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 1997, and a manga is also based on the novels, with art by Katsumi Michihara. Image File history File links LoGH_vol1_first_edition_tokuma_novels. ... For other uses, see Drama (disambiguation). ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Dr. Yoshiki Tanaka (田中 芳樹 Tanaka Yoshiki, born October 22, 1952) is a famous novelist in Japan. ... This article needs translation. ... Tokuma Shoten (徳間書店) is one of the largest entertainment publishers in Japan. ... is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Dr. Yoshiki Tanaka (田中 芳樹 Tanaka Yoshiki, born October 22, 1952) is a famous novelist in Japan. ... Tokuma Shoten (徳間書店) is one of the largest entertainment publishers in Japan. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the comics published in East Asian countries. ... Tokuma Shoten (徳間書店) is one of the largest entertainment publishers in Japan. ... is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Tankōbon ) is the Japanese term for a compilation volume of a particular series (such as a manga or a novel series, magazine articles, essays, craft patterns, etc. ... is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Noboru Ishiguro (石黒昇, Ishiguro Noboru) was born in Tokyo, Japan on August 24, 1938. ... Kitty Films logo. ... Madhouse ) is a Japanese animation studio, founded in the early 1970s by ex-Mushi Pro animators including Masao Maruyama, Osamu Dezaki, Rintaro, and Yoshiaki Kawajiri. ... is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Original Video Animation ), abbreviated OVA ), is a term used for anime titles that are released direct-to-video, without prior showings on TV or in theaters. ... Noboru Ishiguro (石黒昇, Ishiguro Noboru) was born in Tokyo, Japan on August 24, 1938. ... Kitty Films logo. ... Original Video Animation ), abbreviated OVA ), is a term used for anime titles that are released direct-to-video, without prior showings on TV or in theaters. ... Kitty Films logo. ... is the 346th day of the year (347th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Kitty Films logo. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Original Video Animation ), abbreviated OVA ), is a term used for anime titles that are released direct-to-video, without prior showings on TV or in theaters. ... Noboru Ishiguro (石黒昇, Ishiguro Noboru) was born in Tokyo, Japan on August 24, 1938. ... Kitty Films logo. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... This article is about the literary concept. ... Dr. Yoshiki Tanaka (田中 芳樹 Tanaka Yoshiki, born October 22, 1952) is a famous novelist in Japan. ... “Animé” redirects here. ... This article is about the comics published in East Asian countries. ...

Neither the novels, anime, nor manga have been released officially in the English language, but the anime has seen some distribution in fansub form. For that reason most English-speaking fans identify Legend of the Galactic Heroes with the anime. School Rumble with karaoke subtitles—typical for the original Japanese episodes and fansubs, but less common in licensed American releases. ...

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. For the documentary series, see Monarchy (TV series). ... For other uses, see Democracy (disambiguation). ...

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).

The story

The story is staged in the distant future within our own Milky Way Galaxy, approximately in the 35th century. Unlike most 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. The Milky Way (a translation of the Latin Via Lactea, in turn derived from the Greek Galaxia Kuklos; or simply the Galaxy) is a barred spiral galaxy in the Local Group, and has special significance to humanity as the location of the solar system, which is located near the Orion... Green people redirects here. ... Artists conception of a terraformed Mars in three stages of development. ... Artists depiction of a hypothetical Wormhole Induction Propelled Spacecraft, based loosely on the 1994 warp drive paper of Miguel Alcubierre. ... The Galactic Empire is one of two superpowers in Legend of the Galactic Heroes. ... The Free Planets Alliance is one of 2 superpowers in Legend of the Galactic Heroes. ...

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. For other uses, see Prussia (disambiguation). ... Reinhard von Müselis a character in Legend of the Galactic Heroes. ... The Goldenbaum dynasty is the ruling family of the Galactic Empire in Legend of the Galactic Heroes This anime/manga-related article is a stub. ...

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. Yang Wen-li is a character in Legend of the Galactic Heroes. ...

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." Universe was a 1941 story from Heinleins Future History series (shown here in the 1951 Dell edition). ...

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. The Phezzan Dominion is a City state in Legend of the Galactic Heroes. ... A city-state is a region controlled exclusively by a city. ... Terraism is a cult, which claims that humans should go back to Earth in Legend of the Galactic Heroes This anime/manga-related article is a stub. ... This article is about Earth as a planet. ...

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. For other uses, see Brisbane (disambiguation). ...

2166: What will be a massive research installation on Io is begun. Look up Io, io in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

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: The United Stars of the Galaxy is formed, centered on Theoria, the 2nd planet of Aldebaran, and a new calender 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. For other uses, see Julius Caesar (disambiguation). ...

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.

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.

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.

Manga

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. Image File history File links LoGH_manga_vol11_tokuma_shoten. ... Image File history File links LoGH_manga_vol11_tokuma_shoten. ...

