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Gaara's quest for stronger opponents leads to his crossing paths with Naruto Uzumaki. Recognizing that Naruto would be a formidable opponent, Gaara threatens the life of one of Naruto's friends to force him to fight. Though their battle is largely over who is stronger, it also doubles as a way of determining whose philosophy is true. Naruto, by fighting to save his friends, ultimately claims victory. As a result, Gaara adopts Naruto's philosophy of helping others, realizing that fighting for others yields greater strength than fighting for one's self.<ref name="New">{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=Naruto, Volume 16|year=2007 |publisher=Viz Media |chapter=Chapter 136 |isbn=1-4215-1090-1}}</ref> He abandons his belief that he is the person he can rely on and makes amends with the many characters he had alienated, apologizing to those he hurt and improving his relationship with his family.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=Naruto, Volume 24|year=2008 |publisher=Viz Media |chapter=Chapter 215 |pages=132-133|isbn= 1-4215-1860-0}}</ref> At the same time, Gaara's fundamental characteristic becomes the desire to protect as many people as he can, as in doing so he will be able to find true strength. This culminates in his replacing his father as the leader of Sunagakure during the second half of the series, his greatest dream being to give his life for the villagers no matter what their opinion of him may be.<ref name="protect">{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=Naruto, Volume 28|year=2008 |publisher=Viz Media |chapter=Chapter 249 |isbn= 1-4215-1864-3}}</ref>
Gaara's quest for stronger opponents leads to his crossing paths with Naruto Uzumaki. Recognizing that Naruto would be a formidable opponent, Gaara threatens the life of one of Naruto's friends to force him to fight. Though their battle is largely over who is stronger, it also doubles as a way of determining whose philosophy is true. Naruto, by fighting to save his friends, ultimately claims victory. As a result, Gaara adopts Naruto's philosophy of helping others, realizing that fighting for others yields greater strength than fighting for one's self.<ref name="New">{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=Naruto, Volume 16|year=2007 |publisher=Viz Media |chapter=Chapter 136 |isbn=1-4215-1090-1}}</ref> He abandons his belief that he is the person he can rely on and makes amends with the many characters he had alienated, apologizing to those he hurt and improving his relationship with his family.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=Naruto, Volume 24|year=2008 |publisher=Viz Media |chapter=Chapter 215 |pages=132-133|isbn= 1-4215-1860-0}}</ref> At the same time, Gaara's fundamental characteristic becomes the desire to protect as many people as he can, as in doing so he will be able to find true strength. This culminates in his replacing his father as the leader of Sunagakure during the second half of the series, his greatest dream being to give his life for the villagers no matter what their opinion of him may be.<ref name="protect">{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=Naruto, Volume 28|year=2008 |publisher=Viz Media |chapter=Chapter 249 |isbn= 1-4215-1864-3}}</ref>


Sue owns you all. :D and gaara sucks ;o

Gaara sucks. >;o Bren* is dating amanda. Mike, you fail at life.


=== Abilities ===
=== Abilities ===

Revision as of 23:41, 15 July 2008

Gaara
Naruto character
Gaara
Gaara by Masashi Kishimoto
First appearanceNaruto manga chapter 35
Naruto anime episode 20

Gaara (我愛羅) is a fictional character in the Naruto manga and anime series, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He was introduced a third of the way through the series, and serves as a foil to the series' titular character, Naruto Uzumaki: the two were born through similar circumstances, but develop vastly different personalities as they deal with their troubled upbringing.[5] Initially introduced as an enemy and Naruto's rival, the two eventually develop a bond as kindred spirits and become close friends as the series progresses.

A ninja from a village called Sunagakure, Gaara is the son of Sunagakure's leader, Fourth Kazekage; his siblings are Kankuro and Temari. He has the ability to control sand, a trait that sets him apart from the rest of the Naruto cast and earns him an infamous reputation amongst rival ninja factions. Gaara's backstory gives him a traumatic past, in which he is ostracized by fellow villagers because he is host to a demonic beast of great power. As a result of this experience, he is a ruthless killer, slaying others without remorse. He is cold and distant even with his allies and siblings, but the character develops as the series progresses. His battle with Naruto changes his outlook on the world: Naruto's influence pushes him to aid others and in Part II of the series, he becomes Sunagakure's Fifth Kazekage.

