In the near future, an invention known as the Manifestation Engine has solved all of the world's energy-related problems five years ago. This powerful machine creates energy from the sky and now lies in the centre of an artificial, man-made island called Blue Island. On another such island named Izu Ōshima, a girl named Akane Isshiki lives a peaceful life with her family. Her grandfather Kenjirou is a smart yet eccentric scientist who is also the inventor of the Manifestation Engine. Because of his invention, the world has entered a new era of peace. However, this peace didn't last for long. Suddenly without warning, an alien force known as the Alone attack and invade Earth. Their prime objective is to destroy the Manifestation Engine so that they can send the world into chaos. Despite the human military forces hitting them with all they've got, they prove to be no match to the Alone's immense power. Just when all hope seems lost, Kenjirou gives Akane a special key which will allow her to access the Vivid System, the only thing that can defeat the Alone. Now wearing a Palette Suit and possessing abilities unlike anything she ever imagined, Akane fights to protect the world from the Alone. She also recruits her classmates Aoi Futaba, Wakaba Saegusa and Himawari Shinomiya to join her in the fight. However, a mysterious girl is planning secretly behind the scenes to sabotage their efforts of defeating the Alone.
A four-panelcomic stripmanga series, illustrated by Kotamaru and titled Vividred Operation: The 4koma Viviop, was serialized between the November 2012 and May 2014 issues of ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Magazine. The first tankōbon volume was released on July 27, 2013; the second volume was released on May 27, 2014. A second manga, illustrated by Keito Koume and titled Vividred Operation, was serialized between the May 2013 and April 2014 issues of Dengeki G's Magazine. Two volumes, the first containing chapters published before the serialization, were released between February 27, 2013 and April 26, 2014.
Anime
The anime series, produced by A-1 Pictures, aired in Japan between January 11 and March 29, 2013 and was simulcast on Crunchyroll and Hulu. The series is directed by Kazuhiro Takamura, who had also worked on Strike Witches, and is written by Hiroyuki Yoshino, with character designs by Takamura. Hidari and Redjuice handled the show's concept design. The series was released on six Blu-ray Disc and DVD compilation volumes in Japan between March 27 and August 28, 2013. Aniplex of America released the series on subtitled DVD in North America on December 17, 2013. The series makes use of six pieces of theme music: one opening theme and five ending themes. The opening theme is "Energy" by Earthmind. The first four ending themes are used for one episode each: "We Are One" by Ayane Sakura and Rie Murakawa for episode two, "Stereo Colors" by Ayane Sakura and Yuka Ōtsubo for episode three, "Stray Sheep Story" by Ayane Sakura and Aya Uchida for episode four, and "Arifureta Shiawase" by Maaya Uchida for episode five. The fifth ending theme, "Vivid Shining Sky" by Ayane Sakura, Rie Murakawa, Yuka Ōtsubo, Aya Uchida and Maaya Uchida, is used for episode six and onwards.
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Video games
A video game developed by Banpresto, Vividred Operation: Hyper Intimate Power, was released by Bandai Namco Games for the PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network on June 20, 2013. A minigame titled Vividred Operation: Akane to Mayo-tto Operation! was released on the PlayStation Network on March 28, 2013.
Reception
Carl Kimlinger of Anime News Network gave Vividred Operation a B+ based on the first six episodes, saying, "The series' execution makes it easy to enjoy the story's strengths and hard to hold its many, many weaknesses against it." Dan Barnett of UK Anime Network gave the first three episodes an 8 out of 10, calling it "not to be missed", although he noted that "Vividred can't seem to decide what kind of an audience it's going for and has instead diluted the experience by trying to go for all of them at once. The show sits in a bit of an odd place where it'll be too tame for the majority of the audience who loved Strike Witches, yet at the same time it's still too racy and male-friendly to appeal to the young girls who are traditionally the audience for magical girl shows."
