Phoenix (manga)

{{short description|Japanese manga series by Osamu Tezuka}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox animanga/Header | name = Phoenix | image = Phoenix (manga) volume 1.jpg | caption = Cover art of the ''Phoenix: Dawn'' 2009 reprint, featuring Hi no Tori | ja_kanji = 火の鳥 | ja_romaji = Hi no Tori | genre = {{ubl|Drama<ref name="VizOfficial"/>|Fantasy<ref name="VizOfficial">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/phoenix|title=The Official Website for Phoenix|publisher=Viz Media|access-date=December 11, 2017}}</ref>}} }} {{Infobox animanga/Print | author = Osamu Tezuka | publisher = Gakudōsha | publisher_en = Viz Media | magazine = Manga Shōnen | first = July 1954 | volumes = 1 | last = May 1955 }}{{Infobox animanga/Print | author = Osamu Tezuka | publisher = Kodansha | publisher_en = Viz Media | magazine = Shōjo Club | volumes = 1 | first = May 1956 | last = December 1957 }}{{Infobox animanga/Print | type = Manga | author = Osamu Tezuka | publisher = Mushi Production {{noitalic|(1967–1973)}}<br />Asahi Sonorama {{noitalic|(1976–1981)}}<br />Kadokawa Shoten {{noitalic|(1986–1988)}} | publisher_en = Viz Media | magazine = COM {{noitalic|(1967–1973)}}<br />Manga Shōnen (Asahi Sonorama) {{noitalic|(1976–1981)}}<br />Yasei Jidai {{noitalic|(1986–1988)}} | magazine_en = {{English manga magazine|NA=Pulp}} | first = January 1967 | last = February 1988 | volumes = 12 | volume_list = }} {{Infobox animanga/Other|title=Manga parts|content=# ''Dawn'' (January – November 1967) # ''Future'' (December 1967 – September 1968) # ''Yamato'' (September 1968 – February 1969) # ''Space'' (March – July 1969) # ''Karma'' (August 1969 – September 1970) # ''Resurrection'' (October 1970 - September 1971) # ''A Robe of Feathers'' (October 1971) # ''Nostalgia'' (September 1976 – March 1978) # ''Civil War'' (April 1978 – July 1980) # ''Life'' (August – December 1980) # ''Strange Beings'' (January – April 1981) # ''Sun'' (January 1986 – February 1988)}} {{Collapsed infobox section begin}} {{Infobox animanga/Video | type = OVA | director = {{ubl|Rintaro ({{nowrap|OVA 1}})|Toshio Hirata ({{nowrap|OVA 2}})|Yoshiaki Kawajiri ({{nowrap|OVA 3}})}} | producer = {{ubl|Rintaro|Masao Maruyama|Yasuteru Iwase}} | writer = {{ubl|Tomoko Konparu|Hideo Takayashiki}} | music = Fumio Miyashita | studio = {{ubl|Madhouse|Team Argo Project}} | released = {{ubl|{{small|'''OVA 1: Karma'''}}||December 20, 1986|{{small|'''OVA 2: Yamato'''}}|August 1, 1987|{{small|'''OVA 3: Space'''}}|December 21, 1987}} | runtime = 48–60 minutes | episodes = 3 | episode_list = }} {{Infobox animanga/Video | type = ONA | title = Phoenix: Dougo Onsen Chapter | director = Fumihiro Yoshimura | producer = {{ubl|Ryoutarou Hayashi (2)|Gorou Kumatani (2-3)|Hirotoshi Nonaka (3)}} | writer = {{ubl|Taisuke Nishimura|Shouichirou Masumoto}} | music = Yuji Nomi | studio = Tezuka Productions | first = May 24, 2019 | last = November 20, 2020 | episodes = 3 | episode_list = }} {{Infobox animanga/Video | type = ONA | title = Phoenix: Eden17 | director = Shōjirō Nishimi | producer = Eiko Tanaka | writer = {{ubl|Katsunari Mano|Saku Konohana}} | music = Takatsugu Muramatsu | studio = Studio 4°C | licensee = Disney Platform Distribution | network = | released = September 13, 2023 | episodes = 4 | episode_list = }} {{Infobox animanga/Video | type = Film | title = Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower | director = Shōjirō Nishimi | producer = Eiko Tanaka | writer = {{ubl|Katsunari Mano|Saku Konohana}} | music = Takatsugu Muramatsu | studio = Studio 4°C | licensee = | released = {{Start date|2023|11|03}} | runtime = 95 minutes }} {{Infobox animanga/Other | title = Other adaptations | content = * ''Phoenix'' (1978 live-action film) * ''Phoenix 2772'' (1980 anime film) * ''Phoenix'' (2004 anime TV series) }} {{Infobox animanga/Other | title = Video games | content = * ''Hi no Tori Hououhen'' (1987) * ''Hi no Tori Hououhen: Gaou no Bouken'' (1987) }}

{{nihongo|'''''Phoenix'''''|火の鳥|Hi no Tori|"Bird of Fire"}} is an unfinished manga series written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka. Tezuka considered ''Phoenix'' his "life's work"; it consists of 12 parts, each of which tells a separate, self-contained story and takes place in a different era. The plots go back and forth from the remote future to prehistoric times. The story was never completed, having been cut short by Tezuka's death in 1989.

