Monday, July 21, 2025

Tezuka Osamu Works: Kyoto Animation Theater

An attraction devoted to Tezuka Osamu's anime works opened in Kyoto, Japan in 1999. It featured a theater with a "300 inch" (25 foot) screen that showed newly created shorts as well as full-length theatrical anime movies. After it closed in 2011, the shorts became available on digital and physical media. Eventually, they were collected on a single DVD called Tezuka Osamu Works: Kyoto Animation Theater.  


Orphan is pleased to bring you the first English-subtitled release of this DVD.

Kyoto Animation Theater consists of eleven segments. Four were shown as "twin bills" of a famous Tezuka Osamu character paired with a chapter about the history of Kyoto. The other three were longer and were shown by themselves. All are preceded, and sometimes followed, by a linking commentary from the Hi no Tori (Phoenix), who acts as a mouthpiece for Tezuka's core beliefs in peace, love, and protecting the environment.

  1. Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atom): The Blue Knight. Astro Boy (Atom) tries to save the city from destruction when fellow robot Bluebone goes berserk over the wanton killing of his family.


  2. Shinsengumi. A retelling of the Ikedeya Incident during the late Bakumatsu.


  3. Princess Knight (Ribbon no Kishi). Princess Sapphire must pose as a boy to secure her family's succession to the kingship.


  4. Benkei and Ushiwakamaru. The immensely powerful Genji samurai Benkei tries to protect Minamoto no Yoshitune, known in childhood as Ushiwakamaru (young bull), from the jealous wrath of his older brother Yoritomo. Tezuka's gag mascot, Hyoutan-tsugi, has a cameo in this segment.


  5. Jungle Emperor (Jungle Taitei). Leo the white lion, emperor of the jungle, befriends a human-raised leopard cub named Paola, who has been accidentally freed when his cage falls out of his owners' car. (Despite the name, Paolo is definitely male, using the pronoun boku rather than watashi.)


  6. Honnou-ji. A retelling of the assassination of Oda Nobunaga, known as the Honnou-ji Incident. The epigraph for the episode is from the Kouwakami version of Atsumori; Nobunaga quoted it frequently.


  7. Saving Our Fragile Earth: Unico Special Chapter. Newly-born Unico discovers that the Earth has become uninhabitable, except for a human-tree hybrid named Tsubasa. Together, they must try to reverse mankind's terrible decisions that wrecked the environment.


  8. Black Jack: Old Woman (or Grandma). Black Jack rescues a stranded couple whose mother is forever grasping for money. It turns out she is paying off a debt to another underground doctor. Hyougan-tsugi makes another appearance.


  9. Capital Transfer to Heian. A retelling of the transfer of the Imperial Capital to Heian-kyo, the original name for Kyoto.


  10. Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atom): The Last Day of the Earth. Atom befriends a scrapped robot named Bem on a planet of junk and brings her back to Earth. When Bem's planet suddenly sets a collision course with Earth, Bem must choose between survival and the needs of her new home.


  11. Phoenix (Hi no Tori): Hagoromo Chapter. Zuku is a vicious bandit, known as the Demon of Mt. Horai for robbing and killing travelers. When he finds a young woman with a beautiful, shimmering cloak, he is moved to spare her and to build a new life with her. But painful circumstances force him back to banditry, and he is consumed by demons. Only then does the young woman learn that the story is not about him, but her.


These shorts were created between 1999 and 2004 and are thus posthumous; Tezuka Osamu died in 1989. Nonetheless, they mostly reflect his characters, values, and animation style. There's some great slapstick in the Princess Sapphire and Jungle Emperor segments. The otherwise preachy Unico segment has some fanservice. On the other hand, the linking animation of the Phoenix was done with "state of the art" CGI and looks like it came out of an 8-bit video game. The same clip is used multiple times, with different narration.