This manga story is faithful to the original, possible 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.

Anime adaptations

This is an image for the advertisement of DVD box of Legend of the Galactic Heroes, in around 2003, shows Yang Wen-li on the left and Reinhard on the right.

This is an image for the advertisement of the movie Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Overture to a New War (1993). The design of characters has changed a little because this series continued for so long.

This work is copyrighted. ... This work is copyrighted. ... Image File history File links LoGH_Overture_to_a_New_War. ... Image File history File links LoGH_Overture_to_a_New_War. ...

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: A novel is an extended work of written, narrative, prose fiction, usually in story form; the writer of a novel is a novelist. ... An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. ... A human ovum An ovum (loosely, egg or egg cell) is a female sex cell or gamete. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... Gaiden (外伝, literally outside story) is a Japanese term for a side story. ... A prequel is a work that portrays events which are set in the same universe as a previously completed narrative, but at an earlier time. ...

• 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 over 10 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. In filmmaking, dubbing or looping is the process of recording or replacing voices for a motion picture. ... In printed material In printed material, a subtitle is an explanatory or alternate title. ... “Animé” redirects here. ... Classic pulp space opera cover, with the usual cliché elements. ...

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

Noboru Ishiguro (石黒昇, Ishiguro Noboru) was born in Tokyo, Japan on August 24, 1938. ... Dr. Yoshiki Tanaka (田中 芳樹 Tanaka Yoshiki, born October 22, 1952) is a famous novelist in Japan. ... This article needs translation. ... Studio Nue is a Japanese design studio formed in 1972 (as Crystal Art Studio) by Naoyuki Kato, Kenichi Matsuzaki, Kazutaka Miyatake, and Haruka Takachiho. ...

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. Hirotaka Suzuoki ) (March 6, 1950 - August 6, 2006) was a male seiyÅ« and actor from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture who graduated from Tokyo Keizai University. ... Voice Animage, a magazine about all things about seiyÅ«. For the retail company named Seiyu, see Seiyu Group. ... Ryo Horikawa (堀川りょう Horikawa Ryō), né Makoto Horikawa (堀川亮 Horikawa Makoto, born February 1, 1958) is a veteran seiyū, born in Osaka. ... Dragon Ball Z logo (English manga). ...

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. Kei Tomiyama (富山敬, Tomiyama Kei), born Kunichika Tomiyama (冨山邦親, Tomiyama Kunichika), was a veteran seiyuu born on October 31, 1938 in Manchuria. ... Starblazers redirects here. ... Captain Harlock , lit. ... Serialized in Big Comic Animerica Original run January 24, 1977 – No. ...

Golden Wings

The character design etc. is completely changed in Golden Wings

Image File history File links LoGH_Golden_Wings. ... Image File history File links LoGH_Golden_Wings. ...

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

Dr. Yoshiki Tanaka (田中 芳樹 Tanaka Yoshiki, born October 22, 1952) is a famous novelist in Japan. ...

Voice actors

• Reinhard von Müsel - Hikaru Midorikawa
• Siegfried Kircheis - Takehito Koyasu
• Annerose von Grünewald - Hiromi Murata
• Gregor von Klumbach - Kouji Ishii
• Yang Wen-li - Yasuyoshi Hara

Hikaru Midorikawa ) (born May 2, 1968, in Tochigi) is a popular voice actor (seiyū) in Japan. ... Takehito Koyasu (子安 武人 Koyasu Takehito, born May 5, 1967) in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan is a seiyū (voice actor). ... Kouji Ishii ), is a seiyū born Kouzou Ishii (石井 浩三 Ishii Kōzō) on July 1, 1960 at Wakayama, Japan. ...

See also

• Characters of Legend of the Galactic Heroes
• Legend of the Galactic Heroes release history
• List of Legend of the Galactic Heroes media

Related This is a list of characters and their seiyū from Legend of the Galactic Heroes. ... This article chronicles the releases associated with the long running manga and anime series Legend of the Galactic Heroes. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

• Seiun Award - Best Novel of the Year in 1988

The Seiun Award is a famous Japanese science fiction award. ...

External links

Official sites

• (Japanese) Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu Official Website - Official site of anime version
• (Japanese) Official site of Wright Staff - company that manages right of Yoshiki Tanaka
• (Japanese) Nekomatagi Club - Official site of Katsumi Michihara, author of manga version

Additional information Dr. Yoshiki Tanaka (田中 芳樹 Tanaka Yoshiki, born October 22, 1952) is a famous novelist in Japan. ...

• (English) Legend of the Galactic Heroes (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• (English) Legend of the Galactic Heroes at AnimeNfo
• (Chinese) Chinese Site
• (Chinese) ForGIN.org - a personal website dedicated to Legend of the Galactic Heroes.
• (German) aniSearch - Deutsche Anime Datenbank