Heroic Age (anime)

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Heroic Age


caption =
ja_name = ヒロイック・エイジ
ja_name_trans = Hiroikku Eiji
genre = Mecha, Adventure, RomanceInfobox animanga/Anime
director = Toshimasa Suzuki
studio = XEBEC
network = flagicon|Japan TV Tokyo, TV Setouchi, TV Osaka
first = April 1 2007
last = September 30 2007
licensor = flagicon|USA FUNimation Entertainment
episodes = 26
episode_list = List of Heroic Age episodesInfobox animanga/Manga
title =
author = Kugeko Warabino
illustrator =
publisher = flagicon|Japan Kodansha
demographic = Seinen
magazine = Magazine Z
first = July 23 2007
last =
volumes = 1

nihongo|"Heroic Age"|ヒロイック・エイジ|Hiroikku Eiji is a mecha based anime directed by Toshimasa Suzuki. It is produced by XEBEC and airs on Japanese networks such as TV Tokyo and TV Osaka. The series 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.

On July 23 2007, a manga adaptation began serialization in Kodansha's Magazine Z. Though the story will be the same, it will be told in Iolaus' point of view. Five official guidebooks will also be published and will have consecutive monthly releases from July to November 2007.

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 some figures in Greek mythology; 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.

toryline

After an advanced race, the Golden Tribe, left to explore other universes, the human race, known as the Iron Tribe, became threatened with extinction. Since the Golden Tribe left, the Silver Tribe has long been the most dominant race, calling themselves the Golden Tribe's successors. The young princess of the Iron Tribe, Dianeira, searches for the one mentioned in her family's history; the messianic individual that holds the power to save her people. This person she looks for is the only human to have been raised by the Golden Tribe before they departed from the universe. After her ship and crew reaches the ruined planet, Oron, which holds the one she is looking for, they are attacked by the Bronze Tribe. However, right before the attack, they come in contact with a young boy named "Age", who may hold the secrets to their salvation.

History

There was once a primeval race which called itself the "Golden Tribe". They possessed many powers, including the ability to create Planets and see into the future. They then called on primitive beings far across the galaxy and told them to explore the universe. Three races were able to reply to their call and the Golden Tribe referred to those as the nihongo|"Silver Tribe"|銀の種族|Gin no Shuzoku, the "Bronze Tribe", and the nihongo|"Heroic Tribe"|英雄の種族|Eiyuu no Shuzoku. Long after, just as the Golden Race was about to move on to another universe, a new race replied to their call. The newcomer, Humankind, was referred to as the nihongo|"Iron Tribe"|鉄の種族|Tetsu no Shuzoku.

Due to their extraordinary powers and aggressive nature, the titanic beings known as the "Heroic Tribe" instigated an interstellar civil war and caused the destruction of thousands of planets and stars. The expanding ruin angered the Golden Tribe, and forced them to capture and punish the surviving five members of the Heroic Race for the destruction they had caused. Caught in a magical cage, they were subdued and condemned to serve races weaker than them. Reduced to the state of diamond-like stones, they were given to five individuals, who were then referred to as nihongo|'Nodos'|ノドス|Nodosu. The Heroic Tribe member, Bellcross, entered the body of a boy from the Iron Tribe, and became known as the fifth Nodos. The child was directly raised by the Golden Race on the ruined planet, Oron, in order to fulfill a prophecy passed down by the Iron Tribe's royal family.

It was then that the Golden Tribe issued prophecies to each Tribe (Iron and Silver) who possessed a Nodos, telling them that they could make contracts with those exceptional beings and allowed both parties to draw a specific number of clauses, called 'Labors'. In the Iron Tribe's case, there are twelve conditions, the famous 'Twelve Labors', assigned to a yet to be found, lone human announced as their new messiah: a teenager named Age.

However, soon after they came into play in the equation, the Iron Tribe's homeworld, Earth, was attacked by several dozen hives from the Bronze Tribe. The local population was exterminated and the planet conquered, forcing the survivors to emigrate towards safer parts of the universe. It was later revealed that the attack had been staged by the Silver Race, who ruled over the insect-like Bronze Tribe. To this day, the Iron Tribe is still greatly endangered by the combined forces of the Silver and Bronze Tribes and, although its new homeworld is still ensconced in a relative sense of safety and secrecy, its survival, however, is only guaranteed by this stealthiness, as the difference of power between the youngest race and the others is still too great.