Gaara has appeared in several pieces of Naruto media, including the second featured film in the series, the third original video animation, and several video games. Numerous anime and manga publications have also commented on Gaara's character and initially sadistic mentality; IGN labeled the disparity between Naruto and Gaara as "emotional" and "a tad creepy."[6] The battle between him and Naruto at the conclusion of the Invasion of Konoha arc was particularly celebrated by reviewers, with Anime News Network referring to it as the high point of the entire series.[7] Amongst the Naruto reader base, Gaara has been popular, placing high in several popularity polls.[8] Numerous pieces of merchandise have been released in Gaara's likeness, including plush dolls and key chains.[9][10][11]

Creation and conception

Naruto author Masashi Kishimoto created Gaara as a foil to the series' protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki. He and Naruto have a similar background: he was rejected by his peers and fellow villagers for being the host of a monster, a situation that Kishimoto describes as "very much like Naruto's." Gaara's development from this state into a highly withdrawn, sadistic character was intended to induce sympathy for him from readers, as it was contrasted against Naruto's development into a cheerful troublemaker.[5]

Gaara's initial attire, along with the costumes of his siblings, were difficult for Kishimoto to draw on a weekly basis. Because of this, Kishimoto gave them new, simpler costumes towards the end of Part I, with Gaara receiving an outfit with an upright collar. In addition to being easier to draw, it was used to show the change in relationship between Gaara and Naruto following their previous fight. Kishimoto cites The Matrix, one of his favorite movies, as an inspiration for Gaara's new costume, and he considers it to be his favorite costume of the three siblings.[12]

Character outline

Background

Gaara's background, though presented in small amounts from the moment of his introduction, is ultimately told in detail midway through Naruto manga volume fifteen. This backstory, told via flashbacks just prior to Gaara's battle with Naruto Uzumaki, serves as a way to compare and contrast the two character's upbringings. Soon after their births, both had a tailed beast, a demonic creature of great power, sealed into their bodies.[13] Gaara received the One-Tailed Shukaku (一尾の守鶴, Ichibi no Shukaku, English "Shukaku the Sand Spirit"), a large tanuki-like beast with an innate bloodlust.[14] Whereas Naruto had a tailed beast sealed into him to save his hometown from destruction, Gaara had the Shukaku sealed into him so as to become his village's personal weapon. Because his hometown of Sunagakure had been forced to cut military spending in favor of funding other programs, his father had Shukaku sealed into Gaara in the hopes that he might be able to harness its power and thus singlehandedly fill the void created by the budget cuts.[15]

Despite the necessity of having a tailed beast sealed into their bodies, both Naruto and Gaara grew up being looked down upon as mere manifestations of the monsters they contained. In spite of this, Gaara was trained by his father throughout his childhood to help gain control over the abilities granted to him by Shukaku.[13] Their efforts were never truly successful, as Shukaku would sporadically attack others against Gaara's will, cementing the villagers' view that he was the Shukaku.[16] While Naruto was allowed to live peacefully even though he was hated by his village, Gaara's repeated attacks against the villagers were viewed by his father as those of a failed experiment. To keep this "experiment" from someday turning against the village, Gaara's father ordered his assassination. All of the attempts on his life, however, failed, as Shukaku always protected Gaara from harm and killed his attacker.[17] Realizing that he had been abandoned by his own family, Gaara adopted the belief that he, and by extension Shukaku, were the only people he could rely on in the world.[18] In the absence of constant death threats, Naruto, conversely, gained the desire to help everyone around him, hoping that that would change their view of him.

Personality

File:Gaarapart2.jpg
Gaara as he appears in Part II.

