Heroic Age

Heroic Age (ヒロイック・エイジHiroikku Eiji^?) is a science fiction anime directed by Toshimasa Suzuki. It is produced byXEBEC and airs on Japanese television networks. The series first aired on April 1, 2007 and ended on September 30, 2007, with 26 episodes.

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

Plot[]

The show is set in a futuristic universe, controlled by a few races or "tribes" that possesses the capabilities for interstellar travel. The universe had once been ruled by a "Golden Tribe", who had since left the current galaxy long ago; they passed on their knowledge to the humanoid "Silver Tribe" (銀の種族Gin no Shuzoku^?), the insectoid "Bronze Tribe" (青銅の種族Seidou no Shuzoku^?), and the gigantic "Heroic Tribe" (英雄の種族Eiyuu no Shuzoku^?). The latter was later punished by the Golden Tribe for causing havoc in the universe and made to serve the other tribes as 'Nodos' (ノドスNodosu^?) - extremely powerful beings that play a key role in the story. Before the Golden Tribe departed, Humanity answered the call of the Golden Tribe and was dubbed the "Iron Tribe" (鉄の種族Tetsu no Shuzoku^?). Viewed as a threat to the order of things, the Silver Tribe decided to annihilate the Iron Tribe with the aid of the Bronze Tribe. However, humanity survived their assault on Earth and scattered their numbers across the stars in order to preserve their race.

The story follows the voyages of the starship Argonaut and its crew to find a means to bring peace to the universe. The ship carries the young human clairvoyant princess Dhianeila, who is on a mission to find the mythical savior of the human race. This savior is expected to aid humanity in their war against the Silver and Bronze tribes, who are bent on humanity's extermination.

Initially, the expedition finds a child-hearted boy called Age on a partially destroyed planet. When the Argonaut is attacked by the Bronze tribe, Age is shown to transform into a "Nodos" form, Bellcross, a gigantic and immensely powerful being. He easily fends off the superior attacking force. Having found their messiah, the Argonaut starts its way back to Dhianeila's home-world, Duey. During their journey home, the Silver Tribe launches several attacks on the Argonaut to prevent the ship from returning to their home-world, but Age always managed to stop them.

After reaching back to Duey, word had spread throughout humanity of the Argonaut's success and Dhianeila's brothers used the momentum to successfully convince humanity to launch a counter-offensive against the Silver and Bronze tribes. With humanity united under the Junos family, the Silver Tribe throws the full might of their forces along with their 4 Nodos's to destroy humanity. As the fighting intensifies, the humans move towards the Golden Tribes' old home world. At the last moment, contact is made both between the Silver tribe, humanity, and the Nodos of each side. Dhianeila brings the Silver tribe to accept a ceasefire and Age is shown to be the "key" to opening a portal to the universe into which the Golden tribe has moved.

When this portal is opened, the Silver tribe moves on to this other universe and passes all of its knowledge to humanity, including the ability to control the Bronze Tribe. However, during the battle, Age is missing after he opened the gateway; some believed he died in the process, while others believed he'll return one day. Honoring Age's wish, Dhianeila dedicated the next few years of her life to restore Age's home planet.

Four years later, Humanity has now brought order throughout the universe. With the Silver's Tribe's technology, humanity had advanced further and rebuilt Earth. Dhianeila and the Argonaut's team has succeeded in restoring Age's home, but through it all, she missed Age the most. Just as she was about to leave the only planet that gives her some comfort, the Golden Tribe's gateway opened and revealed that Age was alive and received Dhianeila. The ending suggested Age was there to take her beyond the known universe.