The Bird Man of Kilimanjaro

The Bird-Man of Kilimanjaro

TV Episode 107

TV Episode Summary:

On board the 999, Tetsuro and Maetel eat in the dining car. Maetel comments on Tetsuro’s big appetite and they joke about him being a samurai. The Conductor announces their next stop as the “Knights of Kilimanjaro” with a layover time of just over 24 hours. The Conductor claims the planet has real knights/samurai. Tetsuro says the landscape is beautiful, but reminds him of something. Maetel references the real Mt. Kilimanjaro on Earth. She says it’s a symbol of chivalry on this planet. Tetsuro notices some planes taking part in a dog fight nearby. Many brown colored planes are taking on grey colored planes and manage to shoot one down. Maetel tells Tetsuro two nations are at war on this planet.

A gray plane piloted by an orange haired mans shoots down one of the brown planes and he throws a bouquet of flowers at it. Another gray plane is then taken down by one of the brown planes. Tetsuro talks about how the planes resemble those from World War I. Tetsuro notices one of the planes off on its own. Its pilot, Izaka, is being called via the radio on his plane by his captain, the orange haired man. The brown planes decide to pull out. The pilots from opposite sides salute each other as they depart. Tetsuro praises the chivalry of the battle. We cut to the 999 having arrived at the station. Within the hotel Tetsuro and Maetel spot some of the pilots coming down the stairs. The orange haired man, Captain Alman greets them and invites Maetel to a dance tonight. Maetel declines as she is tired.

A man reports to Alman and he excuses himself. Tetsuro watches as Alman and several of his subordinate force Izaka, out of the hotel. Izaka says his barracks were destroyed by bombing but they don’t care and tell him to sleep in the fields. Tetsuro says they should let him stay and Alman says this has nothing to do with him. Alman tells him Izaka is a coward in battle and unlike them is a commoner rather than a noble. Normally he wouldn’t even be a pilot but he has this position due to pilot shortages. One of the pilots knocks Izaka down the stairs. Izaka apologizes to Tetsuro as they cross a bridge and introduce each other’s names. Tetsuro expresses being annoyed over Alman, but Izaka tells him not to focus so much on the nobles.

Kikuo, a young boy runs by and Izaka tells Tetsuro they are like brothers. Izaka has brought a small box containing one of his pet pigeons whom he lets go. Izaka says he became a pilot because he wanted to fly the skies freely like a bird. We cut to the next day as a number of the grey planes take off from the ground. Tetsuro hopes for Izaka to not die in the oncoming dog fight. The brown planes approach and the dog fight begins. Izaka soon finds himself with two planes pursuing him. Meanwhile Kikuo comes to the hotel to say hello to Tetsuro. Spotting Izaka’s plane above he drops his box and the pigeon flies away. He chases it to the bridge and one of the brown plane pilots spots him and shoots him. Tetsuro rushes across the bridge and finds Kikuo’s body.

The pilots are told that a ceasefire has been declared. Izaka is ecstatic and lands, but finds Tetsuro waiting for him with the bird box. He tells him a plane with a black cross on it shot Kikuo. At Kikuo’s grave, Izaka tells Tetsuro and Maetel how he was alone just like him and sobs. Fireworks go off nearby, which Maetel says is to celebrate the end of the war and the chivalry they fought with. Alman has a brief speech, celebrating with the head of the other squadron, Otto. Izaka says they killed the poor people like him like bugs by the thousands and is enraged at them calling this chivalry. Maetel tells Tetsuro the 999 will be taking off soon and there’s nothing they can do. Alman says farewell to Otto as he and his squad take off. Izaka takes off in his plane and immediately takes down three of the brown planes. He shoots down a fourth.

Otto manages to get behind Izaka’s plane, and shoots the plane, which heads down towards the river. Izaka thinks of how this will be the end and flashes back to a fun time in his past with Kikuo. Izaka continues to be pursued by Otto’s plane, but manages to splash water in it. This causes Otto’s plane to crash into the bridge and blow up. Izaka lands his plane shortly after. Alman confronts Izaka, saying he not only screwed over Captain Otto but didn’t follow chivalry. Izaka is angry at him, a noble trying to force chivalry on him, a commoner. Izaka says his war has just started.