Because of his background and the resulting dependence on himself and Shukaku, Gaara develops the philosophy that the only way he can feel alive is by killing others. This drive to kill is his most fundamental characteristic at the start of the series. After his introduction during the Chunin Exams, a chance for aspiring ninja to prove their worth and rise up the ninja ranks, Gaara displays little interest in using the Exams for their intended purpose. Instead, in keeping with his philosophy, he constantly seeks to kill or seriously maim anyone who makes the mistake of insulting him.[19] After the Exams have progressed to the point that weaker ninja have fallen to the wayside, Gaara is pitted against progressively more talented opponents. Because these opponents prove to be an actual match for him, Gaara undergoes a subtle change in ideals: rather than finding purpose in life by killing just anyone, Gaara comes to crave killing anyone that gets in his way. Gaara also is very misunderstood because of his demon. [20]

Gaara's quest for stronger opponents leads to his crossing paths with Naruto Uzumaki. Recognizing that Naruto would be a formidable opponent, Gaara threatens the life of one of Naruto's friends to force him to fight. Though their battle is largely over who is stronger, it also doubles as a way of determining whose philosophy is true. Naruto, by fighting to save his friends, ultimately claims victory. As a result, Gaara adopts Naruto's philosophy of helping others, realizing that fighting for others yields greater strength than fighting for one's self.[21] He abandons his belief that he is the person he can rely on and makes amends with the many characters he had alienated, apologizing to those he hurt and improving his relationship with his family.[22] At the same time, Gaara's fundamental characteristic becomes the desire to protect as many people as he can, as in doing so he will be able to find true strength. This culminates in his replacing his father as the leader of Sunagakure during the second half of the series, his greatest dream being to give his life for the villagers no matter what their opinion of him may be.[23]

Sue owns you all. :D and gaara sucks ;o

Abilities

File:GaaraShieldofSand.jpg
Gaara's sand shielding him from a needle barrage.

As a result of Shukaku being sealed within him, Gaara is granted complete control over sand. Because he fights on a variety of terrains throughout the series, many of which do not have high concentrations of sand, Gaara always carries some with him in a calabash gourd, which itself is also made of sand.[24] For attacking purposes, Gaara uses his sand to capture and subsequently crush his target, only varying the size and intensity of the action to suit the situation. Most of his battles involve repeating this method of attack over and over until he has succeeded in finishing off his opponent, and as such Gaara typically remains stationary for the battle's duration.[19] If an opponent is able to escape his attempts at capture and get close enough to attack him, Gaara possesses an automatic shield of sand that reacts whenever he is about to be struck. Though few characters have ever been able to bypass this defense, as it activates quickly and without Gaara's knowledge, Gaara also armors his skin with a layer of sand as a precautionary defensive measure.[25]

Like other hosts of tailed beasts, Gaara can manifest aspects of the Shukaku sealed within him. Typically reserved for opponents he cannot defeat under his own power, Gaara can cover himself in sand and take on the appearance of a miniature Shukaku, acquiring a proportionate amount of its speed and power in the process. As he further synchronizes with Shukaku, however, he becomes more violent and bloodthirsty to all around him.[14] When he firsts uses this transformation during the course of the series, Gaara is unconcerned with this particular side effect. Once he adopts his more pacifist mindset, he comes to fear what he might do to his allies if he taps into Shukaku, and thus has avoided using it in all of his subsequent appearances. Once he has completed his Shukaku replica, Gaara can fully bring out Shukaku's personality by forcing himself to sleep. Doing so allows Shukaku to control the replica and fight at its full strength, all but assuring victory so long as Gaara remains asleep.[26]

Plot overview

Gaara, though playing a significant role during each arc he appears in, makes sporadic appearances throughout the series. He debuts when he is sent to Konohagakure, a rival ninja village, ostensibly to take part in the Chunin Exams. The true purpose, however, is for him to play a key role in a planned invasion by Sunagakure.[27] His father intends for Gaara to infiltrate the village and attack it from within. However, he is injured by Sasuke Uchiha he is left unable to fulfill his part in the plan.[28] The invasion proceeds without him and Gaara flees Konoha, though not before being pursued and defeated by Naruto Uzumaki on the village's outskirts.[21] Sunagakure is summarily defeated in Gaara's absence and the two villages sign a peace treaty to end the fighting. Later, Sunagakure sends Gaara to help in preventing Sasuke from defecting to the side of their mutual enemy, Orochimaru.[29] While he is able to help protect Konoha's ninja from Orochimaru's forces, they are unable to prevent Sasuke from escaping.

