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Astro fighter sunred op1
Astro Fighter Sunred(天体戦士サンレッド,Tentai Senshi Sanreddo) is a Japanese manga created by Makoto Kubota. It started serialization on Square Enix's seinen manga magazine Young Gangan on August 25, 2005. An anime adaptation produced by AIC A.S.T.A. aired from October 3, 2008 to March 27, 2009 in Japan. The second season of the anime started airing on October 3, 2009. Each manga chapter and anime episode is referred to as a FIGHT.
The story revolves around the Tama River area, based mostly in Kawasaki City Kanagawa where battles are fought between the evil organisation Florsheim and the ally of justice Sunred. The twist is that Sunred (referred to most characters familiar with him as simply 'Red') is a rough-talking, violent and rude hero while the villains of Florsheim (led by General Vamp) are for the most part polite, conscientious and easy-going.
Despite this, both sides still stay true to their roles, with Florsheim dedicated to destroying Sunred and taking over the world while Sunred battles against them. Other evil organisations and heroes are also mentioned from time to time.
Each episode is divided into various shorts of varying length. Most of the humour comes from the interactions of the characters, especially the main trio of Sunred, his girlfriend Kayoko and General Vamp. Kayoko and Vamp, for example, get along very well and she occasionally consults him about housework or cooking. In contrast, she and Sunred often argue like a long married couple.
Main characters
Sunred (サンレッド,Sanreddo)
Voiced by: Shun TakagiSunred is the protagonist of the Astro Fighter Sunred, referred by most as 'Red-san' which is a reversal of his name in romaji. Despite being an ally of justice, Red does not come off as being heroic much of the time and comes off rude and violent, as well as impatient and impulsive. In addition, he wears regular clothing even when fighting Florsheim's monsters (generally a t-shirt and shorts). The only signs that show he is a hero is his superhuman strength and the fact he inexplicably wears his helmet all the time. He is somehow able to smoke and eat through the helmet, despite the fact that it covers his entire head.
Kayoko Uchida (内田 かよ子,Uchida Kayoko)
Voiced by: Makiko NabeiKayoko is Sunred's girlfriend, your usual working woman who has a job at an insurance firm and apparently supports Red financially, though annoyed at him asking her for money. Like Red, she is unafraid to speak her mind and knows that deep down he cares for her deeply. Kayoko gets along very well with General Vamp, and the two often talk. On occasion, she even asks him for advice on housework.
Florsheim
The Florsheim Kawasaki Branch (フロシャイム川崎支部,Furoshaimu Kawasaki Shibu) are the general antagonists of the series.
General Vamp (ヴァンプ将軍,Vanpu Shōgun)
Voiced by: Louis Yamada LIIIGeneral Vamp is the leader of Florsheim's Kawasaki Branch. Though out for world domination, Vamp and his followers tend to be contributing members of society when not attempting to kill Sunred.
Combat Goons 1 and 2 (戦闘員1号&2号,Ikusa Sentōin Ichigō to Nigō)
Vamp's minions who go after Sunred while not enjoying their personal time.
Animal Soldiers (アニマルソルジャー,Animaru Sorujā)
Living stuffed toys usually lying around when not sent after Sunred. Although they are some of Florsheim's top agents, their small size and cuteness often gets in the way of their intentions.
Two heroes based in Hokkaidō who come to visit Sunred. They are extremely tall to where their heads are never in frame. It is revealed that they killed all of the members of their world conquering organization in a drunken bender.
Shachihokoider G (シャチホコイダーG,Shachihokoidā Jī)
Voiced by: IkkiA hero from Nagoya themed after the shachihoko. He used to live with Red and greatly disliked his smoking habit.
Voiced by: Shinobu MatsumotoA hero from Tottori Prefecture and one of Red's students. When Red accidentally gets Sa-Qoon's suit from the dry cleaners he tries it on and actually fights crime in it.
Night Father/Night Brother (ナイトファーザー/ナイトブラザー,Naito Fāzā/Naito Burazā)
Voiced by: Atsushi Ono/KikutaroTwo heroes from Yamaguchi Prefecture and the father and older brother of Night Man (now Night Owl). They come to Kawasaki to support Night Owl's career choice of becoming a Florsheim kaijin.
