Promare Review: An animated masterpiece that depicts the power of fire

Promare - A Tale of Flame and Struggle

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

May 24, 2019 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Toho

■Frequencies

111 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

TRIGGER, Kazuki Nakashima

■ Director

Hiroyuki Imaishi

■ Production

・Animation Production: TRIGGER

■Works

©TRIGGER・Kazuki Nakashima/XFLAG

■ Story

The trigger of this unprecedented event, in which half of the world was burned, was a race of mutants called the Burnish, who could control fire. Thirty years later, some of the more aggressive members of the Burnish have taken on the name of the Mad Burnish and are attacking the world again. In order to put out the fires caused by the Mad Burnish, Clay Foresight, the governor of the autonomous republic of Promepolis, formed the Burning Rescue, a highly mobile rescue fire brigade to combat the Burnish. In the midst of a major fire in a high-rise building, Garo Timos, a rookie with a burning firefighting spirit, meets Rio Fortia, the leader of the Mad Burnish and a wanted terrorist, and they clash violently. Garo succeeds in capturing Rio, and is recognized for his achievement by Clay - to Garo, Clay is his benefactor and hero who saved his life when he was a child - and he is proud and happy.

However, Rio escapes with the captured Burnish along with Gera and Mace, two of Mad Burnish's executives. Garo follows them and reaches their hideout, but what he sees there is the Burnish trying to survive. Rio then tells him the shocking truth about Burnish.

What is right?

Meanwhile, Garo and his friends learn of a certain plan that is being carried out on a global scale.

■Explanation

This animation was six years in the making, directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi and written by Kazuki Nakashima, the same team behind "Gurren Lagann" and "Kill la Kill." The production studios are a collaboration between TRIGGER and XFLAG. The film's popularity continued after its release, with more and more cheering screenings and 4DX screenings, and it was shown in many cinemas for a long period of time.

■Cast

・Galo Timos/Kenichi Matsuyama ・Aina Ardebit/Ayane Sakura ・Rio Fortia/Taichi Saotome ・Clay Foresight/Masato Sakai ・Ignis Ex/Rikiya Koyama

■ Main staff

Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi Screenplay: Kazuki Nakashima Character design: Shigeto Koyama Art director: Tomotaka Kubo Color design: Yukiko Kakita 3D director: Shinpei Ishikawa Director of photography: Shinsuke Ikeda Editor: Junichi Uematsu Music: Hiroyuki Sawano Sound director: Yasunori Ebina Title logo design: Masashi Ichiko Creative director: Hiromi Wakabayashi Animation producer: Kazuya Masumoto

■ Main Characters

Galo Timos is a new member of the highly mobile rescue fire brigade "Burning Rescue," but he has a bigger attitude than anyone else. He is a reckless muscle-head, and with a burning "firefighting spirit" in his heart, he rushes to the scene of a fire with "Matoi" as his partner.
Aina Ardebit, a female member of the corps. A teenager just like Garo. She is cool and calm, a professional who does things at her own pace and in her own way. She is the straight man for Garo and Baris, who tend to do reckless things and push themselves too hard.
Rio Fortia is the leader of the Mad Burnish, an aggressive group of Burnish, a race of mutations that control fire. Contrary to his cool appearance, he uses a special flame called Burnish Flare to burn everything to ashes.
Clay Foresight: Governor of the Autonomous Republic of Promepolis and chairman of the Foresight Foundation. He once conducted research into fire-resistant structural materials and successfully developed a flash freeze bullet that can put out Burnish fires. He is also someone Garo looks up to.
Captain of the Ignis Exburning Rescue Team, in his 30s. With wise judgment and a dignified attitude, he leads his teammates on the scene. He is a reliable man who trusts his subordinates and is also trusted by them.

■ Main robot items

Burnish Armor: Burnishes wear black armor made from hardened flames.
Garo wears a newly developed reinforced firefighting combat suit developed by Matoi Tekker Lucia.