Labors

Each tribe possessing one or several Nodos is allowed to make a contract with them. They can draw a specific number of clauses (called 'Labors'), the amount of which was determined beforehand by the Golden Tribe. Not every "labor" is guaranteed to come true.

Iron Tribe - The 12 Labors

The Iron Tribe was allowed to make twelve of them, thus drawing a parallel to Heracles' Twelve Labors.

The Iron Tribe's contract goes as follows:
#Treat your contractor as your King.
#To serve the King and never become one.
#Recover the homeland Earth to the hands of humans who are called the "Tribe of Iron".
#Fight against all survivors of "Tribe of Hero" and defeat every one of them.
#Secure the Mother Planet of "Tribe of Bronze" to the hands of humans.
#Secure the Mother Planet of "Tribe of Silver" to the hands of humans.
#Obtain the powers of "Tribes of Gold" to foresee the future.
#Obtain the knowledge of "Tribes of Gold" to generate Stars.
#To make humans who are called "Tribe of Iron" to become the master of universe.
#To protect the bonding party until these labors are fulfilled.
#To not to escape or to die until these labors are fulfilled.
#When these labors are fulfilled, humans also known as "Tribe of Iron" will make one contractor’s wish come true as long as such wish do not breach the 11th agreement.

"Note - The above 12 labors were directly translated in episode 2 of the anime -- the contract is meant for Age, the Nodos entrusted with protecting the 'Iron Tribe'."

ilver Tribe Labors

The content of some of the Silver Tribe's contracts is still unknown, but it appears to involve the protection of Yuti by the rest of the Silver Tribe's Nodos. Silver Tribe members Rome Ro and Prome Ou were the chief architects of the contracts.

The Silver Tribe has made contracts with a total of four Nodos:
*Karkinos - contract with the Silver Tribe contains 4 Labors. While Karcinos's contract has not been fully enumerated, it involves the protection of Yuti even at the cost of his own life.
*Mehitaka - contract with the Silver Tribe contains 3 Labors::# To ensure obedience to the Silver Tribe, Pore (his tribe) will be collateral.:# As a Nodos, until all your power is used up, you will obey the Silver Tribe.:# When the Nodos of the Silver Tribe is in danger, you will help.
*Lekti - contract with the Silver Tribe contains 5 Labors::# By submitting to the will of the Silver Tribe, your tribe shall prosper.:# You must fight against the enemies of the Silver Tribe as a Nodos.:# When the Nodos of the Silver Tribe is in danger, you must save her.:# When you have discovered the power of the Golden Tribe, you must inform the Silver Tribe:# When the power of the Golden Tribe is being lost, you must protect it.
*Yuti - contract with the Silver Tribe contains 8 Labors. While Yuti's contract has not been fully enumerated, it is chiefly concerned with obtaining the power of the Golden Tribe. She is also tasked with destroying that power should it fall out of the hands of the Silver Tribe.

Characters

Nodos

A Nodos is a vessel entrusted with the 'essence' of a Hero Tribesman, and can thus transform into a member of the Hero Tribe. The vessels have been shown to have superhuman abilities, including enhanced strength and agility, breathing in space, while being unaffected by the vacuum which would kill a normal human in seconds, and enduring the immense heat caused by atmospheric reentry. ["Heroic Age" episode 8, "Flashing Nodos".] It has also been revealed that other than Age, the other Nodos are required to protect the Silver Tribe's Nodos, Yuti. Yuti has mentioned that if they do not abide by the contract the Golden Tribe has given to them, each of their tribes would be destroyed.

;nihongo|Age|エイジ|Eiji:"Age:" 17 (appearance):"Height:" 172cm:"Blood Type:" AB:"Seiyū:" Hiroshi Yazaki:Age has the body of a teenage boy, but is actually 120 years old; it is unknown how much of this time he was actually "living", as he may have been in stasis for over 100 years. Age lived on the ruined planet Oron, a world that was once verdant and peaceful, but later suffered from a cosmic cataclysm. Wild by nature, he is nevertheless extremely good-natured. Having grown up on a deserted planet, he can easily fend for himself and often hunts. His prey also seems to be a sort of pet or close friend to him (the limbs that Age eats eventually grow back). Like other Nodos, Age has shown enhanced agility and immense strength; he was able to tear the Argonaut's outer shell with his bare hands. Since he was taught by the Golden Tribe, Age has a limited knowledge about human society, not even knowing the meaning of 'numbers', simple words, or common phrases; the Golden Tribe apparently had no use for numbers and such.:He lived in an old, abandoned ship, and he addressed the mainframe A.I. of the ship as his mother. Though the ship's A.I. did not understand most of what he said, Age truly believed it to be his mom and genuinely cared for it. When the Bronze Tribe attacked Oron, his ship was destroyed, which prompted his transformation into Bellcross.