Each episode had its own voice cast and staff, so the credits are complicated:

1. Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atom): The Blue Knight

  • Shimizu Mari (Atom) starred as Atom in Tetsuwan Atom (1963, 1980) and movies, Mars in Jetter Mars, Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island TV, Adam Nasenkopf in Marine Express, Atom in Tezuka Osamu Ga Kieta?! 20 Seiki Saigo no Kaijiken, and Tezuka Osamu's mother in Tezuka Osamu Monogatari: Boku wa Son Gokuu. The last three are Orphan releases.
  • Morikawa Toshiyuki (Bluebone) took over the role of dad Nohara Hiroshi in the Crayon Shin-chan franchise. He played lead roles in Gallery Fake, Yami no Matsui, Kyou Kara Maou, and numerous other shows. He's also a regular in Orphan's releases. He played the lead role in Ear of the Golden Dragon, Wolf Guy, and Nozomi Witches, as well as delinquent student Fuwa in Mellow, Kazuma in Bakuen Campus Guardress, and Inspector Kendo in the Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo series. He delivered a scene-stealing performance as Panda Mama in Shirokuma Cafe. He also appeared in Al Caral no Isan, Akai Hayate, Dragon Fist, Kiss wa Mi ni Shite, Blazing Transfer Student, and Wild 7.
  • Motoi Emi (Uran) played Kumiko in Dokyuusei and Doukyuusei 2 Special: Sotsugyousei, an Orphan release, little Yamada in Chibi Maruko-chan since episode 1425(!!), and Chouen in the Koihime Musou franchise.
  • Katsuta Hisashi (Dr. Ochanomizu) played the same role in Tetsuwan Atom (1963, 1980, 2003), the Tetsuwan Atom movies, Fumoon, and Tezuka Osamu Ga Kieta?! 20 Seiki Saigo no Kaijiken, as well as Dr. Nasenkopf in Marine Express; the last three are Orphan releases.. He also played Louis XV in Rose of Versailles.
  • Ootomo Ryuuzaburou (Lamp) played Flatwoods Monster in DAN DA DAN, Suit Man in Himawari Too!!, Crocodile in One Piece, Hakim in Planetes, and Nebuchadnezzr in Tezuka Osamu's Tales from the Old Testament: In the Beginning, an Orphan release.
  • Ooki Tamio (Dr. Ross) played  Aramaki in the GITS movies, the title role in Planetarian: Hoshi no Hito, Dr. Tenma in the 1980 version of Tetsuwan Atom and Tezuka Osamu Ga Kieta?! 20 Seiki Saigo no Kaijiken, Darai Sem in Amon Saga and Ibuya in Hidamari no Ki. The last three are Orphan releases.
  • Yamada Miho (Maria) (Narusawa Misako) played Melmo's mother in Fushigi na Melmo, Atosuryua in the Banner of the Stars series, and Minami in Comic Party. She played Narusawa in SotsugyouseiI and appeared in Sanctuary, both Orphan releass.
  • Amano Yuri (Tonto) played the title role in The Legend of Snow White, Julia in Daddy Long Legs, Kiyone in the Tenchi Muyo franchise, and Moemi in Video Girl Ai. She appeared as Lady Freeze in Bakuen Campus Guardress, Catherine in Okama Hakusho, Kuzunoha in Akuemon, Angie in Condition Green, Elthena in Eien no Filena, Kitagawa in Nozomi Witches, Noriko in Singles, the teacher in Tanjou: Debut, and Yuko in St. Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki, as well as multiple roles in Fukuyama Gekijou and Gakkou no Yuurei, volume 1, all Orphan releases.

Directed by Kuwabara Satoshi, who also directed Black Jack, Black Jack 21, Black Jack Final, Tezuka Osamu Ga Kieta?! 20 Seiki Saigo no Kaijiken, The Cafe Terrace and Its Goddesses, and Adachi and Shimamura.

2. Shinsengumi - no cast credits available, also directed by Kuwabara Satoshi.

3. Princess Knight (Ribbon no Kishi)

  • Touma Yumi (Sapphire) played the title roles in Emma: A Victorian Romance and Baby Felix, and Urd in the Aa! Megami-sama franchise. She appeared in numerous Orphan releases, including Sotsugyou: Graduation, Boyfriend, Condition Green, Fukuyama Gekijou, Tezuka Osamu ga Kieta?!, Gude Crest, and Eguchi Hisashi no Nantoko Nareudesho.
  • Chafurin (Duke Duralumin) played the title role in Barbapapa Around the World, Inspector Megure in the Detective Conan franchise, Scotch Jii-san in the Hello Kitty franchise, Isono in Sazae-san (since 2014), and Kamoda in Yawara! He also appeared in B.B. Fish, Coluboccoro (2019), Jikuu Bouken Nuumamonjaa, Yamato 2520, Ohoshi-sama no Rail, the Sanada 10 special, and Izumo (1991), all Orphan releases.
  • Maruyama Eiji (King) played the Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland, Steiner in Chrno Crusade, Cao Fusheng in Fighting Beauty Wulong, and Tarueru in Perrine. He appeared in Maris the Choujo, an Orphan release.
  • Yamada Miho (Queen): see the first segment.
  • Kakegawa Hirohiko (Sir Nylon) played Jody's fiance in Yawara!, Eddie in Armitage III, Moses in The Golden Laws, Hisao Seki in Ningen Kakumei, and Dracule Mihawk in One Piece. He appeared in Izumi 91, the Sangokushi movies, Starship Troopers, and Tomoe ga Yuku!, all Orphan releases.
  • Miyata Kouki (Franz) played Suzaku no Rei in Saint Beast, Daisuke in Major, Ken in Kyou Kara Maou!, Kouta in the Baka to Test franchise, Shimon in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de: Hachyoushou, Akifumi in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de 2, Musashibou Benkei in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de 3: Kurenai no Tsuki, and Badger, Sea Otter, and Squirrel Mama in Shirokuma Cafe. The last three are Orphan releases.
  • Kumagaya Niina (Tink) played Unipuma in New Dominion Tank Police, Tomomi in Doukyuusei 2: Sotsugyousei, and a student in Exper Zenon. The last two are Orphan releases.