In the second half of the series, which takes place two-and-a-half years after the failed attempt to retrieve Sasuke, Deidara, a member the criminal organization Akatsuki, is sent to Sunagakure to capture Gaara. When Deidara proves unable to accomplish this task in a fair fight, he threatens to destroy Sunagakure as a distraction, leaving Gaara an easy target while he protects his village.[23] Gaara is captured and the members of Akatsuki extract Shukaku from his body in order to further their goal of world domination.[30] Gaara dies in the process, though is revived by an elderly woman named Chiyo, who gives him her life so that he can continue to protect Sunagakure.[31] Though he no longer has Shukaku sealed within him, Gaara retains at least some control over sand, though to what extent has yet to be seen.[32]

Appearances in other media

Gaara has made several appearances outside of the Naruto anime and manga. He is present in the second Naruto featured film, Naruto the Movie 2: Great Clash! The Illusionary Ruins at the Depths of the Earth, in his post-Sasuke Retrieval arc costume. He protects the Land of Wind from an assault by Haido's troops and later battles the lighting user Ranke, defeating her by draining her of her lighting.[33] Gaara is additionally present in the third original video animation released in the series, where he participates in a tournament of various characters from across the series.[34] Naruto video games commonly feature Gaara, including the Clash of Ninja and Ultimate Ninja series.[35][36][37] In some games, he uses his Shukaku form for combat, as well as other moves not seen in the anime or manga. Naruto Shippūden: Gekitou Ninja Taisen EX marks the first appearance of Gaara in his Part II appearance in a video game, with the second one being Naruto Shippūden: Narutimate Accel.[38]

Reception

Gaara has ranked highly in the popularity polls for the series, continuously placing in the top ten and reaching seventh place once.[8] The last such poll was in 2006, in which Gaara was in 7th place.[39] Several pieces of Gaara merchandise been released, including key chains of his Part I and Part II appearance,[9][40] plush dolls,[10][11], and a limited edition figurine.[41]

