Birdy the Mighty
| Birdy the Mighty | |
 DVD release of OVA series |
|
| 鉄腕バーディー (Tetsuwan Birdy) |
|
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy, Science fiction |
| Manga | |
| Birdy the Mighty (original) | |
| Written by | Masami Yuki |
| Published by | Shogakukan |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Magazine | Shōnen Sunday Super |
| Original run | 1985 – 1988 |
| Volumes | 1 |
| Original video animation | |
| Directed by | Yoshiaki Kawajiri |
| Studio | Madhouse |
| Licensed by |  U.S. Manga Corps |
| Released | July 25, 1996 |
| Runtime | 30-40 minutes |
| Episodes | 4 |
| Manga | |
| Birdy the Mighty (remake) | |
| Written by | Masami Yuki |
| Published by | Shogakukan |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Magazine | Weekly Young Sunday → Big Comic Spirits |
| Original run | 2003 – 2008 |
| Volumes | 20 |
| TV anime | |
| Tetsuwan Birdy: Decode | |
| Directed by | Kazuki Akane |
| Written by | Hiroshi Ōnogi |
| Studio | A-1 Pictures |
| Licensed by |   Madman Entertainment Funimation Entertainment Manga Entertainment |
| Network | TV Saitama, tvk, KBS, SUN-TV, Tokyo MX, BS11, TBC, TVQ Kyushu, Okinawa TV, Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting, Chiba TV, Animax, Hokkaido Broadcasting |
| English network | FUNimation Channel |
| Original run | July 4, 2008 – September 29, 2008 |
| Episodes | 13 |
| TV anime | |
| Tetsuwan Birdy: Decode Season 2 | |
| Directed by | Kazuki Akane |
| Written by | Hiroshi Ōnogi & Seishi Minakami |
| Studio | A-1 Pictures |
| Licensed by | Madman Entertainment Funimation Entertainment Manga Entertainment |
| Network | TV Saitama, tvk, KBS, SUN-TV, Tokyo MX, BS11, TBC, TVQ Kyushu, Okinawa TV, Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting, Chiba TV, Animax, Hokkaido Broadcasting |
| English network | Funimation Channel |
| Original run | January 9, 2009 – May 28, 2009 |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Manga | |
| Birdy the Mighty Evolution (sequel of remake) | |
| Written by | Masami Yuki |
| Published by | Shogakukan |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Magazine | Big Comic Spirits |
| Original run | 2008 – ongoing |
| Volumes | 5 |
Birdy the Mighty (鉄腕バーディー Tetsuwan Bādī) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Yuki. 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, Yuki began serializing a second, more ambitious Birdy the Mighty manga in Weekly Young Sunday.[1]
A TV anime adaptation, titled Birdy the Mighty: Decode (鉄腕バーディー DECODE Tetsuwan Bādī DECODE), was animated by A-1 Pictures and produced by Aniplex, premiered in Japan on TV Saitama and other broadcast networks on 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 also aired on the satellite network Animax from July 14, 2008. The second season titled Birdy the Mighty Decode 02 aired Jan 9, 2009 to Mar 27, 2009. The TV series featured a different voice acting cast from the original OVA series.[2] At Anime USA 2009, Funimation Entertainment announced that it had acquired the show.[3][4] As of June 30, 2010, Funimation released all episodes of Season 1 and Season 2 English Subbed, and plans to release them English Dubbed in October 2010.[5]
The series made its North American television debut on March 2, 2011 on the Funimation Channel.[6]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Birdy Cephon Altera is a Federation agent chasing interplanetary criminals to the planet Earth. While in pursuit of one such criminal, she accidentally kills a high school boy named Tsutomu Senkawa. Fortunately for Tsutomu, there is a way to keep him alive. He ends up being 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, and 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.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Main
- Birdy Cephon Altera
- Voiced by: Kotono Mitsuishi (Japanese), Alex McCord (English) (OVA)
- Voiced by: Saeko Chiba (Japanese), Luci Christian (English) (TV)
- A Federation police officer, she arrives on Earth in pursuit of alien criminals who are using the planet as a refuge. During one of her missions, she accidentally kills Tsutomu and has to fuse with him in order to keep him alive. In Birdy the Mighty Decode she meets her childhood friend Nataru later admitting to Tsutomu that she is indeed in love with Nataru.
- In the 2008 anime, her false identity on Earth is rising Japanese idol Shion Arita. She is accompanied by a robot named Tuto.
Birdy is an Altan, a human-like alien, possibly from a planet orbiting the star Altair. More specifically, Birdy is an Ixioran Altairian, a bio-engineered supersoldier bred for combat.
- Tsutomu Senkawa
- Voiced by: Iwanaga Tetsuya (Japanese), Justin Thompson (English) (OVA)
- Voiced by: Miyu Irino (Japanese), Micah Solusod (English) (TV)
- A high school student who has 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.
[edit] Civilians
- Natsumi Hayamiya
- Voiced by: Yukana (Japanese), Matty O'Shea (English) (OVA)
- Voiced by: Kanae Itō (Japanese), Cherami Leigh (English) (TV)
- Tsutomu's female friend and classmate. In the OVA she has a more prominent role while in the television show she is just a minor character.
