Synopsis
Continues the story of The Phoenix: Chapter of Yamato
In "The Phoenix: Chapter of Yamato," Oguna, the youngest prince of Yamato, is commanded by his father to kill Takeru Kawakami, the leader of Kumaso. While crossing into Kumaso territory, he is struck by a stray arrow shot by Kajika, a local girl gathering food. Filled with guilt, Kajika helps Oguna reach her village for medical treatment. They quickly develop deep feelings for each other, but Oguna uncovers the devastating truth that Kajika is Takeru's younger sister. Torn between his emotions and his duty, Oguna seeks guidance from the Phoenix, a mythical immortal bird that watches over Kumaso. He must choose between abandoning his mission and family for the woman he loves or carrying out his father's order and killing Kajika's brother. "Hi no Tori: Yamato-hen" recounts the sorrowful story of a couple bound by fate, illustrating how true love can overcome hatred and hardship despite the uncertainties that lie ahead.
In this installment
In the vastness of space, a crew of astronauts finds that their fellow crew member, Makimura, has died in suspicious circumstances, leaving behind a cryptic note foretelling his own murder. Despite their shock, the damaged condition of their ship forces them to evacuate immediately using escape pods. Determined to find the murderer, the survivors begin to suspect Kizaki, given his conflicts with Makimura over the sole female crew member, Nana Ichinomiya. Much to their surprise, they notice Makimura's pod following them, yet it fails to respond to any communication attempts. As the astronauts try to make sense of this strange situation, they uncover even more incredible stories about their deceased colleague, including one involving the Phoenix—a mythical bird said to grant immortality. Only after crash-landing on what seems to be a barren planet does the crew finally reveal the dark truth behind Makimura and his enigmatic pod. Set in a distant future, Hi no Tori: Uchuu-hen portrays the harsh reality of humans driven by intense desires, often ignoring the consequences of their deeds.
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.
