Red Data Girl (RDG レッドデータガール, Ārudījī Reddo Dēta Gāru) is a series of fantasy novels written by Noriko Ogiwara. Six volumes have been released. The first volume was published by Kadokawa Shoten in 2008, while the last was published in 2012. The manga adaptation, illustrated by Ranmaru Kotone and published by Kadokawa Shoten, was serialized between 2012 and 2014. A 12-episode anime television series adaptation by P.A. Works aired between April and June 2013. The full anime series became available for streaming on Netflix (US) on August 1, 2015.[2]
Red Data Girl | |
RDG レッドデータガール (RDG Reddo Dēta Gāru) | |
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Genre | Modern fantasy[1] |
Novel series | |
Written by | Noriko Ogiwara |
Illustrated by | Komako Sakai (original) Mel Kishida (Sneaker Bunko re-edition) |
Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
Original run | July 4, 2008 – November 29, 2012 |
Volumes | 6 |
Manga | |
Written by | Ranmaru Kotone |
Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
Magazine | Shōnen Ace |
Demographic | Shōnen |
Original run | October 26, 2012 – July 26, 2014 |
Volumes | 5 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Toshiya Shinohara |
Written by | Michiko Yokote |
Music by | Masumi Ito Myu |
Studio | P.A. Works |
Licensed by |
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Original network | Tokyo MX, KNB, Sun TV, TVQ, Chiba TV, BS11, TV Saitama, tvk |
Original run | March 16, 2013 – June 1, 2013 |
Episodes | 12 |
The story revolves around Izumiko Suzuhara, a 15-year-old girl who was raised at Tamakura Shrine, which is a part of the Kumano Shrines World Heritage Site. She has the ability to destroy any electrical device that she touches. Despite being shy, she wants to try living in the city. Her guardian Yukimasa Sagara recommends that she enroll at Hōjō High School in Tokyo accompanied by his son, Miyuki Sagara. Miyuki has trained to become a yamabushi from a young age. While in Tokyo on a middle school field trip, an entity named "Himegami" appears. Izumiko learns that she is a yorishiro (or, more properly, a yorimashi, as she is a possessed person, not object), a vessel for a Shinto spirit known as a kami. She also learns that Miyuki is tasked with protecting her.
The novel series is written by Noriko Ogiwara and published by Kadokawa Shoten. The first volume was published under the Kadokawa Gin no Saji Series imprint on July 4, 2008,[4] and the last, the sixth, on November 29, 2012.[5] The series is illustrated by Komako Sakai in the original novel version (cover only), and Mel Kishida in the Sneaker Bunko light novel re-edition.
A manga series adaptation, illustrated by Ranmaru Kotone and published by Kadokawa Shoten in Monthly Shonen Ace magazine began serialization in December 2012 issue released on October 26, 2012. It ended its run in the September issue on July 26, 2014.[6] The series was compiled into five tankōbon volumes between February 21, 2013, and September 26, 2014.[7][8]
It was adapted into an anime television series by P.A. Works, with original character designs by Mel Kishida, directed by Toshiya Shinohara. The first episode was streamed on Niconico on March 16, 2013[9] and aired on television on April 4, 2013. The opening theme is "Small WorlDrop" (スモルワールドロップ, Sumoru Wārudoroppu) by Annabel, and the ending theme, "Yokan" (予感, lit. "Premonition") by Masumi Itō.[10] Funimation later added the English dub version in June 2014, alongside Date A Live, Karneval and Code:Breaker.[11]
No. | Title | Niconico stream date[12] | Original air date[13] | |
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1 | "The First Transfer Student" "Hajimete no Tenkōsei" (はじめての転校生) | March 16, 2013 | April 4, 2013 | |
One day, timid 15 year old Izumiko decides to cut her bangs as her first step toward self change. Despite her best efforts, she is still bullied at school due to her sheltered upbringing at a shrine where she lives with her grandparents. However, she has several friends, including a boy named Wamiya. At school, when she uses a computer for class, bizarre things happen and every computer in the room loses power. She is sure that this is her fault, as Izumiko is unable to use technology without breaking it. To make matters worse, an old acquaintance, Miyuki, a boy who seems to hate her and constantly berates her, is brought to the shrine by his father, mountain monk Yukimasa Sagara. His father cryptically tells Miyuki that compared to Izumiko, who is incredibly important and special, he is nothing but a servant, and then tells his son that he will transfer to Izumiko's school. Miyuki adamantly refuses, and leaves the shrine, followed by his father. Shortly after, Miyuki and his father return, and Miyuki is covered in cuts and bruises. His father assures Izumiko and his shocked grandparents that Miyuki fell off a cliff, and before any questions can be asked Miyuki announces that he will be transferring to Izumiko's school and living at the shrine in the meantime. | ||||
