History Main / ThePhoenix

* ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'': This is implied to be the case with Mothra, who has a habit of laying an egg and then dying in the same film, then coming back in a later film after the egg hatches. Interestingly, the franchise also has a resident monster with a "firebird" design motif in [[PteroSoarer Rodan]] (Concept art for his appearance in the ''Franchise/MonsterVerse'' even included feathers), though he lacks any of Mothra's resurrective powers.

[[caption-width-right:349:Who wants hot wings?]]

* ''Franchise/{{Beyblade}}'': The two true phoenixes are Burn Phoenix 135MS[[note]]Renamed Burn Fireblaze 135MS outside Japan, possibly for copyright reasons.[[/note]], which is wielded by the appropriately name CharClone Phoenix in ''Anime/MetalFightBeyblade'', and Thief Phoenix E230GCF, which is wielded by Ren Kurenai in ''Anime/MetalFightBeybladeZeroG''. Additionally, Kai's bit-beast Suzaku aka Dranzer from ''Anime/BakutenShootBeyblade'' is modeled after the Suzaku of TheFourGods. Dranzer got a ShoutOut in ''Metal Fight Beyblade Zero-G'', in which Kai's {{expy}} Karura wields Guardian Garudas with the titular Garudas being a phoenix-like reimagining of Garuda. This concept would be used again in ''Anime/BeybladeBurst'' with Maximum Garuda 8Flow Flugel owned by Ghasem Madal.

* ''Manga/PrincessResurrection'': [[spoiler: [[MonsterLord The royal family of monsters]]]] is actually made out of these. [[spoiler: They can only become an adult phoenix by receiving blessing from THE only adult phoenix, [[HiveMind and then merging into one creature]], just like the myth above. And they gain complete immortality by becoming adults. ]] This is the driving force of the plot: [[spoiler: Since becoming adult phoenix means complete immortality, the siblings must kill each other because there only can be one winner per generation.]] A physical body of a immature royal family usually is as weak as a human, unless they train themselves so hard like Gilliam does. [[BloodMagic Their blood is also magical]], [[LivingOnBorrowedTime it temporarily revives a dead being]], gives it temporary immortality for a few days. After a few days, whoever drank the blood of the royal family must drink it again, but a single drop is more than enough for the next few days. Those who drink a royal's blood are called Blood Warriors, and only few personally chosen by said royals can be one, and becoming a Blood Warrior is considered one of the greatest honor in the universe, as personal bodyguard of the royal. Much later in the story, as phoenix is a being closely tied with fire, [[spoiler: the royal family do can unlock their fire powers without have to be adult phoenix, and capable of upgrading their Blood Warrior into Flame Warrior by putting an eternal flame into their warriors body, and unlike Blood Warriors, a Flame Warrior is not completely dependent on the royal he/she serves, as the flame will never run out of effect, unlike the blood. A Flame Warrior is also capable giving their flame toother Blood Warrior, as Keziah did to Madeline. A talented member of the royal family also capable of turning into half-phoenix-harpy-like being, just like [[http://z.mfcdn.net/store/manga/3601/13-058.0/compressed/nprincess_resurrection_v13_c58_130_131.jpg Emil,]] even though he is NOT immortal because he never become an adult and already die, killed by his own vassal [[WingedHumanoid Sledge.]] [[http://z.mfcdn.net/store/manga/3601/20-087.0/compressed/jkaibutsuoujo087_001.jpg Hime too is capable of turning into a semi-phoenix being]] by absorbing her past and future selves , in order to defeat Sylvia who already absorbed Fuhito and both are very powerful to begin with, and cancelled both of her own and Sylvia's powers. After that, Lilianne, Sylvia, and Fuhito, who already lost their royal powers, [[HornedHumanoid is seen with some kind of horns on their heads]].]]

* In ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'', Yusuke's BattleAura during the final battle in the Dark Tournament [[AnimalBattleAura manifests as a flaming blue phoenix]]. In addition, [[spoiler: after Yusuke's death at the hands of Sensui and his rebirth as the Mazoku, [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter Puu]]'s true form]] turns out to be a tremendous blue phoenix.

* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'' has [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Sacred_Phoenix_of_Nephthys Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys]].

** ComicBook/JeanGrey, depending on the continuity or even [[{{Retcon}} the writer at the moment in the main continuity]], is either the Phoenix itself (later [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity the Dark Phoenix]]), [[GrandTheftMe possessed by it]], or replaced and impersonated by it at some point. She keeps an equally variable [[TouchedByVorlons connection]] to it from her return onwards. The Phoenix wasn't even originally intended to give her an ability to come BackFromTheDead. Becoming the Phoenix in the ''first'' place was considered her "death and rebirth." None of this helped her overall reputation much, and by now she has become the poster child for DeathIsCheap even by comic book standards, to the point that whenever she's in mortal danger, both readers ''and other characters'' don't really care all that much, though they might be concerned about her occasionally [[CameBackWrong coming back wrong]] with her SuperpoweredEvilSide active. Even her epitaph lampshaded it: "she will rise again." As of 2018, following ''ComicBook/PhoenixResurrection'', she's back and sane, with [[spoiler: the Phoenix having departed after Jean flatly told it to leave her alone.]]

