As of now, the Naruto dub on CN just finished airing episodes 76 and 77, the episodes that delve deep into Gaara’s past. It’s been at least a year since I last watched these episodes fansubbed, and after re-watching them on CN, I have to say that I honestly think Gaara has the most tragic and well-developed past of any anime character I’ve ever known…
As we all know, having a tragic past like Gaara’s is definitely not uncommon in anime. In fact, it’s what makes anime characters so sympathetic and appealing. There are lots of brilliantly concocted “tragic pasts” in the anime world, but for some reason none of them have struck me as Gaara’s has.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks that the details and the way his whole background is presented really stand out among the many painful pasts of shounen, or any other anime character. Let’s start with his family. Rather than having a stereotypical “loss of one or more family members due to illness, murder, etc,. and/or an abusive family, and then becoming hardened as a result,” Gaara’s relationship with his mother stands out – the fact that his birth meant her death is shocking right off the bat. Then we’re given the impression that the sand that protects him is showing her love…that she might’ve actually been a caring mother. But when it’s revealed that the sand protects him just so that he can carry on her hatred for the village that used her as a sacrifice, adds even more to the shock. And as for his father, we never even see any actual moments of him and Gaara together (besides that one glare he gave to Gaara after Gaara killed the drunkard on the street). This helps emphasize that he had zero bonding with his father, which I think makes it all the more tragic than if we actually saw his father verbally abusing him. And then of course, his father trying to kill him by sending assassins, and not even showing his face to Gaara during the time, increases the tragedy.
Another thing that adds to the detail of Gaara’s tragic character is the fact that he never felt physical pain. This unique aspect makes it all the more believable why he turned out to be the stoic, ruthless killer we saw when he first entered the series. A character who’s never been wounded, yet develops the deepest wounds of the heart, can’t help but attract sympathy and fascination no matter how uncaring they turn out to be. This idea of course, has to do with another aspect of Gaara’s tragedy, Yashamaru. It’s pretty common to have that one kind person in the tragic past, and they either end up dying or going away (maybe to be seen later). Yashamaru seemed like the one person in the world who cared about Gaara, and he even introduced the whole idea of wounds to the body vs wounds to the heart. Then he suddenly attempted to kill Gaara, by order of Kazekage, and also because he secretly hated Gaara all along. He reveals this all to Gaara, who’s already devastated that Yashamaru tried to kill him, and that he instead killed Yashamaru, the one person he had any kind of bond with. Then to add insult to injury, Yashamaru reveals to Gaara that his mother’s sand is actually her hatred that lives on in him against the village. Watching this scene, you can just feel the trust that little Gaara had for Yashamaru, the only positive thing in his life, shattering before his eyes, and in turn his whole personality “cracking down” from an innocent, confused child to a hardened being full of hatred.
Then there comes Gaara’s own philosophy and self-approved “purpose” in life – to live for and love only himself, that the reason someone like him, someone who can’t be injured or loved by anyone, was born, was to destroy every other existence…he can only feel alive by killing others and clearing away all other existences. Coming from the kind of past he had, this outlook really seems believable and almost logical for him because we know from all the tragedy of his past exactly why he would feel this way. If he was shown to be some heartless jerk who just liked to kill people because he suffered some obscure tragedy in his childhood, wouldn’t make him seem nearly as great. But because we know about his past, and it’s revealed to us that as a result, he has an actual and somewhat detailed way of life, as twisted as it is, and that he follows it and really believes in it, makes him a much more realistic character, and goes to show why I (and I’m sure others) think Gaara is one of the most well-developed anime characters. From what he went through, you can’t help but feel he has a perfect right to believe in what he does.
Of course, later on in the series when he comes to rescue Rock Lee, he’s a different person. Not a totally radical change – it wouldn’t be very believable if all of a sudden he turned into this self-sacrificing nice guy, but it’s subtly revealed that he doesn’t seem to want to kill others anymore just to prove his existence. Thanks to good ‘ol Naruto, although Gaara still has his passive, seemingly cold personality, perhaps now he can live more by helping rather than killing others.
