Garrod Ran (ガロード・ラン Garōdo Ran?) is the main protagonist of the anime After War Gundam X.
Personality & Character[]
In the beginning, Garrod was an immature survivalist. He was shrewd, distrustful, and a non-team player. While he had a conscience against men of bad intentions, he learned to lookout for himself with his resourceful intelligence. His life turned around after falling in love with Tiffa Adil. He found sympathy and a personal connection of a person that's always being bullied and used; he vowed to never let anymore bad things happen to her. Because of her involvement with Jamil Neate's Vulture group, Garrod stayed to look after her, but because of his immaturity, distrust, and impulsive nature against the Vultures, he caused a lot of inconvenience to the group as well. Eventually though, he adapted to the Vulture life and became a valued member of the group.
Through their travels, those who fought with Garrod began to respect him; some even became friends. While he at first focused on Tiffa, his view of the changing world motivated him to focus more on worldly matters and he desired to do more to help bring peace. He would also become more tactical, using the time in between battles to strategize.[1] When the New United Earth Nations (NUNE) was created, he saw first-hand their aggressive planetary unification campaign and helped countries resist their expansion, but being a small group, they eventually lost. Ultimately, his life was refocused back to Tiffa.
Not long establishing a romantic relationship, their lives were torn apart after both the space-noids and NUNE battled for possessing Tiffa. Both believed she's the key to their future in the evolution of Newtypes' as well as wrestling control for the moon base, DOME. After the great stalemate between the colonies and NUNE, Tiffa and Garrod retired from being Vultures and decided to quietly disappear. By that time, public knowledge of Garrod's exploits and Newtypes became popular topics of public conversation. Wishing to spend a peaceful life with Tiffa, Garrod from then on feigned ignorance of his own identity and knowledge of Newtypes.
Skills & Abilities[]
Garrod is an experienced thief who is skilled at espionage, as well as lock picking and safe cracking, which he uses as needed to escape situations or complete a job he is hired to do. Forced to survive since he was a child, he has strong street smarts and knows how to take down an enemy MS combatant simply by removing the pilot out of the cockpit. He has minor technical skills and throughout his time with the Vultures, his mechanical experience evolved.
In the beginning, his MS combat skills were rather low, but through experience, he became a highly skilled pilot. Jamil Neate notes his extraordinary instincts and adaptability as he quickly figures out how to use the GX-9900-DV Gundam X Divider in its first run.[2] His adaptability is something which Lancrow Dawell is also impressed after how quickly he adjusts to space combat.
History[]
Born shortly after the end of the 7th Space War, Garrod Ran is the son of a United Nations Earth technician that was killed during the war. Raised by his mother on the post-war Earth, he found that he had an ability to repair machinery and know how to operate mobile suits. After the death of his mother in a raid by bandits piloting mobile suits left over from the war, Garrod lived on his own.[3] Putting his skills and knowledge of mobile suits to use, he started working odd jobs capturing suits piloted by bandits and Vultures alike, selling the mobile suits to black market dealers. [4]
Meeting Tiffa[]
Garrod after capturing a Jenice Kai mobile suit.
