Manga
Written and illustrated by Masami Yuki, Birdy the Mighty was serialized in Shogakukan's manga magazine Shōnen Sunday Zōkan from 1985 to 1988,[3] being serialized while Yuki was working on Kyūkyoku Chōjin R in Weekly Shōnen Sunday.[4] Yuki eventually abandoned the project, leaving it unfinished.[5] Shogakukan released a single volume, which was listed as "volume 1", on July 18, 1996.[5][6]
Over a decade later after its original run, Yuki decided to make a reboot of the manga, keeping certain details from the original work.[7] The series ran in Shogakukan's manga magazine Weekly Young Sunday from December 26, 2002,[7] until the magazine ceased its publication on July 31, 2008.[8] It later ran in Weekly Big Comic Spirits from September 6–22, 2008.[9][10] Shogakukan collected its chapters in twenty volumes, released from June 5, 2003,[11] to October 3, 2008.[12]
A sequel, titled Birdy the Mighty: Evolution, was serialized in Weekly Big Comic Spirits from October 11, 2008,[13] to July 23, 2012.[14][15] An epilogue chapter was published in Monthly Big Comic Spirits on August 27, 2012.[16] Shogakukan collected its chapters in thirteen volumes, released from February 27, 2009,[17] to September 28, 2012.[18]
Original video animation
The original Birdy the Mighty manga was adapted into a four-episode original video animation (OVA) by Madhouse and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, released by Bandai Visual on VHS from July 25, 1996,[19] to February 25, 1997.[20] The four episodes were later re-released on DVD on June 25, 2001.[21]
In North America, the OVA was licensed by Central Park Media, who released the episodes on two VHS sets in 1999,[22] and on two DVD sets in 2004.[23][24]
Anime television series
An anime television series adaptation was announced by Weekly Young Sunday in 2006.[28] Titled Birdy the Mighty: Decode (鉄腕バーディー DECODE), the series was animated by A-1 Pictures and directed by Kazuki Akane, with Hiroshi Ōnogi handling the series' scripts.[29] The series was first broadcast on TV Saitama (and later on twelve other terrestrial stations) for thirteen episodes from July 5 to September 27, 2008.[30] Aniplex collected the episodes in seven DVDs, released from September 24, 2008, to March 25, 2009.[32]
The series was followed by a second season, Birdy the Mighty: Decode 02, which was broadcast for twelve episodes from January 10 to March 28, 2009.[33]
Soundtracks
The music for Birdy the Mighty: Decode was composed by Yugo Kanno. The original soundtrack was released on September 24, 2008.[39] The original soundtrack of Birdy the Mighty: Decode 02 was released on April 22, 2009.[40] The first opening theme, "Sora" (そら), was performed by Hearts Grow, while the first ending theme, "Let's go together", was performed by Afromania.[30] The second opening theme, "kiseki" ("Miracle"), was performed by Nirgilis, while the second ending theme, "Tane" (タネ), was performed by no3b.[33]
