Phoenix: Space Chapter

1987 0h 48m JA

😐

5.5

MID

★5.5TMDB · 8

Science FictionDramaFantasyAnimation

Synopsis

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This is the third part of "The Phoenix" series of the Kadokawa Haruki Office Co., Ltd. version. It is an animation version of the original story by Tezuka Osamu that depicts the cruelty of love through the fate of spacemen destined to drift through the universe after losing their mother ship..

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Masako Ikeda
Hi no tori
Keiko Toda
Nana
Kaneto Shiozawa
Taiin
Akira Kamiya
Makimura
Tessyo Genda
Captain (voice)
Mori Katsuyuki Yuu
Saruta

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Writers: Hideo Takayashiki, Tomoko Konparu
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

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 48-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, shot by Kinichi Ishikawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Masako Ikeda and Keiko Toda and Kaneto Shiozawa carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt2992440 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Yoshiaki Kawajiri directs. Kinichi Ishikawa behind the camera. Satoshi Okada cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 48-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
239 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Part of the "Phoenix Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, shot by Kinichi Ishikawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Satoshi Okada shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Masako Ikeda and Keiko Toda and Kaneto Shiozawa carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt2992440 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 8 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Kinichi Ishikawa
Editing: Satoshi Okada
Runtime: 48 min · 0h 48m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
IMDB: Phoenix: Space Chapter (1987)

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.