** Various other characters have also been hosts for the Phoenix, but it's always been either an extremely temporary situation or happened in ancient history. Even Franchise/SpiderMan! [[spoiler: But not really. He was using the gadgetry that allowed the robot Rachel of some ''{{Comicbook/Excalibur}}'' impostors to make it ''look'' good. Thus the costume change]].

** The [[ComicBook/XMen Phoenix Force]] is [[CompositeCharacter merged]] with [[ComicBook/TheSandman Destruction of the Endless]]. After seventy chapters of hints, Chapter 71 spectacularly and violently confirms that Harry's protection comes from the Phoenix Force, which can act through him when required, while Chapter 78 confirms that Lily [[spoiler: merged with the Phoenix as part of the deal, becoming the White Phoenix of the Crown]]. After that, Harry increasingly uses the phoenix motif in both magical and psychic battles, and is revealed to be able to tap into the power of that protection - though for various reasons, that is widely and correctly considered to be a ''very'' bad idea.
** The TragicVillain of one of the major arcs of ''Ghosts of the Past'' is the Dark Phoenix, a.k.a. [[spoiler: Harry]], who is, thankfully, talked down in time. It's also revealed that the original Dark Phoenix [[spoiler: a.k.a. Surtur]] ''wasn't'' talked down, ate a galaxy, and is the GreaterScopeVillain for ''Ghosts''.

** ''Fanfic/ChroniclesOfHarmonysEnd'': Harmony is the TopGod of the setting, and possibly ''the'' phoenix. [[spoiler: Array and Discord "kill" him in a specific way -- by sealing his essence -- to ensure that he cannot be reborn]].

* ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact'': The name of Zefram Cochrane's warp ship is "The Phoenix", implied to have been chosen to herald in a new era after the devestation of WorldWarIII. Little does Cochrane know that it does indeed lead the rebirth of human race, when his warp-jump leads to peaceful first contact with [[spoiler: the Vulcans]].

** One features in ''Byrd Song'', and Phoebe and the Squonk attend its annual death-and-rebirthing. [[spoiler: It also passes some of its power on to a set of newly-created baby Squonks, born from the Squonk crying into the phoenix's ashes. The babies can melt into a puddle of tears, but will revive immediately due to their origin.]]

** On dropping from the blazing nest of their self-immolating parent, phoenix chicks shapeshift into the form of the first bird they encounter, the better to blend into their surroundings. Hence, when falconer Hodgesaarrgh goes looking for one, he has no idea which of the several different phoenix-drawings in his bird guide will be correct. After it does that, as Granny puts it, it will be whatever it has become until it needs to be a phoenix. [[spoiler: Its actual resemblance to a lappet-faced worrier or "Lancre wowhawk" (a singularly pathetic bird of prey which faints at the sight of blood) was ''not'' one of the possibilities he'd been led to expect; the ostrich-like puppet he constructed was mainly related to the shape of his arm.]]

** These Phoenixes can carry very heavy loads, including ''several'' people, and have tears with healing powers. They can teleport in a flash of flame, and even carry at least one person with them when doing so; this ability can circumvent Hogwarts' teleportation defenses, something even the most powerful human wizard can never do. They can survive a Killing Curse -- another thing impossible for wizards except under very specific circumstances -- through their 'rebirth' ability. Their tail feathers are one of the magical items used to create wands (others being unicorn hair, dragon heartstring, and veela hair). The feather in Harry's wand actually came from Fawkes [[spoiler: as did the feather in BigBad Voldemort's wand -- a connection which saves Harry in the fourth book. Wands that have cores from the same source don't work properly against each other]].

* ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic'' had it from the start. In ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic 1'' and ''2'' it was the top-tier creature of the Sorceress Castle. In ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic III'' it was absent but returned in the expansion, Armageddon's Blade, as the Conflux top-tier creature and gained the ability to resurrect after a stack died for the first time. In ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic IV'' it showed up as one of two top-tier creatures for the Preserve/Nature faction as well as a summoning spell in the Nature school. ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic V'' actually has two versions, a summoned Phoenix whose stats depend on the hero's, and a neutral creature that can come in numbers and ressurects once per battle when slain. In the campaign, their light is one of two ways for the Elves to defeat the Vampire Lord [[spoiler: Nicolai]] for good.