Several of the stories have been adapted into anime and a live-action film, along with a musical production by the Takarazuka Revue. As of 2008, the entire manga series is available in English-language translations.

==Overview== ''Phoenix'' is about reincarnation. Each story generally involves a search for immortality, embodied by the blood of the eponymous bird of fire, which, as drawn by Tezuka, resembles the ''Fenghuang''. The blood is believed to grant eternal life, but immortality in ''Phoenix'' is either unobtainable or a terrible curse, whereas Buddhist-style reincarnation is presented as the natural path of life. The stories spring back and forth through time; the first, ''Dawn'', takes place in ancient times, and the second, ''Future'', takes place in the far future. Subsequent stories alternate between the past and future, allowing Tezuka to explore his themes in both historical and science fiction settings. Throughout the stories there are various recurring characters, some from Tezuka's famous star system. A character named Saruta appears repeatedly, for example, in the form of various ancestors and descendants, all of whom endure harsh trials in their respective eras.

Tezuka began work on a preliminary version of ''Phoenix'' in 1954, and the series continued in various forms until his death in 1989. As it progresses, the stories seemed to be converging on the present day. Due to Tezuka dying before the manga's completion, it is not known how this would have played out. Scholar and translator Frederik L. Schodt, who knew Tezuka in life, wrote that he fantasized about a secret ending, "waiting in a safe somewhere to be revealed posthumously".<ref name="Schodt">{{cite book | last = Schodt | first = Frederik L. | title = Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga | publisher = Stone Bridge Press | year = 1996 | location = Berkeley | isbn = 1-880656-23-X}}</ref> This was not the case, and Tezuka's final intentions with ''Phoenix'' remain unknown; its episodic nature leaves each volume highly accessible nonetheless. Many of the ''Phoenix'' stories feature an intensely experimental layout and visual design. For example, ''Universe'' tells the story of four spacefarers who are forced to leave their spaceship in separate escape pods. The panels of the story are organized such that each character has his own vertical or horizontal tier on the page, emphasizing the astronauts' isolation; the tiers combine and separate as characters join and split up. In an astonishing sequence after one character's death, he is represented for a number of pages by a series of empty black panels.

Tezuka was said to have been influenced to create the series after listening to the music of Igor Stravinsky. He also told that he created the image of Phoenix as he was impressed by the Firebird in director Ivan Ivanov-Vano's animation film ''Konyok Gorbunok'' (Soyuzmultfilm studio).

