The appeal and evaluation of "BIRTH": A deep review

Comprehensive evaluation and recommendation of BIRTH

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

August 21, 1984

■Release and sales

Victor Music Industries

■Frequencies

80 min

■Original Story

Kaname Planning

■ Director

Shinya Sadamitsu

■ Production

Idol, Kaname Production

■ Story

Aquaroid is a planet where human civilization has declined and is ruled by inorganic lifeforms called Inoganics. One day, a boy named Shulgi Nam, who lives in a remote area of ​​the planet, obtains a mysterious, shining sword. It is a holy sword called Shade that can defeat Inoganics. A battle between Nam and Inoganics begins over the Shade.

■Explanation

This was the first original video animation released by the record company Victor Music Industries. It was shown in cinemas on July 21st, before the video was released. The manga by main staff member Yoshinori Kaneda was serialized in "Animage" (Tokuma Shoten) and then transferred to "THE MOTION COMIC" (Tokuma Shoten) after its launch.

■Cast

・Shulgi Nam/Kazuki Yao/Yupiteru Rasa/Miina Tominaga/Bao Ruzan/Ichiro Nagai/Junobel Kim/Kento Shiozawa/Monger/Fuyumi Shiraishi/Arya/Keiko Toda/Innoganic Baby/Noriko Tsukase

■ Main staff

・Director / Sadamitsu Shinya・Producers / Onodera Shuichi, Aihara Yoshiaki・Producer / Nagao Akihiro・Planning / Onodera Shuichi, Aihara Yoshiaki・Original work / Kaname Planning・Screenplay / Takegami Junki・Original concept cooperation / Takegami Junki・Animation director, character design / Kaneda Yoshinori・Animation coordinator / Kageyama Masato, Inomata Mutsumi・Mechanic design / Obara Shohei, Kobayashi Makoto・Art director / Katsumata Geki・Director of photography / Sano Teiji・Editing / Kakesu Shuichi, Matsumura Masahiro・Music / Hisaishi Joe・Sound director / Matsuura Noriyoshi・Director of photography / Sano Teiji・Producer / Idol, Kaname Productions

■ Main Characters

-Shulgi Nam: The protagonist. A resident of the planet Aquaroid. After obtaining the Shade, he becomes the target of the Inoganics.

A childhood friend of Jupiter Lasanam. She fights against Inoganic alongside Nam.

■ Main robot items

・Holy Sword (Shade)
The only weapon capable of defeating the inorganic lifeform Inoganic.

■ Theme songs and music

・TM1
・Sack's Warrior・Lyrics by Mayumi Arai・Composition by Yoshinori Ayaka・Arrangement by Joe Hisaishi・Singer by Shabana

・IM1
・A mysterious inspiration・Lyrics by Masako Arikawa・Music by Kisaburo Suzuki・Arrangement by Mitsuo Ogita・Singer by Mina Tominaga

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

Story and Themes

"BIRTH" is an OVA released by Victor Music Industries in 1984, and is known as a pioneer of original video animation. The story is set on the planet Aquaroid, which is ruled by the inorganic lifeforms Inoganic, and tells the story of a young boy named Shulgi Nam who obtains the holy sword Shade and fights against the Inoganic. Although the story is simple, it depicts hope and despair, as well as the human survival instinct, and deeply moves viewers.

The central theme of the film is the fight to protect human dignity and freedom. Shulgi Nam's growth and the bonds he forms with his friends support the story and evoke empathy from the viewer. In addition, the film depicts the value and fragility of human life through a contrast with inorganic lifeforms, the Inoganik. These themes reflect the social situation and people's feelings at the time, adding depth to the film.

character

The main character, Shulgi Nam, is portrayed as a brave boy with a strong sense of justice. His growth and change leaves a strong impression on the viewer. In particular, his actions and decisions after obtaining the Shade have a major impact on the progression of the story. Nam's childhood friend, Jupiter Rasa, is also an important character who supports him, and her presence is a source of emotional support for Nam.