:Age's character is most likely based on the mythological hero Hercules.

:His wild and childlike nature has earned him the nickname of "monkey" among the crew of the Argonaut. ::nihongo|Bellcross|ベルクロス|Berukurosu::The 'essence' of the Hero Tribe life-form within him, which is stored in a stone that is wrapped around the optical nerve of Age's right eye. When summoned, Age's body is merged with that of Bellcross. Bellcross is considered to be the strongest of the remaining Hero Tribe. It is shown to have the ability to absorb its enemies' life force and release it as a destructive energy blast. Bellcross has a humanoid body approximately 50 feet tall, and joints made of very large blue spheres. Bellcross, like the other remaining members of the Hero Tribe, apparently lives only for destruction and contest over its siblings of the Hero Tribe.

;nihongo|Karkinos Rucan|カルキヌス・ルーカン|Karukinusu Rūkan: "Seiyū:" Masayuki Katō:Karkinos is a calm thinker and not easily provoked. His purple Hero Tribe form, "Lernaea", employs some sort of corrosive gas, or similar material, as a means of attack. It is implied that this power can destroy entire solar systems. Apparently, he is capable of resurrection. ["Heroic Age" episode 23, "Four People".] :His name is based on Karkinos, a crab that tried to help a hydra defeat Heracles. Accordingly, Karkinos' Hero Tribe form can transform into a type of hydra when on solid ground.:Karkinos' contract with the Silver Tribe contains 4 Labors.

;nihongo|Mehitaka Pore|メヒタカ・ポレ|Mehitaka Pore:"Seiyū:" Chihiro Suzuki:A Nodos from the Planet Pore. Despite having destroyed many planets in the past, he now despises fighting, and hates to see others hurt as a result of it. His red Hero Tribe form, "Artemia", is capable of firing massive energy beams which can engulf entire planets. Artemia also possesses the ability to turn its body into energy, which can reflect or refract energy weapons. However, it is vulnerable to gravity-based laser beams. Mehitaka will not eat anything with a 'life', instead drawing sustenance by consuming raw matter such as metal. :Mehitaka's contract with the Silver Tribe contains 3 Labors.

;nihongo|Lekti Leque|レクティ・レクゥ|Rekuti Rekuu:"Seiyū:" Miyuki Sawashiro:She is a long-haired female in a lavender dress. Lekti has the ability to teleport herself and anyone she is touching at the same time, similar to Iolaus. She is curious about why the Golden Tribe gave their tribe such an unreasonable contract, and often visits Prome to discuss their fate. She shows a measure of affection and concern for Mehitaka, and is saddened whenever he must fight. Her green Hero Tribe form, "Erymanthos", allows her to manipulate time.:Lekti's contract with the Silver Tribe contains 5 Labors.

;nihongo|Yuti La|ユティ・ラー|Yuti Rā/Yuty Ra:"Seiyū:" Ami Koshimizu:A member of the Silver Tribe, thus having the ability to create spiritual projections of herself, and has also shown the ability of teleportation. The young female has long tresses falling to the ground, and is the unspoken "leader" of the four Silver Tribe's Nodos. Yuti's entire philosophy can be summed up in her first response to Karkinos' question about the fifth Nodos: "People who do not submit to the Silver Tribe have no need to live." Although she seems cruel, Yuti has been shown to care for the life of Karkinos, and may have feelings for him. Yuti is under the direct control of Rome Ro, and cannot act without his express order. Yuti's black Hero Tribe form, "Cerberus", can surround itself with a powerful shield capable of deflecting energy weapons, even beams strong enough to destroy a star. Cerberus has the power to create massive vortexes that act like Black Holes, swallowing whole fleets of ships and sending them into 'nothingness'. This power is considered the most devastating out of the five Nodos.:Yuti's contract with the Silver Tribe contains 8 Labors.