==Arcs== After several aborted serialization attempts in the 1950s, in Gakudōsha's ''Manga Shōnen and Kodansha's Shōjo Club magazines'',<ref name ="P">{{cite web | title = Manga Station Alphabet List P | work = Tezuka Osamu @World | url = http://en.tezuka.co.jp/manga/sakuhin/alphabet/p.html | access-date = September 25, 2006}}</ref> Tezuka began ''Dawn'' in 1967, serialized in ''COM''.<ref name ="Dawn">{{cite web | title = The Phoenix: Dawn [COM version] | work = Tezuka Osamu @World | url = http://en.tezuka.co.jp/manga/sakuhin/m057/m057_01.html | access-date = September 25, 2006}}</ref> The serialization of ''Phoenix'' would continue throughout his career, moving to Asahi Sonorama's ''Manga Shōnen'' magazine after ''COM''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s closure in the mid-70s. The final volume, ''Sun'', was serialized in Yasei Jidai. ;{{nihongo|Dawn|黎明編|Reimei-hen}}{{Anchor|Dawn}} :The first volume, originally serialized in 1967. This story takes place in 240–70 AD, in the era of Queen Himiko of the Yamatai. Using her army, led by feudal general Sarutahiko, to invade the Kumaso, she seeks the Phoenix and eternal youth. ;{{nihongo|Future|未来編|Mirai-hen}}{{Anchor|Future}} thumb|right|Cover of ''Phoenix: Future'', C0M Masterpiece Comics edition, printed in 1968. :The second volume, originally serialized in 1967–68. In ''Phoenix''{{'}}s chronology, this is the final story chronologically, taking place near the end of mankind. In 3404, the world has become super-modernized, but humanity has reached its peak and shows decline. A young man named Masato Yamanobe is living with his girlfriend, Tamami, a shapeshifting alien. Pursued by Masato's boss, Rock, they eventually take shelter at the isolated base of mad scientist Dr. Saruta, who attempts to preserve life on Earth with the assistance of his robot, Robita. Eventually, nuclear war breaks out. ;{{nihongo|Yamato|ヤマト編|Yamato-hen}}{{Anchor|Yamato}} :The third volume, originally serialized in 1968–69. This story takes place in 320–50 (Kofun period), and is based on the ''Yamato-takeru-no-mikoto'' legend.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ninpo.org/historicalrecords/kojiki.htm |title= Kojiki, Book Two, Chapter 80 |work= Ninpo.org |access-date= September 25, 2006 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061018182450/http://www.ninpo.org/historicalrecords/kojiki.htm |archive-date= October 18, 2006}}</ref> The decadent king of Yamato is trying to have his own version of Japan's history written. Meanwhile, a "barbarian" tribe, the Kumaso, is writing an unbiased history. The king of Yamato sends his youngest son, Oguna, to murder the barbarian chief, Takeru. On his journey, Oguna encounters the Phoenix. ;{{nihongo|Universe|宇宙編|Uchū-hen}}{{Anchor|Universe}} :The fourth volume, originally serialized in 1969; also known as ''Space''. The story takes place in 2577 AD, where four astronauts must escape their ruined spaceship in escape pods. The survivors eventually crash into a mysterious planet. Among them is Saruta, who contends with Makimura for the heart of their female companion, Nana. On this strange planet, they eventually meet the Phoenix. ;{{nihongo|Karma|鳳凰編|Hō-ō-hen}}{{Anchor|Karma}} :The fifth volume, originally serialized in 1969–1970. The story occurs in 720–752 AD, the period in which the Daibutsu of Tōdai-ji was built during the Nara period. One-eyed and one-armed young man Gao, an ancestor of Saruta, turns into a murderous bandit when he is rejected by his village. He attacks a sculptor, Akanemaru, and the two men's paths diverge, but their fates remain linked. Akanemaru becomes obsessed with the Phoenix to the point that he loses sight of his original dreams, while Gao eventually finds a state of grace despite his continuing hardships. ''Karma'' is widely considered the masterpiece of the ''Phoenix'' series.<ref name="Schodt"/> MSX and Famicom video games, both developed by Konami, were based on this volume. ;{{nihongo|Resurrection|復活編|Fukkatsu-hen}}{{Anchor|Resurrection}} :The sixth volume, originally serialized in 1970–1971. The story takes place in 2482–3344 AD. In an age of robotics, technology and science, young Leon dies in a car accident. He is returned to life by scientific surgery, but his now mostly-artificial brain makes him see living things – including humans – as distorted clay figures, while he sees machines and robots as beauties. Leon falls in love with a worker robot, Chihiro, whom he sees as a beautiful girl, and would fight for this forbidden love. A side plot features the robot Robita, who previously appeared in ''Future''. ;{{nihongo|Robe of Feathers|羽衣編|Hagoromo-hen}}{{Anchor|Robe of Feathers}} :Serialized in ''COM'', 1971. Published in English by Viz as an appendix to the second volume of ''Civil War'' (''Turbulent Times''). Based on the story of the Hagoromo. ;{{nihongo|Nostalgia|望郷編|Bōkyō-hen}}{{Anchor|Nostalgia}} :Published in ''Manga Shōnen (Asahi Sononorama)'', 1976–1978. A science fiction epic about the rise and fall of civilization on the deceptively named desert planet of Eden and one boy's universe-spanning search for the planet of his ancestors: Earth. Features numerous cameos from other Science fiction-based Phoenix stories, including the shapeshifting alien "Moopies" first seen in ''Future'', Makimura from ''Universe'' and an early model of the Chihiro robot from ''Resurrection''. Black Jack also made an appearance here, under a different name. ;{{nihongo|Turbulent Times|乱世編|Ranse-hen}}{{Anchor|Turbulent Times}} :Published in ''Manga Shōnen'' (Asahi Sonorama), 1978–1980. The story is about a woodcutter named Benta and his childhood sweetheart, Obu, who are separated and caught up in the events of the Genpei War. Various historical figures, such as Taira no Kiyomori, appear as major and minor characters. Although the character of Gao (from ''Ho-ō'') appears as a 400-year-old hermit and thus links ''Ranse-hen'' to the rest of the series, this particular arc stands out for its much more naturalistic approach, with next to no fantasy elements in it (except for those used for comedic effect, such as telephones in the 12th century). The Viz (English) edition is entitled ''Civil War'' and is split into two volumes, with ''Robe of Feathers'' included as an appendix to the second volume. ;{{nihongo|Life|生命編|Seimei-hen}}{{Anchor|Life}} :Published in ''Manga Shōnen (Asahi Sonorama)'', 1980. A TV producer who attempts to procure human clones to use in a ''The Most Dangerous Game''-style reality TV program learns the error of his ways when he is mistaken for a clone himself. This episode is notable for only featuring the Phoenix in flashbacks and also for introducing her half-human daughter who does not appear again after this episode. ;{{nihongo|Strange Beings|異形編|Igyō-hen}}{{Anchor|Strange Beings}} :Published in ''Manga Shōnen (Asahi Sonorama)'', 1981. The story of a female Buddhist nun (bhikkhuni) who is imprisoned in a time-warp by the Phoenix as punishment for her sins along with her faithful retainer and is forced to become a healer treating the victims of wars from all over time and space including humans, youkai and various extraterrestrials. This chapter was loosely based on the Hyakki Yakō emakimono by the famous Japanese artist Tosa Mitsunobu (although in the context of the story it's the complete opposite). ;{{nihongo|Sun|太陽編|Taiyō-hen}}{{Anchor|Sun}} :Published in ''Yasei Jidai'', 1986–88. This is the longest story, and was the final volume completed before Tezuka's death.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://en.tezuka.co.jp/manga/sakuhin/m106/m106_01.html | title = The Phoenix: The Sun | work = Tezuka Osamu @World | access-date= September 25, 2006}}</ref> It centers on Harima, a young Korean soldier from the Baekje Kingdom whose head is replaced with that of a wolf by Tang dynasty soldiers following the defeat of the joint Baekje-Yamato force at the Battle of Baekgang. He then escapes to Japan where he becomes the feudal lord Inugami and becomes caught in the middle of the Jinshin War, as well as joining a greater battle between supernatural forces and time-travelling to a bleak future world ruled by a theocracy that claimed to have captured the Phoenix. This chapter stands in stark contrast to the earlier historical Phoenix stories, which tended to de-mythologize the mythical characters therein, for instance in ''Dawn'', many Shinto gods are portrayed as mere humans. In this chapter, however, a wide variety of mythical creatures are shown fighting against Bodhisattva. ;Early Works :Covers the prototype arcs of the series from the 1950s: the unfinished ''Manga Shōnen'' version of the Dawn arc from 1954–55, and the Egypt, Greece and Rome arcs that ran in ''Shōjo Club'' from 1956–57.

