24 minSeason 2 • Episode 12
LatestNataru and Moss fight but Moss is nearly killed before being rescued by Birdy who attempts to convince Nataru to surrender and receive treatment before his Iksiola state kills him. He refuses and nearly kills Birdy before Senkawa switches in and convinces Nataru that being an Iksiola means more than just killing. Nataru relents and jumps back in time to the moment of the tower attack becoming the man who saves a young Birdy via a time-loop.
While pursuing fugitives the Space Federation police officer Birdy Cephon Altera finds herself on Earth.
Acting
Saeko Chiba's dual performance as Birdy and 'Tsutomu-pretending-to-be-Birdy' is *chef's kiss*
Direction
Kazuki Akane balances goofy slice-of-life with genuinely brutal action sequences
Visual Effects
A-1 Pictures' 2008 cel-shaded aliens still look crisp as hell
Keiji Fujiwara
Keisuke Muroto (voice)
Kaori Nazuka
Capella Titis (voice)
Saeko Chiba
Birdy (voice)
Miyu Irino
Tsutomu Senkawa (voice)
Masaya Matsukaze
Nataru (voice)
Ako Mayama
Irma (voice)
Atsushi Ono
Gatoi (voice)
Mamiko Noto
Violin (voice)
Shintaro Asanuma
Valic (voice)
Takayuki Sugo
Dusk (voice)
Yuhko Kaida
Moss (voice)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This 2008 series is actually a REMAKE of a 1996 OVA, itself adapted from Masami Yuki's 1985 manga—Birdy's been kicking alien ass for nearly 40 years.
The 'shared body' premise influenced later anime like Your Name and Kokoro Connect, but Birdy goes darker—Tsutomu literally dies in episode 1 and spends half the series as a disembodied voice.
JP
