Heroic Age (TV series)
A space opera blending Greek myth with interstellar war.
Heroic Age is a Japanese science fiction mecha space opera anime conceptualized by Tow Ubukata. It aired on TV Tokyo from April 1, 2007, to September 30, 2007, spanning 26 episodes. A manga adaptation began serialization in Kodansha's Magazine Z on July 23, 2007, and five official guidebooks were released monthly from July to November 2007.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Space opera, mecha
- Creator
- Tow Ubukata; Xebec
Facts from the source article.
Premise
The story draws on Greek mythology, particularly the tales of Heracles and his Twelve Labors, with the main character based on Heracles. Many characters share names and relationships with their Greek counterparts. The title refers to the Heroic Age of myth, and the tribes in the anime loosely correspond to Hesiod's Five Ages of Mankind.
Storyline
Set in a future universe, several tribes with interstellar travel exist. Humanity, called the Iron Tribe, answered the Golden Tribe's call but was deemed a threat by the Silver Tribe, which allied with the Bronze Tribe to annihilate them. Humanity survived and scattered across the stars. The story follows the starship Argonaut and its crew, including the clairvoyant princess Dhianeila, on a mission to find humanity's mythical savior. They find a boy named Age on a partially destroyed planet. When the Bronze Tribe attacks, Age transforms into a Nodos form called Bellcross, a gigantic being that easily repels the attackers. The Argonaut then heads to Dhianeila's home world, Duey, while the Silver Tribe launches attacks to stop them, but Age fends them off.
Media
The television series was produced by King Records, KlockWorx, and Xebec, directed by Takashi Noto and Toshimasa Suzuki, with series composition by Tow Ubukata, character design by Hisashi Hirai, and music by Naoki Satō. It aired from April 1, 2007, to September 30, 2007, totaling 26 episodes. Dhianeila narrates the first five episodes, explaining the tribes and events leading to the series; from episode 14, a new introduction shows the Iron Tribe differently. Funimation licensed the anime for North American distribution on June 30, 2008, with a release date of May 12, 2009. As of May 2011, episodes 1–26 were available dubbed on Netflix streaming and both dubbed and subtitled on Hulu. DVD volumes were released in Japan starting August 8, 2007, each containing two episodes; the first two volumes included an eight-page booklet and stickers. The third volume was released September 5, 2007. A Blu-ray complete series box set was released February 16, 2010. The manga adaptation, published by Kodansha, began serialization in Magazine Z on July 23, 2007, telling the same story from Ioraus' point of view; two manga volumes were released.
Reception
The Escapist reviewed the first half as a solid series with potential, noting a bland main character and clichéd story but a compelling supporting cast and above-average presentation. Anime News Network gave it a C-, praising audiovisuals but criticizing the story as another anime about a super-special teenager saving humanity. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction described it as a minor but distinctive entry in military SF/space opera, attempting to recapture vintage scope while grafting Greek heroic myth onto an orthodox interstellar-war template.
More in Space Opera Anime and Manga
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced