SynopsisHi no Tori is a collection of stories that all have something in common. The Phoenix, whose blood is believed to give an eternal life to one who drinks it. Therefore many seek to kill it, but as the Phoenix of the tale, it's reborn from the ashes. Stories take place in future and the past, where humans fight with each other as always, and everyone is afraid to die. But still, every story teaches a lesson: Life is beginning of an eternity, an never-ending cycle.
Just finished watching Hi no tori, The Phoenix which is based on the popular manga from the famous animated creator Osamu Tezuka (aka: the creator of Astro Boy and basically "the father of manga"). As this was based on the manga work of the same name which he never completed, they're many different stories arch but this show only go into 5 stories arch. They're list below.
Dawn (黎明編 reimei-hen)This story takes place in 240–70, in the era of Queen Himiko of the Yamataikoku. Using her army, led by feudal general Sarutahiko, to invade Japan, she seeks the Phoenix and eternal youth.
Resurrection (復活編 fukkatsu-hen) The story takes place in 2482-3344 AD. In an age of robotics, technology and science, young Leon dies in a car accident. He is returned to life by scientific surgery, but his now mostly-artificial brain makes him see living things -- including humans -- as distorted clay figures, while he sees machines and robots as beauties. Leon falls in love with a worker robot, Chihiro, whom he sees as a beautiful girl, and will fight for this forbidden love. He will also find out the secret behind his accident. A side plot features the robot Robita, who previously appeared in Future.
Strange Beings (異形編 igyō-hen)The story of a female Buddhist nun (bhikkhuni) who is imprisoned in a time-warp by the Phoenix as punishment for her sins along with her faithful retainer and is forced to become a healer treating the victims of wars from all over time and space including humans, youkai and various extraterrestrials. This chapter was loosely based on the Hyakki Yakō emakimono by the famous Japanese artist Tosa Mitsunobu (although in the context of the story it's the complete reverse).
Sun (太陽編 taiyō-hen) This is the longest story, and was the final volume completed before Tezuka's death. It centres around Harima, a young Korean soldier from the Baekje Kingdom whose head is replaced with that of a wolf by Tang Dynasty soldiers following the defeat of the joint Baekje-Yamato force at the Battle of Baekgang. He then escapes to Japan where he becomes the feudal lord Inugami and becomes caught in the middle of the Jinshin War, as well as joining a greater battle between supernatural forces and time-travelling to a bleak future world ruled by a theocracy that claim to have captured the Phoenix. This chapter stands in stark contrast to the earlier historical Phoenix stories, which tended to de-mythologize the mythical characters therein, for instance in Dawn, many Shinto gods are portrayed as mere humans. In this chapter, however, various Youkai, Oni, Tengu and other mythical creatures are shown fighting against Bodhisattva.
Future (未来編 mirai-hen)
This is the final story; it takes place near the end of mankind. In 3404, the world has become super-modernized, but humanity has reached its peak and shows decline. A young man named Masato Yamanobe is living with his girlfriend, Tamami, a shapeshifting alien. Pursued by Masato's boss, Rock, they eventually take shelter at the isolated base of mad scientist Dr. Saruta, who attempts to preserve life on Earth with the assistance of his robot, Robita. Eventually, nuclear war breaks out.
As this is based on the manga, I never read all of them except the last volume Future (未来編 mirai-hen). From that one, they're quite a few stuff have been modified to tell the story in the show which mean they're few detail parts which have been remove completely or modified a bit to tell the arch in a limited amount of time. The main story is still the same which is a good thing. Whether this is a good or bad thing it will depend if you have read the manga and if you did, are you okay with the minor change or are you the one who want to see the entire story from the manga into the anime. For this reason, the entire 5 stories arch might have quite a bit of change from the manga but the main storyline should be the same when watching.
Off all the 5 stories arch, the Dawn (黎明編 reimei-hen) and Sun (太陽編 taiyō-hen) are the strongest of telling the stories. The other three arch are fine but very short (1 or 2 episodes per arch) which you kinda feel it's a bit of a rush and just need one more episode to help develop the story a bit more. Even with this issue, they're still fine to watch and you start to understand the main theme from the show.
Animation wise, it isn't going to blow you away and the quality is mix in some area. The style is similar to what Osamu Tezuka work but with some minor modem touch. I don't really hate it as most of my time is follow the main story line which is engaging from the two better arch.
It's a fun watch and very good for someone who like some of Osamu Tezuka's work he did in the past. If you don't have any clue of the manga this is based on, I still think you will like it for what it's and if you have already read it, think of this show is a quick summary of the manga which is still fine for what it's.
