Phoenix also known as Hi no Tori is a Japanese Fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka.

The manga series was serialized under multiple publishers over its run. It first started serialization under COM, which was later closed and the manga moved to Manga Shounen. The final volume, Sun, was serialized in The Wild Age. Osamu Tezuka, the legendary author, considered Phoenix his “Life’s work”. Unfortunately, the manga could never see it’s ending, as Tezuka passed away in 1989. A total of 12 volumes were released by that time.

An anime television series adaptation by Tezuka Productions was released in 2004, consisting of 13 episodes. Aside from that, several OVAs, two anime films, and a live-action movie based on the series have been released.

“It is said that the one who drinks the lifeblood of a Phoenix will never die. And will live on just as she has lived...... here on the fire mountain for time eternal.”

The story begins with Uraji, the villages greatest warrior, in is pursuit of a legendary Phoenix on an active volcano. He slowly sneaks upto the bird and fires an arrow which hits directly in her chest. The Phoenix falls, but as soon as Uraji gets close, she immediately gets up and flies away. The Phoenix is said to possess incredible healing powers as well.

In a desperate attempt, Uraji jumps onto the Phoenix, but the bright flesh of the bird causes his body to catch fire and dies as he falls into a boiling river.

The villagers find his body and bring it back to the village, where his sick wife and her younger brother, Nagi, is waiting for him to return with the Phoenix’s blood to cure his wife. They are devastated upon seeing the burned body of Uraji.

After the funeral ceremony, a guard approaches the chief and informs him of a strange man whose ship got wrecked and he drifted to this land. The foreigner, Em Dee, begs the chief to spare his life and that his skills as a doctor could come in handy. The chief brings him to Uraji’s wife, Hinaku, and tells him to cure her in exchange for sparing his life.

Using his foreign learned skills, Em Dee manages to cure Hinaku’s sickness and in return is allowed by the chief to stay and live in the village.

As three months pass by, Em Dee has become a very respectable man through his habit of helping the sick, and has caught feelings for Hinaku. They get married in front of the entire village and everyone is happy at their union.

On the night of the wedding, Em Dee sneaks out of the house and stands on a cliff by the ocean. Nagi notices him and hides behind a rock. From the cliff, Em Dee lights a wood on fire and signals at the ocean. Slowly, the lights In the ocean get closer and closer and it is revealed that the neighboring country was planning on invading all along, and Em Dee was just a spy working for them.

Scared for his sister, Nagi runs to the village to get her out but it’s too late, the troops are already here.

An all out slaughter begins. The enemy troops mercilessly kill women and children without remorse. The village chief and the enemy troop commander, Saruta, engage in an intense battle for survival.

Nagi, who is looking for his sister, climbs up a tree and starts shooting the enemy soldiers. The tree suddenly catches fire and falls, with Nagi stuck below it.

After a fierce battle, Saruta ends up the Victor and the chief meets his end. Stuck under the tree, Nagi shoots an arrow at Saruta’s arm. His soldiers are ready to kill Nagi, but Saruta has other plans. He orders to take Nagi with them to the land ruled by Himiko.

Meanwhile, Em Dee is seen running from the soldiers, with an unconscious Hinaku on his shoulder.

Where will this incident lead Nagi? What awaits ahead?