- Hazumi Senkawa
- Voiced by: Tomoko Maruo (Japanese), Debora Rabbai (English) (OVA)
- Voiced by: Mikako Takahashi (Japanese), Jamie Marchi (English) (TV)
- Tsutomu's older sister. She does not live with Tsutomu and is rarely seen on the show. She comes by for random inspections and is first seen in the first episode saying goodbye to their parents.
- Sayaka Nakasugi
- Voiced by: Maaya Sakamoto (Japanese), Brina Palencia (English) (TV)
- Sayaka had a weak body until she was involved in a car accident. After she healed from the accident, her demeanor became more cheerful. She also changed from being sickly to very strong and also became more social. These changes were not gradual, but were very sudden. She then starts to become very close to Tstomu after the car accident
- Shoko Kagami
- Voiced by: Ayako Kawasumi (Japanese), Maxey Whitehead (English) (TV)
- A young girl whose legs are recovering. She's very fond of Nataru and tends to be hostile towards Birdy because she thinks Birdy's trying to 'steal' him from her. She had also lost her older brother in the ryunka incident
[edit] Aliens
- Georg Gomez
- Voiced by: Akio Ōtsuka (Japanese), Cory Carthew (English) (OVA)
- Voiced by: Unshō Ishizuka (Japanese), Newton Pittman (English) (TV)
- An alien criminal who had been hiding on Earth in disguise. He's an Altarian henchman of Christella Revi.
- Christella Revi
- Voiced by: Mako Hyōdō (Japanese), Mary Alice McGuire (English) (OVA)
- Voiced by: Mako Hyōdō (Japanese), Monica Rial (English) (TV)
- A rogue alien scientist who is the antagonist of the story.
- Nataru Shinmyou (ナタル)
- Voiced by: Masaya Matsukaze (Japanese), Eric Vale (English)
- Birdy's Childhood friend. He lives on Earth as a refugee and pretends to be a human. Nataru is an Ixioran like Birdy and has the ability to teleport.
In Birdy the Mighty Decode he confesses to Birdy saying he's in love with her.
[edit] Media
[edit] 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.[7] 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.
[edit] Anime
The Original Birdy The Mighty was an OVA release in 1996 by Madhouse studios licensed by Bandai and Emotion. It featured 4 episodes based on the 1980s manga. Later anime iterations were based off a subsequent manga in 2003.
Birdy the Mighty Decode was first announced under the name Birdy the Movement.[8] It was then revealed in the Tokyo International Anime Fair that the show would be aired in summer 2008 as Birdy the Mighty Decode.[9][10]
A second season of Birdy the Mighty: Decode began to air on January 9, 2009,[11] known as Birdy the Mighty Decode: 02. It concluded in May. There is no indication that there will be further seasons.
A subsequent OVA titled Birdy the Mighty Decode: Cipher features an unaired episode, named "Between you and me", that connects the first and second seasons. It is currently planned for DVD release on July 22, 2009. [12]
The first DVD for Birdy the Mighty Decode was released on September 24, 2008.[13]
[edit] OST
The Birdy the Mighty Decode OST was released on September 24, 2008 in a simultaneous release with the DVD.[13]
[edit] Theme Song CDs
| "Sora" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Hearts Grow | |
| Released | September 03, 2008 |
| Format | CD |
| Genre | J-Pop |
| Label | Sony Music Entertainment |
| "Kiseki" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Nirgilis | |
| Released | Jan 9, 2009 |
| 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.[14]
Kiseki is the opening theme to second season. It is performed by Nirgilis.
[edit] Track listing
- Sora (そら, Sky)
- Mirai Sketch (未来スケッチ, Sketch of Future)
- Sora - Instrumental (そら)
- Kiseki (奇跡,Miracle)
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Yuki Masami's website
- ^ a b "TV ANIMATION 鉄腕バーディー DECODE". http://www.birdy-tv.com/. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
- ^ "Funimation Announces Three New Titles". 2009-11-21. http://news.toonzone.net/articles/31885/anime-usa-2009-funimation-announces-three-new-titles.
- ^ "Funimation Adds Sekirei, Testuwan Birdy Decode And Decode 02". Anime News Network. 2009-11-22. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-11-22/funimation-adds-sekirei-tetsuwan-birdy-decode-and-decode-02.
- ^ "Funimations Released English-Dubbed Decode". 2010-10-26. http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/pUR2SZdUeRJuXn2t2o/browse/item/88878/4/0/0.
- ^ "FUNimation Week 10 of 2011". http://www.funimationchannel.com/schedule/2_e110.htm.
- ^ Birdy The Mighty. Retrieved on July 6, 2008.
- ^ 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)
- ^ [1] Retrieved on January 6, 2009.
- ^ "Tetsuwan Birdy Decode OVA Announced". Animekon. http://www.animekon.com/news-836-Tetsuwan-Birdy-Decode-OVA-Announced.html. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
- ^ 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. (Japanese)
[edit] 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 (OVA) 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
