is a Japanese OVA anime series produced by Sunrise. It is the direct sequel to the 1997 anime television series The King of Braves GaoGaiGar and the first Brave metaseries officially funded by Bandai following the acquisition of Sunrise. The anime is directed by Yoshitomo Yonetani and written by Fuyunori Gobu and Yuichiro Takeda. It aired in Japan from January 21, 2000, to March 21, 2003, with a total of eight episodes. A 12-episode TV re-imagining, with the subtitle Grand Glorious Gathering was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April 11 to June 27, 2005. A crossover sequel light novel, which focuses on the unused concept of the series, was released on Sunrise' Yatate Bunko imprint on September 30, 2016.
Plot GaoGaiGar Final is set after the events of the original one, featuring new and returning characters and those from other GaoGaiGar media, including Mamoru and Galeon and the first anime appearance of Renais Kerdif-Shishioh, Gai's cousin from the GGG's sister organization Chasseur, as depicted in the novel Queen of Leo (Leon Reine): The King of Braves Gaogaigar 2005. The series also introduces GaoGaiGar's successor mechanoids GaoFighGar and Genesic GaoGaiGar.
The anime is set in 2007, two years after the Gutsy Galaxy Guard thwarted the invasion of the Zonders, and Mamoru and Galeon departed for the Tri-Solar System. The organization is now tracking down machines called Q-Parts that have regenerative properties, with the criminal group BioNet having stolen one of the machines that was being researched at CERN. Gai is now working with Renais-Kardif Shishioh and biologist Papillon Noir to reclaim one of the Q-Parts from BioNet using the GaoFighGar, GGG's newest trump card. However, he and others become involved in a new conflict when a familiar figure reappears, along with an upcoming calamity that could destroy the universe.
Themes Final has different themes than the original series, focusing mainly on two central themes. The first is "together with the oath sworn through courage", a phrase which Gai and others reference throughout the series. The oath is not literal, but rather an embodiment of the heroes' determination to fight to the end. As Papillon Noir states in the finale, they will overcome the difficulties that lie ahead as long as they have courage.
The second theme is God versus Devil, a theme that also appeared in the final battle of the original series. It forms the core philosophy of Planetary Master Palpalapa, who believes that when two great powers clash, the victor becomes God and the vanquished becomes the Devil. He sees himself as God, and at two points he mentally sees Gai as the Devil who brings ruin. The theme is also evident in Palpalapa's ultimate attack, "God and Devil", which mirrors Gai's "Hell and Heaven" attack. Later in Final, Gai is revealed to be the God of Destruction, who brings the hope of starting over from zero and the challenge of infinite possibility. The dualist nature of GaoGaiGar suggests there is a god or goddess of protection, who is implied to be Mikoto Utsugi, an invincible life-form formed from the remnants of Zonder Metal's power.
Grand Glorious Gathering Starting in April 2005, a twelve-episode "re-imagining" of the anime, GaoGaiGar Final: Grand Glorious Gathering, aired on TV Tokyo. Due to the different running lengths of the OVA versus the space allowed on TV, they were re-edited and spread across those episodes. A footage from the original anime and new voice recordings were used to fill in the allotted time, as well as a new one which almost exclusively serves to further establish a connection between GaoGaiGar and Betterman, which takes place in the same world and setting. Several incidents of nudity found in the OVA were also censored or omitted.
Media Anime The original OVA series ran from January 21, 2000, to March 21, 2003. The opening song from Episodes 1-6 is by Masaaki Endoh while Episode 7 is titled by Endoh with the GGG Sound Choir. The first ending song is titled , performed by Saeko Suzuki for Episodes 1-6 and MIQ in Episode 7, while the second ending song is by the anime's official cast. Discotek Media announced the OVAs were released on Blu-ray in 2023.
A remastered version of the anime was broadcast in TV Tokyo from April 11 to June 27, 2005, before being replaced by Gun Sword on its timeslot. The opening theme is by Masaaki Endoh, while the ending songs reuse ones from the OVA except certain episodes.
King of Kings: GaoGaiGar vs Betterman
A sequel web light novel, titled was written by Yuichiro Takeda and released by Sunrise under the Yatate Bunko imprint from September 30, 2016, to March 17, 2021. It serves as a crossover to Betterman, using unused concepts from GaoGaiGar Final Project Z.
The light novel takes place eight years after the events of the OVA, focusing on both Mamoru and Kaido alongside the newly-formed Gutsy Global Guard as they fight against the threat of Triple Zero, known also as The Power. While another faction known as Somniums appears, stars to mysteriously support GGG as they prepare for an event referred as the Age of Patria. Shinkigensha compiled the web novels and published it in a physical novel form from June 22, 2017 to September 28, 2021.
References
External links Official GaoGaiGar Final website (Japanese) Official GaoGaiGar vs. Betterman website (Japanese) Official GaoGaiGar vs. Betterman The Comic website (Japanese)