Aria: The Scarlet Ammo
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 300 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 5.1
Release Date: 8/7/2013
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Just when you thought the concept of fan service had all but gone from our anime, Aria: The Scarlet Ammo turns out to be a kick ass girl who uses two guns as well as two swords to fight oncoming foes and is considered the highest ranked fighter in assault studies at her high school for mercenaries. Kinji and her end up in a chase, but in a twist of fate, he saves her life even though to the rest of the school, he is nothing more than a cowardly type who wouldn't fight if his life depended on it. The reason for this sudden change of heart is he changes into a hero when he gets aroused by the girls he fights with.

Kenji comes from a very famous family, but he only wants a normal life where he has every day as a normal high school kid, but there is no chance of that with Aria around. Aria sees Kenji as a good for nothing nerd when she's on a mission to protect the school from secret agent killers, and this time he has made her mad - though when he gets close to her, really close, his personality changes to one of a hot guy, who is sophisticated, cool in a crisis and comes out with some of the wittiest one-liners. This is what happens when he is in hysteria mode, it runs in his family where it changes his personality, and as he isn't a natural hero, he looks back on  what he said to the girls he  has protected, and hates how he reacted.
He doesn't like what he turns into as he sees his reactions during hysteria mode as smug and foolish, plus he has to cope with what happens after. In his case, after  his first encounter with Aria, as she miraculously wants to sit next to him in class!

He finds out later that Aria wants him to be her slave, which he is not so flattered about, but he has to endure the pain of her order to be her sidekick, train with him and go on missions with her, and who could refuse her when she often threats that she'll "pump him full of holes!" Kenji has more problems than  he cares to mention. He has plenty of female admirers, and he has to keep them from finding out that Aria is staying with him at Butei High. He doesn't like being roped into becoming a butei but he does find out that when she said slave, she actually meant partner, but she was too proud to ask for his help.

If you like James Bond style anime, this is for you with lots of comedy, tongue-in-cheek one-liners and strange twists, Aria and Kenji are the couple to die for.

Bonus Material: Episode 4 Commentary, Episode 6 Commentary, Promo Video, Original Commercials, English Language Trailer, Text less Opening "Scarlet Ballet," Text less Closing "Camelia no Hitomi."

Verdict: This anime is secret agent fun all the way - think of an anime James Bond and you'll see what all the fuss is about!