Tezuka Productions’ official YouTube channel has begun streaming the pilot anime for Unico: Black Cloud and White Feathers, a rare early animation based on Osamu Tezuka’s beloved Unico manga. The limited-time release commemorates the publication of Unico: Hunted, the second volume of the newly adapted Unico manga series.
A Glimpse into Unico’s Animated Origins
The Unico: Black Cloud and White Feathers pilot film, originally produced in 1979, serves as an ecologically-themed precursor to the later theatrical anime films, The Fantastic Adventures of Unico (1981) and Unico in the Island of Magic (1983). Although it did not receive a theatrical release at the time, this 25-minute short adapts the manga chapter “Black Rain and White Feathers” (serialized in 1977). The pilot features Unico assisting a sick girl named Chico in a polluted town, where he takes action against a factory that has robbed the sky of its blue. This early work highlights Unico’s power to help those who love him, a central theme of Tezuka’s original creation.
The Enduring Legacy of Osamu Tezuka’s Unico
Osamu Tezuka launched the Unico manga in Sanrio’s Ririka magazine in November 1976, later moving it to Shogakukan’s Learning in April 1980. The series follows the titular unicorn, Unico, who possesses the unique ability to bring happiness to those around him. Due to the gods’ jealousy over this power, the West Wind is tasked with whisking Unico away to different times and places, ensuring he never stays in one place long enough to make anyone permanently happy. Despite this perpetual journey, Unico continuously encounters new friends and uses his magic to aid them. The manga was notable for its full-color presentation and its Western-style, right-to-left reading format.
New Manga Adaptations Drive Renewed Interest
The streaming of the Black Cloud and White Feathers pilot is tied directly to the ongoing revival of the Unico manga. Scholastic’s Graphix imprint released Unico: Awakening in August 2024, a new manga based on the series. This project, illustrated by the Gurihiru duo and written by Samuel Sattin, garnered significant support through a successful Kickstarter campaign in May 2022, raising over US$179,000. The second volume, Unico: Hunted, which specifically adapts the “Black Rain and White Feathers” chapter, was released on July 1, 2025, further fueling interest in the classic pilot anime. The pilot’s release offers fans a rare opportunity to see an important piece of Unico‘s animated history, connecting the franchise’s past with its present resurgence.