■ Theme songs and music

・TM1
・Awakening・Lyrics by Shiho Ochi・Composition by Shiho Ochi・Arrangement by Koichi Tsutaya・Singer by Superfly
Produced by: Yoshiyuki Tsutaya, TM2
・Trapped in Ice・Lyrics by Shiho Ochi・Music by Shiho Ochi・Arrangement by Yuji Nakata, Motoki Matsuoka・Vocals by Superfly
Produced by: Motoki Matsuoka

Promare's Appeal and Evaluation

Promare is an animated film produced by TRIGGER and XFLAG in collaboration with director Hiroyuki Imaishi and screenwriter Kazuki Nakashima, and was completed after six years of planning. The film tells the story of the Burnish, a race of people who can control fire, and the Burning Rescue, who oppose them, and has been highly praised for its visual impact and deep themes.

Story and Themes

The story of Promare revolves around the conflict between Burnish, the group responsible for burning down half the world, and Burning Rescue, a group formed to suppress them. The protagonist, Garo Thymos, is a rookie with a burning fire-fighting spirit, and his growth and struggles are at the center of the story. Garo meets Rio Fortia, the leader of Mad Burnish, and despite their clashes, he learns the truth about Burnish. In the process, Garo is forced to face the question of "what is right" and reexamines the meaning of his existence.

The themes of this work are "justice" and "discrimination," "understanding" and "coexistence." The Burnish are portrayed as people who are rejected and persecuted by society, but it is emphasized that they too have the right to live. Through Garo's perspective, viewers come to understand the suffering and hopes of the Burnish and are forced to think deeply about issues of discrimination and prejudice. Furthermore, the revelation of the existence of a "certain plan" on a global scale adds further depth to the story, deeply moving the viewer.

Characters and acting

Each character in Promare is unique and leaves a strong impression on viewers. Matsuyama Kenichi, who plays Garo Thymos, realistically portrays a reckless and hot-blooded character, eliciting sympathy from viewers. Sakura Ayane, who plays Aina Ardebit, naturally plays a cool and calm female member of the corps, and makes viewers laugh in scenes where she points out Garo's reckless behavior. Saotome Taichi, who plays Lio Fortia, captivates viewers with his charming portrayal of a character who can control intense flames despite his cool appearance. Sakai Masato, who plays Clay Foresight, shows a dignified and profound performance as someone Garo looks up to, and Koyama Rikiya, who plays Ignis Ex, exudes dignity as a reliable captain.

Visuals and Music

Promare's visuals stand out with the dynamic and colorful animation that is a TRIGGER signature. In particular, the flames are rendered incredibly realistic and beautiful, creating a strong visual impact. In addition, thanks to the skills of 3D director Ishikawa Shinpei and cinematographer Ikeda Shinsuke, the battle and action scenes are powerful and captivating, drawing the viewer in.

The music is by Hiroyuki Sawano, and the theme songs "Awakening" and "Trapped in Ice" are sung by Superfly. Hiroyuki Sawano's music stirs emotions as the story unfolds, moving the viewer's heart. The music in the battle scenes in particular heightens the tension and excites the viewer. Superfly's singing voice deeply expresses the theme of the story and resonates with the viewer's heart.

Ratings and Recommendations

Promare has been highly praised for its visual beauty and deep themes. In particular, the depiction of fire and the power of the action scenes set it apart from other animated films, leaving a strong impression on viewers. In addition, the issues of "justice" and "discrimination" depicted through the character growth and conflicts have the power to make viewers think deeply.

This film is recommended not only for animation movie fans, but also for those who are interested in social issues and those who are looking for deep themes. It is especially a must-see for TRIGGER fans and those who are looking forward to the works of Hiroyuki Imaishi and Kazuki Nakashima. 4DX screenings and cheering screenings are also available, so it is recommended for those who want to experience an even more realistic experience.

Related information

Promare is not just a movie, there are also many related products and events. Official merchandise such as character figures, T-shirts, and posters are on sale and are must-have items for fans. In addition, events are held to allow fans to enjoy the world of Promare even more deeply, providing a place for fans to interact with each other and make new discoveries.

Furthermore, given the success of Promare, sequels and spin-off works are expected to be produced. You can enjoy the world of Promare even more by keeping an eye on future developments.

Conclusion

Promare is an animated film that combines visual beauty with deep themes, making a strong impression on viewers. The issues of "justice" and "discrimination" depicted through Galo Thymos' growth and conflicts have the power to make viewers think deeply. In addition, TRIGGER's dynamic animation and Hiroyuki Sawano's music move viewers' hearts and make them feel the story even more deeply. This work is recommended not only for animation movie fans, but also for those who are interested in social issues and those who seek deep themes. Please experience the world of Promare.