When I first started watching Naruto and I saw Gaara for the first time, I wasn’t sure what to think of him. I had a feeling, like most other characters with a similar personality, he probably had some tragic past that would be revealed later on. But after watching episodes 76 and 77, I was totally blown away by the uniqueness and detail of Gaara’s character. At first I almost got the feeling that maybe he was born with that cold, killer attitude. But that wasn’t the case – he started off as an innocent child, feared and shunned by the other children, but he just wanted to learn why he was so different, and in spite of that, he even had a kind side to him (when he wanted to bring medicine to the girl he accidentally hurt at the playground). It was the tragedy of his past that molded him into the fearful “Gaara of the Desert” we see at the beginning of the Chuunin Exams. But once all of the details are revealed – the sand protection, never being able to feel pain, only pain in the heart, Yashamaru, his father trying to kill him, the fearful “eyes” the villagers give him, the ironic “ai”(love) kanji that gets scarred into his forehead, the concept of loving only himself – put all this and everything else I mentioned together, and you’ve got one hell of a memorable character. Anyone who doubts the dramatic and intelligent quality of anime need only watch these episodes. I think of myself as a very creative person, but I doubt I could ever come up with a character as good as Gaara.
The Naruto series has some of the best tragic pasts and developed characters of all. Rock Lee, Neji, Sasuke…all of their characterization stands out and is not easily forgotten. And I’ll be the first one to say that there are numerous other anime characters with backgrounds that are just as brilliantly thought out. But, in my opinion at least, I think that Gaara has the ultimate tragic past. So, anyone agree with me? Or can you suggest other characters who could hold the position?
You’re right, Gaara’s story is deep, sad and well developed, that kind of things make you like the characters… you won’t see a story that deep in most of american cartoons.
Sometimes it makes you wonder what the new characters of Naruto had for a childhood… Will theirs be like Gaara’s and Naruto’s, or will theirs be something more regular?
Well I don’t like tragic characters much, I like characters like naruto, who is happy despite having a tragic past. I’m sure I seem incensitive, but Gaara needs to develope a more pisitive outlook on life. Naruto is actually pretty tragic, which you learn in the very first episode, and although he is serious on ocation, he’s generally upbeat in every way. Keep in mind, however, that I have yet to see the episodes you mentioned, and the emotions portrayed within them may be just enough to stur my emotions for the poor guy. But depressed people make me sad, and I don’t like being sad, do you? :(
I like Gaara
Rock Lee Rocks!
What is Gaara’s full name?
I don’t think he was ever given a full name (like Kankuro, TenTen, etc., and some other Naruto characters that don’t have last names). I think he’s just “Gaara of the Desert.”
ne ne.
Yes, Gaara indeed has the worst life i’ve ever seen. . .
no, in reality, his life reminds me of my life. . .
that’s why i’m so drawn to him i believe, honestly. . .
except with all the fantasy things like sand and stuff you know.
it depresses me.
:/
but its so real. . .i would just hug gaara tight if i could you know?
&&he feels so hated. >
if i was in naruto, i would totally show him that people still love him.
v.v
i know i would defiantly show kindness && love to him.
btw, my real name is Toshi. ^-^
I know his pain even though he is just a cartoon he seems alive i feel connected to him even though hes not real i know how he feels I am always put down by everyone even by my own parents I know there just playing around but i feel hatred for all the people that have caused me pain But one day they will all pay for there mistakes they will know true pain i will destroy anyone who stands in my way i will get to the top i will be known by all feared by all beign alone is good people dont talk to you they ignore your existanse but one day they all break i have taken this pain in four 14 years it never stops growing it still grows even though people hate me i love people but they hate me and that sars me deeper and deeper i know that sooner or latter i will be consumed by hate but it doesnt matter i know im going to die and in this world i will leave a mark that will change the world forever……….
