Details

Release year: 1980

Storyline

In the distant future, a young cadet is sent to find and capture "Cosmozone 2772", a mystical universal Phoenix which possesses the power to rejuvenate the drained Earth.

Top credits

Directors

Writers

Cast

Kaneto Shiozawa — Godô Shingo
Keiko Takeshita — The Phoenix
Hiroshi Ôtake — Crack
Katsue Miwa — Orga

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Did you know

• Osamu Tezuka was inspired to create the "Phoenix" saga after listening to Igor Stravinsky's symphonies, some of which feature in this film.

• While the film's story is completely original, it incorporates elements from the various tales in the "Phoenix" anthology: * the setting of the tale (a worn-out planet populated by people and run by computers) was taken from the "Future" story; * the hunt for the Phoenix amidst political conflict is drawn from the "Turbulent Times" story; * the space odyssey with Dr Saruta was inspired by the "Space" story; * Godo's return to his homeworld (even though he lives on a paradisaical planet) is based on the "Nostalgia" story; * and the two opposite central characters (Godo and Rock) whose lives are altered forever by the Phoenix was taken from the "Karma" story.

• Many of the film's characters were taken from Osamu Tezuka's comics: * Godo is based on the heroic Kenichi Shikishima, who has appeared in many of Tezuka's stories; * the villainous Rock has also appeared in many of Tezuka's stories; * the robotic girl Orga is a tribute to the "Metropolis" character Michi, as well as the more famous Astro Boy; * Rena, the politician's daughter, is based on Princess Sapphire from the "Princess Knight" comic; * A character named Saruta appears in all of the "Phoenix" stories; * Ban is a prominent member of the "Astro Boy" saga; * and the Iceland prison warden is the surgeon Black Jack, the hero of his own comic.

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