Iron Tribe

Humanity is known to the rest of the universe as the "Iron Tribe", the name given to them by the Golden Tribe. The Iron Tribe was the last race to be able to travel in space, but also the only race to develop the necessary technology on their own. The Silver and Bronze Tribes consider the Iron Tribe to be inferior because, unlike them, the Iron Tribe was not granted this ability by the Golden Tribe. When humanity began to explore space, Earth was attacked by the Bronze Tribe (under the Silver Tribe's control). Human life on Earth was exterminated and humanity was scattered among the stars, pursued by the Bronze and Silver Tribes. Humanity's only hope is an old message from the Golden Tribe that told of a human Nodos that would become their savior.

;nihongo|Dhianeira Y Leisha Altria Ol Yunos|ディアネイラ・イ・ライシャ・アルトリア・オル・ユーノス|Dianeira I Raisha Arutoria Oru Yūnosu:"Age:" 18:"Height:" 164cm:"Blood Type:" A:"Seiyū:" Yui Ishikawa:The young princess of the Iron Tribe and the heroine of the story. By using information passed down by the royal family, she takes it upon herself to search for the one she considers their savior. Along with her psychic and telepathic powers, she has the power to create spiritual projections, though not as powerful as those of the Silver Tribe. Her telepathic powers also seem to be so powerful that she can automatically read the minds of those around her. It also is revealed that Dhianeira cannot handle the spiritual waves of an impure man, so men have to be at least 10 meters away from her, or else she may lose consciousness and collapse. ["Heroic Age" episode 2, "Forgotten Child".] [ [http://www.xebec-inc.co.jp/anime/heroicage/termex.html XEBEC's Heroic Age terminology section] .] The only man to have ever been able to approach her, and make her not lose herself is Age, and in recent episodes Iolaus. After she ended the war between the Iron-tribe and Silver/Bronze-tribe, she went to the home planet of Age and stayed there till they finished fixing the planet. Four years later, she reunited with Age and it is unknown if they stayed in their Universe or went to the Universe where the Golden and the Silver tribe is waiting for them. Her character is based on a figure in Greek mythology, Deianira.

;nihongo|Iolaus Oz Mehelim|イオラオス・オズ・メヒリム|Ioraosu Ozu Mehirimu:"Age:" 20:"Height:" 180cm:"Blood Type:" A:"Seiyū:" Takashi Kondo:The young leader of the Yunos Knights, a squadron of robot fighter pilots. Uptight but very responsible, he is extremely loyal to Dhianeira. He initially dislikes Age and gets jealous over Dhianeira becoming close to him, but quickly becomes Age's friend. Iolaus has a secret collection of holographic pictures of Dhianeira.:Iolaus has the ability to teleport himself and another, when he touches them. [cite web|url=http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/heroicage/news.html|title=Starchild's Heroic Age Site - News section|accessdate=2007-06-08|language=Japanese] The range of this ability has so far been shown to be intra-planetary, with his longest teleport so far being from orbit around Titarros to the surface of said planet. Iolaus can only teleport others along with him if they are mentally willing to do so. His mecha can teleport when a special engine is engaged, and the engine is also capable of transporting other mechas along with his own, if distance between Iolaus' and the other mechas allows.:His character represents the Theban hero, Iolaus, friend to Heracles.

;nihongo|Aneasha Ol Megarla|アネーシャ・オル・ナガーラ|Anēsha Oru Nagāra:"Age:" 19:"Height:" 168cm:"Blood Type:" O:"Seiyū:" Kaori Shimizu:Personal attendant to Princess Dhianeira. She is also part of Argonaut's medic crew. She appears to have a fondness for Iolaus.

;nihongo|Tail Ol Mehelim|テイル・オル・メヒリム|Teiru Oru Mehirimu and nihongo|Mail Al Mehelim|メイル・アル・メヒリム|Meiru Aru Nahirimu :"Seiyū:" Yukari Tamura (Tail) and Rie Kugimiya (Mail):Twins with telekinetic abilities. A bit childlike and irresponsible, but always cheerful. They are also skilled engineers and mecha pilots; their mechas corresponds with their telekinetic abilities. As Dhianeira's attendants, they were put in charge of "babysitting" Age, but are often involved in Age's childish antics. When Iolaus is depressed, they sell him pictures of Dhianeira.