===Characters=== * Hi no Tori: Keiko Takeshita/Suzanne Gilad * Saruta: Tetsuo Komura/Danny Burstein * Narrator: Akira Kume/Robert O'Gorman ;Dawn * Nagi: Takeuchi Junko/Michelle Newman * Sarutahiko: Tetsuo Komura * Himiko: Ryōko Kinomiya/Fiona Jones * Hinaku: Sakiko Tamagawa/Carrie Keranen * Susanoo: Eizo Tsuda/James Urbaniak * Guzuri: Michio Nakao/Jay Snyder * Ama no Yumihiko: Masaki Terasoma/Addie Blaustein * Ninigi: Akio Ōtsuka/Richard Epcar * Shaman: Hikaru Miyata * Soldier: Yousuke Akimoto * Uzume: Yumi Nakatani/Erica Schroeder * Uraji: Yūsaku Yara/Marc Diraison * Ojiji: Eisuke Yoda/Richard Springle * Obaba: Natsuko Sebata * Soldier: Dai Matsumoto * Kumaso Takeru: Daisuke Namikawa * Yazuchi: Hirofumi Nojima * Fuki: Akiko Nakagawa * Tajikarao: Toshihide Tsuchiya * Kamamushi: Shōzō Iizuka/David Brimmer * Chamberlain: Mahito Tsujimura ;Resurrection * Leona: Sasaki Nozomu/Christopher Kromer * Lamp: Masashi Hirose/Mike Pollock * Chihiro: Misa Kobayashi/Eden Riegel * Nielsen: Shinji Ogawa/Ted Lewis * Reiko: Fumiko Osaka/Kathleen McInerney * Leona's Father: Mantarô Iwao/Marc Thompson * Young Leona: Reiko Takagi/Christopher Kromer ;Strange creatures * Sakonnosuke: Mayumi Asano/Kathleen McInerney * Yagi Iemasa: Tetsuo Komura * Yaobikuni: Tamie Kubota * Kahei: Bin Shimada/Mike Pollock * Haniwa Jindayu: Kazuhiko Kishino

;Sun * Inugami no Sukune/Harima: Yasunori Matsumoto/Gary Littman * Obaba: Seiko Tomoe/Barbara Goodson * Azumi-no-Muraji Saruta: Tetsuo Komura * Marimo: Ai Uchikawa/Michelle Ruff * Emperor Tenji: Masaru Ikeda/Steven Jay Blum * Ōama no Miko: Naoya Uchida/Crispin Freeman * Ibukimaru: Daisuke Gouri/Michael McConnohie * Empress Consort: Atsuko Koganezawa * Ōtomo no Miko: Hiroshi Kamiya/Liam O'Brien * Prince Takechi: Kenji Nojima/Sebastian Arcelus * Tang General: Koichi Sakaguchi * Soldier: Kouji Haramaki * Hoben: Tamio Ohki/Richard Toth * Getsudan: Hisao Egawa * Nichidan: Hiroshi Iwasaki * Mokudan: Kousei Hirota * Kadan: Naomi Kusumi * Kokushi: Yutaka Nakano * Rubetsu: Takayuki Sugo/Jay Snyder * Iki no Karakuni: Takeshi Watabe/Richard Epcar * Soga no Hatayasu: Yuzuru Fujimoto/John Avner * Soga no Yasumaro: Eiji Yanagisawa

;Future * Masato Yamanobe: Daisuke Namikawa/Michael Sinterniklaas * Robita: Shigeru Ushiyama * Rock: Takuya Kirimoto/Eric Stuart * Old Masato: Osamu Saka/Michael McConnohie * Tamami: Yumi Touma/Stephanie Sheh * Girl: Akiko Nakagawa * Adam: Takahiro Mizushima

;Eden17 * Com: Honoka Yoshida<ref name="ONA-Premiere-Date"/> * George: Yōsuke Kubozuka<ref name="ONA-Premiere-Date"/> * Romi: Rie Miyazawa<ref name="ONA-Premiere-Date"/> * Sudarban: Issey Ogata<ref name="ONA-Premiere-Date"/> * Makimura: Shintarō Asanuma<ref name="ONA-Cast2">{{cite web|last=Tai|first=Anita|title=Phoenix: Eden17 Anime Unveils Key Visual, New Stills, Additional Cast, New Trailer|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-09-03/phoenix-eden17-anime-unveils-key-visual-new-stills-additional-cast-new-trailer/.201849|website=Anime News Network|access-date=April 23, 2026|date=September 3, 2023}}</ref> * Cain: Ryōhei Kimura<ref name="ONA-Cast2"/>

