Red Wolf review: A fusion of striking visuals and profound storytelling

"Red Wolf": A fascinating and profound story of legendary action

■Overview of the work

"Kurenai" is an original video animation (OVA) released by Toshiba EMI on July 7, 1993. It is based on a manga serialized in Shogakukan's Young Sunday magazine, written by Takajo Masahiko and illustrated by Okamura Kenji. Directed by Masuo Shoichi and produced by Toshiba EMI and APPP, the story lasts 60 minutes. Set in Beijing, China after the Tiananmen Square incident, this fantasy action film follows three young men as they brave the rough waves of a cruel fate to seal away the three great kings who were resurrected as a result of their research into ancient ruins.

■ Story

Autumn 19XX. Ibara, a boy living in Beijing with a red arrow scar, hears his master's last words: "Find two friends who share the same scar." Meanwhile, Washio Mizuho, ​​a female college student living in Tokyo who shares the same scar as Ibara, learns of Genghis Khan's prophecy of the extinction of humanity by chance. Mizuho travels to Beijing in search of friends who share the same scar as Ibara and the mystery of the "Red Wolf," but a huge conspiracy awaits her!

■Explanation

"Kurenai" is an OVA adaptation of a manga written by Masahiko Takajo and illustrated by Kenji Okamura. Set in Beijing, China after the Tiananmen Square incident, this is a fantasy action story about three young people who face the rough waves of a cruel fate in order to seal away the three great kings who were resurrected as a result of their research into ancient ruins. The story depicts the three main characters, Ibara, Washio Mizuho, ​​and Ryuko, as they face their own destinies and fight against the mysteries of the ancient world.

■Cast

・Ibaraki/Koji Tsujitani ・Mizuho Washio/Arisa Ando ・Ryūkō/Masashi Ehara

■ Main staff

・Original story/Masahiko Takajo・Original art/Kenji Okamura・Director/Akira Masuo・Character design/Mitsutoshi Kobayashi・Animation directors/Kazuya Kuroda, Yasuhito Kikuchi, Isamu Imakake・Direction/Yasuhito Kikuchi・Set design/Yasuhito Mitake, Isamu Imakake・Storyboards/Akira Masuo, Yasuhito Kikuchi, Isamu Imakake・Art director/Hiroshi Sasaki・Director of photography/Hideo Okazaki・Sound director/Etsuji Yamada・Music/Hiroshi Ogasawara

■ Main Characters

・Thorns (Shin)
A master of martial arts. He was all alone in the world, but was picked up by the blind master of martial arts, Gen, and raised as his disciple. He is a red wolf with an arrow scar on his forehead, and was Mizuho's lover in a previous life.

Mizuho Washio is a female college student with a red arrow scar on her pubic bone. After being entrusted with a floppy disk by an old man, she becomes embroiled in a conspiracy by the "Great King."

Liu Guang
A big shot in the Chinese underworld. After being stabbed in the neck by Mizuho, ​​he awakens as the Red Wolf.

■The appeal of the work

"Kurenai" is a work that is appealing for its unique worldview and profound story development. The story of modern young people fighting their destiny against the backdrop of ancient ruins and legends leaves a strong impression on viewers. In addition, the backgrounds and growth of the three main characters, Ibara, Washio Mizuho, ​​and Ryuko, are carefully depicted, and their human drama is not to be missed.

■Character Analysis

Although Jing is a master of martial arts, he leaves an impression by setting out on a journey to find his comrades, with his master's last words in mind. The red arrow scar on his forehead symbolizes that he is the "Red Wolf," making him a central character in the story. Washio Mizuho is a character who goes from living an ordinary life as a female college student to suddenly becoming embroiled in the plot of the "Great King." Her growth and awakening resonates with viewers. Liu Guang is a character who, despite being a big shot in the Chinese underworld, awakens as the "Red Wolf" after meeting Mizuho. His changes and conflicts are also one of the highlights of the story.

■Production Background

"Kurenai" was produced based on the original manga by Takajo Masahiko and Okamura Kenji. Director Masuo Shoichi faithfully recreated the worldview of the original work while taking advantage of the characteristics of the OVA medium. Character design was handled by Kobayashi Mitsutoshi, animation directors Kuroda Kazuya, Kikuchi Yasuhito, and Imakake Isamu, art director Sasaki Hiroshi, cinematography Okazaki Hideo, sound director Yamada Etsushi, and music by Ogasawara Hiroshi. This staff worked together to bring out the best in the work.

■ Evaluations and Awards

"Kurenai" was highly praised for its unique worldview and profound story development. In particular, the portrayal of character growth and human drama left a strong impression on viewers, winning many fans. The production, which took advantage of the characteristics of the OVA medium, was also praised, bringing out the maximum appeal of the work. However, there is limited information on the specific awards it has received, and further research is needed to find out more about its evaluations and awards.

■ Recommendation points

Even within the fantasy action genre, "Kurenai" is a work that is particularly appealing for its profound storyline and character development. Set against the backdrop of ancient ruins and legends, the sight of modern-day young people fighting their destinies leaves a strong impression on viewers. In addition, the backgrounds and development of each of the three main characters, Ibara, Washio Mizuho, ​​and Ryuko, are carefully depicted, and their human drama is not to be missed. The direction, which makes use of the characteristics of the OVA medium, has also been praised, bringing out the charm of the work to the fullest. This is a work that we highly recommend to anyone who likes fantasy action and profound stories.

■ Related works

The original manga of "Kurenai" was serialized in Shogakukan's "Young Sunday". In addition to the OVA, related novels and games have also been released. By enjoying these related works, you can gain a deeper understanding of the world view and story of the work.

■How to watch

The OVA for "Kurenai" is currently available for purchase on DVD and Blu-ray. It is also available for viewing on some video streaming services. Please check the official website of each streaming service for information on how to watch it.

■ Summary

Even within the fantasy action genre, "Kurenai" is a work that is particularly appealing for its profound storyline and character development. Set against the backdrop of ancient ruins and legends, the sight of modern-day young people fighting their destinies leaves a strong impression on viewers. In addition, the backgrounds and development of each of the three main characters, Ibara, Washio Mizuho, ​​and Ryuko, are carefully depicted, and their human drama is not to be missed. The direction, which makes use of the characteristics of the OVA medium, has also been praised, bringing out the charm of the work to the fullest. This is a work that we highly recommend to anyone who likes fantasy action and profound stories.