2 | "The First Palm of Someone's Hand" "Hajimete no Tenohira" (はじめての手のひら) | March 23, 2013 | April 11, 2013 | |
Izumiko and Miyuki plan to see Suzuhara, Izumiko's mother, during their school field trip in Tokyo. Upon arriving in Tokyo, Izumiko is terrified as she begins to sense something sinister following her. Miyuki thinks it's all in her head until a strange series of events occur, preventing them from meeting Suzuhara. However, just as the sinister figure closes in on them, it's revealed to be none other than Yukimasa Sagara, Miyuki's father, and she instantly calms down. He assures them that he was not the one keeping them from meeting Izumiko's mother, and that it may have been someone else. Yukimasa informs them that Izumiko's mother will not be meeting with them, but that they can shelter at her house. At the house, when Izumiko leaves the room, Miyuki accuses his father of using a spell to calm down Izumiko. Yukimasa confesses, and then reveals to Miyuki that Izumiko, like her mother, is actually immensely important and needs protection, as many will want to exploit her powers for personal gain - however, unlike her mother, she has not fully awakened to this power yet. Suddenly, Suzuhara appears, saying to protect Izumiko, as she is her 'last vessel'. Then suddenly, Suzuhara seems to awaken from a sort of trance, asking what has happened, her personality clearly different from before. Yukimasa tells Miyuki that she was possessed by an ancient power, and soon Izumiko will be possessed by the power more often. He then tells Miyuki that if it seems to be too much, he is allowed to change back to a different school and he no longer must stay with Izumiko. | ||||
3 | "My First Familiar" "Hajimete no Otsukai" (はじめてのお使い) | March 30, 2013 | April 18, 2013 | |
Wamiya has noticed a change in Izumiko since her brief trip to Tokyo. When it becomes clear that Izumiko no longer hates Miyuki, Wamiya realizes that he is the cause of her change. Wamiya decides that it's time to wipe Miyuki out of the picture. After Wamiya forces Wamiya is actually Izumiko's familiar. | ||||
4 | "My First Roommate" "Hajimete no Rūmumeito" (はじめてのルームメイト) | April 6, 2013 | April 25, 2013 | |
The lunch engagement and the opening ceremony soon become the backdrop against which several mechanics are explained: Izumiko's roommate Mayura and her younger brother Manatsu having had a childhood family tragedy, realizing that Izumiko's eyeglasses do have a vital function, and that the school's top student, Ichijou Takayanagi, is a dangerous onmyouji with operatives in the field -- one of which exhorts an after-school rendezvous much to Izumiko's fright. The whole circus ultimately plays out as a field test hosted by both Ichijou and Mayura to define and appraise Izumiko's spiritual capabilities; even with Miyuki easily destroying the operative, nullifying the utility of the booby-trapped password is not that straightforward as Mayura is shocked to learn the hard way when the computer explodes in her face. | ||||
5 | "My First Makeup" "Hajimete no Okeshō" (はじめてのお化粧) | April 13, 2013 | May 2, 2013 | |
Once summoned to view the damage wrought unto Mayura from Ichijou's booby trap, Masumi is quick to absorb the spirits that have been coerced into the teen onmyouji's service after having quickly made short work of him. The next morning, Izumiko and Miyuki compare notes about the Souda triplets. Miyuki mirrors Izumiko's elation at having friends with specialized capabilities but is concerned about Mayura's possible ulterior motives and the turbulence endemic to Mayura capitalizing upon her perspective of him as a weakling to be exploited at will -- an admonishment to Izumiko against confessing the goddess the fruit of this. As has been previously demonstrated, Miyuki's father Yukimasa arrives with the news of his employment as a teacher at the school. This news angers Miyuki to where he lashes out at Izumiko. Miyuki's inability to constructively cope with Yukimasa capitalizing upon that which he hates about himself ignites a circus where Izumiko wanders to a building. There, an awkward request by the former student council president Hodaka Murakami ultimately provides the requisite critical mass for Izumiko to loudly object the testosterone tempest brewing in her presence by castigating Mikyuki's destructive criticism of her as tattling to Yukimasa. Upon The Goddess making it clear that Izumiko's volition is all that counts, the home commute is much calmer as Miyuki tells Izumiko to not expect a lot from him with an air of humility promising to do what he can. | ||||
6 | "My First Slumber Party" "Hajimete no Otomari" (はじめてのお泊り) | April 20, 2013 | May 9, 2013 | |