After stopping a mobile suit pilot from robbing a town, he is hired for a job to rescue Tiffa Adill from the Freeden, a Vulture ship, by Reich Anto. In the process, he also steals Jamil Neate's Gundam Controller. He brings Tiffa to Reich, but seeing how terrified she is, he realises that something is wrong and flees with her. Reich pursues them with a team of three mobile suits. Following Tiffa's directions, he finds the GX-9900 Gundam X in an abandoned United Nations Earth factory, and uses it to destroy his pursuers.[4] However, he is then confronted by the GW-9800 Gundam Airmaster and the GT-9600 Gundam Leopard who were hired by Jamil. Garrod was no match for two professional Vulture Pilots and lost his shield beam rifle in the progress. He decides to flee, bluffing by using Tiffa as a hostage. He is soon forced to fight against a huge army of Vultures out to capture his mobile suit. Tiffa out of desperation activates the Satellite Cannon, destroying the assailants but causing her to go comatose from the shock of all the death she has caused.[3]
Garrod is captured by the Freeden crew shortly after and held prisoner. He tricks Shingo, who was guarding his cell,[5] and sneaks out to visit the unconscious Tiffa. She is later poisoned by Olba Frost, and Jamil decides to attack the Von Alternative lab so that they can treat her. He learns about why Jamil is fixated on Newtypes and eventually decides to protect her in the Gundam, attempting to convince Witz Sou and Roybea Loy to help him. He tries to sneak onto the Gundam but ends up in a confrontation with Kid Salsamille, then is restrained by Nine and Rococo. When Jamil arrives, Garrod tries to convince him to let him pilot the Gundam. Meanwhile, Olba Frost makes his move and kidnaps Tiffa, taking her to the labs.[6] Jamil gives Garrod permission to use the Gundam X, and during the attack on the lab Garrod faces off against Shagia Frost and his Gundam Virsago. Olba soon returns and backs up his older brother in his Gundam Ashtaron, while von Alternative uses the MA-06 Grandeene to fire at the Freeden and allies. however, Witz and Roybea return to the Freeden's aid and support Garrod. With the help of Jamil and Tiffa, Garrod uses the Satellite Cannon to destroy the Grandeene and the lab, saving Tiffa.[7]
Joining the Freeden[]
Due to Garrod's lone wanderer attitude, he had a difficult time with the rest of the Freeden Crew. He became frustrated at not seeing Tiffa as much as he wanted, struggled to work with his peers and was unable to accept their kindness at face value. He eventually runs off on a salvaging mission by himself, not realising that he was heading towards an unstable nuclear power plant. He battles Ennil El there and has to be bailed out by Jamil before he is caught up in the blast when the power plant has a meltdown, leading to Jamil getting injured.[8] The crew is naturally upset with him and Garrod leaves, though he takes the Gundam with him. He intends to sell it and Ennil El ends up winning the bid. Ennil gets closer to him, feeling an affinity towards him,[9] but Garrod mistakes her intentions and pulls a gun on her, assuming she only wants to take the Gundam from him without paying. He leaves, but is soon confronted by the Frost brothers who threaten to destroy the Freeden if he doesn't return, wanting to beat him with the crew in order to restore their honour.[10] Garrod returns to the Freeden and finds the ship under attack from Ennil's group. He helps defend them with the Satellite Cannon then returns to the crew. Jamil scolds him and tells him not to act on his own again, ordering him to look after Tiffa.[11]
Battle of Fort Severn[]
After Tiffa's Newtype abilities show her the location of another Newtype, the Freeden goes to Fort Severn to meet them. As the crew approach, Carris Nautilus, the Newtype they are searching for, senses their arrival and battles them in order to capture Tiffa on the orders of Nomoa Long. Tiffa warns Garrod of her vision and tells him not to fight, as she will likely never see him again. He resolves to overcome the future she saw and goes out into battle anyway, only to be overwhelmed by Carris' Newtype abilities which allowed him to to control Bits using his Bertigo. Witz and Roybea were similarly overwhelmed and Tiffa gives herself up to protect Garrod and the others.[12] Garrod is shocked and dazed after his failure to protect Tiffa, and Jamil eventually takes him to a frozen lake. He takes the Gundam Controller away from Garrod and throws it onto the lake, telling Garrod that he can only return if he retrieves the controller. He advises Garrod not to think and just run. Garrod retrieves the controller and regains his confidence. He then returns to the Freeden with Jamil and deploys his upgraded Gundam X against the Frost brothers, who have once again come to attack.[13] He fends them off and ends up injuring Shagia.[2]
