Garo (series)

**Garo** (牙狼〈GARO〉（ガロ）, *Garo*?, lit. **Fanged Wolf**), sometimes referred to as **Golden Knight Garo** (黄金騎士ガロ, *Ōgon Kishi Garo*?), is the first entry of the *Garo* 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 composed of several live action television series, films, specials and also anime series and film.

## 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

"Where there is light, shadows lurk and fear reigns... Yet by the blade of Knights, mankind was given hope..."
―Narrator[src]
*Garo* focuses on the life of Kouga Saezima, 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.

## Characters

### Allies

* Zaruba
* Silva
* Gonza Kurahashi
* Kaoru Mitsuki
* Jabi
* Asami Shinohara
* Amon
* Douji
* Shizuka
* Old Woman Tamu
* Grou Dragon

### Villains & Horrors

* Messiah (24-25)

* Gulm
	+ Keiru
	+ Beru
	+ Rose
* Kodama
* Angrey (1)
* Ishtarb (2)
* Morax (3)
* Pazuzu (4)
* Lunarken (5)
* Utoque (6)
* Moloch (8, 21)
* Humpty (9)
* Asmodai (10)
* Dantarian (11)
* Noul (12)
* Vuel (13)
* Gargoyle (15)
* Haru (17)
* 12-piece Fusion Giant Horror (19)
* Bonafaltz (21)

## Episodes

1. Picture Book (絵本, *Ehon*?)
2. Yin Self (陰我, *Inga*?)
3. Clock (時計, *Tokei*?)
4. Dinner (晩餐, *Bansan*?)
5. Moonlight (月光, *Gekkō*?)
6. Beauty (美貌, *Bibō*?)
7. Silver Fang (銀牙, *Ginga*?)
8. Ring (指輪, *Yubiwa*?)
9. Ordeal (試練, *Shiren*?)
10. Puppet (人形, *Ningyō*?)
11. Game (遊戯, *Yūgi*?)
12. Taiga (大河, *Taiga*?)
13. Promise (約束, *Yakusoku*?)
14. Nightmare (悪夢, *Akumu*?)
15. Statue (偶像, *Gūzō*?)
16. Red Sake (赤酒, *Akazake*?)
17. Aquarium (水槽, *Suisō*?)
18. World Charm (界符, *Kaifu*?)
19. Black Flame (黒炎, *Kokuen*?)
20. Life (生命, *Inochi*?)
21. Magic Bullet (魔弾, *Madan*?)
22. Engraving (刻印, *Kokuin*?)
23. Heart Destruction (心滅, *Shinmetsu*?)
24. Girl (少女, *Shōjo*?)
25. Heroic Spirits (英霊, *Eirei*?)
26. Garo Gaiden: Smile (GARO 外伝 笑顔, *Garo Gaiden: Egao*?)

## 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, *Jabi*?): Yasue Sato (佐藤 康恵, *Satō Yasue*?)
* Keiru (ケイル, *Keiru*?): Keaki Watanabe (渡辺 けあき, *Watanabe Keaki*?)
* Beru (ベル, *Beru*?): Anri Okamoto (岡本 杏理, *Okamoto Anri*?)
* Rose (ローズ, *Rōzu*?): Yukina Kashiwa (柏 幸奈, *Kashiwa Yukina*?)
* Kodama (コダマ, *Kodama*?): 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 Sato (佐藤 朱, *Satō Akemi*?)

## Songs

Opening theme
* "Theme of GARO" (1-13)
	+ Music by TRYFORCE and JAM Project
* "Garo ~Savior in the Dark~" (牙狼～SAVIOR IN THE DARK～, *Garo ~Savior in the Dark~*?, 14-25)
	+ Lyrics & Composition: Hironobu Kageyama
	+ Arrangement: Kenichi Sudo
	+ Artist: JAM Project

Ending theme
* "Garo ~Boku ga Ai o Tsutaeteyuku~" (牙狼～僕が愛を伝えてゆく～, *Garo ~Boku ga Ai o Tsutaeteyuku~*?, 1-13)
	+ 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, *Boku wa Mada Koi o Shite wa Ikenai*?, 14-25)
	+ Lyrics & Composition: Masaki Kyomoto
	+ Arrangement: Harukichi Yamamoto
	+ Artist: Masaki Kyomoto (ep. 14-21) and Garo Project (ep. 23 & 24)

Insert theme
* Fencer of GOLD (GOLDの剣士, *GOLD no Kenshi*?) by JAM Project
* Red Rose (赤いバラ, *Akai Bara*?) by Garo Project

## Video game

*Main article: Golden Knight Garo*
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.