Birdy the Mighty

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Birdy the Mighty


caption = DVD release of OVA series
ja_name = 鉄腕バーディー
ja_name_trans = Tetsuwan Birdy
genre = Comedy, SciFiInfobox animanga/Manga
title = Birdy the Mighty (original)
author = Masami Yuki
publisher = flagicon|Japan Shogakukan
publisher_other =
magazine = Shōnen Sunday Super
demographic = Shōnen
first = 1985
last = 1988
volumes = 1Infobox animanga/OVA
title =
director = Yoshiaki Kawajiri
studio = flagicon|Japan Madhouse
licensor = flagicon|USA U.S. Manga Corps
episodes = 4
released = July 25 1996
runtime = 30 minutesInfobox animanga/Manga
title = Birdy the Mighty (remake)
author = Masami Yuki
publisher = flagicon|Japan Shogakukan
publisher_other = flagicon|Belgium flagicon|France flagicon|Quebec flagicon|Switzerland Pika Édition flagicon|Italy Star Comics
magazine = Weekly Young Sunday
demographic = Seinen
first = 2003
last = ongoing
volumes = 19Infobox animanga/Anime
title = Tetsuwan Birdy: Decode
director = Kazuki Akane
writer = Hiroshi Ōnogi
studio = A-1 Pictures
licensor = flagicon|Japan Aniplex
network = flagicon|Japan TV Saitama, tvk, KBS, SUN-TV, Tokyo MX, BS11, TBC, TVQ Kyushu, Okinawa TV, Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting, Chiba TV, Animax, Hokkaido Broadcasting
network_other =
first = July 4, 2008
last = September 29, 2008
episodes = 13
episode_list = List of Birdy the Mighty: Decode episodesInfobox animanga/Anime
title = Tetsuwan Birdy: Decode Season 2
director =
writer =
studio = A-1 Pictures
licensor = flagicon|Japan Aniplex
network =
network_other =
first = 2009
episodes =
episode_list =

nihongo|"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 "", 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 [ [http://www.yukimasami.com/ Yuki Masami's website] ] .

A new TV anime adaptation, titled nihongo|"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.cite web|url=http://www.birdy-tv.com/|title=TV ANIMATION 鉄腕バーディー DECODE|accessdate=2008-07-12] It is also slated to air on the satellite network Animax from July 14, 2007 with another season slated to air on January 2009 [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-08-17/birdy-the-mighty-decode-gets-second-season-in-january Birdy the Mighty Decode Gets Second Season in January.] Retrieved on August 18, 2008.] . The TV series is featuring a different seiyū cast from the original OVA series.

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 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 :anime voices|Mitsuishi Kotono|Alex McCord (OVA):anime voices|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 :anime voices|Iwanaga Tetsuya|Justin Thompson (OVA):anime voices|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 Hiyamiya :anime voices|Yukana|Matty O'Shea (OVA):anime voices|Kanae Itō(TV)

: Tsutomu's female friend and classmate.

;Hazumi Senkawa :anime voices|Maruo Tomoko|Debbie Rabbai (OVA)

: Tsutomu's older female sibling.

Aliens

;Gomesu/Gomez :anime voices|Akio Ohtsuka|Cory Carthew (OVA):anime voices|Unshō Ishizuka (TV)

: An alien criminal who had been in Earth under disguise. He's an Altarian henchman of Christella Revi.

;Christella Revi :anime voice|Mako Hyōdō|Mary Alice McGuire (OVA)

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 [ [http://www.ex.org/2.6/27-manga_birdy.html Birdy The Mighty.] Retrieved on July 6, 2008.] . 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 DVD for Birdy the Mighty Decode had been released on September 24, 2008 [http://www.birdy-tv.com/dvdcd/index.html Birdy the Mighty Decode DVD & CD Information.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008. ja icon] .

OST

Birdy the Mighty Decode OST is scheduled for release on September 24, 2008 in a simultaneous release with the DVD [http://www.birdy-tv.com/dvdcd/index.html Birdy the Mighty Decode DVD & CD Information.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008. ja icon] .

Theme Song CDs

ora

Infobox Single
Name = Sora
Artist = Hearts Grow
Released = September 03 2008
Format = CD
Label = Sony Music Entertainment
Genre = J-Pop

"Sora" is the opening theme to the TV animation adaptation titled "Tetsuwan Birdy: Decode". It is performed by Hearts Grow [http://www.birdy-tv.com/music/index.html Official Birdy the Mighty Decode Music Page.] Retrieved on October 3, 2008. ja] .

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 [ [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-11-01/new-birdy-the-mighty-anime New Birdy the Mighty Anime.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.] . It was then revealed in the Tokyo International Anime Fair that the show would be aired in the summer as Birdy the Mighty Decode [ [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-22/new-birdy-title-revealed-birdy-the-mighty-decode New Birdy's Title Revealed: Birdy the Mighty Decode.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.] [ [http://www.tokyoanime.jp/event/view_stage.php?l=en&id=22&time_id=3 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. ja icon] . A trailer for Birdy the Mighty Decode was announced on its official website [ [http://animecentral.com/news/story.aspx?ID=411 New Trailer for Birdy the Mighty Decode.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.] [ [http://otakucrave.com/archives/452 Birdy the Mighty Decode Sci-Fi Comedy TV Ad Streamed.] Retrieved on July 13, 2008.] .

A second season of Birdy the Mighty: Decode is set to be aired on January 2009 [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-08-17/birdy-the-mighty-decode-gets-second-season-in-january Birdy the Mighty Decode Gets Second Season in January.] Retrieved on August 18, 2008.] .

Notes and References

External links

* [http://www.youngsunday.com/rensai/comics/birdy.html Birdy the Mighty Manga Official Site] ja icon
* [http://www.birdy-tv.com/ Birdy the Mighty Decode Official Site] ja icon
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