Legend of the Galactic Heroes

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Legend of the Galactic Heroes

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.
銀河英雄伝説
(Ginga Eiyu Densetsu)
Genre Drama, Military, Science Fiction
Novel
Author Yoshiki Tanaka
Illustrator Naoyuki Kato (vol. 1 – 5)
Yukihisa Kamoshita (vol. 6 – 10)
Publisher Tokuma Shoten
Published November 30, 1982 – November 15, 1987
Volumes 10
Novel: 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
Published September 1, 1984 – July 31, 1989
Volumes 4 and 5 short stories
Manga
Author Katsumi Michihara
Publisher Tokuma Shoten
Magazine Shōnen Captain (1989 – 1994)
Chara (1994 – 2000)
Original run August 10, 1986 – February 2000
Volumes Golden Wings (August 10, 1986)
11 volumes (1990 – 2000)
Animated film: 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.
OVA
Director Noboru Ishiguro
Studio Kitty Films
Episodes 110
Released December 1988 – March 1997
OVA: Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Golden Wings
Director Keizou Shimizu
Studio Kitty Films
Episodes 1
Released December 12, 1992
Animated film: 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.
OVA: Legend of the Galactic Heroes Side Stories
Director Noboru Ishiguro
Studio Kitty Films
Episodes 52
Released 1998 – 2000

Legend of the Galactic Heroes (銀河英雄伝説 Ginga Eiyū Densetsu?) is a series of science fiction novels by Yoshiki Tanaka (田中芳樹 Takana Yoshiki?). An anime adaptation of the novels ran from 1988 to 1997, 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 9th 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 Gin'eiden (銀英伝) in Japan, while English-language fans often abbreviate the series title as LOGH (capitalization for the acronym varies).

Contents

[edit] The story

Starmap of the LOGH universe
Starmap of the LOGH universe

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 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.

[edit] Background Timeline

2039: A massive nuclear exchange between the powers which dominate the Earth (identified as the United States of Euro-Africa and the Northern Coalition) destroy most major cities.

2129: After 90 years of chaos Earth is united under the "Earth Unity Government" based in the capital of Brisbane.

2166: What will be a massive research installation on Io is begun.

2253: A slower-than-light vessel is launched for Alpha Centauri but never returns.

2360: The first faster-than-light drive is developed, but turns out to have deleterious effects on females.

2391: The problems with FTL are solved.

2402: A habitable world is discovered near Canopus.

2404: As the first colony ship is launched for Canopus, Earth's government establishes a "Navigation Safety Department" which later becomes known as the Department of Public Safety.

2428: The Department of Public Safety reorganises itself as a formal navy.

2682: Disgruntled colonies unite to complain about high taxes, interference in local administration, and their lack of proportionate representation in the Humanity Congress which is weighted to ensure that Earth will always have the deciding vote. Earth responds by trying to make Sirius into a scapegoat, accusing them of spreading subversion as part of a plot to take over.

2685: Earth's denunciation of Sirius makes it into the natural leader of the dissident colonies. They establish the "Sirius Congress" and begin to gather military power.

2689: Earth attacks Sirius VI (aka Rondolina) to suppress the dissidents. Earth's forces become increasingly undisciplined, culminating in a massacre of the city of Laglane.

2703: The lack of discipline among Earth's forces leads to a devastating defeat at the hands of the much smaller rebel "Black Fleet".

2704: The Black Fleet blockades the inner Solar System for two months and then attacks the starving population, killing most of them.

2706: The leader of the revolution, Carl Palgrem, dies of a heart attack. The rebels fragment into numerous factions that fight for control.

2801 (1 U.C.): The United Stars of the Galaxy is formed, centered on Theoria, the 2nd planet of Aldebaran, and a new calendar era is adopted, "Universal Calendar" beginning in this year.

2906 (106 U.C.): In order to deal with the ongoing threat of space pirates descended from elements of the Sirius/Earth war who never reintegrated into civilisation, the U.S.G. authorises the creation of a large military to combat them.

3088 (288 U.C.): A military genius named Rudolph Von Goldenbaum leads the U.S.G. space army in wiping out the resurgent pirates, becoming an idolised hero similar to Julius Caesar.

3096 (296 U.C.): Rudolph Von Goldenbaum, having rocketed up the ranks to Admiral by the age of 28, retires to run for a seat in Parliament, forming the National Reform Alliance. The public is eager for a strong-willed leader to take over since the U.S.G. has become decadent and disorderly.

