TETSUWAN BIRDY

Tetsuwan Birdy: Decode

Tetsuwan Birdy: Decode (鉄腕バーディー DECODE), is a new TV anime adaptation of Birdy the Mighty (鉄腕バーディー), 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. It is also slated to air on the satellite network Animax from July 14, 2008 with another season slated to air on January 2009. The TV series is featuring a different seiyū cast from the original OVA series.[2] At Anime USA 2009, Funimation Entertainment announced that it has acquired the show and will be released in 2010.

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 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

Protagonists of Birdy the Mighty: Decode TV series. From left to right: Tsutomu Senkawa, Birdy Cephon Altera.

Birdy Cephon Altera Voiced by: Mitsuishi Kotono (Japanese), Alex McCord (English) (OVA) Voiced by: 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 robot named Tute. Birdy is an Altairian, a human-like alien, possibly from a planet orbiting the star Altair and more specifically an Ixion Altairian, a bio-engineered supersoldier bred for combat.

Tsutomu Senkawa Voiced by: Iwanaga Tetsuya (Japanese), Justin Thompson (English) (OVA) Voiced by: 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 Hayamiya Voiced by: Yukana (Japanese), Matty O'Shea (English) (OVA) Voiced by: Kanae Itō(TV)

Tsutomu's female friend and classmate.

Hazumi Senkawa Voiced by: Maruo Tomoko (Japanese), Debbie Rabbai (English) (OVA)

Tsutomu's older female sibling.

Sayaka Nakasugi

Sayaka had a weak body until she was involved in a car accident. After she healed from the accident her demeanor became more cheerful.

Aliens

Gomesu/Gomez Voiced by: Akio Ohtsuka (Japanese), Cory Carthew (English) (OVA) Voiced by: Unshō Ishizuka (TV)

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

Christella Revi Voiced by: Mako Hyōdō (Japanese), Mary Alice McGuire (English) (OVA)

A rogue scientist who is the antagonist of the story.

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. 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.

Production

Birdy the Mighty Decode was first announced under the name Birdy the Movement. It was then revealed in the Tokyo International Anime Fair that the show would be aired in summer 2008 as Birdy the Mighty Decode. A second season of Birdy the Mighty: Decode began to air on January 9, 2009, 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" that connects the first and second seasons. It is currently planned for DVD release on July 22, 2009. The episode is named Between you and me. The ending says Bye Bye and to be continued.

Media

DVD The first DVD for Birdy the Mighty Decode was released on September 24, 2008.

OST The Birdy the Mighty Decode OST was released on September 24, 2008 in a simultaneous release with the DVD.

Music

Opening Theme Songs

• Hearts Grow - "Sora" (そら; Sky) (episodes 1-13)

Ending Theme Songs

• Afromania - "Let's go together" (episodes 1-13)

Albuns

• [2008.08.24] Tetsuwan Birdy Decode Original Soundtrack (鉄腕バーディー DECODE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK)

Singles

• [2008.09.03] Hearts Grow - Sora (そら; Sky)
• [2008.09.03] Afromania - Let's go together

DVDs

• [2009.07.22] Tetsuwan Birdy Decode - The Cipher (鉄腕バーディー DECODE - THE CIPHER)

External Links

Birdy the Mighty Manga Official Site (Japanese) Birdy the Mighty Decode Official Site (Japanese) Birdy the Mighty Decode (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia