The Phoenix

The Phoenix

137 mins | Action, Adventure, Animation | Aug. 12, 1978

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.

The Phoenix

137 mins | Action, Adventure, Animation | Aug. 12, 1978

The Phoenix
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.
IMDb rating 6.0
Producers Toho Company, Ltd., Tezuka Productions, Hi no Tori Productions
Original title 火の鳥
Directors Kon Ichikawa
Writers Shuntaro Tanikawa, Osamu Tezuka

Cast

Jun Fubuki

as Oro

Tomisaburō Wakayama

as Sarutahaiko, General of the Yamatai

Toshinori Omi

as Nagi

Masao Kusakari

as Yumihiko of Matsuro

Kaoru Yumi

as Uzume, a dancer from Matsuro

Ken Tanaka

as Takeru

Reiko Ōhara

as Hinaku

Tohru Emori

as Susanoo

Ryūzō Hayashi

as Guzuri

Mieko Takamine

as Queen Himiko of Yamatai

Tatsuya Nakadai

as Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara

Takeshi Katō

as Kamamushi

Junzaburō Ban

as Exorcist

Hideji Ôtaki

as Sukune