Symbolism

Warning! Exploring this aspect of the Promare Wiki contains heavy spoilers.

There are many connections to Promare and the Edo period of Japan. As shown, Galo takes a fondness to the ancient firefighters, especially to their Matoi flags. Furthermore, there is a great deal of references to Greek myths and terminology. Characters may also resemble those of other media staff members worked on.

Edo Period

Galo's Matoi Tech PowerPoint

Hikeshi

• Galo has a heavy interest in the subject to where he has made his own Matoi and uses the Matoi Tech made by Lucia. Matois were large flags used by firemen to warn of fires or guide fellow firefighters. As the original practice was to tear down buildings into the flames so they would burn out safely instead, these flags played a much larger role in rescues. In the modern day, they are used for ceremonies.
  • The person in charge of the Matoi is the Matoimochi.
  • Galo claims Matoi to be the "trademark of firefighters back in the ancient city of Kyoto."
  • Galo's original Matoi has a few additions, such as being used as a rope and latching onto objects. He also uses it to wipe at Burnish flares.
  • His Matoi Tech uses wind to blow away smoke and guide fellow firefighters such as Aina.
• During Galo-hen, Lucia brings up an image of a hikeshi wielding a Matoi to Galo.
  • In Galo's PowerPoint, he uses an image of a traditional hikeshi.
  • During the fight between Krazor-X and Lio de Galon, Lio creates a replica of Galo's Matoi they use to rally against Kray.
• The strap for his sleeve resembles the katakana character 'メ.' As stated in the character book guide, this is in reference to Me-gumi (team M), a famous group of hikeshi.
• Before entering a fire, hikeshi would douse their heavy clothing in multiple layers of water. Galo does something similar with the cooling gel in Galo-hen.
• In both real life and century old artwork, hikeshi were depicted with dragon tattoos. They acted as good luck to their bearers due to symbolism with water. As Lio eventually forms a dragon and later protects Galo with teal flames, this may have influenced staff.

Samurai

• Galo's Matoi Tech resembles the traditional armor of samurai. Specifically, when unfolded, the top of the mech bears a pointed top and metal flaps of kabuto aka samurai helmets.
• The six-triangles symbol on Lio's armor is a reference to a samurai symbol of six coins.

Ninja

• Lio's sword is likely a ninjato, a shorter and uncurved sword. Their ends are similar in appearance to katanas.
• Some records of shinobi claim fire was used during various missions.
  • These specific techniques were called "katon-no-jutsu," or "fire techniques." They would typically be used for distractions or hiding from pursuers.

Greek Mythology

Prometheus

Dr. Deus Prometh's AI with a Promare flame

• Dr. Prometh, Promepolis, and Promare all have their names originate from Prometheus, the Greek titan who created man through clay. One day, he stole the gods' flames and gave them to the people to allow civilization to flourish. He was then punished for his crimes.
• Dr. Prometh's first name, Deus, while also a reference to Deus Ex Machina and meaning God in Latin, likely comes from Deucalion, Prometheus' son. He and his wife Pyrrha were warned of a future flood by Prometheus which allowed them to survive.
  • In the special commentary for Japanese DVDs, the name Deucalion was confirmed to be where Lio's name originated from.
  • They landed on Mount Parnassus, which is referenced by the Parnassus ship in Promare.
• Kray Foresight and Biar Colossus's names likely originate from two of the gods who punished Prometheus. They are Kratos and Bia respectively.
  • Furthermore, Colossus comes from the Greeks' statues.
• Prometheus' method of giving civilization fire was to hide it in a stalk of fennel. In Promare, Lio and his fellow Burnish attempt to hide at Fennel Volcano.
  • A notable coincidence is Zeus ordering Prometheus be chained to a rock as punishment. Lio is flung into the volcano and trapped for an unknown period of time. He is also encased in Deus X Machina's core and used as a fuel source after the fight in the Parnassus.
    • Both also have regeneration abilities, resulting in their captors taking advantage of this for torture purposes.
    • They are also saved by a figure with ties to the punishers. They are Heracles and Galo respectively.

Terminology

• Galo's last name, Thymos, comes from θυμός. It is the concept of "spiritedness" or "the heart's desire" in Greece.
• Lio's name originates from Leo, the Greek word for 'Lion'. It is also one of Greece's islands.
  • Lio’s first name “Lio” (λιο) is also used in the Greek language as a prefix to build up words related to sun (ήλιος) and Helios (Ήλιος). Helios is the god of the sun in Greek who is seen driving his chariot around the world. This would be referenced by Lio who drives a motorcycle.
  • His last name, Fotia, comes from φωτιά, meaning "fire."
• Aina's first name is a town from ancient Crete.