Garrod infiltrates Fort Severn
Garrod then uses the simulator to try and train for his rematch with Carris. After learning of the propaganda being spread in Fort Severn, Garrod grows impatient and decides to sneak in. He eventually finds Nomoa Long, who is meeting with Ennil El. He learns about Nomoa's true goals, and about how Carris is actually a Cyber Newtype. However, he is discovered and flees in order to find Tiffa and escape. He finds Tiffa, but Carris had already sensed his presence and was lying in wait in Tiffa's room with a gun to her head. He tells Carris the truth but Carris reveals that he knew all along. However, he was unaware that natural Newtypes existed and was shocked when Tiffa told him as such. Nomoa and Ennil soon catch up, leaving Garrod cornered.[2] Luckily, Olba frost had returned for revenge against the Freeden and his battle against Witz and Roybea made its way into the settlement, causing an explosion near the building. Garrod and Tiffa take advantage of the chaos to run away. Carris follows them in his Bertigo, but Jamil intercepts him in the Gundam X. Garrod watches as the veteran takes out the Bertigo's bits and fights Carris evenly. Carris retreats due to a seizure and Olba retreats on Shagia's orders, so Garrod returns to the Freeden and informs everyone about Nomoa's goals. His rematch against Carris takes place very soon after, and this time Garrod wins. He attempts to reach out to Carris, unaware that Carris had realised Nomoa was using him and had resolved to kill himself. Unable to pull the trigger himself, he baits Garrod into shooting him. Garrod falls for the bait and shoots.[14]
After piecing together what happened, he takes Carris back to the Freeden for treatment. Carris escapes and Garrod chases him with Tiffa, extending a hand of friendship and convincing him against killing himself. Carris accepts, but Ennil comes to retrieve him. Garrod survives thanks to Witz and Roybea, but Carris is taken away and used to awaken the Patulia, which erodes his mind. Garrod faces the Patulia while Tiffa tries to awaken Carrius. The pair succeed, with Garrod destroying the Patulia and rescuing Carrius.[15]
Zonder Epta[]
Garrod continues trying to get closer to Tiffa, attempting to get her into a swimsuit when they go to the beach. He sees her talking to the White Dolphin and the Satellite System being activated in the distance,[16] later informing the rest of the crew. They help the dolphins from being hunted by the Orcs before heading towards the place where Garrod saw the Satellite System,[17] fighting soldiers from the New United Nations Earth in the process.[18] On the way, they dock at Saints Island, where Garrod attempts to go on a date with Tiffa only to have Kid be a third wheel. He eventually gets his date with her.[19]
Garrod activates the Double X
During a battle against the New UNE, the bridge is taken hostage by Katokk Alzamille and is forced to surrender.[1] They are imprisoned on Zonder Epta and the crew is separated Tiffa and Jamil, who are scheduled to be shipped to the Newtype Lab with Aimzat Kartral. Garrod stands up to Katokk, chastising him for getting his generation involved in their 15 year old war even though they hadn't even been born. The crew then plans their escape but the enemy catches wind of their plan and uses the excuse to try and wipe them out. Garrod chases after Tiffa and Jami while the rest of the crew get into a gunfight with the enemy. He is too late and the ship departs, but Katokk meets up with him. Moved by Garrod's earlier scolding and some words from Tiffa, he decides to aid Garrod and they catch up to the runaway ship. Though the Freeden's Gundam are destroyed, Katokk plans to steal the Gundam Double X from Aimzat's ship. After a hard struggle, they reach the Gundam but find it does not have a controller. Meanwhile, Jamil escapes with Tiffa and obtains the controller, bringing it to Garrod. Katokk dies protecting them, and tells Garrod not to make the same mistakes as his generation. Garrod mounts the Double X and uses it to flee with the others. As an army of New UNE soldiers appears on the horizon, Garrod activates the Satellite System, but after pondering over Katokk's final words, chooses to instead fire at Zonder Epta and destroys the island instead of slaughtering the enemy.[20]
South Asia Front[]
