Unico

Also known as ユニコ (Uniko)

Status: Major Star (★★★★)

One of Tezuka’s most recognizable Stars, Unico is a baby unicorn with the power to change the world.  Although he is shy and sometimes unsure (which is totally understandable given his young age), he nevertheless he is guided by an unwavering moral compass to do good.

As a magical unicorn, Unico has the power to make wishes a reality.  However his powers depend on the love of others – a clear representation of one of Tezuka’s favorite themes: the power of love.  As such, he is fiercely loyal, often to the detriment of himself and the friends who begin to take his magical assistance for granted.  It also leaves him open to the jealousy of others, in particular Venus, the Greco-Roman goddess of Love who orders him banished to a barren wasteland.  However Unico’s caring innocence wins over the spirit of the west wind, Zephyrus, who takes pity on him and instead transports him from one world to the next, throughout time.  Although Unico loses his memory after each visit, his impact remains.

Unico made his unforgettable debut in the title role of Unico (1976-78).  Despite being a major Star, Unico has rarely made any appearances outside his own series.  However he has made a few cameo appearances in Black Jack (1973-83) and Rainbow Parakeet (1980-81), among a few others.

Hello, My Name (in English) is…

Naturally enough, Unico’s name is derived from the English word “unicorn”, a magical horse-like being with a single, cone-shaped horn protruding from its forehead.

Distinguishing Features

As a blue and pink baby unicorn, Unico is extremely easy to spot.  The fact that this baby unicorn bears a stylistic resemblence to Hello Kitty and other Sanrio mascots is no coincidence.  Tezuka was approached by Sanrio to publish a manga series in their shojo magazine, Lyrica, and the design for the baby unicorn character was inspired by one of Tezuka’s visits to the Sanrio studios in Los Angeles.

Manga Appearances

If you spot an appearance not already listed, please let us know in the comments section below!