Yea Gaara has probably had the worst life out of all the movies and aniem and well everything I’ve seen. When I first saw him I thought he was pretty cool and cute so I looked at stuff online about him and yea from what people said online and what my friends said about his past and all to me it was pretty heartbreaking and sad. When I saw the episodes your talking about I nearly killed someone because of what Yasamaru did to him.[that name was REALLY hard for me to type. I mean whenever I hear that name I have to keep myself from hitting something.] But I feel really sorry for Gaara[even if hes not real]. poor Gaara :(
other character whose tragic story can matched gaara? i tink there is : lucy from elfen lied.
i just love gaara.he is my fav. character in naruto.the reason why is the way he acts and his life.i agree,that gaara has the wost past life i have ever seen too.[poor gaara]one other reason is how he thinks of other pple.he rocks!:)i know alot about gaara.at school people call me gaara.(also since i have red hair)my friends sometimes say im a gaara freak or gaara nerd.i dont mind though.(i admit it,i am)well,i could talk about gaara all night.i love this bio!see ya!:)
i’m going to make a website all about gaara.i’m so excited!and i also get extremely hyper when i think of gaara.wich is alot!i found alot of info searfing the web.it’s so cool!when i hear anything that leads to gaara i start talking nonstop about him!
Gaara’s past is so sad, in real life my life is just like his. Everyone hates me, they make fun of me and the hit me. If i were gaara i would do the same thing, you know? i mean, the only people who were nice to him [in his childhood] hated him literally, they tried to assassinate him. My father almost killled me when i was a baby, he held a gun up to my head and threatened to shoot me. if gaara was real, then i would show him i love him and i would show him how to trust again. I would show him how to love again. i have had dreams when i was a naruto charecter and i loved gaara [i do still] and i tried to earn his trust. that is as far as it has gotten so far. great bio 5/5 10/10
Naruto shouldn’t have stopped gaara from being evil so gaara could learn the full extent of his power
Gaara’s past is sooo sad it is the most sad thing i have evr seen . Im surprised that an anime show could make me so sad.poor gaara.i love him very much
That is the Gaara Hall of Famer right there, guys.
Ohh Poor Gaara..all he needs is just a BIG Hug^^
Want to Hug him and take him white me home:P
sad that he dosent got any friend ther..but no he is got friends^^
Ohh man,those people from that sand city wher Gaara grow Up Is EVIL,I just want to hit all off them!! arghhh..JUST KILL THEM ALL I mean it isint his fold that his stupid father was a moran.. Gaara,you have full rigth to kill them:P LOVE you Gaara^^
Gaara rocks!!!!
at first i don’t like to watch naruto bec. the first time i saw naruto..i think i saw a CAT..sorry…but when i saw the episode 76-77???gosh..it scares the daylight out of me….i was star struck by the character of GAARA…i never thought someone could create a brilliant yet justifyable crime-evil character….he was feared,rejected,humiliated, and abandoned by all…i strongly believe that what he all did…(killing) were all justifyable…
Gaara…were all on your side…..your possitively,absolutely, and undeniably…one of a kind….Your the MAN…..
Wow.
Gaara owns all.
The first time i watched Naruto just happened to be when Gaara appeared.
^.^
Fell in love with the whole ninja thing.
VERY AWESOME.
when i saw episodes 76 && 77. man. All the more reason to watch Naruto.
w/e im no good at the whole commenty thing. O_O
w/e. good bye.
p.s. GAARA STILL ROCKS!!
Gara is hot!!!
ever since i could remember i’ve always loved gaara not bcoz i pitty him or anything thing and i know its stupid bcoz he’s an anime character but his story and mine is exactly like mine and sometimes i wonder if were alike in the world of anime… its just really shocking how much i understand him and not any other characters from Naruto…
I will never stop loving him…
i loooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeee gaara!
gaara is wild!
no one can beat him!
YOUR STRONG GAARA!!!!!!
