[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/unico.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The adorable foal himself!]]

->''"Love is a song eternally repeated.\\
All living creatures sing the song of love.\\
Like a wave breaking on the seashore, \\
love is always coming, and always passing away..."''

''Unico'' (ユニコ, Yuniko) is a children's series of manga and anime films based on the character of Unico, a baby unicorn who was born with the very special gift of making all living creatures lighthearted and happy, though in the original manga, he could only use his powers for someone who shows him unconditional kindness. However, the gods are jealous of Unico's powers and send the West Wind to banish him to oblivion. Taking pity on Unico, the West Wind instead transports Unico to various faraway places across time and space, and whenever the gods learn of his whereabouts she takes him away to another land...but Unico rarely ever gets to say goodbye to the friends he has made, and his memories are taken away each time he goes somewhere new. Developed by Creator/OsamuTezuka, the manga first ran in ''Lyrica'', a Creator/{{Sanrio}} publication for children, and eventually consisted of two volumes running from November 1976 to March 1979.

An anime pilot called ''[[Anime/UnicoBlackCloudAndWhiteFeather Unico Black Cloud and White Feather]]'' from 1979 was created but rejected, and two films and a short were completed afterward (in 1981 and 1983 respectively for the films). The movies, both co-produced by Sanrio and Tezuka Productions with animation by Creator/{{Madhouse}}, are ''Anime/TheFantasticAdventuresOfUnico'' (1981) and ''Anime/UnicoInTheIslandOfMagic'' (1983), later accompanied by the short ''[[Anime/SavingOurFragileEarthUnicoSpecialChapter Saving Our Fragile Earth: Unico Special Chapter]]'' (2000), a Chinese co-production.

The story covered the adventures of Unico the unicorn who found himself [[AnAesop facing issues]] such as environmental impact, [[PowerOfFriendship friendship]] and teamwork.

Unico has also appeared in the Platform/GameBoyAdvance game ''VideoGame/AstroBoyOmegaFactor'', and ''Columns GB: Osamu Tezuka Characters'' for the Platform/GameBoyColor. Manga/AstroBoy and Franchise/HelloKitty also appear in Unico {{canon}}.

In the early 2010s, [[LateExportForYou the manga gained an official English translation]] thanks to a successful kickstarter by a group of American fans who grew up on the movies. Prior to that, France gained an official translation of the manga but skipped over the movies and other animated works starring Unico.

On November 2015, Tezuka Productions launched an official Unico fanclub known as [[https://twitter.com/UNICOclub "UNICOclub" dedicated to any Unico related news and merchandise in Japan.]]

On May 1st, 2022, Octas Inc. launched a Website/{{Kickstarter}} campaign announcing [[TheRemake an upcoming re-imagining]] of the manga series titled ''Manga/UnicoAwakening'' which will be [[https://twitter.com/UnicoManga an entire reimagining of Unico]] for the [[ContinuityReboot next generation of readers]]. The artwork and character designs will be handled by Creator/{{Gurihiru}} with Samuel Sattin as the main writer. The creators are also working closely with Tezuka Productions to keep as faithful to the original manga and character as possible with an English and Japanese release. [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1803389958/unico-awakening-manga-by-gurihiru-and-samuel-sattin The kickstarter]] immediately reached its goal by fans from both Japan and the western market when [[https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/05/04/unico-awakening-kickstarter-fully-funded-in-first-24-hours it was barely 24 hours old]]. The manga will released August 6, 2024 in the U.S. by Scholastic Graphix imprint.

During the campaign, two new American made Unico stories were released to backers as part of the ''Unico: Awakening Artifacts'' reward series, such as an 8-page American {{Picture Book|s}} in the style of a Literature/{{Little Golden Book|s}} by Maddie Copp, [[AdaptationDistillation which is an abridged story about Unico]], while "Steenz" created a mini-comic where Unico is dropped off at a bodega and learns that sometimes magic comes in the form of community.