* ''VideoGame/RuneFactory3'': [[spoiler: Raven]] turns out to be one, with pretty incredible fireball attacks.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': While no phoenixes are seen, the [[EvilOverlord Fire Lord]] [[BigBad Ozai]] invokes the symbolism of the bird when he grants himself the title of "Phoenix King" on the basis of how he will [[spoiler: rise from the ashes of the incinerated Earth Kingdom as the supreme ruler of the world]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'': One of the Three Keys of Power (artifacts that grant their owner tremendous magical power when used together), the Phoenix Gate, allows people to travel through time. However, [[StableTimeLoop due to the nature of time travel in that series]], no one can actually ''change'' the past, merely fulfill their role in it. In the canon comics, [[spoiler: the Phoenix Gate is broken and an ''actual'' Phoenix is freed as a result]].

** Princess Celestia, Equestria's ImmortalRuler, has a pet phoenix named Philomena. When first introduced, Philomena is a sickly bird, [[spoiler: and Fluttershy kidnaps her to nurse her back to health. Everything she tries fails, and meanwhile Fluttershy and her friend Twilight Sparkle are panicking about how much trouble Fluttershy will get into for kidnapping the bird. Just when the princess arrives, Philomena catches fire. Fluttershy is very dismayed and confesses what she did, and the princess reassures her that she knows Fluttershy's intentions were good. Then she reveals that Philomena isn't dead, and a beautiful phoenix rises from the ashes.]] Philomena also turns out to have a mischievous side not unlike her owner [[spoiler:which is why she went along with the kidnapping]]. Interestingly, this plot is very much like how Fawkes from ''Literature/HarryPotter'' was introduced, causing many fans to see it as a ShoutOut.

* There's also a Phoenix in the sky, the southern constellation of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_(constellation) the same name]]. As with so many other examples, good luck attempting to figure that mythological bird on it.
* Last but not least, {{UsefulNotes/NASA}}'s [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_(spacecraft) Phoenix Mars Lander]], whose insignia featured a very stilized phoenix. Unfortunately she did not come back from the Martian winter.

* In ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'', the Blood Mage can summon one as his ultimate spell, a magic-immune flyer that deals heavy damage and can stream fire at enemies while moving, subverting the otherwise omnipresent DoNotRunWithAGun trope. Like the above example, it turns into an egg on death, rebirthing from it when the egg is not destroyed quickly. It actually burns itself, needing a rebirth every few minutes even without fighting. As first and strongest of the Blood Mages, the phoenix is the personal symbol of Kael'thas Sunstrider, and a very prominent symbol of the Blood Elves in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' in general, representing their rebirth from the ashes of genocide in the Third War. Kael's pet phoenix Al'ar serves as a boss in his raid, Tempest Keep, and Kael summons phoenixes during both boss fights against him in ''Burning Crusade''.

* ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'': Ushiromiya Battler has been likened to a phoenix a couple of times in Arcs 2 - 4. After [[spoiler:being turned into a soulless servant, tricked mercilessly by his rival and enemy, and ''fading out of existence'' after learning his parentage,]] he continues fighting Beatrice. May double as a reference to ''Franchise/AceAttorney''.

* ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'': This is implied to be the case with Mothra, who has a habit of laying an egg and then dying in the same film, then coming back in a later film after the egg hatches. Interestingly, the franchise also has a resident monster with a "firebird" design motif in Rodan (Concept art for his appearance in the ''Franchise/MonsterVerse'' even included feathers), though he lacks any of Mothra's resurrective powers.

* ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'': This is implied to be the case with Mothra, who has a habit of laying an egg and then dying in the same film, then coming back in a later film after the egg hatches. Interestingly, the franchise also has a resident monster with a "firebird" design motif in Rodan, though he lacks any of Mothra's resurrective powers.

* ''Litrature/FancyAppartments'': Carr meets a phoenix that sings to him and gives him a [[SwissArmyTears tear]]. Unsurprisingly, the tear proves to be rather a ChekhovsGun.

* ''Litrature/FancyApartments'': Carr meets a phoenix that sings to him and gives him a [[SwissArmyTears tear]]. Unsurprisingly, the tear proves to be rather a ChekhovsGun.

** In 4th Edition, phoenixes are a species of RocBirds that happen to be native to the Elemental Chaos, where they became infused with the essence of elemental fire. They are wholly made of living flame, hate the undead, and explode in balls of fire when brought to low health only to be reborn moments later. Despite their appearance, they sometimes leave behind scarlet feathers when they're reborn; these can be used to make resurrection magic more effective, allowing it to raise people who have been dead for longer than normally feasible as well as those dead of old age. They're related to {{thunder|bird}}hawks, another species of roc attuned to a different element.

