Dawn (陽のあたる場所, Hi no Ataru Basho?) is the first episode of Mars Red anime series.
Synopsis[]
It is the early summer of 1923 in Japan where vampires exist. Yoshinobu Maeda arrives in Tokyo to interrogate an actress named Misaki who was killed by a falling prop and revived as a vampire. He is the human captain of Code Zero, an initiative of all vampire soldiers.
Maeda tries to communicate with the newborn vampire but she only recites lines from her last performance. Despite his attempts to reach her, the actress gives in to her desires and attacks humans.
Summary[]
At Tokyo station, Major Yoshibou Maeda arrives to the city after six months away. Moriyama of Special Forces Unit 16 is there to greet him on orders from Lieutenant General Nakajima. Their orders are to head to Tsukishima to deal with the appearance of a vampire. The target is an actress who suffered a near-fatal incident on stage. She mysteriously healed and was taken in by the special forces.
Maeda tries to communicate with the woman, Misaki, but she only receipts lines from her play. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Nakajima discusses the plan for their vampire unit with a secretary Okimura. It was a secret tactic adapted from the British Empire and it must show results or the government will cut funding to the military. Misaki seems harmless enough. Maeda and Moriyama leave after observing her for the day. Moriyama believes she's not so bad but Maeda understands she has the potential to do harm.
Afterward, Maeda meets with Nakajima and informs him about the vampire's mental state. Maeda doesn't believe she can be trained as an agent and the Lieutenant General suggests they dispose of her. Misaki is a vampire of the highest rank, meaning she was infected by an ancient dweller of the night. There are three victims of recent vampire attacks and Misaki is the only lead. Nakajima asks if he needs to roll out Code Zero but Made ensures him a special forces team will take care of it.
The next day Special Forces 16 is tasked with searching the area of any individuals connected to the recent victims. Maeda and Moriyama return to questioning Misaki, who continues to recite more lines from her role. However, this time she interrupts herself by recalling a memory that she recites instead. This surprises Maeda, but Moriyama interrupts because they have other business to attend to. It's time for training but Maeda decides to visit Misaki's place of work.
Maeda arrives at the stage where the accident occurs and is confronted by someone who appears to be a young man. The play isn't showing anymore and the boy introduces himself as Defrott. He played Jokannan the Prophet of Salome in the same play as Misaki. He doesn't provide much information and Maeda leaves after. He happens upon a girl that looks like Misaki, but she's actually Aoi Shirase. Shirase is a reporter with the Nitto News and she asks Maeda for any information. Maeda refuses and is picked up by Moriyama shortly after.
Misaki has escaped captivity and attacks the soldiers. She continues to recite lines while Defrott recites them at the same time from the theater. He's using the recital to manipulate Misaki into attacking the soldiers. She doesn't kill them, but she does injure them and escape. Maeda is left with only two choices on how to deal with Misaki.
Maeda finds Misaki at dawn where she continues to act tut her role. She appears to try and bite Maeda, but stops herself. She introduces herself for the first time to Maeda before allowing herself to be exposed to the sunlight. As a vampire, the light burns Misaki's body away, leaving nothing but ash and a stigmata on the ground of Marunouchi Plaza. Maeda stares in disbelief and Defrott acts out the remainder of the play.
With the mission complete, Maeda debriefs with Nakajima where he is official appointed commander of Code Zero. Their purpose is to dispose of all vampires hiding in Tokyo using a team made up of vampire soldiers. With his new promotion, Colonel Maeda reports for duty.
Characters[]
- Yoshinobu Maeda
- Moriyama
- Misaki
- Nakajima
- Okimura
- Defrott
Manga and Anime Differences[]
References[]