Gaara of the Desert, known as Sabaku no Gaara, appears in Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel as a powerful shinobi from the hidden village of Sunagakure, also known as the Village Hidden in the Sand. At this point in the timeline, Gaara is still a genin and has recently undergone a significant personal transformation following his defeat by Naruto Uzumaki. He travels with his older brother Kankuro, acting as a formidable duo on a mission that brings them into conflict with the film's antagonists. While his sister Temari is notably absent from the events of this movie, Gaara and Kankuro work together to confront the enemy forces threatening their region.

In terms of personality during the film, Gaara exhibits the calmer and more collected demeanor that emerged after his battle with Naruto. He has moved away from his earlier homicidal desire to kill for self-validation, instead showing a greater capacity for cooperation and a quieter, more protective nature. However, he retains his intense and focused presence in combat, speaking little and acting with decisive, lethal precision when engaging his foes. His motivations in the movie align with his new path in life: to protect his village and his allies, responding to the threat posed by the foreign invaders led by Haido and his knight Temujin who seek the power of the Stone of Gelel. He is not the main protagonist of the film but serves as a crucial supporting ally, demonstrating the growing bond between the shinobi of the Sand and Leaf by fighting alongside Naruto and his friends against a common enemy.

Gaara’s key relationships in the movie are primarily with his brother Kankuro and with Naruto Uzumaki. His interactions with Kankuro show the evolution of their sibling bond, as they fight as a coordinated team without the fear that once defined their relationship. His role alongside Naruto underscores the profound impact Naruto had on his worldview; he fights as an ally and friend, putting himself at risk to support Naruto’s mission. This film provides a slight continuation of his character development, showing a Gaara who is learning to form connections and use his immense power for the sake of others rather than for his own isolated existence.

Regarding his notable abilities, Gaara demonstrates his iconic power to manipulate sand. The sand in his gourd responds to his will, allowing him to execute both offensive and defensive techniques. His signature defense, the Shield of Sand, automatically protects him from harm, while his offensive techniques include the Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral and the ability to create massive waves of sand to crush his opponents. A particularly noteworthy ability seen in this film is a countermeasure against lightning-based attacks. When faced with an opponent who wields lightning powers, a natural weakness to his sand, Gaara reveals a specialized technique that involves channeling electricity through his sand or setting up lightning rods to ground and neutralize the electrical attacks, turning his opponent’s advantage against them. This demonstrates his tactical genius and ability to adapt his primary skill set to counter elemental disadvantages. He also demonstrates the ability to create sand clones to engage in combat. Throughout the film, his fighting style remains rooted in overwhelming force and absolute defense, establishing him as one of the most powerful shinobi present in the conflict.