English Dub Season Review: Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These

To the stars.

In Legend of the Galactic Heroes, we are, well, still at war which is a rather typical take on Earth’s civilization whenever we get a dystopian take on the future usually contrived in some sort of sci-fi epic similar to this one. In 2001:Space Odyssey, there was an idea of only two sides taking on space travel, that being the United States and the USSR, and that TWA airlines would be chartering the flights. Granted, none of this has happened, and none of these institutions even exist anymore.

Likewise, Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These is a space tale about two warring factions in the future at odds over how best to run the galaxy. On one side, the Galactic Empire, that features rising military mind Reinhard von Lohengramm who wants to unite the galaxy under one rule and free his sister from being enslaved by the now current figureheads of the empire, that being the Goldenbaum dynasty. The opposing forces comprise that of the Free Planets Alliance, with its own military genius in Yang Wen-Li whom has no interest in being a warmonger and tries to come up with military strategies revolved around as few casualties as possible all the while attaining victory. While the manga highlights some other parties looking to stake a claim in the interstellar war, the anime series primarily features both sides just strategizing over major battles. This series gives us two, maybe three if you count Yang’s claim to fame in thwarting an enemy invasion, major battles in which arc-rich episodes build around that then crescendo into major space battles.

If you’re confused by the number of characters in this series, it’s ok. All you gotta know is that the main characters in Reinhard (Aaron Dismuke) and Yang Wen-Li (Ian Sinclair) are the ones you gotta follow, and the show does a good enough job in establishing new characters quickly, even if you aren’t going to see them again. For whatever reason, the producers of this series gave everyone from the Galactic Empire names with some sort of Prussian significance which comes off pretentious more than it serves any serviceable purpose. However, if you’re into political series, ACCA comes to mind, this is a show for you. In today’s current political climate, it’s not difficult to see some of the parallels between this universe and our current one and see some of the same conversations we are having today on say CNN or FOX News just set in space a bunch of years in the future. Who would’ve thought that Japanese manga writers from yesteryear were so foreboding with their prognostications that they were able to get a BUNCH right.

In terms of the actual series, Legend of the Galactic Heroes is as hardcore sci-fi military as there is in the business. But, the political inclinations of the series is relatable enough that current fans of anime taking an interest in the increasing uncertainty of today’s political climate would definitely find enough to grasp onto to make it through the show and get a strong return on the other side.