# Mars Red

Mars Red (stylized as MARS RED) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Signal.MD. It is based on a stage reading play written by Bun-O Fujisawa. The series aired from April to June 2021.

## Plot

In 1923, the Japanese government creates a new unit ("Code Zero") within the army to counter the rising threat of vampires, as well as their artificial blood source. Code Zero offers all vampires the same choice: surrender and receive benefits such as blood and formal registration, or face eradication.
The vampires themselves defy classification, exhibiting a great deal of variation among their ranks and little loyalty towards each other. Though all were once human, most people who are bitten die immediately. Those who become common vamps are simply staggering, mindless predators, while "noble" vampires are far more intelligent and refined (though no less cruel). Still others are able to hold on to their human natures and long for a sense of belonging in an increasingly hostile world.
As the members of Code Zero carry out their mission, they encounter strange vampires, humans, and phenomena that force them to question their own identities and purpose.

## Characters
### Yoshinobu Maeda (前田義信, Maeda Yoshinobu)

    Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe (2013 stage, anime), Hiroki Takahashi (2015 stage) (Japanese); Sean Schemmel (anime) (English)
    A stern man who has dedicated his life to the military. As Colonel, he leads Code Zero, a small ragtag unit of vampire soldiers.

### Shutaro Kurusu (栗栖秀太郎, Kurusu Shutaro)

    Voiced by: Hidenori Tokuyama (2013 stage), Yūta Furukawa (2015 stage), Tasuku Hatanaka (anime) (Japanese); Zach Aguilar (anime) (English)
    A member of Code Zero. Kurusu is a sensitive young man who is able to retain to his humanity, despite being an A-rank vampire of considerable strength.

### Tokuichi Yamagami (山上徳一, Yamagami Tokuichi)

    Voiced by: Jūrōta Kosugi (2013 stage), Junichi Suwabe (2015 stage), Kōichi Yamadera (anime) (Japanese); Bryan Massey (anime) (English)
    Another member of Code Zero, designated as an "unranked" vampire with few powers. As a human, he served alongside Maeda and considers him a friend.

### Suwa (スワ, Suwa)

    Voiced by: Kenichi Suzumura (2013 and 2015 stage, anime) (Japanese); Aaron Dismuke (anime) (English)
    A member of Code Zero who specializes in stealth operations. He has white hair and appears young, but has lived for hundreds of years. He covers the lower half of his face with a mask at all times.

### Takeuchi (タケウチ, Takeuchi)

    Voiced by: Akira Ishida (2013 and 2015 stage, anime) (Japanese); Chris Guerrero (anime) (English)
    Code Zero's scientist and engineer. He is brilliant, eccentric, and cheerful. Takeuchi seldom engages in battle but assists greatly with his inventions and plans.

### Sonosuke Nakajima (中島宗之助, Nakajima Sōnosuke)

    Voiced by: Hiroki Takahashi (2013 stage), Kenyu Horiuchi (2015 stage), Hiroshi Yanaka (anime) (Japanese); Mick Wingert (anime) (English)
    Maeda's commanding officer, with whom he has a personal connection. His primary goal is to establish a military force composed of undying vampire soldiers.

### Defrott (デフロット, Defurotto)

    Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro (2013 and 2015 stage, anime) (Japanese); Ciarán Strange (anime) (English)
    A talented actor who develops a bond with both Misaki and Aoi. His outward appearance is child-like, but he has tremendous presence and maturity.

### Aoi Shirase (白瀬葵, Shirase Aoi)

    Voiced by: Minami (2013 stage), Aki Asakura (2015 stage), Fumiko Orikasa (anime) (Japanese); Caitlin Glass (anime) (English)
    A fearless reporter for the local newspaper, she is fascinated with vampires as well as the performing arts. She has known Kurusu since childhood.

### Misaki (岬, Misaki)

    Voiced by: Ayahi Takagaki (Japanese); Dawn M. Bennett (English)
    An up-and-coming stage actress who performs alongside Defrott. She is engaged to Maeda, but has yet to meet him.

### Shinnosuke Tenmaya (天満屋慎之助, Tenmaya Shin'nosukei)

    Voiced by: Sachi Kokuryu (Japanese); Katelyn Barr (English)
    A mysterious, elegant young man who provides safe refuge for vampires.

### Rufus Glenn (ルーファス・グレン, Rūfasu Guren)

    Voiced by: Makoto Furukawa (Japanese); Reagan Murdock (English)
    A foreigner with connections to vampire nobility as well as the military.

