OVA
Description
Birdy Cephon Altera is a bio-engineered Ixioran Altan super soldier who serves as an officer for the Space Federation Police. Her origin lies on the planet Alta, where she was created and trained from a young age to be an elite investigator. Her childhood was shaped by the care of a marionette named Violin, who acted as a maternal figure. This period ended in tragedy during a terrorist attack on the Central Tower, where Violin sacrificed herself to protect Birdy from a Berserker-type combat unit. In her rage, a young Birdy destroyed the unit, an act that earned her the unofficial moniker "Berserker Killer Birdy". This title often precedes her, leading to the misconception that she is exceptionally violent rather than it being a reference to this specific childhood feat, a misunderstanding she generally dislikes.
Personality-wise, Birdy is an energetic, quick-tempered, and self-confident young adult with a powerful sense of justice. She can be tactless, blunt, and lacking in common sense and etiquette, which often leads to comedic situations with those around her. Despite this, she is a sharp detective who uses her heightened senses to notice details others miss. She is deeply caring and will go to great lengths to protect innocent lives, even at the cost of her own. Her moral code regarding lethal force varies between different adaptations; in some continuities, such as the reboot manga and its sequel Evolution, she is extremely opposed to killing under any circumstances, while in others, like the original OVA and Decode anime, she is more pragmatic and will kill if necessary. This strong moral compass often puts her at odds with the bureaucracy of the Federation, leading her to act as a "cowboy cop" who prioritizes doing what she believes is right over following orders.
Her primary motivation as a Federation officer is to pursue and bring intergalactic criminals to justice, a mission that brings her to Earth. Her role in the story is set in motion by a tragic accident. While tracking a fugitive, she inadvertently kills a human high school student named Tsutomu Senkawa, who was caught in the crossfire. To save his life, she uses advanced technology to merge his consciousness into her own body, forcing them to share her physical form while his original body is reconstructed. This event creates the central dynamic of the narrative: an uneasy symbiosis where Birdy and Tsutomu must learn to coexist, taking turns controlling her body to handle both her police work and his daily life.
This leads to key relationships that define her development. Her bond with Tsutomu evolves from mutual frustration and resentment into a close friendship and deep reliance, as they come to understand and influence one another. Another significant relationship is with Nataru Shinmoyu, a childhood friend and fellow Ixioran refugee. In the Decode timeline, Nataru travels back in time to save her after the Central Tower attack, and their relationship has romantic undertones, complicated by his troubled path. Her mentor, Skelezzo, also plays an important role, having rescued her after Violin's death and remained a confidant.
Throughout the story, Birdy undergoes considerable development. Her unwavering loyalty to the Federation is tested as she uncovers systemic corruption within the organization. This culminates in arcs where she chooses to defy her superiors and even becomes a fugitive in order to protect someone she was originally sent to apprehend, prioritizing her personal ethics over her duty. Her shared existence with Tsutomu also forces her to confront her own identity and become more connected to humanity, moving from a purely duty-driven officer to someone fighting to protect a specific world and its people.
Birdy possesses a wide array of notable abilities derived from her Ixioran physiology and Federation technology. Her physical attributes are superhuman, granting her immense strength enough to lift cars and break concrete, incredible speed to outrun highway traffic, and high durability to withstand rifle fire. She has enhanced senses, particularly a keen sense of smell that allows her to track individuals over long distances. She can transform her appearance, either partially or fully, to disguise herself, a skill she frequently uses to impersonate Tsutomu. One of her signature techniques is the Crash, which allows her to concentrate her power and release it as a powerful electric shock through physical contact. A more extreme ability is tied to the Q-body, an organelle inside all Ixiorans. Under extreme stress or specific commands, this allows her to transform into a gigantic, monstrous, and nearly indestructible entity, a state she enters only in the most dire circumstances. On Earth, she adopts the civilian identity of Shion Arita, a model and idol, dyeing her hair brown and pretending to be more airheaded to blend in while continuing her investigations.
Personality-wise, Birdy is an energetic, quick-tempered, and self-confident young adult with a powerful sense of justice. She can be tactless, blunt, and lacking in common sense and etiquette, which often leads to comedic situations with those around her. Despite this, she is a sharp detective who uses her heightened senses to notice details others miss. She is deeply caring and will go to great lengths to protect innocent lives, even at the cost of her own. Her moral code regarding lethal force varies between different adaptations; in some continuities, such as the reboot manga and its sequel Evolution, she is extremely opposed to killing under any circumstances, while in others, like the original OVA and Decode anime, she is more pragmatic and will kill if necessary. This strong moral compass often puts her at odds with the bureaucracy of the Federation, leading her to act as a "cowboy cop" who prioritizes doing what she believes is right over following orders.
Her primary motivation as a Federation officer is to pursue and bring intergalactic criminals to justice, a mission that brings her to Earth. Her role in the story is set in motion by a tragic accident. While tracking a fugitive, she inadvertently kills a human high school student named Tsutomu Senkawa, who was caught in the crossfire. To save his life, she uses advanced technology to merge his consciousness into her own body, forcing them to share her physical form while his original body is reconstructed. This event creates the central dynamic of the narrative: an uneasy symbiosis where Birdy and Tsutomu must learn to coexist, taking turns controlling her body to handle both her police work and his daily life.
This leads to key relationships that define her development. Her bond with Tsutomu evolves from mutual frustration and resentment into a close friendship and deep reliance, as they come to understand and influence one another. Another significant relationship is with Nataru Shinmoyu, a childhood friend and fellow Ixioran refugee. In the Decode timeline, Nataru travels back in time to save her after the Central Tower attack, and their relationship has romantic undertones, complicated by his troubled path. Her mentor, Skelezzo, also plays an important role, having rescued her after Violin's death and remained a confidant.
Throughout the story, Birdy undergoes considerable development. Her unwavering loyalty to the Federation is tested as she uncovers systemic corruption within the organization. This culminates in arcs where she chooses to defy her superiors and even becomes a fugitive in order to protect someone she was originally sent to apprehend, prioritizing her personal ethics over her duty. Her shared existence with Tsutomu also forces her to confront her own identity and become more connected to humanity, moving from a purely duty-driven officer to someone fighting to protect a specific world and its people.
Birdy possesses a wide array of notable abilities derived from her Ixioran physiology and Federation technology. Her physical attributes are superhuman, granting her immense strength enough to lift cars and break concrete, incredible speed to outrun highway traffic, and high durability to withstand rifle fire. She has enhanced senses, particularly a keen sense of smell that allows her to track individuals over long distances. She can transform her appearance, either partially or fully, to disguise herself, a skill she frequently uses to impersonate Tsutomu. One of her signature techniques is the Crash, which allows her to concentrate her power and release it as a powerful electric shock through physical contact. A more extreme ability is tied to the Q-body, an organelle inside all Ixiorans. Under extreme stress or specific commands, this allows her to transform into a gigantic, monstrous, and nearly indestructible entity, a state she enters only in the most dire circumstances. On Earth, she adopts the civilian identity of Shion Arita, a model and idol, dyeing her hair brown and pretending to be more airheaded to blend in while continuing her investigations.