Heroic Age

From start to finish Heroic Age delivers! Loved every bit of this anime but admittedly I'm a bit of a sap for the dramatic so every eps seemed to get me emotionally charged up.

An truly epic story based on tales from Greek mythology surrounding Heracles/Hercules and his 12 Labors - morphed into giant space battles with the extinction of humanity at stake. The main character Age is a human Nodos "one who holds the essence of the Tribe of Hero". Age is joined with the strongest of the Tribe of Hero, Belcross, and must follow 12 Agreements set by the Tribe of Gold, as his contract with humanity, the Tribe of Iron. Age is Hercules...or its it Belcross..either way you see the parallels.

Greek mythological permeates throughout from the main battleship "Argonaut" to the names of the primary races based on Hesiod's 5 Ages of Man (Iron Age, Heroic Age, Bronze Age, Silver Age, Gold Age).

Overall excellently animated even in their overly ambitious epic space battles - that seem to happen very episode. The biggest space battle you've every seen just gets bigger next episode. Loved the stylized character designs - long necks seem to do something for me. I might only fault them on their CG work for the Argonaut - its a big part of nearly every episode and it could use a bit more detailing.

So much is going on with battles and agreements and tribes and such I was worried they would have some difficulties bring it all together in the end. But the final episodes really came through with amazing visuals and a tight resolve. Heck I even thought episode 25 was the final, seen others that would end that way, but then we get #26 which provides a comprehendable and enjoyable conclusion to Heroic Age.

[I posted similar review over on Hulu]

I really enjoyed this anime it was funny, dramatic, romantic and I fell in love with the many sides of Age. It gives off a spiritual vibe that radiates in the innocence of "Age" as he discovers new things, but does not stray from what he was told by the Gold Tribe. The fight scenes are amazing and I found myself rooting for rebellion. There are romantic undertones between Age and the princess, but nothing too bold just some luke warm kind of love-you-like-a "kid brother" or maybe more. It is also an Environmental take on the story, like if we don't stop fighting and destroying the world we will eventually destroy ourselves type of plot. Overall love it will watch it again and again.