[US DVD] Heroic Age Part 1

[Chris Beveridge]

http://www.mania.com/content_pics/000004/58/48/691eaa1999080cf9_thumb.jpgReview by Chris Beveridge (http://www.mania.com/heroic-age-complete-series-part-1_article_113081.html)

Mania Grade: B+
* Audio Rating: A-
* Video Rating: B
* Packaging Rating: B+
* Menus Rating: B
* Extras Rating: B-
* Age Rating: 13 and Up
* Region: 1 - North America
* Released By: FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.
* MSRP: 59.99
* Running time: 320
* Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
* Disc Resolution: 480i/p
* Disc Encoding: MPEG-2
* Series: Heroic Age



In Summary:
Heroic Age was intriguing as the second disc really got underway and it almost felt like they could tell a good compelling story in just the first thirteen episodes with big consequences. Of course, there’s a whole other set coming so they don’t veer completely down that path, but Heroic Age pleases the space opera fan in me in the second half of this set quite a lot. There’s a lot to like here, but it felt a bit off in how it started and moving things along. The visuals are appealing as I like the kind of style Xebec tends to showcase, the characters are pleasing on the eye without being too blunt (outside of Nilvan of course) and the mecha are standard fare with obvious accents to them to account for how the Hero Tribe uses them. It wasn’t an easy sell from the start, but by the end of the second disc I was wanting more of it as soon as possible so I can see where they really intend to go with it.

[Vicserr]

I loved this show, a great feel of classic space opera with mecha action, politics, drama and a bit of romance thrown in for good measure, great animation by Xebec, the only bad thing is the Hisashi Hirai copy & paste approach to character design (Didn't I see Age somewhere else? he looks like Shinn out of Gundam Seed Destiny and quite probably you can pick other characters from the other shows He has worked on), highly recommended so go and buy it! :cool:

[Damius]

Nice, great review on the must buy list!!

[WTK]

I really enjoyed this first part of this series. I really like the Greek mythology feel to the series. It's just so epic and the story is very engaging. I'm glad that it won't be long before the 2nd part gets released.

[ixiom]

About the video. I'm sure the background noise is unintentional, its the exact same noise or patented Funimation fuzz that i recognise on most of their shows.

[Randall Flagg]

...a great feel of classic space opera with mecha action, politics, drama and a bit of romance thrown in for good measure...

Well, hell. I'm gonna have to check this out now.

[something]

...a great feel of classic space opera with mecha action, politics, drama and a bit of romance thrown in for good measure...Well, hell. I'm gonna have to check this out now.
It starts a bit slow but by the end it became one of my favorite shows ever. And the ending is still one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. This is easily the best thing Xebec has done since Nadesico.

[Chris Beveridge]

...a great feel of classic space opera with mecha action, politics, drama and a bit of romance thrown in for good measure...Well, hell. I'm gonna have to check this out now.
It starts a bit slow but by the end it became one of my favorite shows ever. And the ending is still one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. This is easily the best thing Xebec has done since Nadesico.

That's not saying much.

:keroro:

[WTK]

It starts a bit slow but by the end it became one of my favorite shows ever. And the ending is still one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.
That's good to hear about the ending. My copy of Part 2 is reserved @ TRSI. I'm really looking forward to how the series ends.

[something]

That's not saying much.
:keroro:
About Xebec? In a way, yeah, though they've had some good shows since Nadesico, like Hitohira, Fafner and the currently airing Pandora Hearts. Kanokon was... well, "good" is such a strong word, but it did what it intended to and did it well enough and I enjoyed it in the end. I have Dai-Guard and Busou Renkin in my backlog. There are also just a lot of Xebec shows I haven't seen.

But above all there was Stellvia, one of my favorite shows, period. Yet I have to rank Heroic Age ever so slightly above Stellvia (though they're such different shows). Xebec is not a studio one should expect quality from all the time or even the majority of the time but they still have some definite winners.

[bluesilo]

Didn't Xebec do Simoun? That's a darn good show.

[something]

Didn't Xebec do Simoun? That's a darn good show.
Fantastic show indeed, but it was Studio DEEN.

[DangerMouseDM]

That's not saying much.
:keroro: I have Dai-Guard and Busou Renkin in my backlog.

Dai-Guard was extremely fun.

[SleepyDog]

http://www.mania.com/content_pics/000004/58/48/691eaa1999080cf9_thumb.jpgReview by Chris Beveridge (http://www.mania.com/heroic-age-complete-series-part-1_article_113081.html)
. . . . Heroic Age pleases the space opera fan in me in the second half of this set quite a lot. There’s a lot to like here, but it felt a bit off in how it started and moving things along. The visuals are appealing as I like the kind of style Xebec tends to showcase, the characters are pleasing on the eye without being too blunt (outside of Nilvan of course) and the mecha are standard fare with obvious accents to them to account for how the Hero Tribe uses them. It wasn’t an easy sell from the start, but by the end of the second disc I was wanting more of it as soon as possible so I can see where they really intend to go with it.