Directed by Nishida Masayoshi, who also directed Allison & Lillia, Jiisan Baasan Wakagaeru, and Kakushite! Makina-san!!

4. Benkei and Ushiwakamaru

  • Miyata Kouki (Minamoto): see the third segment.
  • Murozono Takehiro (Benkei)  played Antonio in Inochi no Chikyuu: Dioxin no Natsu, an Orphan release, and had featured roles in numerous shows, including the Macross 7 franchise, Vampire Miyu, Fullmetal Panic, Hanada Shounen-shi, Monster, and Tsurune.

Also directed by Nishida Masayoshi.

5. Jungle Emperor

  • Tsuruno Kyoko (Leo) played Eris in Gear Fighter Dendoh, Kurusu in Guardian Hearts, Yuka in Kaikan Phrase, and, as Mifuyu Hiiragi, the title role in I Dream of Mimi.
  • Ootani Ikue (Paola) provided the voice of Pikachu in in the Japanese, English, Spanish, and German versions of the Pokemon shows. She also played Mitsuhiko in the Detective Conan franchise and Tony Tony Chopper in the One Piece franchise. She appeared as the Fujiwara twins in Haruka Naru Toki no Naka de 2, Ann in Next Senki Ehrgeiz, and Sumire in Kiss wa Mi ni Shie, all Orphan releases.
  • Matsuo Ginzou (Tommy) played Doka in Biriken, Danbei in Cutie Honey Flash, Kuwagata in Inspector Fabre, Hemu Hemu in Nintama Rantaro, and Smoker in One Piece.
  • Aizawa Masaki (Bubu) played Dragon in Enen no Shouboutai S3, Master in Inukami!, Bob Skylum in Moonrise, Wiper in Once Piece, Shouryuu in The Twelve Kingdoms, and John H Watson in Undead Murder Farce.
  • Nishimura Tomohiro (Coco) played IR in Corrector Yui, the tanuki patriarch in Pom Poko, Hess in the Saber Marionette franchise, Amano Jaku in the Urotsukidoji franchise, Namekuji-neko in Alice SOS, Corkus in Berserk 97, Edward T Maclegan in Condition Green, Shibuki in Seirei Tsukai, Gon in Fire Tripper, Bunji in Koiko no Mainichi, and a delinquent in Laughing Target. The last five are Orphan releases.

Directed by Yoshimura Fumihiro, who also directed two Anime Mirai OVAs, Kacchikenee and Kumi to Tulip.