==Publication== {| class="wikitable" |+ Publication timeline |- !Title !Arc !Magazine !Period !Notes |- |Phoenix (''Manga Shōnen'' (Gakudōsha)) (1954–1955) | Dawn (''Manga Shōnen)'' | ''Manga Shōnen'' (Gakudōsha) | July 1954-May 1955 |An early version of the Dawn arc. It was put on hold after eight chapters and was left unfinished due to Manga Shōnen's discontinuation. |- | rowspan="3" |Phoenix (''Shōjo Club'') (1956–1957) | Egypt | ''Shojo Club'' | May 1956-October 1956 | rowspan="3" |A reworked version of ''Phoenix'' aimed at young girls. |- | Greece | ''Shojo Club'' | November 1956-July 1957 |- | Rome | ''Shojo Club'' | August 1957-December 1957 |- | rowspan="15" |Phoenix (COM, ''Manga Shōnen'' (Asahi Sonorama), and ''Yasei Jidai'') (1967–1988) | Dawn | ''COM'' | January 1967-November 1967 |The first part of Phoenix and a reworked version of the Dawn arc in ''Manga Shōnen'' (Gakudōsha). |- | Future | ''COM'' | December 1967-September 1968 | |- | Yamato | ''COM'' | September 1968-February 1969 | |- | Space | ''COM'' | March 1969-July 1969 | |- | Karma | ''COM'' | August 1969-September 1970 | |- | Resurrection | ''COM'' | October 1970-September 1971 | |- | Robe of Feathers | ''COM'' | October 1971 | |- | Intermission | ''COM'' | November 1971 |A short, one-shot essay manga that goes into detail on the production of Phoenix. |- | Nostalgia (COM) | ''COM'' (COM Comics) | December 1971-January 1972 |An early version of the Nostalgia arc. Discontinued after two chapters. |- | Civil War (COM) | ''COM'' | August 1973 |An early version of the Civil War arc, cancelled after a single chapter due to ''COM''{{'}}s discontinuation. |- | Nostalgia | ''Manga Shōnen'' (Asahi Sonorama) | September 1976-March 1977 | |- | Civil War | ''Manga Shōnen'' (Asahi Sonorama) | April 1978-July 1980 | |- | Life | ''Manga Shōnen'' (Asahi Sonorama) | August 1980-December 1980 | |- | Strange Beings | ''Manga Shōnen'' (Asahi Sonorama) | January 1981-April 1981 | |- | Sun | ''Yasei Jidai'' | January 1986- February 1988 |The final part of ''Phoenix'' to be completed during Tezuka's lifetime. |}

===English edition=== ''Phoenix'' is currently published in English by Viz Communications. Although the second volume was initially published by the now defunct Pulp manga anthology in a larger edition, in 2002,<ref>{{Cite book|isbn = 159116026X|title = Phoenix: Yamato/Space|last1 = Tezuka|first1 = Osamu|year = 2003| publisher=Viz Communications}}</ref> Viz took over the rest of the manga series, and re-released the second volume. Frederik Schodt, Jared Cook, Shinji Sakamoto, and Midori Ueda, members of a Tokyo group called "Dadakai", had already translated the first five volumes of the series around 1977/78, but after handing these translation to Tezuka Productions, they collected dust for nearly twenty-five years. Finally, Schodt and Cook finished translating the rest of the series and Viz published the entire series in English, starting in 2002 and completing it in March 2008. It has been criticized for being a dumbing-down, including overlapping artwork with unnecessary new narration, and altering character names (such as Sarutahiko to Saruta) to make their reincarnations more obvious to the reader. However, Tezuka was known to update his manga every few years, so the U.S. version could reflect the last known edition of the series.