As the Freeden crew headed to South Asia after the destruction of Zonder Epta due to running low on food and water, Garrod continued to ponder about Katokk's final words and his own role in the war. The crew heads into Estard, where Jamil contemplates whether they should agree to help them in their war against the New UNE. After an air raid on the city, Garrod resolves to fight them and Jamil agrees. He takes part in the allied mission to destroy Airbase 11, using the Satellite Cannon to destroy it in order to prevent further bombers from flying out.[21] While in Estard, he befriends Prince Willis. When the New UNE attacks Northernbell, Garrod heads to battle with the others, but is tied down in a battle against Demar Griffe. Although he wins, Northernbell ultimately surrenders to the New UNE, causing Garrod and the others to retreat.[22]
Garrod speaks with Willis at the farewell party
Estard soon decides to surrender as well, but Lee Jackson heads out to battle with a small number of men on a suicide attack. Garrod leaves with Witz to stop him, but they are held up by Duett Langraph. They defeat Duett, but are unable to stop Lee's suicide charge.[23] He talks with Willis during the farewell party for the Freeden, Willis later meets them on the way out and boards the Freeden, intending to flee the country, but the Freeden is attacked by Milra Draid. They ultimately defeat Milra thanks to Roybea, but Willis realises that the Freeden will need to keep fighting in order to protect him and decides to return to Estard.[24]
Garrod then heads to the Newtype lab with the rest of the crew. On the way, he realises that he has been neglecting Tiffa and starts spending more time with her.[25] After Jamil enters the Newtype lab, Tiffa visits Garrod in his room and begins to cry, warning him once again that she may not see him. He reassures her but while he battles the New UNE, she is captured once again. As soon as he finds out he chases after her, but she is taken away in shuttle headed for space.[26] Garrod is distraught, but the crew soon reunites with Ennil who informs them of a way to get to space. On the way, Garrod reconciles with Ennil and thanks her for her help. She introduces him to the crew heading to the space colony, then she and the rest of the crew defend the station from the New UNE until Garrod takes off.[27]
8th Space War[]
Garrod faces Lancerow
Garrod gets nearer to Colony 9 on the space shuttle, but escapes with his Gundam after realising that he will be dropped off at a military colony before making it there. A detachment led led by Lancerow Dawell is sent after him, and although he struggles to fight in space at first, he quickly gets the hang of it and fends off the enemy. Seeing how fast Garrod improved, Lancerow personally enters the fray and turns the tide of the battle, defeating Garrod and rendering him unconscious. Before Garrod is finished off, Pala Sys arrives in the G-Falcon and rescues him.[28] He is out cold on Satelycon for 3 days and if forced to wait for his Gundam to be fixed before he can do anything. Satelycon is soon attacked by the army of the Space Revolutionary Army, and Garrod heads out to defend Satelycon. He faces Lancerow again, but Lancerow is more interested in conversing with him after having met Tiffa and wants to know about what happened with Jamil. He is shocked to learn about Jamil's current goals and that Garrod flew all the way to space. Moved by their conversation, he saves Garrod's life by warning him to flee. The SRA soon fires their Colony Laser and wipes out Satelycon, leaving Garrod and Pala as the only survivors.[29] The pair take shelter in an unmanned rescue station, then intercept the SRA on their way to restart hostilities against the New UNE. Garrod fires a warning shot with his Satellite Cannon and threatens to destroy the Colony Laser if they don't return Tiffa. They comply, but Garrod destroys it anyway. He then heads towards Earth, intending to descend by docking his Gundam with the G-Falcon, but is now faced with a New UNE army led by the Frost Brothers.[30]
Olba warns Garrod
After Pala is defeated and taken hostage, Garrod surrenders. Pala is detained separately and Garrod is questioned by Fixx Bloodman. He learns that the Freeden crew have been captured, and agrees to answer Bloodman's questions only if the crew are released. Though Bloodman agrees, Tiffa uses her abilities to reveal that he is lying. Garrod and Tiffa are detained, but break out and rescue Pala.[31] They are chased down by the Frost brothers, and despite their loss being imminent, their adversaries are forced to withdraw because of an order to return. However, Olba tells him that when the next war begins, it will mean that the Frost brothers "had already won" and that "it will be a war of their own design." Garrod reunites with the Freeden crew and Carris. After hearing the news about the 8th Space War, he realises that the Frost brothers had a hand in causing this turn of events.[32]
