Code: Realize - Guardian of Rebirth is a steampunk anime starring a cast of literary characters that many viewers are already familiar with. These characters receive an anime makeover and adaptation that puts a creative spin on their classic stories.
Originally an otome game, Code: Realize - Guardian of Rebirth received an anime adaption in 2017 that ran for one 12-episode season. This steampunk reverse-harem features seven main characters from classic literature, including Dr. Frankenstein and Dracula. Here's a complete guide to the origin of these literary legends and how they're portrayed and reimagined in anime form.
Arsène Lupin
Arsène Lupin is the male lead in Code: Realize - Guardian of Rebirth, based off the fictional character of the same name originally created by Maurice Leblanc in 1905. The classic character was known as a gentleman thief and master of disguise, appearing in the French magazine Je sais tout as well as separate novellas.
In the anime, he's first to stumble across the female protagonist, Cardia Beckford, while evading the authorities. As a master of escape, Lupin relies on his cleverness and quick thinking to save Cardia and avoid their enemies. Since she has no memories and nowhere to go, Lupin takes her back to the mansion he lives in with other classical figures. Despite his naturally flirty personality, he develops genuine feelings for Cardia during their time living together, and wishes to protect and free her from her perceived curse.
Victor Frankenstein
Victor Frankenstein is based on the classic doctor and protagonist of Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley in 1818. In the original novel, Dr. Frankenstein uses his knowledge of chemistry and the human life cycle to create his own living being. He soon regrets manipulating nature when the creature he created becomes dangerous and seeks revenge against him.
Code: Realize - Guardian of Rebirth's reimagined Frankenstein is a former researcher and alchemist for the British Government who becomes a wanted criminal after several misunderstandings and unfortunate events. He possesses unrivaled intellect, but lacks confidence and struggles to love himself. He prefers peace but is willing to fight when needed, especially when Cardia is in danger.
Impey Barbicane
Impey Barbicane is a genius inventor based on the original character in Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon, published in 1865. In the novel, he uses his ingenuity to design a projectile capable of carrying humans to the moon long before the years of NASA. He creates a large cannon based on his calculations and material requirements to successfully launch a projectile into space from "Tampa Town," Florida. This 19th-century classic's foreshadowing of the future was impressively accurate, also inspiring the first use of the term "spaceship."
In Code: Realize, Guardian of Rebirth, Impey has a childlike personality and often brings comedic relief throughout the story. He's easily excited and self-assured, even when others make fun of him. Despite his happy and carefree demeanor, he's actually a mechanical genius and renowned inventor. When Lupin steals a broken and battered airship to compete in an air race, Impey designs and modifies a winning airship in a matter of days.
Count Saint-Germain
Count Saint-Germain is known as an immortal alchemist who studied both the sciences and the arts, becoming widely known after Isabel Cooper-Oakley's biography The Count of St. Germain was published in 1912. He's also a famous philosopher who is sometimes associated with the philosopher's stone. It's believed he's the son of Francis II Rákóczi, the Prince of Transylvania.
In Code: Realize - Guardian of Rebirth, Count Saint-Germain owns the mansion the main characters all live in. He's a wealthy gentleman who's classy and dignified, yet incredibly mysterious like his real-life counterpart. Despite his calm and collected attitude, others fear him when he's provoked.
Abraham Van Helsing
Abraham Van Helsing, the famous and skilled vampire hunter from Bram Stoker's 1897 classic Dracula, is also a knowledgeable professor who pursues Dracula in Transylvania. After investigating the mysterious case of Lucy Westenra's condition, he discovers the bite marks on her neck and quickly deduces that a vampire's been sucking her blood. Van Helsing is later forced to kill Lucy when she turns into a vampire herself, popularizing the use of garlic and crucifixes to ward off vampires.
The anime also features him as a vampire hunter. He perfects his combat skills while in the British Army, giving him a cold and serious demeanor. During his service, Van Helsing goes undercover to train Dracula, a vampire royal prince, to learn more about the threat vampires pose. Although he discovers that vampires are peaceful, the army forces him to wipe them all out. While he often acts rude and aggressive toward the group living in Count Saint-Germain's mansion, Van Helsing gradually learns to carry the guilt and pain he's forced to bare.
Dracula Delacroix II
Arguably the most famous and recognized literary character in Code: Realize - Guardian of Rebirth, is Dracula's titular protagonist, Dracula Delacroix II. A notorious yet mysterious vampire living in Transylvania known as Count Dracula, he inspires and acts as the standard for many later works of vampire fiction. Dracula is hunted down by Abraham Van Helsing and his group of hunters, ultimately being killed at the end of the classic novel.
In the anime, a young Dracula holds a grudge against Van Helsing for eradicating his royal family and swears to avenge his father, the former Vampire King. Van Helsing was Dracula's former teacher whom he once trusted, and chose to spare the boy's life by leaving his existence out of the army reports. When Dracula arrives at Count Saint-Germain's mansion, he bonds with their pet dog Sisi, who has a robotic leg and steampunk design. Despite being a feared and powerful vampire, Dracula is still a child who seeks love, praise, and companionship.
Herlock Sholmès
Herlock Sholmès is Arsène Lupin's nemesis in Maurice Leblanc's fictional work. He originally named him Sherlock Holmes -- directly based on the famous character by Arthur Conan Doyle -- but Leblanc was later forced to change the name after a copyright dispute with Doyle. Leblanc avoided legal action simply by swapping the beginning letters of the first and last name and referring to him as the world's second best detective as Herlock Sholmès tries to catch Lupin, the clever escape artist.
Similar to his classic counterpart, Herlock Sholmès is a private detective in London in Code: Realize - Guardian of Rebirth. He's observant and levelheaded, occasionally opposing the group living in Count Saint-Germain's mansion. As a detective who allows logic and rationale to drive his personality, he's typically emotionless and reserved. However, he acts like a chivalrous gentleman toward Cardia and even saves her life.