The Viz editions are released "flipped" (the original right-to-left orientation is reversed for easier reading in English). Some of the shorter stories have been consolidated into one book (based on the Japanese publication), and ''Troubled Times'' has been split across two; this resulted in each Viz book having a similar page count. While many of the actual Viz books are out of print, they became available again through digital purchase on Kindle. Viz later offered the digital version of ''Phoenix'' manga in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Green|first=Scott|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/01/22-1/viz-begin-offering-osamu-tezukas-phoenix-manga-digitally|title=Viz Begins Offering Osamu Tezuka's "Phoenix" Manga Digitally|publisher=Crunchyroll|date=January 23, 2014|access-date=January 23, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929234742/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/01/22-1/viz-begin-offering-osamu-tezukas-phoenix-manga-digitally|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Volumes in English==== 200px|right|thumb|''Phoenix, Vol. 6: Nostalgia'' cover ;Vol. 1 – Dawn :Released March 2003. ;Vol. 2 – A Tale of the Future / Future :This volume was released first, in May 2002, as a stand-alone graphic novel;<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1152.html | access-date=September 25, 2006 | work=ICv2 | title=Viz To Release Tezuka's Phoenix: A Tale of the Future}}</ref> ''Dawn'' was released a year later, as ''Vol. 1'', followed by the rest of the series. ''A Tale of the Future'' was initially released in a larger size; the series releases, starting with ''Dawn'', are digest-sized. ''A Tale of the Future'' was reprinted in the smaller size in 2004, titled ''Future'', with ''Vol. 2'' appended to the title. ;Vol. 3 – Yamato / Space :Collects ''Yamato'' and ''Space'' in one book; released November 2003. ;Vol. 4 – Karma :Originally titled ''Ho-ō''; released May 2004. Listed at #2 in Time Magazine's "Best Comix of 2004".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/bestandworst/2004/comics.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041223225913/http://www.time.com/time/bestandworst/2004/comics.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 23, 2004 |last=Arnold|first=Andrew |title=TIME 2004 Best and Worst: Comix|magazine= Time |access-date=September 25, 2006 |date=December 18, 2004}}</ref> ;Vol. 5 – Resurrection :Released December 14, 2004. ;Vol. 6 – Nostalgia :Released March 26, 2006. ;Vol. 7 – Civil War, Part 1 :Originally titled ''Troubled Times'', and here split into two books; the first was released June 13, 2006. ;Vol. 8 – Civil War, Part 2 / Robe of Feathers :Collects the ending of ''Troubled Times'', and includes ''Robe of Feathers''; released September 12, 2006. ;Vol. 9 – Strange Beings / Life :Collects ''Strange Beings'' and ''Life'' in one book; released December 19, 2006. ;Vol. 10 – Sun, Part 1 :Released March 20, 2007. ;Vol. 11 – Sun, Part 2 :Released September 18, 2007. ;Vol. 12 – Early Works :Released March 18, 2008.

==Adaptations== ===Live-action film=== {{main|Phoenix (1978 film){{!}}''Phoenix'' (1978 film)}} A live-action film based on the ''Dawn'' storyline, directed by Kon Ichikawa and including some animated sequences directed by Tezuka, was released in 1978. The cast included Tomisaburo Wakayama and Tatsuya Nakadai. It was released in the United States on VHS by Video Action under the cover title ''The Phoenix (Hinotori)'' in 1982, using a subtitled print, letterboxed only in the split-screen sequence. To date, the film is available on DVD only in Spain, where it is titled ''Fénix''.<ref>"The Toho Legacy, Part 3". ''The Japanese Fantasy Film Journal'' #15</ref> The film included a brief appearance by Astro Boy, substituting for another character to illustrate his attempts to get on a horse. The score was co-composed by Michel Legrand and Jun Fukamachi.

===Anime=== Most volumes of ''Phoenix'' were adapted into anime. The best-known feature film, ''Phoenix 2772'', loosely adapts elements from various ''Phoenix'' volumes and other Tezuka works into a complete whole cloth scenario.<ref>{{cite web | title = Anime Station Alphabet List P | work = Tezuka Osamu @World | url = http://en.tezuka.co.jp/anime/alphabet/p.html | access-date = September 25, 2006}}</ref> A second animated feature, ''Phoenix: Karma Chapter'' was released on December 20, 1986, and was later succeeded by two sequel OVAs, ''Yamato Chapter'' and ''Space Chapter'', in 1987.

A 13-episode anime television series aired in 2004 in Japan, and was released in English in October 2007 by Anime Works. The anime premiered in Jamaica on CVM Television in June 2017. A short film by the same staff as the TV series, ''Phoenix: Robe of Feathers'', was released on July 17, 2004.

Dōgo Onsen hot spring bathhouse released a three-episode net anime collaboration with ''Phoenix'' in 2019–2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-22 |title=Dogo Onsen Bath House PR Anime Releases Final Episode |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2020-11-22/dogo-onsen-bath-house-pr-anime-releases-final-episode/.166453 |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=Anime News Network |language=en}}</ref>

A four-episode anime ONA adaptation by Studio 4°C, titled ''Phoenix: Eden17'', premiered worldwide on Disney+ (U.S. on Hulu) on September 13, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-11-30/studio-4c-animates-osamu-tezuka-phoenix-manga-for-disney-in-2023/.192402|title=Studio 4°C Animates Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix Manga for Disney+ in 2024|website=Anime News Network|date=November 30, 2022|access-date=November 30, 2022}}</ref> It was directed by Shōjirō Nishimi, with character designs and animations handled by Tatsuzou Nishida, Eiko Tanaka serving as producer, and Katsunari Mano and Saku Konohana writing the series' scripts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-03-24/phoenix-eden17-anime-video-reveals-staff/.196328|title=Phoenix: Eden17 Anime's Video Reveals Staff|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|date=March 24, 2023|website=Anime News Network|access-date=March 29, 2023}}</ref><ref name="ONA-Premiere-Date">{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|title=Phoenix: Eden17 Anime Reveals Teaser, Cast, More Staff, September 13 Debut, Film Version With Different Ending|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-07-13/phoenix-eden17-anime-reveals-teaser-cast-more-staff-september-13-debut-film-version-with-different-/.200275|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 14, 2023|date=July 14, 2023}}</ref> A film version with a different ending, ''Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower'', premiered in Japanese theaters on November 3 of the same year.<ref name="ONA-Premiere-Date"/>

===Video games=== In 1987, Konami adapted the ''Karma'' arc to the MSX2 computer<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.msxarchive.nl/pub/msx/photos/gamecovers/Hinotori_-Konami-.jpg |title=Hinotori_-Konami-.jpg}}</ref> and the Famicom game console.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hi no Tori: Hōō-hen - Gaō no Bōken (1987) |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/54665/hi-no-tori-hoo-hen-gao-no-boken/ |website=MobyGames |access-date=18 February 2024}}</ref> Despite being based on the same material, they are completely different games (a vertical shoot 'em up and a horizontal platformer, respectively) produced by separate teams.