Publications that comment on manga and anime have both praised and criticised Gaara's character. The website IGN noted that Gaara was an "anti-Naruto," possessing a "dark, solemn character" as opposed to Naruto's continuous cheer and excitement.[42] IGN also called Gaara's background "emotional" and "a tad creepy" due to the disparity between the development of Naruto's and Gaara's personalities.[6] Anime News Network celebrated the fact that Naruto and Gaara's similarities added "depth and emotion" to the plot, and commented that "nowhere in the entire series run does Naruto shine brighter than in the peak period of his battle against Gaara."[7] They also complimented Kishimoto's visual presentation of Gaara in the manga, referring to "chilling [glimpses] of Gaara's crazed, exposed face."[43] Liam O'Brien, Gaara's voice actor in the English adaptation of the anime, has been praised: IGN noted that he did an "excellent job" of making Gaara sound terrifying to the viewer,[44] while Anime News Network noted him as one of the best voice actors of the series equating him to his Japanese counterpart.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Akira Ishida". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  2. ^ "Liam O'Brien". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  3. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2002). NARUTO―ナルト―［秘伝・臨の書］. Shueisha. p. 51. ISBN 4-08873-288-X.
  4. ^ a b Kishimoto, Masashi (2005). NARUTO―ナルト―［秘伝・闘の書］. Shueisha. pp. 62–63. ISBN 4-08873-734-2.
  5. ^ a b Kishimoto, Masashi (2007). Uzumaki: The Art of Naruto. Viz Media. p. 142. ISBN 1-4215-1407-9.
  6. ^ a b Van Horn, Jason (2007-02-26). "IGN: An Assassin of the Moonlit Night Review". IGN. Retrieved 2008-03-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b c Martin, Theron (2008-02-29). "Naruto Uncut DVD Box Set 6 - Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2008-03-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b Kishimoto, Masashi (2008). "Chapter 245". Naruto, Volume 28. Viz Media. pp. 8–9. ISBN 1-4215-1864-3.
  9. ^ a b "Naruto - Keychains - Gaara 3D Mini Keychain". Viz Media. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  10. ^ a b "Amazon.com: Naruto: Gaara with Gourd Plush: Toys & Games". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  11. ^ a b "Amazon.com: NARUTO GAARA 14" PLUSH TOY: Office Products". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  12. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2007). Uzumaki: The Art of Naruto. Viz Media. p. 127. ISBN 1-4215-1407-9.
  13. ^ a b Kishimoto, Masashi (2006). "Chapter 97". Naruto, Volume 11. Viz Media. ISBN 1-4215-0241-0.
  14. ^ a b Kishimoto, Masashi (2007). "Chapter 128". Naruto, Volume 15. Viz Media. ISBN 1-4215-0240-2.
  15. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2007). "Chapter 131". Naruto, Volume 15. Viz Media. pp. 93–95. ISBN 1-4215-0240-2.
  16. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2007). "Chapter 129". Naruto, Volume 15. Viz Media. ISBN 1-4215-0240-2.
  17. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2007). "Chapter 131". Naruto, Volume 15. Viz Media. pp. 89–91. ISBN 1-4215-0240-2.
  18. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2007). "Chapter 131". Naruto, Volume 15. Viz Media. p. 98. ISBN 1-4215-0240-2.
  19. ^ a b Kishimoto, Masashi (2005). "Chapter 59". Naruto, Volume 7. Viz Media. ISBN 1-59116-875-9.
  20. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2006). "Chapter 83". Naruto, Volume 10. Viz Media. p. 28. ISBN 1-4215-1089-8.
  21. ^ a b Kishimoto, Masashi (2007). "Chapter 136". Naruto, Volume 16. Viz Media. ISBN 1-4215-1090-1.
  22. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2008). "Chapter 215". Naruto, Volume 24. Viz Media. pp. 132–133. ISBN 1-4215-1860-0.
  23. ^ a b Kishimoto, Masashi (2008). "Chapter 249". Naruto, Volume 28. Viz Media. ISBN 1-4215-1864-3.
  24. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2006). "Chapter 86". Naruto, Volume 10. Viz Media. p. 89. ISBN 1-4215-1089-8.
  25. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2006). "Chapter 83". Naruto, Volume 10. Viz Media. p. 35. ISBN 1-4215-1089-8.
  26. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2007). "Chapter 136". Naruto, Volume 16. Viz Media. ISBN 1-4215-1090-1.
  27. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2006). "Chapter 95". Naruto, Volume 11. Viz Media. pp. 92–98. ISBN 1-4215-0241-0.
  28. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2007). "Chapter 115". Naruto, Volume 13. Viz Media. pp. 136–138. ISBN 1-4215-1087-1.
  29. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2008). "Chapter 213". Naruto, Volume 24. Viz Media. p. 95. ISBN 1-4215-1860-0.
  30. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2008). "Chapter 261". Naruto, Volume 29. Viz Media. ISBN 1-4215-1865-1.
  31. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2005). "Chapter 280". Naruto, Volume 31. Shueisha. ISBN 4-08-874002-7. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  32. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2006). "Chapter 281". Naruto, Volume 32. Shueisha. ISBN 4-08-874039-3. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  33. ^ "Naruto (movie 2)". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  34. ^ "Naruto (OAV)". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  35. ^ Bozon, Mark (2006-09-29). "Naruto: The Complete Fighter Profile - Page 2". IGN. Retrieved 2007-03-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ Tomy, ed. (2005). Naruto: Gekitou Ninja Taisen 4 Japanese instruction manual (in Japanese). Tomy. p. 5.
  37. ^ Naruto: Ultimate Ninja English instruction manual. Namco Bandai. 2006. p. 26.
  38. ^ "ＮＡＲＵＴＯ－ナルト－ 疾風伝:ＴＶ東京 - Goods" (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  39. ^ Kishimoto, Masashi (2006). "Chapter 293". Naruto, Volume 33. Shueisha. ISBN 4-08-874108-6. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  40. ^ "Amazon.com: Naruto Shippuden: Mini Gaara Plush Key Chain: Apparel". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  41. ^ "Naruto - Collectible - Gaara Sand Coffin Figurine". Viz Media. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  42. ^ Sparrow, A.E. (2007-11-09). "IGN: Naruto Reader's Guide". IGN. Retrieved 2008-03-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ Kimlinger, Karl (2006-11-02). "Naruto GN 8-10 - Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2008-03-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ Van Horn, Jason (2007-02-12). "IGN: Astonishing Truth! Gaara's Identity Emerges! Review". IGN. Retrieved 2008-03-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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