Synopsis

Tsutomu was an average, or below average, high school student who knew nothing about the conflicts raging outside of his own planet. So when beautiful space cop Birdy accidentally kills him in an altercation with an alien criminal, both of their lives change forever. In order save Tsutomu's life, Birdy and Tsutomu must share the same body, something which turns out to be just as bizarre and difficult as it sounds.

Review

Birdy the Mighty comes in two volumes, Double Trouble and Final Force, containing two episodes each. This four-part series is expertly done on several levels, so it's surprising that it seems to be almost unheard-of. As one would expect, the story provides for some very sticky situations and it's humorous to watch both Birdy and Tsutomu attempt to carry on their lives as normally as possible, while avoiding embarrassing predicaments.

Of course, determining who will have control of the body when is a major problem. Birdy's important role as an interstellar crime fighter doesn't allow her to remain idle for long, and Tsutomu's already-complicated life as a teenager has been complicated further by the unorthodox arrangements. His fledgling romance with his girlfriend Hazumi is put under further strain as she become suspicious of his erratic behavior.

Along the way Birdy fights a number of robotic and alien enemies, showcasing the very crisp and colorful animation. The action is fast-paced and well-choreographed, with a very visceral appearance. Birdy's athletic abilities and combat skills are put to the test as she confronts alien foes and an unstoppable cyborg assassin. The various creatures are uniquely designed and the animation is has a very dynamic feel, especially during fight sequences. This series is also one of the few I can remember that makes such good use of both action and humor elements. The situational comedy is frequent and well-executed without becoming too predictable.

Character designs are attractive but mostly unremarkable, although Birdy has a rather distinctive hairstyle and a personality to match. The background elements are not especially noteworthy either, but they are good-looking and believably detailed.

The musical score has an upbeat tempo that is very appropriate to the show, and the voiceovers seem to match the characters perfectly. The show exhibits very good production values all around.

Fortunately, there isn't much in the way of objectionable material, so it's fairly easy to recommend. There are a couple risque situations that arise out of the body-sharing theme, as you can well imagine, but they are all fairly tame.

The only major gripe I would have with the series is its length, and the inconclusive ending that is the result. The show is full of energy and vitality and would be great fun to watch for many more episodes. It's a shame that it's all over after a couple hours, since you are left with the feeling that the characters had much more material to offer that was never taken advantage of. Still, the short run time helps to keep the quality of the episodes high, if you're looking for an optimistic slant.

Conclusion

Birdy the Mighty has mass appeal, since it excels in several areas. Fans of comedy series and action series alike will find something to appreciate in this quality product, and perhaps someday there will be an encore performance.

-Review by Reptile (13 Mar, 2007)

Audio:	Good quality with fitting voiceovers
Video:	Crisp, colorful animation
Plot:	Far-fetched, but a great set-up for comedy
Style:	Fun and classic style with broad appeal
Characters:	Likeable, though not especially deep
Violence:	Moderate
Language:	Mild
Nudity:	Mild
Genre:	Action
Episodes:	4
Rating:	4.0 of 5
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