Aria the Scarlet Ammo is a Japanese light novel series written by Chūgaku Akamatsu and illustrated by Kobuichi. As of June 2019, 31 volumes have been published by Media Factory under their MF Bunko J label. A manga adaptation by Yoshino Koyoka started serialization in the seinenmanga magazineMonthly Comic Alive on September 26, 2009. An anime adaptation aired between April and June 2011. An original video animation episode was released on December 21, 2011. A spin-off manga titled Aria the Scarlet Ammo AA by Shogako Tachibana began serialization in Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine on November 5, 2010, with an anime adaptation by Doga Kobo airing from October 6, 2015.
Plot
The setting of the story features Butei, short for buso tantei, a national qualification established to counter worsening crime conditions around the world. The Butei holders are trained in various specialized fields, and are permitted to possess various weapons and capture criminals. Kinji Tōyama is a student at Tokyo Butei High, a universal educational facility for the training of Butei. At this school, students with an aptitude for the work undertake special training in order to learn the path of the Butei. Shortly after Kinji decides to quit the Academy due to personal reasons, he is attacked by the Butei Killer, a criminal notorious for eliminating Butei—a case of the hunters becoming the hunted. The elite Butei Assault prodigy Aria H. Kanzaki comes to his rescue and from that moment on, Kinji's future as a Butei changes drastically. The side story, Aria the Scarlet Ammo AA, follows Akari Mamiya, an E-ranked Butei who applies to become Aria's "Amica".
Aria the Scarlet Ammo is a light novel series written by Chūgaku Akamatsu, with illustrations by Kobuichi. Media Factory published the first novel on August 25, 2008 under their MF Bunko J imprint. As of 2019, 31 main novels have been released. A spin-off novel was also published on December 25, 2012. A light novel adaptation of Aria the Scarlet Ammo AA will be released. The first two novels were published in English digitally by Digital Manga in 2013 and 2014.
Manga
A manga adaptation, illustrated by Yoshino Koyoka, began serialization in the November 2009 issue of Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive sold on September 26, 2009. The first tankōbon volume was published on April 23, 2010; 16 volumes have been released as of September 23, 2017. The first three manga volumes were published in English digitally by Digital Manga in 2014. A spin-off manga titled Aria the Scarlet Ammo AA by Shogako Tachibana was serialized in Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine between November 5, 2010 and August 23, 2018. The first tankōbon volume was published on March 23, 2011. Fourteen volumes total were released.
Anime
A 12-episode anime television series adaptation, directed by Takashi Watanabe and produced by J.C.Staff, aired in Japan between April 15 and July 1, 2011. The opening theme is "Scarlet Ballet" by May'n and the ending theme is "Camellia no Hitomi" by Aiko Nakano. An original video animation episode was released on December 21, 2011. The anime is licensed in North America by Funimation, in Australia by Madman Entertainment, and in the United Kingdom by Manga Entertainment. The anime made its North American television debut on the Funimation Channel on November 27, 2012. An anime adaptation of Aria the Scarlet Ammo AA, a spin-off manga series written by Shogako Tachibana, has been produced by Doga Kobo and began airing in Japan from October 6, 2015. The opening theme is "Bull's Eye" by Nano while the ending theme is "Pulse" by Ayane Sakura and Rie Kugimiya. The series is also licensed in North America by Funimation, who are simulcasting the series as it airs.
Reception
The Aria the Scarlet Ammo light novels have sold over 5 million copies as of April 2014.