6. Honnoji - no cast credits available. Also directed by Yoshimura Fumihiro.

7. Saving Our Fragile Earth: Unico Special Chapter

  • Yajima Akiko (Unico) played the title role in Idol Densetu Eriko, Lemon in VS Knight Ramune & 40 Fresh, Takami in Geobreeders, Dorothy in The Big O, Pino in Ergo Proxy, Kogitsune in Natsume Yuujinchou, Mipple in the Futari wa Precure franchise, and the title roles in Shin-men and of course Crayon Shin-chan. She played Lesser Panda (Red Panda) in Shirokuma Cafe, Maijima Karen in Sotsugyousei, and Hikari in Kakyuusei (1995), and appeared in Gakkou no Yuurei, volume 2, all Orphan releases.
  • Takato Yasuhiro (Tsubasa) played Artemis in the Sailor Moon franchise, Gluttony in original Full Metal Alchemist, Russia in the Hetalia franchise, Kase-bake in GeGeGe no Kitarou (2007), and Kusuke the whale in Sensou Douwa: Chiisai Sensuikan ni Koi wo Shita. 
  • Banjou Ginga (Yokuno, Desire Spirit) played the title role in 80 Days Around the World with Willy Fog, Baloo in The Jungle Book, and chairman Nakiri Senzaemon in Shokugeki no Souma. He appeared in Tenjou Hen: Utsu no Miko, Gude Crest, Oruorane the Cat Player, Amon Saga, Ipponbouchou Mantarou, Sanada 10, and the What's Michael? OVAs, all Orphan releases.
  • Shinohara Emi (Goddess) played B-Ko in the A-ko properties and Sailor Jupiter in the Sailor Moon franchise. She appeared as Yuri Onagara in Blue Sonnet, vulgar daughter Stephanie in Eguchi Hisashi no Kotobuki Gorou Show, Reiko in Akai Hayate, Lady Manthrum in Hayou no Tsurugi, a newscaster in Junk Boy, and Android 1025 in Oz, all Orphan releases.
  • Kumagaya Niina (Nishikaze, Time Fairy) played Unipuma in New Dominion Tank Police, Tomomi in Doukyuusei 2 Special: Sotsugyousei, and a student in Exper Zenon. The last two are Orphan releases.
  • Kasahara Rumi (Water Fairy) played Shizuka in Dai-Guard, Pastel in Fortune Quest, Nina in Debutante Detective Corps, Kyoko in the Hell Teacher Nube franchise, Misao Amano in Magical Girl Pretty Sammy, Kanako in Princess Nine, and Koumi in Sakura Diaries.
  • Asagami Youko (Sphinx) played Saeko Nogami in the City Hunter franchise and its spin-off, Angel Heart, Selene in Queen Millennia, Mrs. Hudson in Sherlock Hound, Mori Yuki in the original Yamato franchise, Amesis in Yamato 2520, and the female lead in Heart Cocktail, volume 4. The last two are Orphan releases.

Also directed by Nishida Masayoshi.

8. Black Jack: Old Woman

  • Ootsuka Akio (Black Jack) played the title roles in most of the Black Jack properties, Magma Taishi, Blade, and Montana Jones. He also played Gozo in the Aika franchise, Batou in the Ghost in the Shell franchise, the villain All for One in Boku no Hero Academia, and Nyanko Big in one memorable episode of Tada Never Falls in Love. He played Kenneth Guildford in Nana Toshi Monogatari, George in Condition Green, the narrator in Fire Emblem, Nobunaga the boss crow in Ultra Nyan 2, Zilu in Eiyuu Banka Koushi-den, Gale in Dragon Slayer Eiyuu Densetsu, and Black Jack in Tezuka Osamu Disappears, all Orphan releases.
  • Mizutani Yuuko (Pinoko) played Pinoko in all the Black Jack properties, as well as Misako in Houkago no Tinker Bell, Hiromi in Milky Passion: Dougenzaka - Ai no Shiro, Rika in Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki, Lila in Eien no Filena, Anna in Inochi no Chikyuu: Dioxin no Natsu, Shoko in Gakkou no Yuurei, volume 1, and Dr. Uematsu Kikue in Yume Kakeru Kougen, all Orphan projects.
  • Kyouda Hisako (Yoshiko) played Minuet in Bremen 4, the Witch in Adachigahara, and the maid in Lunn Flies into the Wind, all Orphan releases. She also played  Kiyo in Botchan (1986), Sawa in Mermaid Forest, Tama in Mushishi, Obaba in Nausicaa, Darkness in Peter Pan, Yoshi Tamazaki in Showa Monogatari, Rin in the Stratos 4 properties, and Magno Vivan in Vandread.
  • Watanabe Misa (Ritsuko) played Akeginu in Basilisk, Eriko in Gilgamesh, and Mattsu in Mattsu to Yama to Moburi-san. She appeared in Gakkou no Yuurei, volume 4, an Orphan release.
  • Suzuki Takuma (Yoshiro) played Hisao in Bad Boys, Fatton in Bottom Biting Bug, Shinjiro in Cromartie High School, Yuu in Daa! Daa! Daa!, and Colbert in the Zero no Tsukaima franchise. She appeared in Nagasarete AirantouI, an Orphan release.
  • Kamei Yoshiko (Mrs. Jindai) played the title role in Rerere no Tensai Bakabon, Gema in the Di Gi Charat franchise, and Nyan in Ultra Nyan: Hoshizora kara Maiorita Fushigi Neko, an Orphan release. She has had featured roles in Magical Meow Meow Taruto and Tiger and Bunny.

