The Phoenix

1978 2h 17m JA

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 8

AdventureAnimationAction

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

This extraordinarily complex film is not only a send-up of every samurai film ever made, it is also an extrapolation of the value of life. The Yamatai, represented by Prince Susano-O and elderly advisor Sumuke, hire Yumihiko of Matsuro to hunt the phoenix so that Queen Himiko, sister of Susano-O can have eteranal life.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Jun Fubuki
Oro
Tomisaburō Wakayama
Sarutahaiko, General of the Yamatai
Toshinori Omi
Nagi
Masao Kusakari
Yumihiko of Matsuro
Kaoru Yumi
Uzume, a dancer from Matsuro
Ken Tanaka
Takeru
Reiko Ōhara
Hinaku
Tohru Emori
Susanoo

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kon Ichikawa
Writers: Shuntaro Tanikawa
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

48 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Phoenix Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kon Ichikawa, shot by Kiyoshi Hasegawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Jun Fukamachi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Chizuko Osada shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Jun Fubuki and Tomisaburō Wakayama and Toshinori Omi carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0077673 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 8 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kon Ichikawa directs. Kiyoshi Hasegawa behind the camera. Jun Fukamachi scores. Chizuko Osada cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

148 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Part of the "Phoenix Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Kon Ichikawa, shot by Kiyoshi Hasegawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Jun Fukamachi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Chizuko Osada shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Jun Fubuki and Tomisaburō Wakayama and Toshinori Omi carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0077673 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 8 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
9Released under 11 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Kiyoshi Hasegawa
Original score: Jun Fukamachi
Editing: Chizuko Osada
Costume design: Shigeo Nagashima
Makeup / hair: Shigeo Tamura
Runtime: 137 min · 2h 17m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
IMDB: The Phoenix (1978)

Part of

Phoenix Collection

Phoenix was Tezuka's life work as well as one of his representative works. He explored philosophical themes of "life and death" and "reincarnation" in depth by depicting stories developed around Phoenix, the immortal life-form beyond time and space. Phoenix navigates the readers by traveling back and forth, between past and future, through the series. Tezuka reflected his own historical view and prevision for future, also tackled a vast-scale question of what universe is.