Saving our Fragile Earth: Unico Special Chapter (ガラスの地球を救え ユニコ特別編, "Garasu no Chikyuu o Sukue' Unico Tokubetsuhen") is a 2000 Short Film by Tezuka Productions marking the fourth animated appearance of Unico.
Directed by Masayoshi Nishita, the short involves Unico (voiced by Akiko Yajima) befriending Tsubasa (a wooden creature who thinks he's human), Sphinx/Sphinx-san, and The Spirit of Time as they travel back in time to save the Earth from becoming entirely polluted by humanity resulting with Earth becoming uninhabitable.
The film is a Japanese/Chinese co-production and marked the appearance of Unico after the passing of Osamu Tezuka in February 1989 of stomach cancer. After this short, the Unico series would mostly live on in merchandise and occasional crossover appearances before Tezuka Productions announced a re-imagining of the series with Unico: Awakening in late Spring 2022.
An English translation with subtitles can be viewed here
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Saving our Fragile Earth: Unico Special Chapter provides examples of:
- Adaptation Dye-Job: In the short, Sphinx's body and fur color is colored brown and depicted with blonde hair. In the manga, her fur and hair color was baby blue colored.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: In the short, Sphinx's relationship with Unico is similar to her role in the original manga. The only difference is that she's notably patient and not as aggressive towards Unico when it comes to solving her riddles.
- And I Must Scream: When time runs out, Unico and his friends all turn into stone. Happily, Unico manages to turn into The Mighty Unicorn thanks to love and friendship he developed with Tsubasa, Sphinx/Sphinx-san, and The Spirit of Time.
- Anti-Villain: The Monster that Unico befriends believes that all humans are careless with the Earth. Happily, Unico convinces him that not all humans are careless with the environment and some are actually trying to help it.
- Become a Real Boy: Tsubasa is a tree creature who wants to be a human. By the end of the short, it's revealed that Tsubasa was reborn as a human baby.
- Big Good: Sphinx who helps Unico and Tsubasa during their time travel adventure is gigantic but big enough to assist them by riding on her back.
- Bittersweet Ending: Like other animated works starring the eponymous unicorn, despite convincing a monster that not all humans are careless. The West Wind takes Unico to another location after he saves the day.
- Expy: The Spirit of Time closely resembles Astro Boy, despite being a different character.
- Green Aesop: Similar to the 1979 Pilot Movie, Unico: Black Cloud and White Feather by Sanrio Animation, the short is focused on Unico and Tsubasa traveling to Earth where humans are being careless with the environment.
- Heel–Face Turn: Thanks to Unico befriending and convincing The Monster that is angry over humanity polluting the Earth (since he was made out of it), The Monster decides to give humans a chance.
- The Cameo: When Unico and Tsubasa travel back in time to when Earth was still inhabited by humans, a Kimba stuffed animal is seen being tossed out in the open.
- Polluted Wasteland: The short takes place in a universe where Earth has been completely deserted. The Water Spirit explains that Earth became uninhabitable due to humans using up all resources.
- Race Against the Clock: Unico, Tsubasa, Sphinx/Sphinx-san, and The Spirit of Time have to convince a monster to give humans a chance in a matter of minutes.
- Riddling Sphinx: Unico and Tsubasa encounter Sphinx/Sphinx-san, who won't help them unless they can solve her riddle. If they guess wrong, she will eat both of them. Luckily, Unico and Tsubasa solve her riddle by saying "Humans".
- Sympathy for the Devil: Similar to Unico in the Island of Magic, Unico expresses sympathy for The Monster (who actually resembles a devil) over his hatred for humanity over how they treat Earth. He reluctantly burns The Monster's hand to free himself from getting crushed while saying "Poor Thing".