;nihongo|Mobeedo Oz Mehelim|モビード・オズ・メヒリム|Mobīdo Ozu Mehirimu:"Age:" 54:"Height:" 189cm:"Seiyū:" Takashi Matsuyama:Military commander of the Iron Tribe's spaceship, the Argonaut. His mission is to protect the Princess Dhianeira and to carry out her wishes. He is also Iolaus' and the twins' father.

;nihongo|Nilval Nephew|ニルバール・ネフュー|Nirubāru Nēfyū:"Age:" 45:"Height:" 182cm:"Seiyū:" Yukana:A female military officer of the Iron Tribe, and acting commander of the Azz-Azoth fleet. She and Captain Mobead were in officer's school together. It is said that she has the worst luck, but is highly dependable. She seems to have a rough demeanor, but is well-respected by her crew. She is later transferred to Mereagros' flagship, the Althaea.

;nihongo|Mereagros E Leisha Altria Oz Yunos|メレアグロス・エ・ライシャ・アルトリア・オズ・ユーノス|Mereagurosu E Raisha Arutoria Ozu Yūnosu:"Seiyū:" Daisuke Kishio:The oldest prince of the Royal family that leads humanity, and commander of the flagship Althaea and the Calydon fleet. Dim-witted but ambitious, he wants to lead humanity to conquer the universe. He cares nothing for others, and is envious of Dhianeira's reputation among many nobles, and only sees her as someone who comes between him and the throne. Despite that, he considers her and Age as useful tools, but ones that can easily be discarded. :His name is based on a Greek hero, Meleagros, who incidentally became one of the Argonauts.

;nihongo|Atarantes Az Yunos|アタランテス·アズ·ユーノス|Atarantesu Azu Yūnosu:"Seiyū:" Hiroyuki Yoshino:The second prince of the Royal family, commander of the elite Kento Knights, and Mereagros's right hand. He supports Mereagros in his quest to conquer the universe. He also thinks of his only sister, Dhianeira, as nothing but a pest. :His name is based on Atalanta, who in Greek mythology was a female warrior that loved Meleagros.

ilver Tribe

The self-proclaimed new "guardians" of space. The Silver Tribe see themselves as the most superior tribe, after the Golden Tribe. Due to their arrogance, they believe that every other tribe that is inferior to them deserves to be conquered by them. Compared to other tribes, the Silver has the most powerful spiritual energy, allowing them to be immune to illnesses, live longer lives, and have the power to create energy from nothing. Each tribesman has been shown to possess common powers, such as long-ranged telepathy and teleportation, and creating spiritual projections. Unlike other races, the Silver Tribe consists of a small amount of tribesmen; their powerful spiritual powers, which helps them create superior technology, makes up for their low population. Traveling to the stars in their lotus-shaped ships, the Silver Tribe has helped many lesser species obtain low-orbit space status, but prohibited long-range space and interstellar space travel. The Silver Tribe consider individual star systems worthless, but gain wealth and power by obtaining tribute from the tribes that they have lifted up.

;nihongo|Peato Ou|パエトー・オー|Paetō Ō:"Seiyū" - Yoshinori Fujita:A member of the Silver Tribe, who has been tasked with destroying the Argonaut. Like Dhianeira, he has been shown to be able to create spiritual projections of himself, but in a far more powerful form that can project shields, and attack with short-range tentacle-spades. Later, after his starship is destroyed by Bellcross, Peato is shown to be able to survive in hard vacuum unaided for an extended period of time. He can also create another starship in space from nothingness in minutes. ["Heroic Age" episode 20, "Nodos of Darkness".]

;nihongo|Rome Ro|ロム・ロー|Romu Rō:"Seiyū" - Susumu Chiba:He commands all the Nodos except Age. He also appears to be Yuti and Peato's superior. It is later revealed that Rome Ro was present when the Golden Tribe withdrew from the galaxy, and personally "chased" after members of the Golden Tribe, demanding that they stay and continue teaching the Silver Tribe.

;nihongo|Prome Ou|プロメ・オー|Purome Ō:"Seiyū" - Rina Satou:She is in charge of the Silver Tribe's emotions, and can transfer emotions from her tribesmen into her, thus erasing it from them. She has also been seen sitting on a throne, talking to Lekti about the Nodos' contracts.