The director, Okada Kazuo, mostly did art direction, including for Magma Taishi, Black Jack, Akuemon, Harbor Light Story, and other segments in this anthology.

9. Capital Transfer to Heian - no cast credits available. Also directed by Nishida Masayoshi.

10. Astro Boy: The Last Day on Earth

  • Shimizu Mari (Atom) - see chapter 1
  • Katsuta Hisashi (Dr. Ochanomizu) - see chapter 1
  • Tamagawa Sakiko (Bem) Tplayed Natsumi Rumi in Call Me Tonight, Shiori in Akai Hayate, Lar Lipp in Greed, and Shoku the armorer in Genji, Part 1, all Orphan releases. She also played Athena in Appleseed XIII, Tachikoma in GITS SAC, Kanoko in Shouwa Monogatari, Dotta in Sorcerer Hunters, Rouge in Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko, Masaki in the Tenchi Muyo franchise, Natsumi in the You're Under Arrest franchise, and Princess Suurya in Kamasutra.
  • Nishimura Tomomichi ("Scrubbing Brush")  appeared as the narrator in YuYu Hakusho, Anzai-sensei in Slam Dunk, Shibaraku Tsurugibe in Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru, and Jamitov Hymem in Mobile Suit Z Gundam. He had a cameo as Don Dracula in Bremen 4 and appeared in Eguchi Hisashi no Kotobuki Goro Show, Eguchi Hisashi no Nantoka Naru Desho!, Fire Tripper, Fumoon, Hi-Speed Jecy, A Time Slip of 10,000 Years: Prime Rose, Tezuka Osasmu's Tales from the Old Testament, Wild 7, Wolf Guy, Aoki Honoo, and Yamataro Comes Back, all Orphan releases.

Also directed by Nishida Masayoshi.

11. Phoenix: Hagoromo

  • Kobayashi Tetsuo (Zuku) does not appear in any anime databases.
  • Saitou Eri (Toki) played Nikora in Mermaid Melody: Pichi Pichi Pitch, Towa in Super GALS!, and Tiore in Triange Heart: Sweet Songs Forever.
  • Tanaka Atsuko (Phoenix) played Mauve in ACCA, Nena Hargen in Aika, Cassandra in Alexander: Reign the Conqueror, Caster in the Fate franchise, Motoko Kusanagi in the GITS franchise, Bynas in Ozma, Claudette in Queen's Blade, and Jagara in Wolf's Rain. She also played the nameless female lead in Heart Cocktail Again, Yuri in Nemure Omoigo, Sora no Shitone ni, new Mamamega in Megami Paradise, and Dana in AWOL Compression Remix, and she appeared in Gakkou no Yuurei, volume 3, all Orphan releases

Also directed by Nishida Masayoshi.

These complications also extend to how Kyoto Animation Theater appears in the standard anime databases. AniDB and ANN have seven separate entries, reflecting how the films were shown in the Kyoto theater, while MAL has eleven separate entries, for the individual episodes.

They're also classified as movies rather than OVAs, because they originally appeared in a theater. I do not look forward to getting this release listed.

To facilitate viewing the segments as separate films, I have created eleven "play chapter" files, named "nn. <segment name>.mkv". If you place these in the same directory as the complete anime, and if your media player supports ordered chapters, these files will play the named segment and nothing else.

This show has been in the works for seven years or more. The original raw dates back to 2018. Various attempts at translation over the years foundered on lack of expertise or lack of time. This year, at last, Yume created a usable translation for ten of the eleven segments; Iri's previously released translation was modified for the Black Jack segment. Yume and ninjacloud timed. I edited and typeset. Nemesis and Uchuu QCed. M74 encoded the workraw from the R2J DVD before he retired from fansubbing. An anonymous friend did the released encode.

Tezuka Osamu Works: Kyoto Animation Theater shows off the breadth of Tezuka Osamu's style, from slapstic comedy to overt sentimentalism. There's no continuity among the segments, so the viewer can dip in and out as desired for a ten or fifteen minute diversion. I enjoyed the whole thing, although I did find the Unico chapter preachy and the Phoenix' commentary a bit sententious. You can get this release from the usual torrent site or from IRC bot Orphan|Arutha in channels #nibl or #news on irc.rizon.net.

 

 

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