----
!!The ''Unico'' franchise provides examples of the following tropes:
* AdaptationDyeJob: In the original manga and ''Unico: Black Cloud and White Feather''. Unico's pupils were originally orange. By the 1980s, his eye color was suddenly changed to blue or green. His hair color is usually pink but would be colored red in some illustrations. In his first animated appearance, [[https://cdn.myanimelist.net/r/360x360/images/anime/9/78189.jpg?s=62119e82cf8ff1e9fd06880d8e42fdf3 his hair was colored black.]] In some illustrations and artwork, Unico's fur would switch between blue and white. His tail would frequently change from white to pink in some appearances.
* AdaptationExplanationExtrication: In the ''Fantastic Adventures'' no reason is given as to why the gods can't just keep Unico for themselves. In the original manga, it is explained that if Venus did keep Unico with her, Eros would just steal him back for Psyche.
* ArtEvolution:
** In the first couple of volumes, [[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/18/Unico-1.jpg Unico's design was different]] compared to [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/p__/images/0/0e/Unico_by_wogwog.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20170521023152&path-prefix=protagonist his standard design]]. Notably, [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/unicokey_7.gif his mouth was colored white]] and his body was a different shade of blue. Unico also had orange pupils before switching to blue (or black) by the 80s. His design in ''Unico Black Cloud and White Feather'' [[https://rubberslug.s3.amazonaws.com/user/9/a14c24acfa54cf7ab7c5c4d19d0f946/e86xviclrr_o.jpg closely resembled]] [[https://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/anime/9/78189.jpg his present-day appearance.]] Occasionally Unico would [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQkP6muTjLhLFokFYSJAJt-2YpLYmTosLGHxMporpf8NO5VsaI&s be depicted with pink eye shadow]] [[https://cdn.animenewsnetwork.com/hotlink/thumbnails/max1000x1500/cms/interest/111694/poster.jpg increasing his cute factor.]]
** Prior to debuting on ''Sanrio Lyrica'' in November 1976, [[https://burakku-jakku.tumblr.com/post/675922292398817280/unico-evolution-the-first-unico-was-drawn-in-june Tezuka went through two different designs for the titular character]]. Unico started out with mostly grey fur, a tiny patch of pink hair, and pink hooves, and his face and chest were completely white. When he debuted on November 1976, he kept most of the white fur on his face, but with a shed of baby blue colored fur and dark colored fur, and with a dark shade of red. As the manga progressed, [[https://tezukaosamu.net/en/character/img/828/c0828_th.jpg Unico slowly started resembling his current design]].
* AnthropomorphicZigZag: While Unico is typically seen walking and running on all fours, occasionally [[https://tezukaosamu.net/en/manga/img/m0511/m0511_main.jpg he would be seen standing and walking on both legs]]. It's more notable for [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D8i1WucUwAAh8IB.jpg some of the covers for the manga]] ([[https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/814CxSBXz7L.jpg Unico holding a flower while standing on two legs]], some [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/unicokey.gif illustrations]], and [[https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UzQAAOSw1ktbXdAZ/s-l400.jpg Unico looking cute]]). In the movies, he's still walking on all fours, but rarely seen standing on two legs (with the exception of [[CryIntoChest hugging Katy]] in ''The Fantastic Adventures Of Unico'').
* AndIMustScream: Any of the folks changed into puppets and ''used to build skyscrapers''.
* BadassAdorable: Unico
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Unico ''can'' hold his own in a fight, despite himself.
* BittersweetEnding: In the films: [[spoiler:well, Lord Kuruku is destroyed...but Unico must go.]] The 2000 animated short ''Saving Our Fragile Earth: Unico Special Chapter '' is the only time Unico was able to gain a happy ending that isn't bittersweet or depressing.
* BlessedWithSuck: Unico is born with the power to make all those around him happy - pretty awesome ability, right? Not if you have [[FantasyPantheon a panel of Gods]] who feel that they're the only ones who should have it and subsequently want you ''[[DisproportionateRetribution banished from existence]]'' for daring to infringe on them.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: This is a Tezuka manga so it is to be expected. A notable example is when one character [[MediumAwareness throws her own speech bubbles on the fire]] and their letters proceed to pop like corn.
* CatGirl: Not played completely straight, but Katy's the kitty to call.
* CosmicPlaything: Unico himself.
* {{Crossover}}: On February 18th, 2021 the ''Anime/KemonoFriends'' mobile game ''Kemono Friends 3'' announced a collaboration with Tezuka Productions [[https://imgur.com/a/zQmdM99 which featured]] a LittleBitBeastly [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RlEH82Ao-A version of Unico as a playable character.]] The event was also [[MilestoneCelebration made to celebrate the 40th anniversary]] of the Japanese release of ''The Fantastic Adventures of Unico''.
* CuteLittleFangs: Katy in her cat form and Beezle have them.
** And the Sphinx's daughter.
* DarkerAndEdgier: ''Island of Magic''; even the box art has this.