Bronze Tribe

An insect species, the Bronze Tribe is seen by other races in the galaxy as the Silver Tribe's enforcement arm. Numbering in the tens of billions, the Bronze Tribe uses hollowed-out asteroids as starships utilizing the same Starway and Warp technology of the Silver and Iron Tribe. The Bronze Tribe's spiritual powers differ from other races; glowing organs showing blue through their bronze-colored exoskeletons are evidence of their species-specific telepathy, but none show the spiritual projections of the Silver and Iron Tribes. In warfare the Bronze Tribe individuals can form spiritual force shields with a thought, and also project beam energy at a target from those shields. Bronze Tribe insect bodies can survive the cold of outer space and the heat of atmospheric entry, but are still vulnerable to normal damage. At close range acid spits from their fanged mouths. The asteroid ships may move by combined individual telekineses, since no reaction mass is seen from the asteroids or the Bronze Tribe individuals. While a subset of the tribe have teleportation powers, rather than the instantaneous dematerialization/rematerialization of Iolaus and Lekti, the insects instead create gates or wormhole portals between interplanetary locations. When the Iron Tribe combined fleet attacked Taros, the Bronze Tribe's home planet, the gates were large enough for entire asteroid ships to pass through. The Bronze Tribe has not shown a single Queen in its reproductive cycle, nor a pupa stage; the young hatch from egg sacs and mature to adult size afterwards. A humanoid-shaped "controller" can be found at the heart of each asteroid ship. It is not known how the Silver Tribe convinced the Bronze Tribe to serve them so unswervingly, nor what the Bronze Tribe receives from its relationship with the Silver Tribe.

taff

*Animation production: XEBEC
*Planning: Toshimichi Ōtsuki, Yukinao Shimoji
*Director: Toshimasa Suzuki
*Producers: Takatoshi Chino, Gou Nakanishi
*Storyboard: Toshimasa Suzuki
*Series composition: Tow Ubukata
*Original story: Tow Ubukata
*Chief animator: Hisashi Hirai
*Art director: Toshihiro Kohama
*Art design: Yoshinori Shiozawa
*3DCG director: Hirofumi Yagi
*Character design: Hisashi Hirai
*Mecha concept design: Yoshiki Kuga
*Mecha design: Ken Ōtsuka, Naohiro Washio
*Color setting: Mitsuko Sekimoto
*Music: Naoki Sato
*Sound effects: Hiromune Kurahashi
*Sound director: Kazuya Tanaka
*Photography director: Takashi Aoki

Media

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 is set for spring 2009.

Episodes

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 is expected to be released on September 5 2007, and will also contain a sticker of the jacket cover.

;Volumes"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)

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.

;Volumes"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 will have consecutive monthly releases, with the last one being released on November 30 2007. Each guidebook will have a total of 36 colored pages. On October 29 2007, an exclusive official binder, which will hold all five volumes, will go on sale.

;Volumes"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

Music

ingles

Opening themes

The opening theme of "Heroic Age", "gravitation", was performed by angela. An opening themes single, performed by angela and contains six tracks, was released on May 9 2007.cite web|url=http://www.xebec-inc.co.jp/anime/heroicage/com.html|title=XEBEC's Heroic Age Site - Media section|accessdate=2007-06-08|language=Japanese]

*Lyrics: Atsuko
*Composition: Atsuko and KATSU
*Arrangement: KATSU

;Track listing
#"gravitation"
#nihongo|"Storm of Nothingness"|虚無の嵐
#"Your breath"
#"gravitation" ("Karaoke/no vocals")
#nihongo|"Storm of Nothingness"|虚無の嵐 ("Karaoke")
#"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.cite web|url=http://www.xebec-inc.co.jp/anime/heroicage/com.html|title=XEBEC's Heroic Age Site - Music section|accessdate=2007-06-08|language=Japanese]

*Lyrics: SHUMA (for "Azurite")
*Composition and arrangement: YUPA (for "Azurite")

;Track listing
#"Azurite"
#"Starry heavens"
#"Azurite" ("Karaoke")
#"Starry heavens" ("Karaoke")

oundtracks

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.cite web|url=http://www.xebec-inc.co.jp/anime/heroicage/com.html|title=XEBEC's Heroic Age Site - Music section|accessdate=2007-06-08|language=Japanese] 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.

