Space Firebird (1980)
"Hi no tori 2772: Ai no kosumozon" (original title)

In the year 2772, a young cadet is sent to capture a mystical universal Phoenix, which possesses the power to rejuvenate the drained Earth.

Director:

Taku Sugiyama

Writers:

Taku Sugiyama, Osamu Tezuka (screenplay),

Stars:

Kaneto Shiozawa, Keiko Takeshita, Hiroshi Ohtake

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Kaneto Shiozawa	...	Godô Shingo (voice)
Keiko Takeshita	...	The Phoenix (voice)
Hiroshi Ohtake	...	Crack (voice)
Katsue Miwa	...	Orga (voice)
Kazue Takahashi	...	Pincho (voice)
Kazuo Kumakura	...	Saruta (voice)
Masatô Ibu	...	Black Jack (voice)
Osamu Kobayashi	...	Ban
Shûichi Ikeda	...	Rock (voice)
Shûichirô Moriyama	...	Bolkan (voice)
Toshiko Fujita	...	Rena (voice)
Yasuo Hisamatsu	...	Lord Eat

Storyline

The 2720s: The Earth is in decay and so are many of its colonies. A young and terrible kid is growing up by himself in a single-room "kindergarten cell" surrounded by the high-tech of the new millennium. For one of his birthdays, he receives an android nurse: beautiful woman-transformer, programmed to teach and protect the kid. Eventually the kid grows, gets accepted in the Space Academy and discovers enemies and friends as he races through the known Universe in the search for the Space Firebird, a semi-mythical creature of energy. In an effort to know the race of such a tenacious explorer, the creature "enters" the android and falls in love with its master and friend.

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Plot Keywords:

anime | sequel | number in title

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Taglines:

The karmic wheel has turned to 2772.

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Genres:

Animation | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

13 July 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Space Firebird

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tezuka Production Company Ltd., Toho Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min 95 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many of the film's characters were taken from Osamu Tezuka's comics:

• Godo is based on the heroic Kenichi Shikishima, who has appeared in many of Tezuka's stories;
• the villainous Rock has also appeared in many of Tezuka's stories;
• the robotic girl Orga is a tribute to the "Metropolis" character Michi, as well as the more famous Astro Boy;
• Rena, the politician's daughter, is based on Princess Sapphire from the "Princess Knight" comic;
• A character named Saruta appears in all of the "Phoenix" stories;
• Ban is a prominent member of the "Astro Boy" saga;
• and the Iceland prison warden is the surgeon Black Jack, the hero of his own comic.

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Connections

Followed by Firebird: Karma Chapter (1986)

User Reviews

Classic

I saw this movie when i was 7 years old and i still remember it as th e matter of facts i have it on my collection, it may look not good to adults or to the "newer" anime fan. but to me this is a classic(note it's very suitable for children) if you grew up with Starzinger(Spaceketeers) Mazinger Z, Voltes V, Techno Police 21C, Starblazers, Space Warriors Baldios many more from the era you will enjoy this! You will love Olga (Godo's female cyborg) and Pincho (friendly alien pet)This is the original serialized story for the theatrical film "The Phoenix," the theme of which is the immortality of life. Against the background of a futuristic universe, Godo, who at first has karma as a human being, is transformed into a god through numerous ordeals. As this was the first full-animated film, the outlines of human figures are slightly blurred, presenting a technical problem to be overcome. The entire story reflects Tezuka Osamu's desire to portray transformation, including the episode in which a female-shaped robot falls in love with a man and has her dream granted by the Phoenix.

Winner of the Inkpot Award at the 1980 San Diego Comic Convention, and the

Animation Award at the 1st Las Vegas Film Festival, 1980