Previous Works

Gainax

Kamina from Gurren Lagann

• Both Galo and Aina resemble Kamina and Yoko from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann respectively.
  • In interviews, Galo's appearance was stated to be that of a coincidence.
    • At the end of the movie, Galo uses a drill akin to Gurren Lagann.
  • Aina's hair was far longer in concept art, giving her an even more similar appearance.
  • Lio in old concept art resembles Viral in hair style.
    • Both also switch sides to work with their series' protagonist.
    • In interviews, Lio was claimed to have originally been like Simon in personality and acted as the protagonist, but this was changed later on.
• The Burnish armors Lio and his generals adorn have a similar appearance to the EVA Units from Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Trigger

• Lucia, Heris, and Deus serve the same roles as Dr. Matoi in Kill la Kill as they are all scientists who create tools for Galo/Ryuko to use.
  • Lucia also has a rodent companion in Vinny.
  • Deus shares a similar appearance to the character and is also murdered.
• Remi and Kray share similar appearances to members of the Elite Four from Kill la Kill. Specifically Hoka and Ira respectively.
  • Lucia in concept art had hair akin to Nui's.
    • Her current design resembles Spring from the Trigger Girls.
• Both Promare and Kill la Kill have a tendency to use title cards, or "character bits" when introducing characters or new elements to the plot.
• Promare, Kill la Kill, Space Patrol Luluco, and various other Trigger works incorporate aliens or space.
  • Imaishi and others argue Galo and Lio did not go to space unlike their previous works however. This is due to Galo de Lion still touching Earth. Lio is shown floating in a starry background though, making this questionable.
  • In Galo-hen, icons referencing Luluco and Midori from Space Patrol Luluco can be seen on Lucia's computer.

Other

• Deus X Machina greatly resembles Baymax from Big Hero 6, who Koyama previously designed.
• Imashi's previous work, Dead Leaves, also uses drills as an important item.
  • Biar's hairstyle and lips resemble Pandy's.

Other

Terminology

• Galo's first name is the word for "Rooster" in Portuguese.
  • This may be a reference to Galo de Barcelos, where a roasted rooster saves an innocent man from being hanged.
• Aina and Heris' last name, Ardebit, is Latin for "to burn."
  • Aina's name if written in Kanji may feature the characters for love or greenery.
• Deus is latin for God.
• Deus X Machina's name come from 'Deus Ex Machina,' a trope where an unsolvable problem is suddenly resolved by an improbable event.
  • In Japanese, the usage of the particle de is used to imply "from" or "at." This implies the mecha's alternative names as "Galo from Lio" and "Lio from Galo." It is also used to indicate the material of an object, with another possibility being "Galo made of Lio" for example.
  • Spanish and Latin, on the other hand, has de mean "belong." Thus, this changes the context to "Lio belongs to Galo" and "Galo belongs to Lio."

Shapes

• Throughout the movie, squares represent the likes of Promepolis and the Foresight Foundation. Triangles on the other hand symbolize the Burnish and rebellion.
  • Imaishi claims the reasoning for this to be that a triangle is a halved square. Squares are associated with restraint such as with boxes. Thus, slicing the box apart creates the shape.
• Circles are used to signify freedom or the future. This is evidenced by the lighting in certain shots depicting squares and the ending using circles instead.
  • Coincidentally the food most associated with the protagonist in official art is pizza: a circle shaped dish with triangle slices.
  • Galo is the only character to have red circles in his eyes.
  • In the Japanese religion of Shinto, the shapes of triangle, circle, and square each have a significant meaning: mission, life, and fate. Life is said to stand between triangle's mission and square's fate. This may have inspired staff.

Parallels

Pizza employee's hand

• The left arm of certain characters has more of a tendency to be wounded.
  • Kray lost his left arm after Galo's house was set ablaze.
  • Galo's arm was burned and scarred by Thyma.
  • The pizzeria employee loses his left hand after Heris' experiment.
  • Lio begins to lose body parts after being turned into a fuel source, starting with his left hand.
• Both Galo and Aina have role models who are publicly seen as heroes, but are in fact the movie's antagonists. They are Kray and Heris respectively.
  • Furthermore, Heris and Galo are both figures who eventually betray Kray due to him deceiving them.
• When Galo attempts to stop Vulcan, the latter tells him to "shut up and watch." Galo later does the same to Kray when saving Lio and the entire planet.
• Thyma is given CPR by Lio. Lio is then later given CPR by Galo.
  • For both of these moments, there is a segment of pure silence to emphasize their importance.
• Galo drops Aina at the frozen lake. After Lio's rampage, she drops him and Galo into the lake.
  • The both of them also end up driving off in anger, with Galo after the Burnish employee's arrest and Aina after Galo's.
• Galo says "I'll extinguish you with my Burning Soul" both when transforming into his Matoi Tech and also saving the world with Galo de Lion. Lio also says it with Galo in the latter.
• At the end of the movie, both Galo and Lio are not wearing shirts, signifying their newfound closeness.
  • According to staff, Lio starting off with his armor and ending the movie with his chest bare signifies him finally trusting Galo.

Foreshadowing

• In Aina's locker is a photo of her and her sister.
  • Heris is later seen again discussing warp drives. Varys comments on it, wondering if they'll see them in their life time.
• Before heading to the Foresight Pharmaceutical, Lucia is shown working on the Matoi Tech before it's proper introduction.
• Galo can be seen inside the Mega Max sleeping and becoming impatient before his proper introduction in the film.
• At Galo's badge ceremony, Kray says "your Galo Thymos," implying his distain for Galo.
• During Lio's confrontation with Kray, Kray's left hand glows.
  • When Lio is about to burn Kray to death again, Kray's left hand sparks orange flames.
  • Kray's last name, Foresight, is one of the suspected meanings for Prometheus, implying his connection with the Promare.

References

Sources

Notes