This is a list of the characters from the anime series Garo: The Animation.
Zaruba
, is a , a containing a Horror that holds no enmity against humanity, who has served the bearers of the Garo title for generations, giving advice, detecting Horrors, and devising combat strategies. Forging a pact with the holder of the Garo title, Zaruba takes a day of life from the contract holder once a month during every new moon. This places the Knight in a deep sleep for that day when his consciousness is brought to a realm outside of time, giving rise to the notion of the Golden Knight would disappear during the new moon. In Honō no Kokuin, Zaruba previously belonged to León's grandfather, who passed him down to Anna. At some point in the past, Zaruba was broken, releasing the spirit sealed within. Germán gave Zaruba to a named Gael to repair sixteen years before the present day, as Zaruba would be necessary for León's proper growth into the Golden Knight. The repairs were extremely time-consuming, evidenced by Gael only just finishing repairs when the Luises arrive to retrieve Zaruba in the present day. Zaruba shows the ability to suppress León's flames in his armored form, allowing him to fight without going berserk. Zaruba's ring form is notably gagged with a small piece resembling a gag bit, meaning his only means of sporadic communication with León is through his spiritual realm where Zaruba's face hangs in the sky like a large moon. Zaruba is overwhelmed by the immense flames produced by León's Lost Soul Beast form, breaking his gag and thereby his suppressing seal. Germán confiscates Zaruba from León after the battle with Mendoza. Zaruba later ends up in Alfonso's possession, continuing his role as the Golden Knight's advisor and partner. Zaruba is later returned to León, considering him finally worthy of the title of the Golden Knight. In Guren no Tsuki, Zaruba is in the possession of Raikou, seemingly the key to summoning the Garo armor. He has been in the possession of Minamoto clan during the Heian Period before he was briefly in the . He is under the effects of a magical seal Seimei placed on him and is usually in a petrified state, only becoming active when she releases the seal and allows Raikou to summon the Garo armor. After Raikou permanently breaks the seal, Zaruba remains active, albeit with dulled Horror-detecting senses. In Vanishing Line, Zaruba is used as the "key" to Sword's , an oversized chopper that transforms when Sword dons his armor. The motorcycle features a sheath for Sword's blade and has retractable teeth that cover the tires. Zaruba is able to direct the motorcycle remotely, regardless of whether or not he is actually plugged into the vehicle. Zaruba often complains about Sword's hard-headed and womanizing nature and is quick to interject a snarky comment whenever someone admonishes Sword. He also seems to dislike Sophie, deeming her to be an annoying burden to Sword and his mission and refusing to speak with her. However, after the incident in , Zaruba compliments Sophie for her usefulness. During Bishop's siege to capture Sophie, Zaruba sacrifices himself to intercept Knight in a huge magical explosion. Zaruba's remnants are absorbed by Sword and reinforce the Garo armor even further. Later, Zaruba is revived as a new custom motorcycle presumably by Gina in and helps Sword and Sophie in . When Sword dons the Garo armor, the Madō Motorcycle evolves and gains golden armor that is reminiscent like that of a dragon. Beside the retractable arms, it gains the ability to envelop Garo and itself with golden . Furthermore, when Sword rides the transformed motorcycle, the sword evolves into a great sword. It's unknown what happened to Zaruba after Eldo Net disappeared.