The Phoenix also made a cameo appearance in the 2003 ''Astro Boy'' series and 2004 ''Astro Boy: Omega Factor'' game for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance, along with a number of other Tezuka characters.

* ''Hi no Tori Hououhen'' (1987, MSX2) * ''Hi no Tori Hououhen: Gaou no Bouken'' (1987, Famicom) * ''Black Jack Hinotorihen'' (2006, Nintendo DS) * ''DS de Yomu Series: Tezuka Osamu Hi no Tori 1'' (2008, Nintendo DS) * ''DS de Yomu Series: Tezuka Osamu Hi no Tori 2'' (2008, Nintendo DS) * ''DS de Yomu Series: Tezuka Osamu Hi no Tori 3'' (2008, Nintendo DS)

==Reception and legacy== ''Phoenix'' is considered one of the greatest manga of all time,<ref>{{Cite web |last=中野晴行 |date=May 9, 2020|title=手塚治虫の『火の鳥』が急激に売り上げを伸ばした理由〈dot.〉 |url=https://dot.asahi.com/dot/2020050100071.html |access-date=October 18, 2022 |website=AERA dot. (アエラドット)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sparrow |first=A. E. |date=April 24, 2007 |title=Phoenix Vol. 10 Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/04/24/phoenix-vol-10-review |access-date=October 18, 2022 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kosaka |first=Kris |date=June 11, 2016 |title='Phoenix': Osamu Tezuka's epoch-spanning manga masterpiece |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2016/06/11/books/book-reviews/phoenix-osamu-tezukas-epoch-spanning-manga-masterpiece/ |access-date=October 18, 2022 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}</ref> and is often ranked as one of Tezuka's greatest manga.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 23, 2002 |title=PHOENIX: A Tale of the Future by Osamu Tezuka |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781591160267 |access-date=October 18, 2022 |website=www.publishersweekly.com}}</ref> In 2006, ''Phoenix'' ranked 1st in the Japan Media Arts Festival's special 'professionals' ranking (consisting of critics, editors, people working in the industry, etc.) for the greatest manga of all time, which it held to mark its 10th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 20, 2007 |title=日本のメディア芸術100選 |url=http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/hundred/choice.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320171620/http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/hundred/choice.html |archive-date=March 20, 2007 |access-date=October 18, 2022}}</ref> In a 2009 poll held by Asahi Shimbun for 'Greatest Shōwa Manga', ''Phoenix'' ranked 12th, the 3rd highest Tezuka manga behind ''Astro Boy'' and ''Black Jack''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=漫画名作ランキング～歴代の傑作マンガ/コミック【昭和編】 |url=http://www.comic-takaoka.jp/ |access-date=October 18, 2022|website=www.comic-takaoka.jp}}</ref>

Mangaka Naoki Urasawa has spoken about how the first time he read ''Phoenix'' he was shocked that a work of this quality existed, and that since reading it, he has never been as significantly impacted by anything since, so much so that he would mark it as the moment he became an adult.<ref>{{Cite web |title=虫ん坊 2014年12月号（153）：TezukaOsamu.net(JP) |url=https://tezukaosamu.net/jp/mushi/201412/special2.html |access-date=October 18, 2022|website=TezukaOsamu.net(JP) |language=ja}}</ref> Comic magazine editor Martin Skidmore called it a 'real contender for comics’ greatest work of any kind'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phoenix - FA Online |url=https://comiczine-fa.com/fa-series-part/phoenix |access-date=2024-05-30 |language=en}}</ref> The Japan Times has referred to it as 'Japanese pop culture at its zenith', stating that it draws critical comparisons to 'everything from Shakespearean tragedy to early Walt Disney'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kosaka |first=Kris |date=2016-06-11 |title='Phoenix': Osamu Tezuka's epoch-spanning manga masterpiece |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2016/06/11/books/book-reviews/phoenix-osamu-tezukas-epoch-spanning-manga-masterpiece/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref> In an interview, mangaka Hitoshi Iwaaki named it among his favorite manga.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-08-29 |title=A short interview with Hitoshi Iwaaki (Historie, Parasyte) |url=https://mangabrog.wordpress.com/2015/08/29/a-short-interview-with-hitoshi-iwaaki-historie-parasyte/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=manga brog |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=QuickJapan vol.59 - QJ 100th ISSUE ANNIVERSARY |url=https://www.ohtabooks.com/qj100/archives/059/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=www.ohtabooks.com |language=ja}}</ref> In her book '''The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga''<nowiki/>', Helen McCarthy says it has 'a strong claim to be considered a contemporary equivalent of Wagner’s Ring cycle'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Helen |title=The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga |url=https://helenmccarthy.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/osamu-tezuka-blad-july-09.pdf}}</ref> IGN, in their review of Vol. 10, stated 'You've read ''nothing'' like this, and it's doubtful you ever will again.'<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sparrow |first=A. E. |date=2007-04-24 |title=Phoenix Vol. 10 Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/04/24/phoenix-vol-10-review |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> Video game designer Yuji Horii and manga artist Katsuhiro Otomo stated it to be among their favorite Tezuka manga.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ドラクエニュース {{!}} ドラクエ・パラダイス(ドラパラ)ドラゴンクエスト公式サイト {{!}} SQUARE ENIX |url=https://www.dragonquest.jp/portal/news_detail/sq/3207/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=www.dragonquest.jp}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=手塚治虫 |date=2025-03-09 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%89%8B%E5%A1%9A%E6%B2%BB%E8%99%AB#%E9%96%A2%E4%BF%82%E3%81%AE%E6%B7%B1%E3%81%84%E6%BC%AB%E7%94%BB%E5%AE%B6 |access-date=2025-03-31 |language=ja}}</ref>

