The appeal and evaluation of Birdie, the small plane on a southern island [3rd season]

Birdie, the Little Plane of the Southern Island [3rd Season] - A fascinating story of planes

"Birdie, the Little Plane of a Southern Island [Season 3]" is an anime series that aired on NHK Educational TV from April 2 to November 7, 2007. The series is set on Bird Paradise Island, a small island in the southern seas, and depicts the fun adventures of novice small plane Birdie and his friends. The series, which consists of 35 episodes, was very popular with children and has been rebroadcast.

■ Story

Birdie is a novice small plane who has been working at Bird Paradise Airport on Bird Paradise Island for two years. With the aim of becoming a full-fledged plane someday, he works hard day and night on sightseeing flights with his rival small helicopter, Philip, and his good friend, the goldfish-shaped helicopter, Annie. This is the story of Birdie and his unique friends as they make a name for themselves on the southern island.

■Explanation

"Birdie, the Little Plane of a Southern Island [Season 3]," an original animation produced by NHK, tells the story of a little rookie plane named Birdie, who has a great adventure with his unique and fun friends on a southern island. This series follows the first and second seasons that were broadcast from December 2005 to November 2006, and became a big hit with children. According to the official website of Studio Deen, this work is also being rebroadcast and is loved by many viewers.

■Cast

Birdie is played by Kanzaki Chiro, Philip by Takimoto Fujiko, and Annie by Toyoguchi Megumi. Other voice actors include Ishizuka Unsho as Big Papa, Inoue Kikuko as Big Mama, Kujira as Patrick, Tachibana Shinnosuke as Robert, Chafurin as Palmer, Takeda Masanori as Johnny, Yabe Masashi as Panchos, Nishimoto Riichi as Mosquito, Matsuzaki Akiko as Fly, Ichiki Mitsuhiro as Bee, Maruyama Eiji as Morgan, Ishii Koji as Sergeant Skyshark, Tamagawa Sakiko as Whale, Kuni Sachi as Dru, Hanamura Remi as Finn, Tsubuyaki Shiro as Bogey, Asano Mayumi as Nancy, Yamakawa Aya as Margaret, and Tanaka Kan as Stanley.

■ Main staff

The director is Bob Shirahata, the series is composed by Tetsuo Tanaka and Junji Nishimura, the animation is supervised by Jimmy Murakami, the music is by Haruomi Hosono, Takashi Okada, Haru Koshimi, Yasuo Kimoto, MCU, and Atsushi Yamaji, the character design and art setting is Masaaki Kawanami, the 3D director is Shudai Baba, the animation producer is Kazunori Noguchi, the producer is Yuji Shibata, and the production managers are Atsuko Kashiwagi and Masato Usui. The animation is produced by Studio Deen, co-produced by Sogo Vision, and produced and written by NHK.

■ Main Characters

Birdie is a small sightseeing plane in his second year of employment, and although he is still a beginner, he is positive and hardworking when he sets his mind to it. He loves his own propeller, but he is also afraid of lightning. Philip is a small sightseeing helicopter that has been with the company for two years and three months, and is proud of its computational memory device, and loves calculations and data collection. He is a good rival of Birdie. Annie is a small sightseeing helicopter in her first year of employment, and is a special edition with a goldfish design, and is an idol of Bird Paradise Airport. Whether it's work or play, she doesn't like it if she isn't having fun right now. Big Papa is a veteran control tower with a lot of experience, and is a reliable presence with a strong sense of responsibility and always gives accurate instructions. Big Mama is the hangar where everyone who is tired from work can rest, and is the mother of Bird Paradise Airport. Patrick is a large transport helicopter, and is proud of his strength and speed. He is enthusiastic to carry any amount of luggage. Robert is a state-of-the-art mid-sized jet airliner, a pretentious man who boasts a beautiful fuselage and a shiny, polished lower tail. Palmer is a mid-sized passenger plane that was once the royal plane of a certain kingdom. He usually handles regular flights with the United States, but whenever a VIP comes to Bird Paradise Island, he is in charge. Johnny is a reliable coast guard who is proud of his supple footwork in a twin-engine jet, but he also has a bit of a clumsy side. Panchos is a coast guard who pairs up with Johnny, and is amphibious and very active on the sea. He is good at surfing. Mosquito is a twin-engine jet with six landing gears, and is the boss of the trio Hula-B-Moth. He admires bad guys and is always messing with the birdies. Fly is a bullet kid who always flatters Mosquito by grinding his front wheels together, but once he starts running, he can't stop. Bee is a technician who can hover with the propellers facing upwards, and is the most calm of the three. Morgan is a 70-year-old mail plane, a veteran who has been working for 70 years without missing a day. Sergeant Skyshark is a nihilistic biplane, a hero that Birdie admires, but his true identity is shrouded in mystery. Whale is a large airship that works for sightseeing, advertising, and event campaigns, and is an entertainer who is good at singing. Dru and Finn are small airships for advertising and campaigns, and are in their first year of operation. They are twins who are always floating in the sky and love to gossip. Bogie is a tanker and has a very pure personality. No matter who the other person is, whether they are cheerful or sulky, they always do things at their own pace, which heals everyone. Nancy is a fire truck exclusively for Bird Paradise Airport, and usually sprays water to wash the planes and motivate them. Margaret is an ambulance driver, and although she is a bit of a worrier, she is kind, pure, and cute, and everyone's idol. Stanley is a towing tractor that does his job efficiently and technically, and is the unsung hero that supports Bird Paradise Airport. He is a strict person who follows the rules.

■Subtitle

Each of the 35 episodes, from episode 71 "Aim to be a Star Newscaster!" to episode 105 "Is Birdie the Culprit?", has a different subtitle. Each episode shows Birdie and his friends facing various adventures and challenges.

■ Related works

Related works include "Southern Island's Little Plane Party Season 1" and "Southern Island's Little Plane Birdie Season 2." These works also feature the story of Birdie and his friends on Bird Paradise Island.

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme "Boku no Kimochi" was written by Akiko Yano, composed and arranged by Haruomi Hosono, and sung by Mei Kurokawa. The ending theme "FLY ME" was written and composed by Akiko Yano, arranged by Haruomi Hosono, and sung by Akiko Yano. These songs add to the atmosphere of the work.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Birdie, the Little Plane on a Southern Island [Season 3]" is a work that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. The animation, which depicts the unique characters of Birdie and his friends and the beautiful scenery of the southern island, is visually enjoyable. Also, each episode has a different story, so you can watch it with a fresh feeling every time. This work is especially recommended for those who are interested in airplanes and aviation. The growth, friendship, and adventures of Birdie and his friends will provide viewers with many emotions and laughs.

This work also contains educational elements, as it was broadcast on NHK Educational TV. It will teach children the importance of having dreams and goals, and the importance of working together with their friends. In addition, the personalities and backgrounds of each character are carefully drawn, eliciting deep empathy from viewers. In particular, Birdie's positive attitude and hard-working attitude will surely inspire courage in many people.

Furthermore, the quality of the work has been raised by the participation of a stellar cast of voice actors and music staff including Haruomi Hosono. The opening and ending songs are also impressive and will remain in the viewers' hearts. The technical capabilities of Studio Deen, which was in charge of animation production, also shine, and the beautiful images and movements liven up the work.

"Birdie the Little Plane on a Southern Island [Season 3]" is a family-friendly animated film and a must-watch for anyone interested in airplanes and aviation. Watch the adventures of Birdie and his friends on Bird Paradise Island.