Garrod on D.O.M.E
Garrod and the others are all worried about the war breaking out and begin to close any loose ends as they worry about what's to come (with Garrod and Tiffa sharing a kiss) but they don't make a move until Tiffa informs them that they must visit D.O.M.E on the Moon. Carris steals a ship from the rebels and names it the Freeden II, which the crew use to launch into space.[33] Once in space, Garrod uses the Satellite Cannon to disperse the New UNE and SRA soldiers, clearing a path to the Moon. Though they are flanked by the two armies, D.O.M.E breaks up the fighting and invites the Freeden crew as well as the commanders of the New UNE and SRA onto the Moon.[34] It then tells everyone the truth about Newtypes, and everyone leaves the Moon. The fighting resumes anyway because of the efforts of the Frost Brothers, who proceed to kill the commanders of both the SRA and New UNE with the Satellite System. Garrod fires his Satellite Cannon at theirs, with the two beams clashing and destroying everything in the vicinity.[35]
Six Months later, Garrod has retired from being a Vulture and has been travelling the world with Tiffa and Carris. Carris goes his own way, not wanting to overstay his welcome, and Garrod continues his journey with Tiffa.[35]
Relationships[]
Tiffa Adill[]
Garrod and Tiffa after the war.
Even though Garrod never admits that he has feelings for Tiffa, or calls her his girlfriend, it is quite obvious to everyone around them that he has an attraction to the young Newtype. After Jamil Neate recovers from an accident that Garrod caused, and the Vulture Captain learns of other things that the boy has done, he orders him to protect Tiffa as his punishment. Garrod follows through with his orders as well as his feelings for the girl, defending her from enemies who plan to make use of her. Before the final battle of the 8th Space War, Tiffa and Garrod sit on a hill together at the New Orleans base of the resistance against the New UNE, looking at the moon together. After the war, Garrod keeps another promise to Tiffa, traveling around the world by her side.
Jamil Neate[]
Garrod and Jamil first met after the latter hijacks the Gundam X, thus mirroring Garrod's move during the first episode. Initially seen by Garrod as an enemy only trying to use Tiffa's ability for their own means. Garrod eventually learned to trust Jamil after hearing the captain's real objective of locating every Newtype. This was the reason why Garrod decided to abandon his former life and join the Freeden. Jamil being a veteran pilot from the 7th space war also acts as a mentor to the young pilot, the same way Char was like a mentor to Kamille in Zeta Gundam.
Garrod & Witz in battle
Witz Sou and Roybea Loy[]
Originally met as enemies much like the rest of the crew of Freeden. Roybea treated Garrod as a mere kid who "can't distinguish what they want to do to what they can do" while Witz was hostile going as far as kicking Garrod twice when he tried to stop them from leaving Freeden. After the two were rehired by Freeden when Jamil was injured, they started trusting each other and treating each other as comrades until the end of the 8th Space War. Later in the series Garrod sometimes asks them for advice on Tiffa. He gets along with them, preferring to go out with the rather than have Kid along as a third wheel on a date with Tiffa.[19]
Ennil El[]
Ennil develops a romantic interest on Garrod as they fight multiple times. Reason is that he reminded her of herself, strong-willed outside but lonely and sad inside without family and friends. As she meets him in person later, she wished to seek his mutual understanding and tried to confess her feelings to him, but Garrod rejected her. Her feelings are greatly hurt from this experience, and as she tries to bring him back forcefully with her mobile suit her hatred grows even deeper toward him. Enraged with never-experienced shame of rejection, her love turns to hatred, and this in turn makes her engage in mobile suit fights with Garrod many times, trying to kill him and saying that she has never forgiven anyone who has refused and humiliated her. However, her obsession with him disappears gradually after she is defeated along with Professor Dorat, and she later joins Freeden upon request by Toniya Malme.
Kid Salsamille[]
Garrod initially looked down on Kid when he saw him looking at his GX-9900 Gundam X. Kid retaliated by stepping on Garrod's feet. The pair were often seen arguing throughout the series, though they were on friendly terms most of the time. Garrod also gets annoyed when Kid acts as a third wheel on Saints Island.[19] Kid likes to call Garrod "Gundam Boy".
