Genre Action, Fantasy Written by Yasuko Kobayashi Studio MAPPA | Directed by Yūichirō Hayashi Music by MONACA Licensed by Funimation | |
Garo: The Animation is a Japanese anime series based on the Garo tokusatsu drama. The anime is set in the distant past compared to the contemporary settings of the live action series. The first series, titled in Japan as Garo: The Carved Seal of Flames (Japanese: 牙狼〈GARO〉-炎の刻印-, Hepburn: GARO -Honō no Kokuin-), premiered in October 2014. It was licensed for streaming in North America by Funimation.
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A second anime series titled Garo: Crimson Moon (Japanese: 牙狼〈GARO〉-紅蓮ノ月-, Hepburn: GARO -Guren no Tsuki-) premiered in October 2015. This second series, which had a premiere event at the 88th Comiket, features character designs from Masakazu Katsura.
A film sequel of the first series titled Garo: Divine Flame (牙狼〈GARO〉-DIVINE FLAME-) premiered in Japan on May 21, 2016. A third anime project was announced to be in production by Garo Project on November 23, 2016 for an unspecified future release.
Garo: The Animation
The first series is set in the fictitious Valiante Kingdom (ヴァリアンテ国, Variante-koku), which resembles Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. After the king, under the influence of his advisor Mendoza, launches a witch hunt that endangers both Makai Knights and Makai Alchemists, a Makai Alchemist named Anna is burned at the stake while giving birth to León Luis, who is spirited off by his Makai Knight father Germán Luis to be trained to inherit the title of Golden Knight Garo. Years later, after Valiante is now plagued with Horrors as Mendoza, revealed to be an excommunicated Makai Alchemist, uses them to assert his authority after usurping the throne, the king's son Prince Alfonso seeks out the assistance of Garo to reclaim the throne, but also trains as a Makai Knight to become Gaia the Knight of Defense. The fully grown León returns to the land of his birth at this time to avenge his mother. Both he and Alfonso meet and learn that they are in fact maternal cousins whose grandfather was the previous Garo. Though León was relieved of the Garo title after Mendoza's assumed death for misconduct, Alfonso contends with the surviving Horrors in his kingdom. After casting away his drive for revenge and deciding to become a protector instead, León reclaims his armor and title, and joins forces with his friends to search after Mendoza once it is confirmed that he is still alive.
Garo: Crimson Moon
Crimson Moon is set in Japan during the Heian period, and features fictionalized versions of many Japanese historical figures. This time, Garo is a young Japanese man named Raikou who cannot properly summon the Garo armor himself, and instead relies on his companion, a female Makai Alchemist named Seimei, whose Makai magic allows him to become Garo to fight the Horrors infesting Heian-kyō. They are accompanied by a young boy named Kintoki who wishes to follow in Raikou's footsteps. Their journey pits them against the evil Ashiya Douman, a fallen Makai Alchemist who summons Horrors to do his bidding. They are later accompanied in their fight by Fujiwara no Yasusuke, who becomes the bearer of the armor of Zanga the Silver Knight.