Legend of the Galactic Heroes, known in Japan as Ginga Eiyū Densetsu (銀河英雄伝説) is an anime in the genres of space opera, science fiction, military (military science fiction/military space opera), action, drama, epic. It is based on novels with the same title written by Yoshiki Tanaka. A manga series based on these novels as well, with art by Katsumi Michihara .
Cover of DVD Box 2. Yang Wenli on the left
Cover of DVD Box 1. Yang Wenli in the background, Reinhard Von Lohengramm on in the front
Cover of Databook. Character Julian Minci
Alternative titles
- Original title is often abbreviated as 銀英伝 Gin'eiden (Japanese)
- Legend of Galactic Heroes (often abbreviated as Logh, LoGH, or LOGH)
- Heldensagen vom Kosmosinsel (German)
- Les Héros de la Galaxie (French)
The story
The story was staged in the distant future within our own Milky Way Galaxy, approximately in the 35th century. Unlike most other science fictions, there was no alien civilization. A portion of the galaxy was filled with terraformed worlds inhabited by interstellar traveling human beings. There was a war on and off for 150 years between two mighty space powers: the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance .
Within the Galactic Empire, an ambitious military genius, Reinhardt von Müsel , was rising to power. His was driven by the desire to free his sister, Annerose, who was taken by the Kaiser as a concubine. Later, he wanted not only to end the corrupt Goldenbaum dynasty but also to defeat the Free Planets Alliance and to unify the whole galaxy under his rule.
In the Free Planets Alliance was another genius, Yang Wenli . He wanted to be a historian, and joined the military only because he needed money for tuition. He was gradually promoted to be the commander because of his demonstrated excellence in military strategies and tactics. He became the rival of Reinhardt.
As a historian, Wenli often narrated the rich "future history" of his world and commented on it. One of his famous quotes was: "There are few wars between good and evil; most are between one good and another good."
Besides the two main heroes, the story was full of vivid characters and intricate politics. There was a third neutral power called the Phezzan Dominion , which trades with both warring powers. There was also a Terraism cult, which claims that human should go back to the earth, gaining popularity within the Free Planets Alliance and the Phezzan Dominion.
Series Length, spinoffs, technical details
The series is based on novels. Anime is made of 110 25-minute episodes (divided into 4 sections). First episode was released on home video in December 1988, last in January 1997. There are three two-hour movies and two spinoffs (Gaiden) and prequels:
- Legend of Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars - Movie, 1988;
- Legend of Galactic Heroes: Golden Wings - Movie, 1992;
- Legend of Galactic Heroes: Overture to a New War - Movie, 1993;
- Legend of Galactic Heroes: A Hundred Billion Stars, A Hundred Billion Lights - OVA, 24 episodes, 1998-2000;
- Legend of Galactic Heroes: Spiral Labyrinth - OVA, 28 episodes, 2000-2002;
The series, while over 10 years old, has not been released officially with English dubbing nor subtitles and is only available on in Japanese, Chinese or in incomplete (up to episode 49) English prerelease fansubs. Even so, it has been highly ranked on most international sites about anime and/or space opera. A petition for DVD English release can be found and signed at Legend of the Galactic Heroes Information Center.
Games
Additionally, several Japanese video games have been released based on the Legend of Galactic Heroes world, including one MMORPG/Strategy game. They have not been translated into English.
Staff
Production
- companies involved: Tokuma Japan Corporation , Animage Video
- Director: Noburo Ishiguro
- Character Design : Matsuri Okuda
- Mechanical design : Naoyuki Kato , Studio Nue
- Original story : Yoshiki Tanaka
- Producer: Yukio Kikukawa
Japanese Voice
External links
