Anime Fantasy

HIDIVE to Add Legend of the Galactic Heroes Films to Streaming Catalog

HIDIVE announced on Thursday that it will add the Legend of the Galactic Heroes films to its streaming catalog, marking the first time the films have been legally available streaming in the West. The titles will be available in the United states, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is a Sea of Stars will debut streaming on December 22. The 1988 film predated the long-running Legend of the Galactic Heroes original video anime (OVA) series. HIDIVE describes the story:

Reinhard von Musel and Yang Wen-li. Those are two names that history will remember. The story of these two men on opposite sides of the war is destined to resonate throughout the ages, but there was a time when they were both unknown soldiers. Little do they know their paths are about to cross in battle for the very first time…

Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Overture to a New War will debut streaming on December 29. The 1993 anime retells the first two episodes of the OVA with additional details. HIDIVE describes the story:

The aftermath of the Fourth Battle of Tiamat marked both Reinhard and Yang Wen-li's emergence from historical obscurity and into annual legend. While a promotion awaits Reinhard back home, Yang Wen-li friend wishes to share tidings of joy. However, this merely marks the calm before the storm.

Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Golden Wings will debut streaming on January 5. The 60-minute prequel anime debuted in 1992. HIDIVE describes the story:

Every legend has a beginning, and Reinhard's can be traced back all the way back to his childhood, to the day when his sister was sold to Emperor Friedrich IV as a concubine. Vowing to change the empire, Reinhard begins his long journey towards his destiny with Kircheis at his side. This is the never before seen story of the early days of their career.

The 110-episode OVA series The Legend of the Galactic Heroes was a flagship series for HIDIVE when the streaming service launched in 2017. HIDIVE is also streaming all 52 episodes of the sequel, Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Gaiden. Sentai Filmworks announced its license for the OVA series in 2015, and released the series in a limited Edition box set in July.

The late director Noboru Ishiguro (Macross, Orguss, Megazone 23) and his Artland anime studio spent more than a decade adapting Yoshiki Tanaka's Legend of the Galactic Heroes novels into a theatrical and video anime franchise, with over 100 installments, from 1988 to 2000.

The 10 main novel volumes and four side-story volumes in The Legend of the Galactic Heroes saga have sold 15 million copies and earned Tanaka a Seiun Award. The novels also inspired a new television anime starting in April, and it will get a second "season" that will screen in Japanese theaters as three films in 2019.

Source: HIDIVE