They have released several postcards over the years featuring Unico and other Tezuka characters. Many are sold at Tezuka Osamu World Shops and online with other merchandise. Events and pop-up stores may also have their own style of postcards and stationery items. Many Japanese anime magazines like Animage have also put out their own postcards featuring Unico and other series.
One of the earliest known postcards to be released was for New Year’s in 1977. During Unico’s run in Lyrica magazine, they advertised the postcard, then sold in stores shortly after. It featured Unico pulling the new day across the night sky like a curtain, symbolizing a new year. In Japanese it reads Happy New Year (あけまして おめでとうございます！/Akemashite Omedetou gozaimasu!).
A cute Hallmark postcard from 1977 featuring Unico jumping off a diving board. Like the New Year’s postcard, this was most likely available at Sanrio or other stationery stores during that time.
They also made postcards, inviting you to a special test screening of the movie. The screening was done before the movie’s general release to gauge audience reactions. After the screening, they would usually provide feedback.
The text on the back reads:
Date and Time: Tuesday, February 24
Doors open 6:00 pm Opening 6:30pm
Screening time 1 hour 30 minutes
Place: Gas Hall
(Ginza 7-chome 9-15 TEL 573-1871)
* We will refuse admission after the show starts. * Valid for 1 person per sheet
* When full, we may refuse entry because of the Fire Service Act.
7-22-17 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141 TOC Building TEL (494) 5414
Sanrio Co., Ltd.
Movie Production Department
An example of a postcard printed for a magazine would be the 1981 issue of Animage, which featured scenes from the first movie. A page toward the front of the magazine would have four postcards with different anime. You could cut out each postcard and send them to anyone. These types of postcards were only available when the magazine was released.
This postcard was available at Tezuka Osamu World stores, the Tezuka Osamu World Museum, and possibly other stores that sold Tezuka related goods. It has a holographic/shiny front unlike the other postcards shown here and features classic artwork from the original manga.
Unico also appears grouped with other popular Tezuka characters.
There have been many collaborations over the years that Unico has been a part of. When Hatsune Miku had her 10th anniversary in 2017, Tezuka Productions helped celebrate by releasing merchandise featuring both Miku and Tezuka characters. An illustration by Chamooi of Akuma-kun, Chao, Miku, and Unico was printed onto buttons, clear files, postcards, and more.
Another collab released the same year was the ’80s Girly Collection. They held an exhibit at the Tezuka Osamu Museum with Unico and other 80s characters. They released several products with a pastel motif of Unico and guess what? Postcards too!
When the Little More edition of the manga was published in 2015, postcards with the front covers of the regular edition (blue and red) and special edition (green) were made. They were available online and at Tezuka Osamu related stores.
Many more postcards other than what’s shown here have been released over the years. Older ones may be hard to find, but they pop up online from time to time.
This postcard is from the “We Will Inherit Japan” (Bokura-ga Nihon-wo Tsuideiku) exhibit in Japan that featured several anime and manga characters, pop icons, and more. The characters appear alongside artwork inspired by 17th to 19th century painters.
The postcard was sold at the exhibit. The painting is titled “Unico x Maple Leaves.”
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