I had high hopes for this show once I heard that Tou Ubukata created the story and that Hisashi Hirai designed the characters, and I have not been disappointed. I actually thought the series began quite strongly, even with the detailed but important background exposition during the prologue to the first few episodes, but as a space opera fan, I'm comfortable with that narrative technique. I even began marathoning the episodes late into the night (or early into the morning) on a work night when I only intended to begin the series.

As for Hirai's character designs, I find them an important draw for the show. Not only are they generally attractive (though I do agree Nilval's body form is too extreme and seemingly out of place with the other characters), but I find they have evolved from his work on other shows. Particularly in this show, most of the women and younger characters are very lithe and long-limbed, tending almost to an El Greco style of elongated bodies. Also his older characters, which were not always attractive in his earlier shows (I'm thinking of Infinite Ryvius here), are visually appealing: Mobeedo, for example, looks appropriately handsome in a surrogate father manner as the older and wise commander who seems to have led an interesting life prior to when we meet him.

As for the mecha design for the Nodoss, does anyone else see Belcross as strongly reminiscent of Hakuro's alter ego in Utawarerumono?

. . . . And the ending is still one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

I agree that the ending sequence is beautiful, but that for me is just as much a part of the great ending theme, which really tugs at the heart of a romantic like mine.

[something]

As for Hirai's character designs, I find them an important draw for the show. Not only are they generally attractive (though I do agree Nilval's body form is too extreme and seemingly out of place with the other characters), but I find they have evolved from his work on other shows.
I've seen his designs in other work and been generally unimpressed, but I rather liked it in Heroic Age. I agree that it seems somewhat evolved from other series. I especially love... D-Girl. Because I give up trying to spell her name.

DNA-ra!

[Fencedude]

As for Hirai's character designs, I find them an important draw for the show. Not only are they generally attractive (though I do agree Nilval's body form is too extreme and seemingly out of place with the other characters), but I find they have evolved from his work on other shows.
I've seen his designs in other work and been generally unimpressed, but I rather liked it in Heroic Age. I agree that it seems somewhat evolved from other series. I especially love... D-Girl. Because I give up trying to spell her name.

DNA-ra!

Hirai gets way more flack from the western fanbase than he really deserves, he's not my favorite character designer ever, but he's quite good, and HA especially shows some good development in his designs, which admittedly were in a bit of a rut for a few years.

And yes, Deianeira's design is FANTASTIC.

Now if set two will show up so I can start watching it, only ever got to like episode 6 before...

[SleepyDog]

. . . . I especially love... D-Girl. Because I give up trying to spell her name.

DNA-ra! [bold added]
Ha-ha! I love it (and a good mnemonic, too)! Of course, when we see her (it's gotta be, right?) in the ending sequence walking barefoot in the water in the moonlight, and then suddenly turn with the splash of water-- :blush:

. . . . Hirai gets way more flack from the western fanbase than he really deserves, he's not my favorite character designer ever, but he's quite good, and HA especially shows some good development in his designs, which admittedly were in a bit of a rut for a few years.

And yes, Deianeira's design is FANTASTIC.
He does get a lot of flack, and I don't get it, other than many of his shows have gotten exposure here in the west. Sure he has a characteristic style, but I'd venture that almost any character designer whose name I can remember does, too. Look at Sadamoto's designs over the anime he's been involved with (the great character designer of Evangelion and the creator of the manga); I love his work, so I look forward to seeing character designs with similar aspects. Yuriko Chiba did the designs for Steel Angel Kurumi, so the characters for Figure 17 share certain attributes that I appreciate. The same goes for Noizi Ito who designed Haruhi and Shana. Anyways, back to appreciating DNA-ra! :blush1:

Now if set two will show up so I can start watching it, only ever got to like episode 6 before...
I just received notice that Part 2 is on its way: I sense another unplanned marathon on its way (when am I ever gonna get some sleep?)

[SleepyDog]

Is it just me, or are any of the rest of you struck by how often an animé release that gets a positive review and enthusiastic support on this site gets panned by a review over at ANN? They have recently posted their review (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/heroic-age/dvd-complete-series-part-1) of Heroic Age part 1, and I cannot believe I watched the same series that Kimlinger did. Of course, his essential review has been applied to the original Star Wars movie almost exactly: good musical score and visual backgrounds supporting flat but professionally acted characters for a story that liberally draws on mythical sources; oh, yeah, and that movie went nowhere, too! :anger200: On top of that, he doesn't even understand the true focus of the Heroic Age: again to continue my analogy, to say that Heroic Age is only about Age is like saying that Star Wars is only about Luke, or to introduce a bit of literary pretentiousness that such a review might respond to, to say that "Daisy Miller" is about Daisy Miller; epics, by definition, extend beyond one individual's story (though they might highlight one or a few, like Achilles in the Iliad) and encompass a greater sphere of participants and actions.

