Birdy the Mighty
From Wikinfo
Birdy the Mighty (鉄腕バーディー Tetsuwan Bādī?) is manga by Masami Yuki, who is best known for producing the long-running series Patlabor. His initial work on the series was quickly abandoned, but it was made into an anime, which was produced and, on the last episode, scripted by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, who is known for anime titles such as Vampire Hunter D, and Ninja Scroll. The character designer and animation director for the series was Kumiko Takahashi. In 2003, Masami Yuki began serializing a second, more ambitious Birdy the Mighty manga serialized in Weekly Young Sunday, which will again be made into an anime[1].
A new TV anime adaptation, titled Tetsuwan Birdy: Decode (鉄腕バーディー DECODE Tetsuwan Bādī DECODE?), which is being animated by A-1 Pictures and produced by Aniplex, premiered in Japan on TV Saitama and other broadcast networks from July 4, 2008. The series is directed by Kazuki Akane (director of Vision of Escaflowne), written by Hiroshi Ōnogi, with its character designer and overseeing animation director being Ryo Timo.[2] It is also slated to air on the satellite network Animax from July 14, 2008 with another season slated to air on January 2009[3]. The TV series is featuring a different seiyū cast from the original OVA series.[2]
Contents |
Plot
Birdy Cephon Altera is a Federation agent chasing interplanetary criminals to the planet Earth. While in pursuit of one, she accidentally kills a high school boy named Tsutomu Senkawa. Fortunately for Tsutomu, there is a way to keep him alive, although he ends up merged into Birdy's body and must remain so until the repair of his body is complete.
So Tsutomu is stuck sharing a body with an attractive, strong - if impulsive - space police agent, while trying to keep his family and friends from finding out about Birdy. In the meantime, Birdy continues her investigation. Together, they take on a secretive group of evil aliens planning to perform experiments on the unsuspecting inhabitants of Earth.
Characters
Main
- Birdy Cephon Altera
- Voiced by: Mitsuishi Kotono (Japanese), Alex McCord (English) (OVA)
- Voiced by: Saeko Chiba (TV)
- A Federation police officer, she heads to Earth in order to pursue alien criminals after they went to use the planet to seek refuge. During one of her missions, she accidentally kills Tsutomu and has to fuse with him in order to keep him alive.
- In the 2008 anime, her false identity on Earth is of rising Japanese idol Shion Arita. She is accompanied by a shape shifting alien named Tute.
- Tsutomu Senkawa
- Voiced by: Iwanaga Tetsuya (Japanese), Justin Thompson (English) (OVA)
- Voiced by: Miyu Irino (TV)
- A high school student who had his mind hosted within Birdy after being killed during her confrontation with an alien criminal. Birdy tries to let him live a normal life until his body is rebuilt.
Civilians
- Natsumi Hayamiya
- Voiced by: Yukana (Japanese), Matty O'Shea (English) (OVA)
- Voiced by: Kanae Itō (TV)
- Tsutomu's female friend and classmate.
- Hazumi Senkawa
- Voiced by: Maruo Tomoko (Japanese), Debbie Rabbai (English) (OVA)
- Tsutomu's older female sibling.
Aliens
- Gomesu/Gomez
- Voiced by: Akio Ohtsuka (Japanese), Cory Carthew (English) (OVA)
- Voiced by: Unshō Ishizuka (TV)
- An alien criminal who had been in Earth under disguise. He's an Altarian henchman of Christella Revi.
- Christella Revi
- Voiced by: Mako Hyōdō (Japanese), Mary Alice McGuire (English) (OVA)
- A rogue scientist who is the antagonist of the story.
Manga
The original manga ran in what is now Shōnen Sunday Super, but when Masami Yuki began serializing Kyūkyoku Chōjin R in the pages of Shōnen Sunday it began appearing infrequently, and was eventually abandoned. Only one volume was ever collected[4]. In 2003, after a number of other series for Shōnen Sunday, Masami Yuki moved to Weekly Young Sunday, a seinen magazine, and began drawing a remake version, starting the story from the beginning.
Media
DVD
The first DVD for Birdy the Mighty Decode was released on September 24, 2008[5].
OST
The Birdy the Mighty Decode OST was released on September 24, 2008 in a simultaneous release with the DVD[5].
Theme Song CDs
Sora
| "Sora" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single by Hearts Grow | ||
| Released | September 03 2008 | |
| Format | CD | |
| Genre | J-Pop | |
| Label | Sony Music Entertainment | |
Sora is the opening theme to the TV animation adaptation titled Tetsuwan Birdy: Decode. It is performed by Hearts Grow[6].
Track listing
- Sora (そら, Sky)
- Mirai Sketch (未来スケッチ, Sketch of Future)
- Sora - Instrumental (そら)
Production
Birdy the Mighty Decode was first announced under the name Birdy the Movement[7]. It was then revealed in the Tokyo International Anime Fair that the show would be aired in the summer as Birdy the Mighty Decode[8][9]. A trailer for Birdy the Mighty Decode was announced on its official website[10][11].
A second season of Birdy the Mighty: Decode began to air on January 9, 2009,[3] known as Birdy the Mighty Decode: 02.
Notes and References
- ^ Yuki Masami's website
- ^ a b "TV ANIMATION 鉄腕バーディー DECODE". Archived from the original.. http://www.birdy-tv.com/. Retrieved on 2008-07-12.
- ^ a b Birdy the Mighty Decode Gets Second Season in January. Retrieved on August 18, 2008.
- ^ Birdy The Mighty. Retrieved on July 6, 2008.
- ^ a b Birdy the Mighty Decode DVD & CD Information. Retrieved on July 13, 2008. (Japanese)
- ^ Official Birdy the Mighty Decode Music Page. Retrieved on October 3, 2008. 日本語:
- ^ New Birdy the Mighty Anime. Retrieved on July 13, 2008.
- ^ New Birdy's Title Revealed: Birdy the Mighty Decode. Retrieved on July 13, 2008.
- ^ TVアニメーション「鉄腕バーディーDECODE」KICK OFFステージ. Retrieved on July 13, 2008. (Japanese)
- ^ New Trailer for Birdy the Mighty Decode. Retrieved on July 13, 2008.
- ^ Birdy the Mighty Decode Sci-Fi Comedy TV Ad Streamed. Retrieved on July 13, 2008.
External links
- Birdy the Mighty Manga Official Site (Japanese)
- Birdy the Mighty Decode Official Site (Japanese)
- Birdy the Mighty (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- Birdy the Mighty OAV (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- Birdy the Mighty Decode (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- Birdy the Mighty Decode:02 (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