The reason I LOVE Gaara is because I feel his pain I know what it’s like not to be loved,to be hated,to be alone,finding somone who pretends to care,then just dumps you on the ground and crushes all the hope you have! I’ve been there done that went through it! the only reason I still live is because I love gaara and I’m like Gaara in every way because I feel like a part of him in a way.cuz when he crys I cry ,when he’s upset I’m upset,and If he dies so will I!!!!! :words of a young girl
garra is so HOT!!!
he’s sooo cute when he’s little
i LOOVVEE u GAARA
O_O oh girls….”Gaara is hot”? omfg! gaara is my fav character from Naruto, but Neji rocks! anyway Gaara is better (much better) than sasuke xD…when Gaara was Kazekaghe and he fought with Deidara, he lost v.v :( >.
Okay, Gaara spoke out to me with his past. Mine wasn’t as completely horrific as his was but I can’t say that mine was the best. When I was little, I thought I was just like everyone else. But I didn’t have any friends. Gaara comes off to me as a perfectly normal little boy except for the obvious sand-abilities. But when he got to the chunin exams, I found out that I loved him the way he was. Yes, he was “evil” but not without a reason, like most of the american cartoons. There, there’s always a villian and a hero… but never much of an explaination about the villian’s reasons. I wish I knew someone like Gaara… I think I’d love them just as much. Someone who’s not emo… but not goth… a psycho for the heart… From the moment I saw him… Sabaku No Gaara has been the love of all of my experiences with anime.
naruto is the greatest book/movie/game ever i just love it.
GAARA IS MY FAVORITE CHARACTER!!!!! He is so awesome !! I love him b’coz his tagic past… But I love him b’coz he can change his path, he can be an awesome guy in his new life after he met naruto… GAARA!!!! I LOVE GAARA!!!!!! ^_^ and I like kakashi in the second place!
Gaara is much like Naruto but in a diffrent way, he has the Shukaku seal in him even before he was born which results his mother’s death, unlike Naruto who got Kyuubi sealed after he was born which result Minato’s death, anyway there both jiinchuuriikis and they both grew up alone (even Gaara has his brother and sister and his father) without friends but unlike Naruto already has friends and Konoha’s trust sometime after me become a ninja but Gaara has no one to be with him he didn’t accpect his own brother and sister causing Temari and Kankurou to be afraid of him in the early series back then Gaara only reason to live was to kill, I think he nearly killed Rock Lee durining a fight in the Chunin Exams, but when he fought Naruto and he lost Naruto taught him the importants of people and what is like to be unloved by others since felt the same way before and he understands his pain, so since then Gaara change he become nicer and become popular to young girls in his village (lol) (one time two girls try to get near him in Shippuuden after he was revive but Temari blocked there way, maybe just to defend Gaara well no one can blame her she’s Gaara’s big sis after all) and he and Naruto become close friends, well I don’t know Gaara much unlike some characters in Naruto but all I know he and Naruto been through the same pain and sorrow which made them stronger characters but Tsunade once said the only who can understand a jiichuuriki is another jinchuuriki which is true Naruto understands Gaara and Gaara understands Naruto, Gaara is kinda cool and he will a Kazekage in Naruto Shippuuden,
yay!!!!!!!!!!! Gaara you rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is the sadest story ive ever heard if i was a manga character i would hug him! poor little gaara :(
I first watched a Naruto Shippuden episode (part of the Deidara fight) and the only reason I kept watching more Naruto (looking up the original cartoons and all that) was because of Gaara. I got some of my friends addicted to Naruto and in love with Gaara =D
I <3 GAARA!
one of the reasons that i like gaara is because of his attitude. he shows no emotion, no fear. in naruto he was mean and cold hearted, on the other hand in naruto shippuden he realized even with a past like his, he could change and he did :p
gaara’s AWESOME ^_^
He’s one of my favorite characters in Naruto, because of how he turned out after the battle, and all the stuff he had to go through and how thorough he was developed. I just really love this character. I wish there was a really long arc all about him like in Naruto :O I like his speeches a lot, he’s just awesome! I was in complete disbelief and shock when I saw his past, it was so cruel for him, I just felt so sad for what he had to go through.