posted on by Adriana Hazra
Pilot anime based on Osamu Tezuka‘s Unico manga preceded theatrical anime films
Tezuka Productions‘ YouTube channel began streaming on Saturday the pilot anime based on Osamu Tezuka‘s Unico manga chapter titled “Black Rain and White Feathers.”
The pilot did not get a theatrical release, but the theatrical anime films The Fantastic Adventures of Unico and Unico in the Island of Magic followed it. Tezuka Productions describes the pilot anime:
In a polluted town devoid of blue sky, Unico takes action to help a sick girl named Chico! This rare pilot film is now available for a limited period to commemorate the publication of “UNICO: Hunted,” the second volume of the newly adapted Unico manga series.
©SANRIO CO., LTD. / Tezuka Productions
The Fantastic Adventures of Unico opened in theaters in March 1981. Toshio Hirata directed the anime at Madhouse. Unico in the Island of Magic opened in theaters in July 1983. Moribi Murano directed the anime at Madhouse.
Tezuka’s original Unico manga centers on a unicorn who has a power to help those who love him. The titular character travels through time and to different countries to make new friends. Tezuka launched the manga in Sanrio‘s Ririka in November 1976. It moved to Shogakukan‘s learning in April 1980.
Scholastic’s Graphix imprint released Unico: Awakening (Unico: Mezame no Ohanashi), a new manga based on Unico, in August 2024. The Gurihiru illustrator duo and Samuel Sattin launched their Kickstarter campaign for a 162-page Unico: Awakening manga in May 2022. The campaign raised its US$50,000 goal in 24 hours. The project raised US$179,794 in total.
Source: Tezuka Productions‘ YouTube channel