Heroic Age (anime)

Premise

The story's theme is based on stories in Greek mythology, especially those surrounding Heracles, upon whom the main character is based, and his Twelve Labors. Many of the other characters are also based on Greek mythological figures; characters share similar names to their Greek counterparts, and how their relationship is defined with others correspond with Greek stories. The title of the series, Heroic Age, is also a slight testament to the similarities to Greek mythology, referring to the time of the Heroic Age. The tribes featured in the anime are loosely based on Hesiod's Five Ages of Mankind.

Storyline

The show is set in a futuristic universe, controlled by a few races or "tribes" that possess the capabilities for interstellar travel. The universe had once been ruled by a "Golden Tribe" (黄金の種族 Ougon no Shuzoku), who had since left the current galaxy long ago; they passed on their knowledge to the humanoid "Silver Tribe" (銀の種族, Gin no Shuzoku), the insectoid "Bronze Tribe" (青銅の種族, Seidou no Shuzoku), and the gigantic "Heroic Tribe" (英雄の種族, Eiyuu no Shuzoku). The latter was later punished by the Golden Tribe for causing havoc in the universe and made to serve the other tribes as 'Nodos' (ノドス, Nodosu) - extremely powerful beings that play a key role in the story. Before the Golden Tribe departed, Humanity answered the call of the Golden Tribe and was dubbed the "Iron Tribe" (鉄の種族, Tetsu no Shuzoku). Viewed as a threat to the order of things, the Silver Tribe decided to annihilate the Iron Tribe with the aid of the Bronze Tribe. However, humanity survived their assault on Earth and scattered their numbers across the stars in order to preserve their race.

The story follows the voyages of the starship Argonaut and its crew to find a means to bring peace to the universe. The ship carries the young human clairvoyant princess Dhianeila, who is on a mission to find the mythical savior of the human race. This savior is expected to aid humanity in their war against the Silver and Bronze tribes, who are bent on humanity's extermination.

Initially, the expedition finds a child-hearted boy called Age on a partially destroyed planet. When the Argonaut is attacked by the Bronze tribe, Age is shown to transform into a "Nodos" form, Bellcross, a gigantic and immensely powerful being. He easily fends off the superior attacking force. Having found their messiah, the Argonaut starts its way back to Dhianeila's home-world, Duey. During their journey home, the Silver Tribe launches several attacks on the Argonaut to prevent the ship from returning to their home-world, but Age always managed to stop them.

During the many attacks on the Argonaut the crew begins to warm up to Age, they had been fearful of his powers as a Nodos. The silver tribesman Phaetho O assigns himself the role of "testing" Age, destroying the Argonaut and all the iron tribe on it. After Age drives Phaetho O away and saves his tribe they all begin to accept him. Iolaous Oz Mehelim of the Yunos knights is jealous of Age but warms up to him after the attack on Titarros. Once they escape the battle against Phaetho O at Titarros the Argonaut crew arrives near the Cemetery belt where they are again attacked by Phaetho O and the bronze tribe accompanying him, here Age fights another Nodos whom had visited him on Titattos. During the fight the Argonaut manages to escape however in order to do so Age had to stay behind to fight. The Argonaut warps to what they think is an unoccupied place and end up running into stragglers from the bronze tribe, rather than fight they attempt to run only to be cornered by an enormous fleet. the fleet is also iron tribe, after saving the Argonaut that fleet accompanies them and they leave to help Age.

After reaching back to Duey, word had spread throughout humanity of the Argonaut's success and Dhianeila's brothers used the momentum to successfully convince humanity to launch a counter-offensive against the Silver and Bronze tribes. With humanity united under the Junos family, the Silver Tribe throws the full might of their forces along with their 4 Nodos's to destroy humanity. As the fighting intensifies, the humans move towards the Golden Tribes' old home world. At the last moment, contact is made both between the Silver tribe, humanity, and the Nodos of each side. Dhianeila brings the Silver tribe to accept a ceasefire and Age is shown to be the "key" to opening a portal to the universe into which the Golden tribe has moved.

When this portal is opened, the Silver tribe moves on to this other universe and passes all of its knowledge to humanity, including the ability to control the Bronze Tribe. However, during the battle, Age is missing after he opened the gateway; some believed he died in the process, while others believed he'll return one day. Honoring Age's wish, Dhianeila dedicated the next few years of her life to restore Age's home planet.