Alman orders Izaka to be executed. He is brought over to a desolate field. Izaka refuses a blindfold and faces his executioners. Tetsuro shoots away the guns of all the men, then shoots away Alman’s sword too. Tetusro says many people have died because of this stupid game they’ve played. The soldiers all flee. Tetsuro shoots off Izaka’s handcuffs. Alman says every country on this planet will chase him and he won’t get away. Izaka says he has a place to run to. At the station, the Conductor worries about if Tetsuro will make it in time and Maetel begs for 5 more minutes. Tetsuro worries about the wounded Izaka getting into his plane.

Hearing the 999’s whistle, Izaka tells Tetsuro to not worry about him. Izaka tells Alman to turn the propeller for him, which he does so and Izaka takes off. Alman says he will get Izaka himself. Tetsuro makes it back to the station and the 999 takes off. Izaka quickly finds himself under pursuit by Alman, who says he’s going to take his time killing him. Izaka’s plane is hit but he refuses to lose. He flies his plane under the 999 and the whistle blow ends up knocking away Alman’s plane. Izaka thanks Tetsuro and Maetel and flees. Maetel tells Tetsuro Izaka has escaped into the sky and Tetsuro thinks of Izaka’s wish to fly through the sky like a bird. We see Izaka’s plane fly over the mountain.

TV Episode Cast:

Tetsuro Hoshino – Masako Nozawa

Maetel – Masako Ikeda

Conductor – Kaneta Kimotsuki

Alman – Keiichi Noda

Otto – Seiji Sato

Izaka – Hideyuki Tanaka

Kikuo – Keiko Yamamoto

Subordinate – Kouji Totani

Narrator – Hitoshi Takagi

Keiichi Noda previously appeared as Yosaku (episode 71) and Snowlock (episode 91). Hideyuki Tanaka played Yaku in episode 88 and a boy in episode 99. Keiko Yamamoto has had 4 previous appearances, the most notable being Manabu in episode 53, with appearances as minor characters in episodes 30, 40 and 86. Seiji Sato has appeared as a variety of minor characters throughout the show, as has Kouji Totani, who also voices the 999 Locomotive

Non-Spoiler Analysis:

This episode of the TV show, while technically a TV original, takes the name from a chapter in Matsumoto’s manga “Tale of a Time Gone By” called “The Birdmen of Kilimanjaro”. In addition, the name of the character Izaka is inspired by a character in that chapter. Both stories are about World War I-era planes in dog fights although beyond that the plots are radically different. The original story featured Taro Izaka, a Japanese pilot being taken in by some European pilots, facing some discrimination similar to what Izaka faces in this episode for being poor, and ends up getting shot down by, surprisingly enough, Captain Harlock in a cameo! Also, Izaka looks just like Tochiro Oyama, Harlock’s best friend.

I got to say, World War I-era dog fighting is not something I’d expect from Galaxy Express 999, but we get it here and have a pretty good spin on things. As often is the case in the manga/show, the subject of class comes up, with Izaka being treated differently as a commoner by Alman and the other nobles. The nobles are high on chivalry but don’t really show it to those not of high status like themselves.

The shooting of Kikuo I did not expect whatsoever. Galaxy Express 999 is often a dark show, but this has got to be one of its darkest moments, Kikuo, a little kid, has no reason whatsoever to be shot. It isn’t like the pilot of the plane shot him accidentally via pursuing an enemy. He literally spotted him and chose to kill a little kid. Alman and the nobles can talk on and on about chivalry but this is anything but.

Izaka naturally gets extraordinarily upset about Kikuo’s death and seeks revenge, despite the fact that a cease fire has been called. He doesn’t know who actually killed Kikuo (and we don’t appear to focus enough on those planes he shoots down to see if he took down the guy who killed him). Nonetheless he immediately attacks and in something that is also not chivalrous at all, shoots down several planes by behind after a cease fire had been called. Izaka’s solution for a war crime is another war crime. Despite his reputation as a coward, Izaka is able to take down the entire squadron including tricking their leader into crashing into a bridge.

Izaka is set to be executed, but as expected Tetsuro comes in to save the day and enables him to get away. The 999 also helps him as Alman is about to shoot him down near the episode’s end. Izaka flees; and may get to now experience his dream of flying in the sky, without fighting, although he will surely be a wanted man for his actions. The episode ends on somewhat of a hopeful note, but let’s not expect Izaka to have a totally happy ending.