The Legend of Black Heaven

About The Legend of Black Heaven

The Legend of Black Heaven (課長王子) blends adventure, comedy and music by AIC and APPP (1999). Below is a fresh retelling of what the story is about. The setup: Ouji Tanaka has a wife, a child and a mundane job as a salary man in Tokyo's modern society. But life wasn't dull for him to begin with; 15 years ago, he was known as "Gabriel", leader of a short-lived heavy metal band called Black Heaven.

Next up: Ouji's life gets a sudden change in direction when he is invited by a mysterious blonde woman named Layla to pick up his Gibson Flying V and once again display his "legendary" guitar skills.

With adventure at the core, exploration, new locations and a steady sense of momentum drive the story. Ouji Tanaka (Kouji Ishii) and Yoshiko Tanaka (Kae Araki) are two of the characters you will meet early. It will appeal most to anyone who enjoys travel-the-world storytelling. The run is 13 episodes in total, so you know what you are signing up for.

Production & Appeal

Animation is handled by AIC and APPP, so the studio's house style defines how The Legend of Black Heaven looks and moves on screen. Within the adventure category, exploration, new locations and a steady sense of momentum drive the story. Its 6.6/10 score suggests opinions are split, so it suits viewers who already like the genre. On the casting side, Kouji Ishii voicing Ouji Tanaka gives the lead role a recognizable voice. It aired in 1999, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.