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Legend of the Galactic Heroes

1988 – 1997Show4 seasons110 episodes

AnimationDrama
88
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb9.0

A deeply moving, gripping animated series about war and politics, with standout score and characters.

Good for friends night · teens · binge-friendly

Skip it if you want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

Set your services

Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

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Not for laughs, comfort or warmth.

Shows with

Episodes

4 seasons · 110 episodes · best: S3E28 "The Magician Doesn't Return" 9.9

Episodes

8.2
8.3
9.0
9.3

Story

In every age, in every place, the deeds of men remain the same.

War rages between the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance. With two new brilliant young leaders at the helm, anything can happen in this military space opera.

Feels like

  • Epic Space Opera
  • Political Intrigue
  • Philosophical Debate
  • Grand Scale Warfare
  • Tragic Heroism
  • Complex Character Dynamics
  • Orchestral Score
  • Dense Dialogue
  • Historical Allegory
  • Melancholic Atmosphere

Cast

11 of 11 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Noboru Ishiguro, Shinji Takagi, Yoshihiro Ueda
Written by
Yoshiki Tanaka, Takeshi Shudo, Hiroshi Toda
Produced by
Yukio Kikukawa, Masatoshi Tahara, Akiko Odawara
Music by
Shin Kawabe

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

January 8, 1988 · February 1, 1997 · Ended

First aired
January 8, 1988
Last aired
February 1, 1997
Status
Ended
Length
4 seasons · 110 episodes
Content
Violence
Genres
Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, War & Politics
Original language
Japanese
Made in
Japan
Available in
3 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Space Is Noisy, Doomed Moral Victor, P.O.W. Camp +9

  • Space Is Noisy
  • Doomed Moral Victor
  • P.O.W. Camp
  • Huge Guy, Tiny Girl
  • The Chains of Commanding
  • End of an Age
  • Cast Full of Pretty Boys
  • Theme Naming
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni
  • The Greatest Story Never Told
  • Cool Ship
  • The Quisling

12 of 406 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Legend of the Galactic Heroes?"

Questions about Legend of the Galactic Heroes

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Legend of the Galactic Heroes?

It streams in 3 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is Legend of the Galactic Heroes worth watching?

88
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 88 (IMDb 9).

Does Legend of the Galactic Heroes get better after season 1?

Yes: season 1 has an IMDb average of 8.2, and season 4 peaks at 9.3. The highest-rated episode is The Magician Doesn't Return (season 3, episode 28) at 9.9, and the lowest is One Narrow Thread (season 2, episode 3) at 7.3.

How long does it take to watch Legend of the Galactic Heroes?

46 h

About 46 hours: 110 episodes in 4 seasons of about 25 minutes each, aired from 1988 to 1997.

Can I half-watch Legend of the Galactic Heroes?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for complexity and 9 for philosophical.

Is Legend of the Galactic Heroes plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (10 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is Legend of the Galactic Heroes in English?

Japanese

No, it was made in Japanese.