Saving Our Fragile Earth: Unico Special Chapter

2000 0h 16m JA

🤯

8.5

MASTERPIECE

★8.5TMDB · 2

FantasyAnimation

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

This is the fourth original animated piece for the Tezuka Osamu Animation theatre that takes up Tezuka Osamu's message of "Saving our Fragile Earth" as its theme, and together with Unico's adventures commemorates the theatre's first anniversary. Unico, a unicorn's child, has dropped down from heaven. During his journey on the north wind, he meets Tsubasa, a tree boy who can speak. The Earth has become totally ruined to the extent that no creature can live there, because humans have drained it of all resources and destroyed the environment. Unico and Tsubasa go on a journey to find a way to make the Earth inhabitable again. They finally meet the Sphinx and the "time fairy" at the end of their hard journey. They decide to go back to the past and prevent humans from taking the wrong path. However, they can stay in the past for only five minutes. Will they be able to alter the future of the Earth in such short time? Their adventures to restore the Earth begin...

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Akiko Yajima
Unico
Yoko Asagami
Sphinx
Yasuhiro Takato
Tsubasa
Emi Shinohara
Banjo Ginga

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Masayoshi Nishida
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 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 16-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

CINEMA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Akiko Yajima and Yoko Asagami and Yasuhiro Takato carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt1619027 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Masayoshi Nishida directs. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 16-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
226 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Part of the "Unico Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Akiko Yajima and Yoko Asagami and Yasuhiro Takato carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt1619027 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Runtime: 16 min · 0h 16m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
IMDB: Saving Our Fragile Earth: Unico Special Chapter (2000)

Part of

Unico Collection

A story about how joy and happiness can be the most powerful weapon ever. A young unicorn is ordered to be taken from his home by the gods. They are envious of little Unico's power to bring joy and happiness everywhere he goes. Come see the power of friendship triumph over all, in Unico.