* DisneyAcidSequence: ''The Island of Magic'' has Lord Kuruku playing with his toys, while the first has "[[http://youtu.be/s7uvW_OXtdA Katy the Kitty Witch]]".
* DownerEnding: The manga: [[spoiler:The final chapter ends with the West Wind once again taking Unico away, leaving the Demon of Solitude alone at the end of time and robbing him of the only friend he was ever going to have. There is also no indication that Unico will ever be reunited with, or even remember, Psyche and the cycle of Unico making friends just to be taken from and forgetting them will probably continue indefinitely.]]
* TheDragon: Toby in ''The Island of Magic''. Also contains a ''literal'' dragon who you will ''not'' forget.
* FauxAffablyEvil: Kuruku is polite enough when he's in a good mood, but he is a cruel being at heart and won't hesitate to make you a part of his castle. His mannerisms are very much like [[Manga/DragonBall Freeza's]].
* FriendToAllLivingThings: So much so that the gods try to banish Unico for making everyone ''too happy''. The girl Cheri on ''Island'' also counts.
* GreenAesop: The short, anyway. The movies don't really count.
* HeartIsAnAwesomePower: When he feels loved by those around him, Unico [[spoiler:is able to turn into a full-grown unicorn, complete with the ability to fly]]. This allows him, in ''The Fantastic Adventures of Unico'', to [[spoiler:fly through the chest of a 50-story tall demon, killing him instantly]].
* HeelFaceTurn: The final manga chapter revealed that [[spoiler:Venus had a change of heart and regretted what she had done to Unico]].
* HeroicBSOD: Unico has one after [[spoiler:Cheri gets turned into a puppet]].
* JerkassGods: Their [[GreenEyedMonster jealousy]] of Unico's power kickstarts the plot. Of course, this is nothing new for the Greek/Roman Gods.
* LargeHam: Lord Kuruku, in an extremely disturbing sense.
* LetsGetDangerous: Throughout "Unico in the Island of Magic", Kuruku seems like a playful (if creepy) type of villain. Then [[http://youtu.be/Z3MsdJb7CkM#t=6m25s he gets pissed]].
* LikeADaughterToMe: Probably how the old woman views Katy as a human.
* TheMusical: ''Fantastic Adventures''.
* NobleDemon: Beezle's very insistent on honoring his obligations; his dad raised him that way.
* RiddlingSphinx: Unico meets one who takes him to feed to her son Piro after he fails to answer her riddles. When she's killed, he promises to watch over her son for her.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Unico. The films were made with Creator/{{Sanrio}}; what else did you expect?
* SamusIsAGirl: [[spoiler:Marschka]] in the manga.
* SayMyName: Holy crap. Both movies feature this and BigWordShout. You can't go five minutes without hearing ''UNIICCCCCCCCCOOOO!'' or some other screaming.
* ShoutOut:
** In the manga, one of the contestants in the pet contest is a dragon named WesternAnimation/GertieTheDinosaur, and its owner is named Creator/WinsorMcCay.
** The manga has several references to Pink Lady, a Japanese band that was popular in the 70s and 80s.
* StarCrossedLovers: Tipi and Mary, and [[spoiler:Marschka and Romanov]] in the manga.
* StumblingInTheNewForm: [[CuteKitten Chao/Chow]] [[note]] Renamed [[AdaptationNameChange "Chloe"]] in ''Manga/UnicoAwakening'' [[/note]] (known as [[DubNameChange Katy in the English Dub]] [[Anime/TheFantasticAdventuresOfUnico of the 1981 film]]) gets turned [[HumanityEnsues into a human girl]] that was secretly granted by {{Unico|rn}}. Due to being a cat, she briefly has trouble standing on two legs, which causes her to react with pure happiness and the amusement of Unico. While she quickly adjusts to walking on two legs, Unico has to constantly remind her to behave like a human [[MyInstinctsAreShowing when her cat instincts are showing.]]
* SweetPollyOliver: [[spoiler:Marschka]] in the manga dresses like a boy for her job as a thief.
* TheImp: Beezle.
* TheStoic: Toby.
* ThePowerOfFriendship: Literally, Unico can do all sorts of things, but only for those he considers his friends. [[spoiler:It also gives Unico the power to change into a giant, flying unicorn capable of drilling a supersonic hole through a fifty-story-high demon. Yeah. Not so harmless now, is he?]]
** It also [[spoiler:''kills'' Kuruku, as mentioned above]].
* ThePowerOfHate: [[spoiler:Hate is the only thing keeping Kuruku animate.]]
* ThePowerOfLove: [[TheFourLoves Agape to be precise.]] Unlike in the films where Unico's powers are [[ThePowerOfFriendship fueled by friendship]], in the manga, he can only use his powers on people who have shown him unconditional kindness.
* {{Tsundere}}: Two cases. Beezle, who literally said he didn't need friends and was overjoyed to see Unico. Katy, who was very harsh to Unico and warmed up to him during his fight with The Lord of Darkness.
* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Kuruku, during the climax.]]
* WholesomeCrossdresser: While not present in the manga and animated adaptations. Unico is occasionally seen [[https://img17.shop-pro.jp/PA01167/688/product/111100823.png wearing pink]] or [[https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/814CxSBXz7L.jpg yellow/orange eyeliner]] around his face. Tezuka would occasionally depict him wearing [[https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/rjIAAOSw0JpV5cBA/s-l400.jpg a red bow around his horn]] in [[https://www.flayrah.com/sites/default/files/u/Fred/LyricaUnicoSpecial.jpg numerous illustrations.]] He appears to actually enjoy dressing up in female makeup and wearing eyeliner.
----