Legend of the Galactic Heroes

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Legend of the Galactic Heroes


caption = Cover of the original novel of "Legend of the Galactic Heroes" volume 1, first edition (Tokuma Novels, 1982). This book is considered valuable and famous because the character of the volume number came to attach since the second edition.
ja_name = 銀河英雄伝説
ja_name_trans = Ginga Eiyu Densetsu
genre = Space Opera, Drama, Military, Science FictionInfobox animanga/Novel
title =
author = Yoshiki Tanaka
illustrator = Naoyuki Kato (vol. 1 – 5) Yukihisa Kamoshita (vol. 6 – 10)
publisher = Tokuma Shoten
publisher_other = flagicon|China Beijing Shiyue Wenyi Press
first = November 30 1982
last = November 15 1987
volumes = 10Infobox animanga/Novel
title = Legend of the Galactic Heroes Side Stories
author = Yoshiki Tanaka
illustrator = Hiroshi Yokoyama (short stories) Katsumi Michihara (vol. 1 – 4 and magazines) Akira Kasahara (vol. 2)
publisher = Tokuma Shoten
first = September 1 1984
last = July 31 1989
volumes = 4 and 5 short storiesInfobox animanga/Manga
title =
author = Katsumi Michihara
publisher = Tokuma Shoten
demographic =
magazine = Shōnen Captain (1989 – 1994) Chara (magazine)|Chara (1994 – 2000)
first = August 10 1986
last = February 2000
volumes = "Golden Wings" (August 10 1986) 11 volumes (1990 – 2000)Infobox animanga/Movie
title = Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars
director = Noboru Ishiguro
studio = Kitty Films, Madhouse
released = February 6 1988
runtime = 60 min.Infobox animanga/OVA
title =
director = Noboru Ishiguro
studio = Kitty Films
episodes = 110
released = December 1988 – March 1997Infobox animanga/OVA
title = Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Golden Wings
director = Keizou Shimizu
studio = Kitty Films
episodes = 1
released = December 12 1992Infobox animanga/Movie
title = Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Overture to a New War
director = Keizou Shimizu, Kenichi Maeda
studio = Kitty Films
released = December 18 1993
runtime = 90 min.Infobox animanga/OVA
title = Legend of the Galactic Heroes Side Stories
director = Noboru Ishiguro
studio = Kitty Films
episodes = 52
released = 1998 – 2000

nihongo|"Legend of the Galactic Heroes"|銀河英雄伝説|Ginga Eiyū Densetsu is a series of science fiction novels by Yoshiki Tanaka. An anime adaptation of the novels ran from 1988 to 2000, and a manga is also based on the novels, with art by Katsumi Michihara.

Neither the novels, anime, nor manga have been released officially in the English language.

Set somewhere in distant space around the 35th century (the late eighth century of the story's "Space Era"), "Legend of the Galactic Heroes" is a story of the epic struggle between the monarchic Galactic Empire and the democratic Free Planets Alliance.

The original Japanese title is often abbreviated as nihongo|"Gin'eiden"|銀英伝| in Japan, while English-language fans often abbreviate the series title as "LOGH" (capitalization for the acronym varies).

Plot

The story is staged in the distant future within our own Milky Way Galaxy, approximately in the 35th century. Unlike other science fiction stories, there are no alien civilizations. A portion of the galaxy is filled with terraformed worlds inhabited by interstellar traveling human beings. For 150 years two mighty space powers have intermittently warred with each other: the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance.

Within the Galactic Empire, based on 19th century Prussia, an ambitious military genius, Reinhard von Müsel, is rising to power. He is driven by the desire to free his sister Annerose, who was taken by the Kaiser as a concubine. Later, he wants 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 Star Fleet is another genius, Yang Wen-li. He originally aspired to become a historian, and joined the military only because he needed money for tuition. He was rapidly promoted to an admiral because of his demonstrated excellence in military strategy. He becomes the archrival of Reinhard, though they highly respect one another.

As a historian, Yang often narrates the rich history of his world and comments on it. One of his famous quotes is: "There are few wars between good and evil; most are between one good and another good."

Besides the two main heroes, the story is full of vivid characters and intricate politics. All types of characters, from high nobility, admirals and politicians, to common soldiers and farmers, are interwoven into the story. There is a third neutral power nominally attached to the Galactic Empire called the Phezzan Dominion, a planet-state (city-state on a galactic scale) which trades with both warring powers. There is also a Terraism cult, which claims that humans should go back to Earth, gaining popularity throughout the galaxy. The story frequently switches away from the main heroes to the Unknown Soldier fighting for his life on the battlefield.

Anime adaptations

eries

The anime series is based on the novels. The anime is made of 110 25-minute episodes (divided into 4 sections). The first episode was released on home video in December 1988, and the last in January 1997. Since Legend of the Galactic Heroes was released directly to home video and not shown on TV first, it is technically an OVA (quite possibly the longest ever). However, it has since been shown on TV several times. There is a one hour movie and two 90-minute movies and two series of side stories (Gaiden) which are all prequels to the 110 episode series:
* "Legend of Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars" - Movie, 1988;
* "Legend of Galactic Heroes: Golden Wings" - OVA, 1992;
* "Legend of Galactic Heroes: Overture to a New War" - Movie, 1993;
* "Legend of Galactic Heroes Side Stories" (1st season) - OVA, 24 episodes, 1998 – 1999;
* "Legend of Galactic Heroes Side Stories" (2nd season) - OVA, 28 episodes, 1999 – 2000;The series, while 20 years old, has not been released officially with English dubbing nor subtitles. Even so, it has been ranked highly on most international sites about anime and/or space opera.

Manga

The manga edition is authored by Katsumi Michihara, and is derived from the first two volumes of the original-novel.

This manga story is faithful to the original, possibly more faithful than the anime. However, there are some changes that could be considered major, e.g. the sex of several characters is changed.

Akira Kasahara is cooperating in drawing mechanics.

ee also

* Characters of Legend of the Galactic Heroes
* Legend of the Galactic Heroes release history
* List of Legend of the Galactic Heroes media
* List of Legend of the Galactic Heroes episodes

Related
* Seiun Award - Best Novel of the Year in 1988

External links

* [http://www.ginei.jp/ Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu Official Website] - Official site of anime versionja icon
* [http://chotto.art.coocan.jp/ Nekomatagi Club] - Official site of Katsumi Michihara, author of manga version ja icon
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