Birdy Cephon Altirra, a hot-headed humanoid policewoman with superhuman abilities, accidentally kills Tsutomu, a high-strung student, while pursuing an alien criminal. Her superiors are not pleased, so she and Tsutomu time-share one body, to their mutual inconvenience. She wants to go after nefarious aliens; he wants to pass his exams and not freak out his girlfriend.
Some have called this a neglected classic. It isn’t, but it is enjoyable. Although it’s not a “madcap adventure,” contrary to the blurb on the case, the scenes with Tsutomu’s bewildered family are funny. Other parts are quite grim. There are also lots of fights, often spectacular, if that’s what you like.
These four episodes were apparently intended to be the beginning of a longer series. Although the fourth part does wind up a narrative arc, there’s plenty of unfinished business left for Birdy and Tsutomu to attend to in the subsequent episodes that were never made.
The music, by Kou Ohtani, is disappointing. His soundtrack for Haibane Renmei is the best score for any show — not just anime — I’ve ever heard, but his work for Birdy the Mighty is merely competent.
There’s some nudity. One of Tsutomu’s friends tries to interest him in pornography, but otherwise there’s little off-color. Some of the aliens and transformed humans are grotesque, and there is a lot violence, sometimes bizarre. It’s not for kids.
I’d really like to know how Birdy’s uniform stays in place.
(2005)
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