Shinrin Sentai Greenranger (森林戦隊グリーンレンジャー,Shinrin Sentai Gurīnrenjā, Forest Corps Green Ranger)
A Super Sentai-esque team with a forest motif from Aomori Prefecture. The leader Natural Green is the nephew of the Abisilin brothers and originally was a hero from Hokkaidō who went by the name Nemuro Green(ネムログリーン,Nemuro Gurīn). He also previously served as a member of Weather Three (becoming Weather 4) as Weather Green(ウェザーグリーン,Wezā Gurīn) until the group disbanded. After meeting up with Red, they reveal that they are going to move to Canada to fight crime instead of protecting Aomori.
Other villains
Devil Eye Army (デビルアイ軍団,Debiru Ai Gundan)
Ceiling-Dwelling Monster (天井裏の住人,Tenjōura no Kaijin)
Voiced by: Tomomi Kasai (Ceiling) & Tomomi Itano (Little Ceiling) of AKB48A strange green monster that lives in the Kawasaki Florsheim HQ ceiling that sometimes appears out of nowhere and gives some advice or sing a song about Sunred.
Taremimi (タレミミ)
Voiced by: Katsuki MuraseTaremimi is a dog kaijin and former Animal Soldier who mentored Usacots in the past. He now works as a host under the name Reiji (レイジ).
Barapi (バラピ)
Voiced by: Seiichi HachiyaBarapi is a capybara kaijin who is originally hired to be a monster for Red to fight at the advent of the Year of the Rat. He later serves as a Florsheim delivery monster.
Doga (ドガ)
Voiced by: Shinobu MatsumotoDoga is a grasshopper kaijin who left China for two years after an argument with his father who wanted him to only worry about the restaurant.
Pdora (プドラ,Pudora)
Voiced by: Masanori KatsuragiPdora is a pteranodon kaijin who works at day and goes to night school who one day accidentally comes across Vamp.
Voiced by: Satoshi ShimizuGaima is a kaijin who only appeared in his own little sketches and did not do much of anything. He apparently lives in the same apartment as Sodom and Godorah.
Other characters
Armor Tiger's Next Door Neighbor (アーマータイガーの隣室の住人,Āmā Taigā no Rinshitsu no Jūnin)
Voiced by: IkkiA taxi driver who complains of the smallest noise made by Armor Tiger.
Mrs. Morisue (森末さん,Morisue-san)
Voiced by: Makiko NabeiAn old woman who has befriended the Florsheim Kawasaki Branch.
Pudding Empire (ぷりん帝国,Purin Teikoku)
Crossover characters another manga by Makoto Kubota titled GOGO! Pudding Empire. They come to Earth to visit their dear friend Vamp.
Climate Squadron Weather Three
It is revealed that Sunred was once part of a Sentai team called Climate Squadron Weather Three (気象戦隊ウェザースリー,Kishō Sentai Wezā Surī) in which he was known as Weather Red (ウェザーレッド,Wezā Reddo). After he became the solo hero Sunred, his teammates went on to find new jobs.
Weather Blue (ウェザーブルー,Wezā Burū)
Voiced by: Toshihiro NakamuraHaving the power over rain, Weather Blue fought with Muay Thai. After Weather Three broke up, Blue became a host.
Weather Yellow (ウェザーイエロー,Wezā Ierō)
Voiced by: KikutaroThe beer-bellied Weather Yellow hails from Osaka and has the power over lightning, although due to his laziness uses a stun gun in battle. After Weather Three broke up, he took over his family's construction company back in Osaka.
Pelial (ペリアル,Periaru)
A Florsheim Monster that is shown as an opponent for Weather Three in the second season of Sunred during a flashback. Pelial is a parody of Ultraman Zero's enemy, Ultraman Belial
Of course, it should be noted, even in their "Theme Song" which played in the flashback, that the Weather Three team was a parody of one specific super Sentai team, Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan.
Manga
Astro Fighter Sunred began as a manga series written and drawn by Makoto Kubota and began its serialization in Young Gangan. Currently, six volumes have been published by Flex Comix in Japan, and by Tong Li Comics in Taiwan.
Anime
Directed by Seiji Kishi, an anime adaptation was produced by the animation studio AIC A.S.T.A.. The anime series consist of 26 episodes and aired in Japan from October 3, 2008 to March 27, 2009. It was broadcast on KIDS STATION, TV Kanagawa, and Nico Nico Douga. The second season began airing on October 3, 2009.
Theme songs
Opening theme
"Mizonokuchi Taiyō Zoku" (溝ノ口太陽族, "The Solar Tribe from Mizonokuchi")
Lyrics, Composition, & Performance: manzo
Season 1
"Zoku: Mizonokuchi Taiyō Zoku" (続・溝ノ口太陽族, "Sequel: The Solar Tribe from Mizonokuchi")