Symbol of the Galactic Empire (Goldenbaum dynasty), double-headed eagle, in the anime series.
Symbol of the Galactic Empire (Goldenbaum dynasty), double-headed eagle, in the anime series.

3110 (310 U.C.): President-for-life Goldenbaum declares himself Emperor of the Galactic Empire and a new calendar, the Reich Calendar.

3120 (320 U.C., 9 R.C.) Emperor Rudolph declares the Inferior Genes Exclusion Law which mandates sterilisation of the handicapped and execution of the mentally ill and terminates all social assistance of the poor. He begins selecting "superior genetic specimens", all of whom are white and have Germanic names to form an aristocracy with titles handed out by Rudolph.

3141 (341 U.C., 42 R.C.) Emperor Rudolph is succeeded by his grandson Sigismund, and widespread democratic rebellions break out, only to be suppressed. Billions of people lose their citizenship and become serfs for being family members or associates of executed rebels.

Flag of the Free Planets Alliance in the anime series.
Flag of the Free Planets Alliance in the anime series.

3263 (463 U.C., 164 R.C.) Ale Heinnesen, reduced to serf status for being a member of a rebel's family, masterminds the escape of 400,000 serfs from a labour camp on Altair VII.

3327 (527 U.C., 218 R.C.) The refugees, travelling more than 10,000 light years to flee the Empire, arrive at a habitable world and decide to start the Free Planets Alliance from there, reviving the Universal Calendar.

3440 (640 U.C., 331 R.C.) The Empire discovers the Free Planets Alliance and war between them begins.

[edit] Manga

An image from the manga, showing Yang Wen-li on the left and Reinhard on the right.
An image from the manga, showing Yang Wen-li on the left and Reinhard on the right.

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.

 Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

[edit] Anime adaptations

An image for the advertisement of the movie Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Overture to a New War (1993).
An image for the advertisement of the movie Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Overture to a New War (1993).

[edit] Series

The anime series is based on 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.

[edit] Production

  • General Director: Noboru Ishiguro
  • Original story: Yoshiki Tanaka
  • Series Writer: Shimao Kawanaka
  • Writer: Takeshi Shutou (1st movie etc.), Shimao Kawanaka (All episodes since ep.15)
  • Character Design: Matsuri Okuda, Kazunari Kume, Keizou Shimizu
  • Mechanical design: Naoyuki Kato (Studio Nue), Norifumi Shimizu
  • Music: Shinsuke Kazeto
  • Producer: Masatoshi Tahara, Yukio Kikukawa
  • Companies involved: Tokuma Japan Corporation, Animage Video

[edit] Voice actors

Legend of The Galactic Heroes boasts the largest voice cast for any known animated production. Contrary to the cheaper and more convenient practice of having voice actors handle multiple roles in the same series, this is almost nonexistent for this production. It was not unusual for top billing cast members to have few or no lines in a large number of episodes. The only known double role in Legend of the Galactic Heroes is held by Hirotaka Suzuoki, playing the roles of the Spartanian pilot Ivan Konev of the Alliance and the Phezzani Rupert Kesserlink. It has been said that the cast listing is a Who's Who for almost every veteran and current Japanese voice actor at the time. For some voice actors in the series, this was their "breakthrough" role. Most notably Ryo Horikawa, as Reinhard, went on to star as the voice of Vegeta in the long running Dragonball Z.

This series also features a large number of primarily live action actors. As an example, Masane Tsukayama (Ernst von Eisenach) and Morio Kazama (Bruce Ashbey) etc. are famous live actors in Japan.

Yang Wen-li was the last role performed by veteran actor Kei Tomiyama who died in 1995 shortly after the end of the original series completion. His other most well known roles include Susumu Kodai from Space Battleship Yamato and Tochiro Oyama from Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999.

[edit] Golden Wings

The character design in Golden Wings
The character design in Golden Wings

[edit] Production

  • Director: Keizou Shimizu
  • Original story: Yoshiki Tanaka, Katsumi Michihara
  • Writer: Kazumi Koide
  • Character Concept Design: Katsumi Michihara
  • Character Design: Yuji Ikeda
  • Mechanical Concept design: Akira Kasahara
  • Mechanical design: Hideki Takahashi
  • Music: Tomoki Hasegawa
  • Producer: Tatsumi Yamashita, Kei Ijichi
  • Companies involved: Tokuma Japan Corporation, Animage Video

[edit] Voice actors

[edit] See also

Related

[edit] External links

Official sites

Additional information