;Star Way;Disc 1
#nihongo|"Heroic Age"|ヒロイック・エイジ|Hiroikku Eiji
#nihongo|"Star murder"|星殺し
#nihongo|"Bellcross"|ベルクロス|Berukurosu　
#nihongo|"Star way"|スターウェー|Sutāwē　
#nihongo|"Nodos Fight"|ノドスの戦い|Nodosu no tatakai
#nihongo|"Scar"|傷　
#nihongo|"Everyday life of Age"|エイジの日　
#nihongo|"Age and Futo"|エイジとフートォ|Eiji to Fūtoo　
#nihongo|"Heart's Rain"|心の雨　　
#nihongo|"Planet Dyui"|惑星デュイー|Wakusei Dyuī
#nihongo|"Azu Azot Fleet"|アズ・アゾート艦隊|Azu Azōto Sentai　
#nihongo|"Spark"|閃光　
#nihongo|"Silver Tribe"|銀の種族|Gin no Shuzoku　
#nihongo|"Conversation"|対話　
#nihongo|"Cemetery Belt"|セメタリー・ベルト|Semetarī beruto
#nihongo|"Argonaut"|アルゴノート|Arugonōto　
#nihongo|"One Heart"|心ひとつに
#nihongo|"Tayl and Mayl"|テイルとメイル|Teiru to Meiru
#nihongo|"Intense Earthquake"|激震
#nihongo|"Contract"|契約|Keiyaku
#nihongo|"The Coming of the old Star God"|旧き神の星;Disc 2The second disc describes some events surrounding Iolaus, outside the "Heroic Age" story.cite web|url=http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/heroicage/release.html|title=Starchild's Heroic Age Site - Music section|accessdate=2007-06-08|language=Japanese] The disc also features a bonus track, "Azurite", with vocals by Dhianeila's seiyū, Yui Ishikawa.

;Performance:
*Takashi Kondo as Iolaus
*Yukari Tamura as Tail
*Rie Kugimiya as Mail
*Kaori Shimizu as Aneasha

;Kikan;Disc 1
#nihongo|"Heroic Age -Aratanaru Tabidachi-"|ヒロイック・エイジ-新たなる旅立ち-
#nihongo|"Kyouran"|狂乱
#nihongo|"Karyu-don Kantai"|カリュドーン艦隊　
#nihongo|"Gekisen no Kodou"|激戦の鼓動　
#nihongo|"Eryushion"|エリュシオン
#nihongo|"Shi no Keiyaku"|死の契約　
#nihongo|"Dhianeira no Omoi"|ディアネイラの想い　
#nihongo|"Kyomu"|虚無　
#nihongo|"Koe"|声　　
#nihongo|"Yuganda Kokoro -Kunou-"|歪んだ心-苦悩-
#nihongo|"Yuuki"|勇気　
#nihongo|"Jikuuryuu no Tatakai"|時空流の戦い　
#nihongo|"Ankoku no Nodosu"|暗黒のノドス　
#nihongo|"Heroic Age -Kagayaku no Hoshi Tatsu Toki-"|ヒロイック・エイジ-輝きの星立つとき-　
#nihongo|"Yuganda Kokoro -Kyoufu-"|歪んだ心-恐怖-
#nihongo|"Omowaku"|思惑　
#nihongo|"Chitsujo"|秩序
#nihongo|"Heroic Age -Kikan-"|ヒロイック・エイジ-帰還- ;Disc 2The second disc describes some events surrounding Iolaus, outside the "Heroic Age" story.cite web|url=http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/heroicage/release.html|title=Starchild's Heroic Age Site - Music section|accessdate=2007-06-08|language=Japanese] The disc also features a bonus track, "Flowery", with vocals by Dhianeira's seiyū, Yui Ishikawa.

;Performance:
*Takashi Kondo as Iolaus
*Yukari Tamura as Tail
*Rie Kugimiya as Mail
*Kaori Shimizu as Aneasha

References

External links

* [http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/heroic_age/ TV Tokyo Official Site] jp icon
* [http://www.xebec-inc.co.jp/anime/heroicage/ XEBEC Official Site] jp icon
* [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/heroicage/ Starchild Site] jp icon
*ann anime|id=7627|title=Heroic Age
* [http://funimation.com/heroicage/ The Official Heroic Age Anime Website From FUNimation]