The other characters are also unique, such as Bao Ruzan and Junobel Kim, who each add depth to the story. In particular, the Innoganic characters are not just villains, but have their own backgrounds and motivations, providing the viewer with multiple perspectives. The portrayal of these characters enhances the appeal of the entire work.

Visuals and animation

The visuals of "Birth" are of very high quality for a 1980s OVA. The unique touch of character designer Yoshinori Kaneda brings out the worldview of the work. The mechanical design is also excellent, with the beauty of the Holy Sword Shade standing out in contrast to the inorganic design of Innoganic.

The animation quality is also high, with dynamic movements and detailed depictions, especially in the battle scenes. Cinematographer Teiji Sano's technical skills shine through, creating a visual impact. Art director Geki Katsumata's backgrounds also realistically depict the desolate world of the planet Aquaroid, heightening the viewer's sense of immersion.

Music and Sound

The music was composed by Joe Hisaishi, whose beautiful melodies enhance the atmosphere of the work. The theme songs "Zack's Warrior" and "Fushigi na Hirameki" are particularly memorable for their lyrics and melodies that reflect the theme of the story. The sound effects by sound director Noriyoshi Matsuura and the performances of the voice actors also enhance the realism of the work. In particular, Kazuki Yao's role as Shulgi Nam and Mina Tominaga's role as Jupiter Rasa realistically express the emotions of the characters, eliciting sympathy from the viewers.

Historical Significance

"BIRTH" occupies an important position as a pioneer of the new media format known as OVA. With the expansion of the video market, this work was the catalyst for establishing OVA as a genre, and it had a major impact on the anime industry thereafter. It was also the first work produced by Victor Music Industries, which entered the anime production industry as a record company, and it has been praised for its new attempt at fusing music and anime.

Furthermore, Yoshinori Kaneda's manga was serialized in "Animage" and "The Motion Comic," making it a pioneer of media mix. For these reasons, "Birth" is an important work in the history of anime, and its significance is still highly regarded today.

Recommendation

I highly recommend "BIRTH" to anyone who wants to learn about the history of OVAs and enjoy anime from the 1980s. I also recommend it to anyone who wants deep themes and beautiful visuals. It is a must-see for anyone who wants to learn about the growth story of Shulgi Nam and the bond between him and Jupiter Rasa.

Furthermore, this work will surely inspire many people to become interested in Joe Hisaishi's music and Yoshinori Kaneda's design. It is also a must-watch for those who want to experience the possibilities of the new media format known as OVA. "BIRTH" will surely inspire and move many viewers.

■ Additional information

Background

The production of "BIRTH" began when Victor Music Industries saw OVA as a new business opportunity. At the time, the video market was expanding rapidly, and Victor jumped on the bandwagon and entered the anime production business. In addition, the fact that the top creators in the anime industry at the time, such as director Shinya Sadamitsu and character designer Yoshinori Kaneda, gathered together also contributed to the high quality of the work.

Media Development

"BIRTH" was shown in cinemas before its video release, garnering much attention. In addition, the manga by Yoshinori Kaneda was serialized in "Animage" and "The Motion Comic," making it a successful media mix. These developments not only increased the work's recognition, but also demonstrated the potential of the new media format known as OVA.

Impact

"BIRTH" had a major impact on the anime industry as a pioneer of the new media format known as OVA. Many OVAs were subsequently produced, and as the video market expanded, the anime industry as a whole was revitalized. Furthermore, Victor Music Industries entered the anime production industry as a record company, which led to the spread of new attempts to combine music and anime. For these reasons, "BIRTH" is an important work in the history of anime, and its influence continues to this day.

How to watch

"BIRTH" can still be purchased on DVD and Blu-ray. It is also available on some video streaming services. If you are interested in the history of OVAs or anime from the 1980s, be sure to check it out. The deep themes and beautiful visuals of the work are sure to move and inspire viewers.