The train ride to Souda-ke becomes the backdrop against which Izumiko learns more about Mayura's collaborative prologue with Manatsu and is explained the syllabus of the student council camp retreat. Professor Souda becomes an admirer once he learns of Miyuki's yamabushi tutelage and experiences at Houjou Academy during a social engagement. Upon recovering herself from being inebriated as she computes Manatsu's insight about the Souda Mayura Fan club, Izumiko's engagement with Masumi makes it clear that Tokakusi Mountain is an important destination. Upon arriving at the mountain, Mayura finds herself in an adversarial divergent concourse with Rena Akinokawa and Jean Honoka Kisaragi. After the student council meeting, Mayura explains Izumiko the complexity of Houjou Academy's political and social mechanics. Galvanized by her hatred of onmyouji -- especially Ichijou Takayanagi whose recent operation was so easily nullified, Mayura Souda's ultimate goal is to become a World Heritage candidate -- a prestigious status that affords many benefits. In spite of his attempts to temper her expectations of him, Miyuki soon finds that Mayura has prepared a field test for him and is not taking no for an answer. | ||||
7 | "My First Time Getting Lost" "Hajimete no Maigo" (はじめての迷子) | April 27, 2013 | May 16, 2013 | |
Mayura forces Miyuki to fight Yokai, telling him the test will end when he figures out which one is Masumi. Miyuki asks Mayura to stop, worried for Izumiko's safety, but Mayura says she would protect Izumiko from any harm. In desperation to help Miyuki, Izumiko reveals that Masumi has been pretending to be Manatsu this whole time. The party returns to reality, but Izumiko is too distraught and is left behind in the plane. Masumi calms her down, and shows her the way out. Manatsu gets a call telling him that Tabi (their first horse) is sick and he needs to get there as soon as possible as he is the owner. After spending days alone Manatsu has yet to come back; worried for him, Izumiko and Miyuki go to see him. Once there, they find out that Tabi has died and Manatsu is extremely depressed. Mayura arrives, but Manatsu and she argue over what is best for each other. Manatsu runs away with Masumi into a plane, supposedly, never to return. | ||||
8 | "My First Wish" "Hajimete no Onegai" (はじめてのお願い) | May 4, 2013 | May 23, 2013 | |
Sagara and Izumiko save Manatsu from Masumi's spiritual plane, but unleash a strong god. Sagara saves Izumiko from an attack and is revealed to have black wings, but in the end The Goddess comes and talks the god in to sleeping again. Izumiko asks the goddess if its possible for them to live apart. She tells her to ask her mother. It was then revealed that her mother is the current "vessel" of the goddess. That's why they can't meet often. | ||||
9 | "My First Debut" "Hajimete no Ohirome" (はじめてのお披露目) | May 11, 2013 | May 30, 2013 | |
A festival is thrown at Izumiko's school and at the last minute she is asked to model for the festival. She is worried that since she has to let her hair down due to tradition, the Himegami might appear during the ceremony. Miyuki confronts Izumiko after the demonstration, and they argue. Even with her hair in braids, Izumiko is still possessed by the Himegami mid argument with Miyuki. The Himegami and Miyuki go on a 'date' though Miyuki is impatient to get Izumiko back. The Himegami explains what she truly is, and she explains that she can destroy all of mankind. Miyuki, in desperation to get Izumiko back, hugs her. | ||||
10 | "My First School Festival" "Hajimete no Gakuen-sai" (はじめての学園祭) | May 18, 2013 | June 6, 2013 | |
Izumiko confides in Mayura about the Himegami, and expresses her fear of losing herself and as well as destroying all mankind. As the second day of the school festival begins, Sagara and Izumiko are asked to check out the haunted house after there are reports of girls becoming sick inside. Miyuki suspects it might have something to do with Takayanagi. Inside the haunted house, Izumiko is confronted by the vengeful ghost of Hachiouji Castle. Mayura is later forced into role playing as the Princess General for the next days activities, although it puts her in a good position to take on Takayanagi. Masumi asks Izumiko for clarification on what "love" is. | ||||
11 | "My First Rejection" "Hajimete no Kyozetsu" (はじめての拒絶) | May 25, 2013 | June 13, 2013 | |
As DAT continues to patrol, Izumiko notices she is missing something important but can't remember it. Then one of Takayagani's supporters takes her to him, and while the conversation takes place she realises that for some reason this whole time Miyuki had been erased from his mind. After finding out it was Takayagani's doing, she used her goddess power to protect herself but accidentally shakes the entire school. | ||||
12 | "World Heritage Girl" "Seikaiisan no Shojo" (世界遺産の少女) | June 1, 2013 | June 20, 2013 |
Noriko Ogiwara's modern fantasy about girl from a shrine with secret family legacy