** The Phoenix is a [[SummonMagic summon monster]] in quite a few ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games, usually in some combination of [[KillItWithFire fire-based attack on the enemies]] and healing and/or resurrection on your allies.

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' has furnixes, red-and-gold birds with long tails and the ability to spit out fireballs, that live in the Lanayru Desert.

* The WebAnimation/{{hololive}} (EN) VTuber Takanashi Kiara is a phoenix (and '''not''', emphasis hers, a chicken or turkey) who aspires to own a fast food restaurant. As an immortal, her romantic interest in [[DontFearTheReaper Calliope Mori]] is, at least nominally, not reciprocated.

* In ''VideoGame/CopyKitty'', the [[RecurringBoss Yoggval]] you fight midway through Normal Mode World 11, thanks to being tampered with by an ancient artifact, is given fire attacks and drops the Phoenix Flare power. [[spoiler: At the end of the world, [[ChekhovsGun it comes back]] and uses the artifact's full power to become [[SuperMode Phoenix Yoggval]], with the ability to resurrect itself several times.]]

* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'''s Phoenix line (the stronger ones are called fire birds and wonder birds) is notable for being the MookMedic and giving massive amounts of experience (especially if killed with Mercury Djinn), with an unfortunate tendency to run away. It is possible to run into two wonder birds at a time, who keep resurrecting each other for risky (if they both run, you get no experience ''[[AllForNothing at all]]'') LevelGrinding.

* ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic'' had it from the start. In ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic 1'' and ''2'' it was the top-tier creature of the Sorceress Castle. In VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic III it was absent but returned in the expansion, Armageddon's Blade, as the Conflux top-tier creature and gained the ability to resurrect after a stack died for the first time. In VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic IV it showed up as one of two top-tier creatures for the Preserve/Nature faction as well as a summoning spell in the Nature school. VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic V actually has two versions, a summoned Phoenix whose stats depend on the hero's, and a neutral creature that can come in numbers and ressurects once per battle when slain. In the campaign, their light is one of two ways for the Elves to defeat the Vampire Lord [[spoiler: Nicolai]] for good.

* The WebAnimation/{{hololive}} (EN) [[VirtualCelebrity V-Tuber]] Takanashi Kiara is a phoenix (and '''not''', emphasis hers, a chicken or turkey) who aspires to own a fast food restaurant. As an immortal, her romantic interest in [[DontFearTheReaper Calliope Mori]] is, at least nominally, not reciprocated.

* ''{{Webcomic/Phantomarine}}'': [[spoiler: Cheline appears as a [[https://www.phantomarine.com/comic/3-1-the-fata-morgana four-winged peacock-like phoenix]].]]

* ''WesternAnimation/ConanTheAdventurer'', an InNameOnly AnimatedAdaptation, has a small, young, [[PollyWantsAMicrophone talking]] phoenix with the power to enter a metal objects and become a decoration upon them as a SidekickCreatureNuisance. In one episode it temporarily gets its adult form and becomes massive and powerful, easily carrying Conan on its back. In the sequel series where the firebird is missing, Conan makes an offhand comment saying that he eventually ate it.

* ''Manga/SaintSeiya'': Ikki has the Phoenix Cloth, and like the bird could come BackFromTheDead only to get stronger each time. The Phoenix Cloth itself is explicitly said to be immortal, and could regenerate (as well as its wearer) within the incredible heat of volcanoes.

Not to be confused with the city of the same name, located in Arizona. While there is only one in the U.S., (as opposed to, say [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Springfield]] or Portland), unlike Chicago, Phoenix, Arizona has never had a major fire.

** The legendary bird Pokémon Yveltal is an interesting variant; while it lacks an obvious association with fire and life and instead embodies death and destruction, it is said that when it is dying, it will sap away life energy from every living thing and revert to a cocoon state in order to be reborn later. It's worth mentioning that Yveltal is a [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragon]] instead of a bird, despite looking more like the latter.

[[folder: Real Life]]

* ''Manga/OnePiece'': While there hasn't been a phoenix shown, a [[{{Animorphism}} Zoan]] [[PowerUpFood Devil Fruit]] which allows the user to become a phoenix. Marco, Whitebeard's 1st Division Commander, have eaten this fruit. ''One Piece'''s version creates and is made of blue flames and has incredible recovery powers, as demonstrated when Marco shields Whitebeard from Kizaru's beams.

* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'': Phoenix Wright is a rising new star lawyer with the uncanny ability to turn cases around when all hope seems lost. Case 1-5 is even called "Rise From the Ashes". This applies much more to the English version though. In the Japanese version, however, his name suggests the Dragon, and at one point [[AnimalThemeNaming he has]] a [[TigerVersusDragon rivalry]] with a tiger-themed character.