Phoenix

Synopsis

Hi no Tori is a series of interconnected stories centered around the legendary Phoenix. Its blood is said to grant eternal life to anyone who consumes it, driving many to seek its death. However, the Phoenix always rises again from its own ashes. The tales span both the distant future and the ancient past, where humans continue to conflict with one another, and all fear the inevitability of death. Yet, each story imparts a fundamental truth: life marks the start of an endless, eternal cycle.

Background

The 2004 Hi no Tori TV series adapts five of Osamu Tezuka's manga chapters into thirteen episodes; in no particular order, they are the first, second, sixth, 11th, and 12th chapters. The animators did not try to copy Tezuka's drawing style and instead opted for a more generic style of TV animation—slick and polished. An English version of the TV series was released by Anime Works in October 2007. In addition to being broadcast in high-definition, the anime's soundtrack features some of Tezuka's favorite music, such as Beethoven as well as the inclusion and usage of ancient Chinese instruments.