TV-Series
Description
Garline is a Western Shinma who appears as an antagonist in the Vampire Princess Miyu television anime series. His name is sometimes spelled as Garinne. He is notable for his history as an old friend of Larva, the masked Western Shinma who serves as the companion to the vampire princess Miyu.
As a Western Shinma, Garline originates from outside Japan. He arrives in the country accompanied by his two servants, Lilith and Barrow, sailing on a ghost ship. His purpose is to obtain Larva and bring him back to the West. Garline believes that the Shinma of Japan have unfairly bound Larva to their land, and he vows to destroy them for this transgression. This mission reveals a deep-seated loyalty and possessiveness toward Larva, whom he regards not merely as a comrade but as someone he is determined to rescue from what he perceives as captivity under Miyu.
In his efforts to reclaim Larva, Garline uses a powerful weapon: a sword with a blade forged from the Death Crystal. He and his servants are also responsible for placing a Death Crystal on a Shinma named Ryu, sending him to attack Miyu as part of their larger scheme. Garline's feelings toward Larva are intense and personal. In his interactions, he acts with a sense of spurned devotion, touching Larva's face and commenting on his beauty, which frames his quest as one driven by a deep, almost romantic obsession to free his friend from Miyu's influence.
The confrontation with Garline unfolds after Miyu defeats his servants, Lilith and Barrow. She then faces Garline himself in battle. Their fight is interrupted when Larva awakens. Rather than siding with his old friend, Larva impales Garline with his long nails, killing him. Upon his death, Garline's body disintegrates into sand, his ghost ship is consumed by flames, and the Death Crystal is destroyed. His role in the story is thus as a formidable adversary whose personal connection to Larva poses a direct threat to Miyu and her bond with her guardian. Garline's narrative function and his relationship with Larva in the TV series are reminiscent of the character Lemures from the original Vampire Princess Miyu OVA and manga.
As a Western Shinma, Garline originates from outside Japan. He arrives in the country accompanied by his two servants, Lilith and Barrow, sailing on a ghost ship. His purpose is to obtain Larva and bring him back to the West. Garline believes that the Shinma of Japan have unfairly bound Larva to their land, and he vows to destroy them for this transgression. This mission reveals a deep-seated loyalty and possessiveness toward Larva, whom he regards not merely as a comrade but as someone he is determined to rescue from what he perceives as captivity under Miyu.
In his efforts to reclaim Larva, Garline uses a powerful weapon: a sword with a blade forged from the Death Crystal. He and his servants are also responsible for placing a Death Crystal on a Shinma named Ryu, sending him to attack Miyu as part of their larger scheme. Garline's feelings toward Larva are intense and personal. In his interactions, he acts with a sense of spurned devotion, touching Larva's face and commenting on his beauty, which frames his quest as one driven by a deep, almost romantic obsession to free his friend from Miyu's influence.
The confrontation with Garline unfolds after Miyu defeats his servants, Lilith and Barrow. She then faces Garline himself in battle. Their fight is interrupted when Larva awakens. Rather than siding with his old friend, Larva impales Garline with his long nails, killing him. Upon his death, Garline's body disintegrates into sand, his ghost ship is consumed by flames, and the Death Crystal is destroyed. His role in the story is thus as a formidable adversary whose personal connection to Larva poses a direct threat to Miyu and her bond with her guardian. Garline's narrative function and his relationship with Larva in the TV series are reminiscent of the character Lemures from the original Vampire Princess Miyu OVA and manga.