yasuhiro Minami | Yūichirō Takeda | Ryūji Kawamura | December 20, 1997 (1997-12-20) |
| 46 | "That With Courage" Transliteration: "Yūki aru mono" (Japanese: 勇気ある者) | Yūji Yamaguchi | Yūichirō Takeda | Yūji Yamaguchi | December 27, 1997 (1997-12-27) |
| 47 | "Machine World Termination" Transliteration: "Kikai shōka shūketsu" (Japanese: 機界昇華終結) | Takeshi Yoshimoto | Yūichirō Takeda | Masamitsu Hidaka | January 10, 1998 (1998-01-10) |
| 48 | "Life" Transliteration: "Inochi" (Japanese: 命) | Gorō Taniguchi | Hiroaki Kitajima | Gorō Taniguchi | January 24, 1998 (1998-01-24) |
| 49 | "Someday, in the Sea of Stars" Transliteration: "Itsuka hoshi no umi de" (Japanese: いつか星の海で) | Yoshitomo Yonetani | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Yoshitomo Yonetani | January 31, 1998 (1998-01-31) |

### Video games

The series received a video game spinoff titled The King of Braves GaoGaiGar: Blockaded Numbers (勇者王ガオガイガー BLOCKADED NUMBERS, Yūsha Ō Gaogaigā Burokēdeddo nanbāzu) which was published by Takara and released for the PlayStation on April 8, 1999. The series also appeared in Takara's other video game series: 2000's Brave Saga 2 for the PlayStation, 2001's Brave Saga New Astaria for the Game Boy Color and 2005's New Century Brave Wars for the PlayStation 2. The series also made appearances in the Sunrise Eiyuutan series. GaoGaiGar has later appeared in the long running Super Robot Wars franchise, beginning with the 2nd Super Robot Wars Alpha.

### Novel

A novel spinoff titled Queen of Leo <Leon Reine>: The King of Braves Gaogaigar 2005 (獅子の女王 ―リオン・レーヌ― 勇者王ガオガイガー2005, Shishi no Joō Rion Rēnu Yūsha Ō Gaogaigā 2005) was published by Media Factory on December 1, 2003, written by Yuichiro Takeda and illustrated by Takahiro Kimura and Seiichi Nakatani. The novel takes place after the events of the series and before the events of FINAL, focusing on Renais Kaldiff Shishioh, her origins and her fight against the criminal organization named BioNet.