Phoenix

Immortality remains the ultimate obsession for humanity, spurring conflict and shifting civilizations. In Tezuka's Phoenix, the legendary firebird carries the elusive promise of endless life, but its embrace comes at a terrible price. The series gathers five narratives drawn from different eras and futures, each probing what people will sacrifice or endure to live beyond death. Across these tales, ships, cities, and empires rise and fall in a cyclical drama, hinting that humanity's desire for permanence may be the very thing that doom us. The episodes explore the heavy burden that eternals bear, from loneliness to the moral costs of endless time.

Released in 2004 as an animated adaptation, this Tezuka project reimagines Phoenix as five interconnected tales across time. The voice cast includes Junko Takeuchi and Sakiko Tamagawa, highlighting a notable translation of the manga into anime.

Viewers and critics have noted that the work treats immortality as a burden rather than a gift. Its themes, desire, responsibility, and the costs of longevity, are woven through the five stories, giving the series a reflective tone within its sci fi fantasy frame.

Phoenix has long stood as a touchstone in Osamu Tezuka's body of work, blending myth with science fiction to probe worth and mortality. This 2004 adaptation brings that legacy to a contemporary animation audience and signals Tezuka's enduring influence on anime storytelling.