Phoenix
火の鳥
Synopsis
From prehistoric times to the distant future, Hi no Tori portrays how the legendary immortal bird Phoenix acts as a witness and chronicler for the history of mankind's endless struggle in search of power, justice, and freedom. 1. Reimei-hen (Dawn) 2. Fukkatsu-hen (Resurrection) 3. Igyou-hen (Transformation) 4. Taiyou-hen (The Sun) 5. Mirai-hen (Future) [Written by MAL Rewrite]
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.