Four years later, Humanity has now brought order throughout the universe. With the Silver's Tribe's technology, humanity had advanced further and rebuilt Earth. Dhianeila and the Argonaut's team has succeeded in restoring Age's home, but through it all, she missed Age the most. Just as she was about to leave the only planet that gives her some comfort, the Golden Tribe's gateway opened and revealed that Age was alive, and he and Dhianeila were reunited.

Anime

Heroic Age is an anime series directed by Toshimasa Suzuki and produced by Xebec. It first aired on April 1, 2007, and is now completed with a total of 26 episodes, the last of which having aired on September 30, 2007. Dhianeila gives a short narrative in the first five episodes to explain the Golden Tribe, the Silver, Bronze, Heroic, and Iron Tribes, and the events leading up to the anime series. Since episode 14 a new introduction shows the Iron Tribe members in a different manner than in the first episodes' introduction.

The anime was licensed for North American distribution by FUNimation Entertainment on June 30, 2008. A release date was set for May 12, 2009. As of May 2011, episodes 1-26 of Heroic Age are available dubbed in English via Netflix streaming, and episodes 1-26 are available both dubbed and subtitled at Hulu.

DVDs

The first two DVD volumes had a simultaneous release in Japan on August 8, 2007. It was announced that every volume would contain two episodes. The first two volumes would also contain an eight-page booklet and stickers of the corresponding DVD cover for a limited time only. The illustrations on the cover jackets are designed by Hisashi Hirai.

The third volume was released on September 5, 2007, and also contained a sticker of the jacket cover.

Heroic Age I - contains episodes 1 and 2 (Release date: August 8, 2007)
Heroic Age II - contains episodes 3 and 4 (Release date: August 8, 2007)
Heroic Age III - contains episodes 5 and 6 (Release date: September 5, 2007)
Heroic Age IV - contains episodes 7 and 8 (Release date: October 10, 2007)
Heroic Age V - contains episodes 9 and 10 (Release date: November 7, 2007)
Heroic Age VI - contains episodes 11 and 12 (Release date: December 5, 2007)
Heroic Age VII - contains episodes 13 and 14 (Release date: January 9, 2008)
Heroic Age VIII - contains episodes 15 and 16 (Release date: January 9, 2008)
Heroic Age IX - contains episodes 17 and 18 (Release date: February 6, 2008)

Heroic Age: Complete Series - contains episodes 1-26 on Blu-ray 3-disk box set (Release date: February 16, 2010)

Manga

On July 23, 2007, the first volume of the series' manga adaptation began serialization in the Japanese magazine, Magazine Z. The manga is published by Kodansha Publishers, Ltd. The story is the same as the anime; however, the story will be told in Ioraus' point of view.

Heroic Age Manga 1 - Release date: July 23, 2007
Heroic Age Manga 2 - Release date: November 22, 2007

Guidebooks

Along with the manga, the first of five official guidebooks was published in Kodansha's Magazine Z on July 23, 2007. The following four volumes had consecutive monthly releases, with the last one being released on November 30, 2007. Each guidebook has a total of 36 colored pages.

Heroic Age Official Guidebook Volume 1 - Release date: July 23, 2007
Heroic Age Official Guidebook Volume 2 - Release date: August 23, 2007
Heroic Age Official Guidebook Volume 3 - Release date: September 28, 2007
Heroic Age Official Guidebook Volume 4 - Release date: October 29, 2007
Heroic Age Official Guidebook Volume 5 - Release date: November 30, 2007

Singles

Opening themes

The opening theme of Heroic Age, "Gravitation", was performed by Angela. An opening themes single, performed by Angela and containing six tracks, was released on May 9, 2007.

1. "Gravitation"
2. "Storm of Nothingness" (虚無の嵐)
3. "Your breath"
4. "Gravitation" (Karaoke/no vocals)
5. "Storm of Nothingness" (虚無の嵐) (Karaoke)
6. "Your breath" (Karaoke)

Ending themes

The ending theme of Heroic Age, "Azurite", was performed by Tae Urakabe. An ending themes single containing four tracks was released on May 23, 2007.

1. "Azurite"
2. "Starry heavens"
3. "Azurite" (Karaoke)
4. "Starry heavens" (Karaoke)

Soundtracks

The first original soundtrack album, entitled "Star Way", was released on July 11, 2007. It contains two discs, with the second disc being a Drama CD. The second soundtrack, which was released on September 26, 2007, also contains two discs. The first disc contains 18 tracks, while the second disc is another Drama CD containing the continuation of the story in the first Drama CD.