Even more so that there's going to be another season and a movie.
And now I've placed it in my top 5. I can't recommend it enough.
I'm not going to give you a description of the series because the synopsis should be enough. The story in itself isn't too hard to follow and there isn't too much to it, but the execution of that story is what counts.
Story: 10
It's simple, yet solid. The execution is marvelous; it's exciting, unpredictable, heartbreaking, and engaging. Everything in this story is explained and the show doesn't try too hard to seem "edgy" (I'm just saying so because there's a good amount of death in this series), nor does it remain cliche in any way. I might as well include the setting in this section since it's part of the reason I enjoyed it so much.
It's a medieval fantasy, thus it's a world full of villages, castles, farmlands, plains, forests... all that great stuff. Although what makes Garo so great is that... it makes use of those settings, creates something beautiful with them.
Art: 9
The character art is very unique, and although it's fairly simplistic, it's actually very appealing. I find that the art style calls for more fluid action scenes, which it does indeed; the action scenes are exciting and VERY well animated. Even the CGI for the Makai Knights, although I'm not a fan of CG in a 2D series, is great.
Sound: 10
Let me start by saying; Keiichi Okabe NEEEEEEEEEEDS to compose more soundtracks! He's perfect for medieval series like this! (If you want to hear any more of his soundtracks, look up the OST for the video game "Nier" or the soundtrack for Yuki Yuna is a Hero.)
The music is VERY atmospheric and creates a sort of unique vibe that makes the world feel more melancholic yet beautiful. Before the OST came out, whenever I heard particular songs in the show, I'd keep replaying that scene just to hear the music. I've never seen a medieval series with such a perfect OST. After hearing this soundtrack, Keiichi Okabe became one of my new favorite composers.
Character: 9
Wow, the character development in this series is fantastic and it's clear as day. Leon transforms out of his naivety and into something more mature and understanding. Alfonso, as well, and even German! Each character has their own backstory, which are all emotional in some aspect, and you can really tell how the characters grow closer to one another.
Enjoyment: 10
When it comes to medieval fantasy series, you really can't get any more perfect than with Garo. It's a beautiful, well-written emotional journey in an atmospheric medieval world. I can't wait for season 2... and I highly recommend checking this series out. It was overshadowed by Shingeki no Bahamut, which aired the same season and was by the same studio (Studio MAPPA). (I loved Bahamut too, though!!)
Anyway, I'm not the greatest when it comes to writing reviews. (I'm more of a story-writing kind of guy.) So, I hope you'll give the series a shot after reading!