Critic Andrew D. Arnold, writing for Time Magazine, in reviewing the 'Karma' arc stated that it was 'one of the few comix to go beyond supreme artistry into the sublime' and that 'one can barely touch upon the depths of this deeply sophisticated work in the confines of a review. It would take something more along the lines of an exegesis. Tezuka has created a book that combines the excitement, plotting, and characterization of the best novels with the philosophy of the best spiritual essays and the beauty of the graphical arts into a singular masterpiece of world fiction', and that while it is 'as entertaining as any comic can be, it miraculously also achieves what lesser religious comix strive for and fail at: enlightenment.'<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Arnold |first=Andrew D. |date=2004-07-17 |title=Born Again |url=https://time.com/archive/6912413/born-again-3/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Arnold |first=Andrew |date=2004-12-17 |title=Top 10 Everything 2004 - TIME |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1999700_1998812_1999468,00.html |access-date=2025-03-31 |magazine=Time |language=en-US |issn=0040-781X}}</ref>

The titular Phoenix is considered an icon of manga, and a sculpture of the character is featured as a prominent permanent exhibition in the Kyoto International Manga Museum.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Object Hi no Tori (Phoenix) |url=https://kyotomm.jp/en/event/per-exh_phoenix/ |access-date=October 18, 2022|website=京都国際マンガミュージアム |language=en-US}}</ref> A statute of the Phoenix is also featured outside the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum - Hyogo |url=https://en.japantravel.com/hyogo/the-osamu-tezuka-manga-museum/10269 |access-date=October 18, 2022|website=JapanTravel |date=February 19, 2014 |language=en}}</ref>

The Resurrection arc of ''Phoenix'' inspired the lyrical theme of the 2018 song "M.D.O." by heavy metal band Lovebites.<ref>{{cite web |title=LOVEBITES 激ロックインタビュー |url=https://gekirock.com/interview/2018/12/lovebites_2.php |work=Geki-Rock |date=December 9, 2018 |language=ja |access-date=October 18, 2022}}</ref> In celebration of what would have been Tezuka's 90th birthday, Evil Line Records released the compilation album ''New Gene, Inspired from Phoenix'' on October 30, 2019. It features songs inspired by ''Phoenix'' written and performed by various artists, including Glim Spanky, Kizuna AI, Tavito Nanao and Naotarō Moriyama.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://natalie.mu/music/news/350354 |title= 浅井健一、ドレスコーズ、森山直太朗ら10組参加「火の鳥」コンピの収録曲発表 |date=October 4, 2019 |work=Music Natalie |language=ja |access-date=October 18, 2022}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.tezuka.co.jp Tezuka Osamu @World] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031230211227/http://www.tezuka.co.jp/|date=December 30, 2003}}, Tezuka's official site (in Japanese and English) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091230114009/http://viz.com/products/products.php?series_id=132 Official ''Phoenix'' Page at publisher VIZ Media, LLC] * {{Anime News Network|manga|417|Phoenix}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20040404093340/http://www.animerica-mag.com/features/10.04/phoenix.html ''Animerica'' review] * {{IMDb title|qid=Q85766452|id=tt0077673|title=Firebird: Daybreak Chapter}} (''Hi no tori'', live-action film, 1978) * {{IMDb title|qid=Q2463310|id=tt0079293|title=Phoenix 2772}} (''Hi no tori 2772: Ai no kosumozôn'', anime film, 1980) * {{IMDb title|qid=Q122802169|id=tt0185359|title=Firebird: Karma Chapter}} (''Hi no tori: Hôô-hen'', anime film, 1986) * {{IMDb title|qid=Q122802209|id=tt0092259|title=Phoenix: Yamato Chapter}} (''Hi no tori: Yamato-hen'', OVA, 1987) * {{IMDb title|qid=Q122802219|id=tt2992440|title=Phoenix: Space Chapter}} (''Hi no tori: Uchû-hen'', OVA, 1987) * {{IMDb title|qid=Q129715737|id=tt28363275|title=Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower}}

{{Osamu Tezuka|state=collapsed}} {{Tezuka Productions}} {{Madhouse films}} {{Madhouse OVAs}} {{Rintaro}} {{Yoshiaki Kawajiri}} {{Pulp Manga}} {{Studio 4°C}}

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