Kure-nai (紅) is a Japanese light novel series by Kentarō Katayama, with illustrations by Yamato Yamamoto. A manga adaptation started serialization in the first issue of Jump Square magazine and had its last chapter published in the June 2012 issue. An anime adaptation by Brain's Base aired in Japan from April 3, 2008, to June 19, 2008.

Plot

Orphaned sixteen-year-old high school student Shinkurō Kurenai, a specialist in settling squabbles between people, is one day approached by his employer Benika Jūzawa with the seven-year-old daughter of a powerful plutocratic family asking him to be the child's bodyguard.

Characters

Media

Light novels

Manga

A manga adaption is running in Jump Square magazine, with art by Yamato Yamamoto, the original illustrator of the novels. As of August 2012, ten manga volumes have been released.

Anime

An anime adaption was broadcast in Japan from April 3, 2008, to June 19, 2008. It is written and directed by Kō Matsuo. The anime version is different from the novel and manga in that the anime takes a more dramatic approach with a slice of life feel. The anime has been licensed by Sentai Filmworks, who will release the series on subtitled-only DVD.

OAD

A half-hour original animated DVD with three short stories was released together with the fifth volume manga on July 2, 2010. It is directed by Kō Matsuo. The designs of the characters as well as plot are based on the original novel and manga continuity (following the character designs from Yamato Yamamoto) rather than the anime adaption. A second OAD was released together with the sixth volume manga on December 3, 2010, with three more short stories based from the original novel and manga.