Hi no Tori: Uchuu-hen (The Phoenix -Space-)

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Firebird: Space Chapter, Phoenix: Universe

Japanese: 火の鳥　宇宙編

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Information

Type: OVA

Episodes: 1

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Dec 21, 1987

Producers: Kadokawa Shoten, Tezuka Productions, Tohokushinsha Film Corporation

Licensors: None found, add some

Studios: Madhouse

Source: Manga

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Theme: Space

Duration: 48 min.

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

Score: 6.88¹ (scored by 1,702 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #4869²

² based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #9585

Members: 3,875

Favorites: 5

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Synopsis

In deep space, four astronauts discover that their colleague Makimura has mysteriously died shortly following a cryptic note about his imminent murder. Though horrified by the news, the inoperable state of their spaceship leaves the crew no time to grieve, and they evacuate via escape pods. Determined to identify the culprit, the survivors begin to suspect fellow crewmate Kizaki, on account of a rivalry between himself and Makimura regarding the only female team member, Nana Ichinomiya. However, to their bewilderment, they notice Makimura's pod following them, yet failing to respond to attempts at contact.

As the astronauts try to interpret their perplexing circumstances, they learn there are more inconceivable stories about their lost teammate, one involving the Phoenix, a mysterious bird said to have the ability to grant immortality. It is not until they crash into a seemingly deserted planet that the crew will finally uncover the sinister truth behind Makimura and his suspicious pod.

Set in a distant future, Hi no Tori: Uchuu-hen illustrates the cruelty of human beings passionately in pursuit of their own desires without any regard to the consequences.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Background

The work of Yoshiaki Kawajiri, who has also directed Wicked City and Ninja Scroll, Hi no Tori: Uchuu-hen is an anime adaptation of Uchuu-hen, the fourth volume of Hi no Tori manga series, written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka. It is also the Madhouse's final production of the 1980s' trilogy adaptations of Osamu Tezuka's manga. The stylized character designs add a layer of maturity to Tezuka's originals and combined with Madhouse's signature of limited color—blue for this OVA—in the capsules scenes and stark lighting, add to this production's intensity.

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Characters & Voice Actors

Makimura

Main

Kamiya, Akira
Japanese

Ichinomiya, Nana

Main

Toda, Keiko
Japanese

Kizaki

Main

Shiozawa, Kaneto
Japanese

The Phoenix

Supporting

Ikeda, Masako
Japanese

Captain

Supporting

Genda, Tesshou
Japanese

More staff

Staff

Maruyama, Masao

Producer

Rintarou

Producer

Kawajiri, Yoshiaki

Director

Konparu, Tomoko

Script

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Opening Theme

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Ending Theme

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Reviews

Jul 17, 2023

rememberthecity

Recommended

From the mind of Osamu Tezuka (of Astroboy fame), the story is about four space explorers who drift in space after an accident wrecks their ship. They then spend their time trying to figure out what happened to their mysterious 5th crewmate.

It's 48 minutes of the most baffling decisions I've ever seen an anime make. For that reason alone, it's worth watching. As a serious product, it's dreadful. Its redeeming qualities are few, and mainly only centered around the great visuals. As an unintentional comedy, however, it's a perfect 10.

As soon as I saw that one guy's nose, I knew the cheese factor was going ...