And again, Hisashi Hirai's character designs are slighted. I'm sure glad that an alternative animé review and discussion site like this one exists to put forth a thoughtful counter to such boilerplate criticism.

[Chris Beveridge]

That's happened numerous times over the years. But it's also why I like re-releases as I try to get other reviewers to present an opinion on the series since I review everything. ANN and most other sites tend to have a stable of reviewers to handle all new shows coming out and few people tend to watch everything. That can skew opinions, etc.

[Doom85]

I think Carl Kimlinger's standards are a bit higher than most people's. Because of that, I always try not to put too much stock on his reviews. Nothing against him personally, but I do think reviewers should try to be a little less picky. I'm not saying you have to praise the garbage or the mediocre, but if even the good/fair series are getting D's/low C's, something isn't right. Not to mention his Death Note reviews, basically saying "oh, the series is great, but I'm furious at the show's non-existent argument on morality, so I'm giving it a bad score", and even saying the show has the nerve to give Light the "hero" position (Carl should know the difference between "protagonist" and "hero"), and even walking the line VERY closely to attacking the audience (Vol. 3 review: "the series sometimes borders on a masturbatory fantasy for every teenager who ever blithely came to the conclusion that the world was evil just because they felt disenfranchised."). Sorry for the rant, but I think after that particular review, it's understandable why many dislike his reviews nowadays.

Anyway :sd:, I've got Part 1, but I'm holding off on watching it until I pick up Part 2 and can marathon it. This series has had almost unanimous praise, so I'm feeling confident I'll enjoy this one.

[mighty_vespa]

I just finished Disc 2/Part 1 of Heroic Age two days ago. I'm renting it and have found it to be fairly enjoyable.

I have to say that I'm a bit bothered at how ridiculously over-powered Age/Bellecross is in relation to other Nodos. Even though the crew members of the Argonaut are giving themselves anxiety fits over Age's well-being, I honestly have never felt like the man was in ANY "real" danger. No matter what's thrown at him, he always comes out on top. Maybe that will change in Part 2.

As for Hisashi Hirai? *sigh*

Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of the man's design work; don't get me started on Nilval. It's good that he's has found his niche in sci-fi/mecha, but I honestly feel his work has suffered somewhat because of it. Maybe if Hirai took on a period-piece of a slice-of-life comedy, he could tap into a new creative vein and re-energize most of his character designs. Right now, I feel like they're "too safe".

Oh, and up to this point:

Dai-Guard > Heroic Age

[karen0586]

Well, his character designs are definitely leaving something to be desired of. They all look the same if you take off the hairstyle... I always shake my head at that. But, I love his designs in any show, so I haven't had any problems with it.

I finished the whole show... in a marathon which is no surprise to me. I actually watched it in English dialogue... it was great! DNA-ra(I'll take this from something :P) voice actress who seemed so pump and circumstance on the trailer, sounded just fine to me. Heroic age is going to get as much replay as YuYu Hakusho gets from me :).

[Xcandescent]

Is it just me, or are any of the rest of you struck by how often an animé release that gets a positive review and enthusiastic support on this site gets panned by a review over at ANN?If it's Kimlinger? NO.

Seriously, that dude hates almost everything. It's gotten to where you have to ignore his score AND the tone of his reviews to find any valid criticisms.

-XCN-

[SleepyDog]

. . . . I have to say that I'm a bit bothered at how ridiculously over-powered Age/Bellecross is in relation to other Nodos. Even though the crew members of the Argonaut are giving themselves anxiety fits over Age's well-being, I honestly have never felt like the man was in ANY "real" danger. No matter what's thrown at him, he always comes out on top. Maybe that will change in Part 2.

I think, Mighty_Vespa, that you'll better understand this seeming discrepancy in the course of Part 2. The five Nodoss do vary in the impact of their attacks upon each other more than upon anything else (planets and spaceships are crushed routinely); partly this seems to be a result of the differing personalities who give humanoid form to the Heroic Tribe contained within (and the idea that this is on purpose is further developed) and partly because of what each Nodoss fundamentally represents. Recall the ruminations of the tall female Nodoss (I can't remember her name now) as she tries to turn back time to attack Age/Bellcross.

Let us know when you finish Part 2 so we can discuss it more openly then.