Garrod attacks Kid for being a third wheel
Frost Brothers[]
While piloting the Gundam X, he forms a rivalry with Shagia and Olba Frost, two pilots of other Gundams that are bent on destroying the world. He is later able to defeat them both in battle using the GX-9901-DX Gundam Double X, bringing an end to the 8th Space War.
Carris Nautilus[]
Though they start out as enemies, Garrod starts to sympathise with Carris after he finds out about his circumstances.[14] He helps save his life when he accidentally shoots him and reaches out to him in friendship, then tries to rescue him from Nomoa and the Petulia.[15] Carris later comes to his aid in the Eighth Space War and fights alongside him. After the war, Carris travels with Garrod and Tiffa for 6 months before deciding not to impose on the couple any longer and goes his own way.[35]
Gallery[]
Character Designs[]
Anime[]
.png "Garrod Smiling 01 (AWG-X Ep5).png (6.17 MB)")
.png "Garrod with a Gun 01 (AWG-X Ep1).png (6.02 MB)")
.png "Garrod Space Pilot Suit 01 (AWG-X Ep34).png (5.73 MB)")
Manga[]
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Games[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- Wataru Takagi provided the voice for Garrod Ran during the Gundam X series, who also did Rikdo Koshi (Excel Saga), Alberto Vist (Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn) and Cheetas/Cheetor (Beast Wars).
- Garrod and Judau have a very good relationship in Super Robot Taisen due to their similar parts as orphaned scavengers which in spite of the situation remains relatively optimistic about their situation.
- In the episode "I Can See the Moon!" Garrod Ran used the nickname The Blazing Mobile Suit Pilot to blackmail Seidel Rasso to release Tiffa Adill.
- The name "Garrod Ran" (ガロード・ラン) is derived from the Japanese phrase "我が（ガ）道（ロード）を行く（ラン）", meaning "Going My Way".
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Ghost of 15 Years Ago
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 It's My Best Work
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 I'll Give You Power...
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Is There A Moon?
- ↑ My Mount is Fierce!
- ↑ This Operation is Time Critical!
- ↑ You Pull The Trigger
- ↑ I Don't Like It
- ↑ I'm Going to Sell the Gundam!
- ↑ I Won't Forgive Him!
- ↑ Like Rain on the Street
- ↑ I Am a Newtype
- ↑ Just Run Without Thinking!
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 I'm a Fool; Shoot me
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Can You Hear My Voice!
- ↑ Because I'm a Person Too
- ↑ Please Determine That for Yourself
- ↑ The Sea of Lorelei
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 ...So We Meet Again
- ↑ Double X, Activate!
- ↑ You are our Star of Hope
- ↑ Don't Say Anything
- ↑ It is Time for Goodbye
- ↑ Must I Shoot?
- ↑ Look at Me
- ↑ I Feel Like I May Never See You Again
- ↑ Fly, Garrod!
- ↑ That's The G-Falcon!
- ↑ How do You Know Me?
- ↑ I Can See the Moon!
- ↑ I Will Not Let the Light Of Hope Go Out!
- ↑ The Next War is the War We Wanted
- ↑ Freeden, Launch!
- ↑ I Am D.O.M.E. People Once Called Me A Newtype
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 The Moon Will Always Be There
| After War | |
|---|---|
| Anime | Gundam X | Comprehensive Episode Listing |
| Events | 7th Space War | 8th Space War |
| Topics | Characters | Locations | Mobile Weapons | Nations and Factions | Technology | Warships and Spacecraft |
| Books | Gundam X |Newtype Warrior Jamil Neate | Under the Moonlight | NEXT PROLOGUE| Hyper Guide |
| Timelines | Ad Stella | Advanced Generation | After Colony | After War | Anno Domini | Build Fighters | Correct Century | Cosmic Era | Future Century | Mars Century | Post Disaster | Regild Century | SD Gundam | Universal Century |