The Carved Seal of Flames
Main characters
Seventeen-year-old León Luis is the holder of the title of . León is the son of the Germán Luis and the Makai Alchemist Anna, born as his mother was burning at the stake for witchcraft. Though saved by his father, who took him out of Valiante, León is haunted by visions of Anna's death and grew into a bitter and emotionally deadpan young man. León is quick to anger, highly distrustful of others, and largely naive about the world, making social interaction incredibly awkward at best for him. While a kind-hearted soul, León is initially apathetic about his duties as a Makai Knight and sees the Garo armor as both a simple heirloom and a means to avenge his mother's death rather than a symbol of a protector of humanity. Furthermore, León is also still under the protection of the magic that his mother used to protect him from the flames that claimed her life. This manifests in the burn-like markings that appear whenever he is distressed. The magic is fueled by negative emotions and causes León great pain if he is not calmed. If left alone for too long, the spell triggers the automatic donning of the Garo armor, sending León into a berserker rage where he will lash out at friend and foe alike. During the battle with Mendoza, León loses himself in implanted visions of his mother's death, warping his armor with rage as he becomes the mindless whose raging Madō Fire explodes in an inferno that incinerates the town of Santa Bard within moments and endangers many innocent humans. After being taken down and stripped of his title by Alfonso, León loses his purpose in life. After a suicide attempt, León finds himself taken in by a farming family living somewhere downriver from Santa Bard and begins working as a farmhand while befriending Lara. Though León resolves to remain a farmhand after making amends with Alfonso, his peaceful days tragically end when a massive Horror slaughters Lara and her family. After burying Lara and contemplating his path, León vows to protect others so they would not have to suffer what he had and regains the Garo armor from Alfonso. Soon after, León has a one-night stand with Ema. Following Medoza's defeat, León becomes a mentor to his half-brother Roberto, training him in the Makai arts so he may one day become a Makai Knight and inherit the Zoro armor. Originally, due to León's bitter and angry nature, the Garo armor was warped into a slender and angular appearance, featuring long scarves ending in heavy rings, which can be used to snare opponents. In addition, the armor, when donned, cracks dramatically down the left side. Intense flames continually flow from the cracks, only being calmed after León forms a contract with Zaruba. This form is referred to as . Once León overcomes his inner demons and accepts his role as a protector, the Garo armor takes on its natural appearance. Both forms have red eyes. León exhibits far more control over the armor in its true state, as it does not crack or emit flames, nor does it carry the risk of the original form's berserker state, though it is able to project an aura of emerald-colored Madō Fire to strengthen attacks. During the final battle with Mendoza, León uses both his sword and his father's weapons to combine the Garo and Zoro armors into . This composite armor possesses emerald-colored Madō Fire wings, León's original Garo armor's scarves, and Zoro's chain reels and is capable of flight. During the events of Garo: Divine Flame, León displays the ability to summon the golden-armored known as ,Special booklet included in the first-press limited edition of the DVD and Blu-ray release of Garo: Divine Flame. the traditional steed of the Golden Knight. During the final battle with the Horror Sir Venus, León becomes , composed of the will of past Golden Knights, which is capable of flight and features multiple blades that can be detached from the armor and directed remotely.
Germán Luis is León Luis's father and a Makai Knight who holds the title of . Germán had once called himself . Before León was born, Germán and his wife Anna were imprisoned and tried for witchcraft in a campaign to hunt down Makai practitioners in the Valiante Kingdom. Germán escaped from his cell too late to save Anna, only arriving in time to save their son as he was protected by Anna's magic. Germán raised the boy outside the kingdom, hunting Horrors and avoiding Valiante's military. Germán displays an easy-going, somewhat cocky, suave personality, and is a womanizer. However, he is also something of a deadbeat, once begging his son to lend him money (or, as he words it, "love") to pay for a prostitute who turned out to be the Horror they were tracking down. He regularly sleeps around with prostitutes and attempts to seduce women, defending the behavior by claiming he needs another son to one day inherit the Zoro title and armor as León inherited the Garo armor from his mother. Despite his annoying antics and playboy mannerisms, he is actually very perceptive and bold, and will turn serious and properly get work done when the situation demands it. While he finds his son's bitter disposition irritating, often suffering physical abuse from the boy when his behavior as perceived as adding further insult to Anna's memory, he nonetheless tolerates it all out of love for León. Germán is later severely injured during the battle against Mendoza, but he is taken in by innkeeper Ximena Coronado, who tends to his wounds and offers a bed. Germán is soon forced to leave Ximena when the Watchdog Garm orders him to start working with a previously thought dead Mendoza. It was only after Mendoza's true intentions are revealed that he aids his son in stopping him. Germán is eventually slain by a horde of Horrors and his soul is added to the crystal used to revive Anima. The only thing León is able to recover from his father is a single knife. After the final battle with Mendoza, it is revealed that Ximena is pregnant with Germán's child Roberto who León trains to one day inherit the Zoro title. Germán is brought back from the Demon World by Garm during the events of Garo: Divine Flame, existing in a Horror-like state that causes Horror-detecting tools to react to him and gives him a limited time in the mortal realm before becoming a full-fledged Horror. When the Horror Sir Venus is slain, Germán returns to the Demon World. In battle, Germán wields two knives that transform into curved short swords with hand guards in his armored form. These blades are attached to Zoro's arms with chains wound around reels on his wrists and can be extended and retracted. The swords can also either be combined into a large spade-like blade, or detached from the chains and combined at the hilts into a boomerang-like form. His armor is silver in color, and features an asymmetrical design and a tattered cape. Germán is partnered with a similarly silver-armored Madō Horse known as , which he can summon as Zoro. The Zoro armor also displays the ability to surround itself with an aura of blue Madō Fire, strengthening Germán's attacks.