## Media
### Manga

A manga adaptation of the reading play by Kemuri Karakara was run in Monthly Comic Garden from January 4, 2020 to July 5, 2021 and was compiled into three volumes. Seven Seas Entertainment published the manga in North America.

### Anime

On February 6, 2020, Yomiuri-TV Enterprise LTD announced their 50th Anniversary project, a new anime television series directed by Kōhei Hatano to be co-produced by Funimation. The series is animated by Signal.MD, with Junichi Fujisaku writing the series' scripts, Yukari Takeuchi adapting the character designs originally by Kemuri Karakara, and Toshiyuki Muranaka composing the series' music. The series aired from April 6 to June 29, 2021 on YTV and other channels. The opening theme is "Seimei no Aria" (生命のアリア, "Aria of Life") by Wagakki Band while the ending theme is "ON MY OWN" by Hyde. The first episode was given a premiere screening on Funimation one week before the Japanese broadcast, in both subtitled and dubbed options. Following Sony's acquisition of Crunchyroll, the series was moved to Crunchyroll.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "Dawn" Transliteration: "Hi no Ataru Basho" (Japanese: 陽のあたる場所) | Kōhei Hatano | Junichi Fujisaku | April 6, 2021 (2021-04-06) |
| 2 | "Till Death Do Us Part" Transliteration: "Shi ga Futari o Wakatsu Made" (Japanese: 死が二人を分かつまで) | Nao Miyoshi, Shinya Sadamitsu, Kōhei Hatano | Junichi Fujisaku | April 13, 2021 (2021-04-13) |
| 3 | "His Dream" Transliteration: "Yume Makura" (Japanese: 夢枕) | Shinya Sadamitsu, Kōhei Hatano | Junichi Fujisaku | April 20, 2021 (2021-04-20) |
| 4 | "Unknown Song" Transliteration: "Uta Shirazu no Uta" (Japanese: 歌知らずの歌) | Shigeru Ueda | Junichi Fujisaku | April 27, 2021 (2021-04-27) |
| 5 | "Persona Non Grata" Transliteration: "Perusona Non Gurāta" (Japanese: ペルソナ・ノン・グラータ) | Toshiyuki Sone | Junichi Fujisaku | May 4, 2021 (2021-05-04) |
| 6 | "The Last Blue Sky" Transliteration: "Saigo no Aozora" (Japanese: さいごの青空) | Shinya Sadamitsu | Junichi Fujisaku | May 11, 2021 (2021-05-11) |
| 7 | "The Letter" Transliteration: "Tegami" (Japanese: 手紙) | Akie Ishii | Junichi Fujisaku | May 18, 2021 (2021-05-18) |
| 8 | "Purgatory" Transliteration: "Rengoku" (Japanese: 煉獄) | Shinya Sadamitsu | Junichi Fujisaku | May 25, 2021 (2021-05-25) |
| 9 | "Suspicion" Transliteration: "Ginen" (Japanese: 疑念) | Hitomi Ezoe | Junichi Fujisaku | June 1, 2021 (2021-06-01) |
| 10 | "A Midsummer Night's Dream Gone By" Transliteration: "Tōrisugishi, Natsu no Yo no Yume" (Japanese: 通り過ぎし、夏の夜の夢) | Shinya Sadamitsu | Junichi Fujisaku | June 8, 2021 (2021-06-08) |
| 11 | "Dark Wings" Transliteration: "kokuyoku" (Japanese: 黒翼) | Fumio Maezono | Junichi Fujisaku | June 15, 2021 (2021-06-15) |
| 12 | "King of Fools" Transliteration: "Dōke no Ō" (Japanese: 道化の王) | Shinya Sadamitsu | Junichi Fujisaku | June 22, 2021 (2021-06-22) |
| 13 | "Frailty, Thy Name Is..." Transliteration: "Yowaki Mono, Nanji no Na wa" (Japanese: 弱きもの、汝の名は) | Kōhei Hatano | Junichi Fujisaku | June 29, 2021 (2021-06-29) |

### Mobile game

A free-to-play smartphone adventure game titled Mars Red: Edge of the Nightmare (Kawataredoki no Uta) was announced on February 20, 2021 and released on May 20, 2021 in Japan and worldwide on July 9, 2021. The game was developed by D-techno and franchise creator Bun'O Fujisawa created an original story. The game ended its service on January 31, 2022.