7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
After the departure of the superior Golden Tribe, the universe is thrust into a state of chaos as the power-hungry Silver Tribe launches a reign of terror and plots to drive humankind, the Iron Tribe, into extinction. Spurred by the prophecies of the Golden Tribe, Iron Tribe leader Princess Dhianeila embarks on an interstellar journey to find the heroic champion said to have the power to save mankind and restore balance to the universe.
Starring: Hiroshi Yazaki, Yui Ishikawa, Takashi Kondô, Kaori Shimizu, Takashi Matsuyama (I)Anime | 100% |
Foreign | 91% |
Action | 54% |
Sci-Fi | 35% |
Adventure | 25% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Heroic Age is a 26-episode anime series produced in 2007 by an up-and-coming studio called Xebec. Directed by Toshimasa Suzuki, the show borrows heavily from Greek mythology, but transplants the storylines into a futuristic setting. Full of dense storytelling and epic action sequences, Heroic Age is a production that hasn’t necessarily taken off on western shores (despite a prior DVD run), but should gain deserving strides with this Blu-ray release. From a personal standpoint, I’m guilty of furthering the disrespect, by shoving the release aside in favor of tackling the same-day release of Claymore from Funimation. If you read my review of Claymore, you’ll remember I was a bit underwhelmed by the plodding nature of the series, and desperately in need of an anime product I could truly get into. I’m pleased to report Heroic Age is precisely the therapeutic release I needed, and a superior production to Claymore in almost every way (though it’s admittedly similar to comparing apples to oranges).
Bellcross, the planetary destroyer.
Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 20Mbps), Heroic Age is a slight step up from other recent Funimation series, but not the jaw-dropping change most of us were hoping for. Given the overall appearance of the image, I'm going to assume this is an upscale of the original source material, leaving room for only moderate improvement over the prior DVD release. The improvements are still clearly distinguished in this newly minted transfer, but we shouldn't expect a dramatic increase in fine detail and depth. Instead, we're treated to the subtle removal of compression artifacts and aliasing, creating a more stable image. Additionally, given the vivid nature of the color spectrum for the series, I'm wagering this is a noticeable upgrade in the reproduction of the original hues, ratcheting up the artistry on display. One of the most impressive elements in the animation is the use of spiritual teleportation by Dianiera and select members of the Silver Tribe. The teleported figure shows up as a glowing entity whose features are highlighted by brightly lit outlines. The appearance of these figures typically occurs within a deep space setting, making the effect ten times more eye-popping, but also creating moments when contrast must perform admirably in order to fully-delineate the effect the animators were going for. Thankfully, black levels never dip below ideal levels, leaving the vast expanse of space awash in inky-deep backgrounds. This allows the bright figures in the foreground to stand out with increased vibrancy, creating an effect that could almost be described as three-dimensional. On the negative side, fine lines throughout the series reveal diagonal stairstepping and occasional aliasing, which becomes marginally worse on the crisp detailing of the CGI space models.
Although the Blu-ray release of Heroic Age doesn't offer the tremendous upgrade realized on native-HD releases, it offers superior image quality over the typical standard definition release, and should be viewed as the version of choice for anyone looking to add the series to their collection. Those who already own the DVD version may want to go the rental route in advance, since the upgrade might not be significant enough to make it a worthwhile investment.
In keeping with the customary practice on most of their television series, Funimation's offering of Heroic Age contains the original Japanese language track in Dolby Digital 2.0, while offering a new lossless upgrade for the 5.1 English dubbed track. In a perfect world, I'd hope for a lossless surround option in the native language of the series, but considering the limitations of the original recording, my only disappointment with this effort lies in the decision to stick with a lossy 2.0 track, rather than providing a lossless 2-channel option. The front-heavy mix lacks the depth of finely tuned surround separation, leaving us with an experience that's merely adequate at getting the job done (but not what I'd consider a value-added audio experience). The English dub on the other hand, demonstrates an excellent sense of immersion, separating nuances in the audio effects to create a wildly entertaining experience. The audio staff in charge of designing the surround experience on the English dub has truly outdone themselves on this space opera, which collectively assembles all manner of fantastical effects. From the low rumble of massive space cruisers flying overhead, to the all-encompassing onslaught of insect legions attacking Bellcross, there's never a limitation on the elements incorporated in the mix. Adding to the proficiencies in the surround spectrum, the LFE track consistently bombards you with the rumble of massive explosions or the low hum of spacecraft engines, creating one rousing sequence after another. From the standpoint of volume balance, each element is afforded appropriate weight in the collective mix, allowing abundant clarity in the overall presentation.
If I had the option of scoring the audio offerings separately, I'd give the English track a 4.5/5, and the Japanese track a 2.5/5. The differences between the two tracks are certainly noticeable, but the lack of surround separation on the Japanese mix never downgraded my overall enjoyment of the show.
The only supplements included on the three-disc set are textless opening and closing songs, as well as a collection of trailers for other releases from Funimation.
Heroic Age is an epic science fiction production that deserves a spot in the collection of any anime fan. Combining dense storytelling, monumental battles, vivid animation, and memorable characters, the overall experience is sure to entertain through multiple viewings and ranks near the top of my anime recommendations list. Consider this a must-own title.
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