History Main / HeroicFantasy

%%* Elric of Melnibone is an anti Conan.

%%** Played much more straight on Jim Hunter's world, but that's because it was built by a gamer.%%How?

%%* ''Film/TheBarbarians''%%

%%* ''Film/BloodOfBeasts''.%%
%%* ''Film/{{Clash of the Titans|1981}}''.%%
%%* ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' and ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer''%%
%%* ''Film/{{Conquest}}'' mix this with DarkFantasy and {{Horror}}.%%
%%* ''Film/HanselAndGretelWitchHunters''%%
%%* ''Film/{{Highlander}}''.%%
%%* ''Film/KullTheConqueror''.%%
%%* ''Film/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime''.%%

%%* ''Film/RedSonja''.%%
%%* ''Film/TheSwordAndTheSorcerer''.%%
%%* ''Film/TheThrillingSword'' - from Taiwan.%%
%%* ''Film/WizardsOfTheDemonSword''.%%

%%* The ''[[Literature/TheWarGods Bahzell]]'' series by Creator/DavidWeber.%%
%%* ''Literature/TheBlackCompany''%%
%%* Alison Croggon's ''Literature/BooksOfPellinor''.%%
%%* ''Literature/CodexAlera'' (quasi-AncientRome + ElementalPowers).%%

%%* Creator/{{David Gemmell}}'s books are a prime example.%%
%%* ''Literature/TheTroySaga'' by Creator/DavidGemmell being one that overlaps with HistoricalFantasy%%
%%* Michael Moorcock's ''Literature/TheElricSaga'' (another {{Deconstruction}}).%%
%%* D. E. Wyatt's ''[[Literature/ElsabethSoesten No Good Deed...]]'' has many elements of this.%%

%%* Everything by Creator/RASalvatore.%%
%%* Lynn Abbey's ''Rifkin'' series. %%

%%* The ''Literature/{{Shadowleague}}'' trilogy.%%
%%* ''Literature/{{Slayers}}''%%
%%* The ''Literature/SnowWalker'' trilogy by Catherine Fisher.%%

%%* ''Series/{{Garo}}''%%
%%* ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys''.%%
%%* ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess''.%%
%%* ''Series/KrodMandoonAndTheFlamingSwordOfFire'' is a parody of the genre.%%

%%* ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}''.%%

%%* ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSinbad''%%
%%* ''Series/TheOutpost''%%

%%* HeavyMithril is either this or HighFantasy in rock form.%%

%%* ''Pinball/{{Gorgar}}''.%%
%%* ''Pinball/{{Hercules}},'' not surprisingly, is all about this.%%
%%* ''Pinball/{{Paragon}}''.%%

%%* ''VideoGame/BarbarianTheUltimateWarrior''.%%

%%* ''VideoGame/FantasyQuest''.%%

%%* ''Franchise/PrinceOfPersia''.%%
%%* ''VideoGame/TheReconstruction'' ({{Deconstruction}}, ironically).%%

%%* ''VideoGame/SuperbrothersSwordAndSworceryEP''.%%

%%* ''Webcomic/{{Evon}}''.%%
%%* ''Webcomic/MeatShield''.%%
%%* ''Webcomic/OurLittleAdventure'', if you only factor in Julie and her gang's adventures.%%
%%* ''Webcomic/ChampionsOfFaraus''.%%

%%* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''.%%
%%* ''WebAnimation/MightyMagiswords''.%%
%%* ''WesternAnimation/ThundarrTheBarbarian''.%%

Good live-action film and television heroic fantasies can be counted on the fingers of one hand (generally starting with the ''Conan the Barbarian'' movie). Dying is easy. Fantasy is hard! On the other hand, roughly half of all [=RPGs=] ever written fall under this genre, if not more.

%%* ''WesternAnimation/FireAndIce''.%%

[[folder:Film - Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/FireAndIce'': The primary magic-users of the tale, Nekron and Juliana, are [[SorcerousOverlord the villains]] who are using their powers to TakeOverTheWorld. However, the plot is mostly focused upon how this affects Firekeep and the surrounding areas, so the conflict is limited to only to a small section of the world and a few individuals. A big chunk of the movie is also dedicated to the [[SaveThePrincess kidnapping and attempted rescue of Princess Teegra]]; the protagonists only set out to directly take down Nekron's forces in the climax. Two of the main heroes, Larn and Darkwolf, are pretty unambiguously the good guys, and they save the day through force of arms (although it's hinted Darkwolf may have preternatural abilities of some kind that enhance his combat skills, he's not shooting fireballs at people).
* As a lot of film critics have noted, ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'' and its original sequel might have been written as self-conscious [[AffectionateParody affectionate parodies]] of "fairy tale movies" but both movies use and celebrate heroic fantasy tropes so whole-heartedly that they both feel more like straight "fairy tale movies"/ heroic fantasy with lots of humour and character development. While the protagonists are fundamentally good people with a clear moral high ground over the villains, the plots tend to focus on smaller, more personal conflicts.

* ''Literature/SwansBraidAndOtherTalesOfTerizan'': The adventures of Terizan, a lesbian thief in the city of Oreen. An AntiHero, Terizan's good at heart and prevents greater harm in spite of her profession.

* ''Film/ThePrincessBride'' is an [[AffectionateParody affectionate and very gentle parody]] of this genre. The novel it was based on was darker and more of a deconstruction. Just like with ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', the heroes' goals are taken just (or almost) as seriously as they would be in a straight heroic fantasy.

* As a lot of film critics have noted, ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' and its original sequel might have been written as self-conscious [[AffectionateParody affectionate parodies]] of "fairy tale movies" but both movies use and celebrate heroic fantasy tropes so whole-heartedly that they both feel more like straight "fairy tale movies"/ heroic fantasy with lots of humour and character development. While the protagonists are fundamentally good people with a clear moral high ground over the villains, the plots tend to focus on smaller, more personal conflicts.
** The first movie revolves around Shrek trying to rescue a princess purely to get the fairy tale refugees off his land, only to fall in love with said princess and have to overcome his insecurities before she marries the evil Lord Farquaad.

-->-- '''Music/BlackSabbath''', ''Neon Knights''

* ''ComicBook/ConanTheBarbarian'' and ''ComicBook/RedSonja''.
* Elric of Melnibone is an anti Conan.

* A Clonan is a clone of Conan, often created to cash in a craze.

** Played much more straight on Jim Hunter's world, but that's because it was built by a gamer.

* Many of the older ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novels were comedic deconstructions/parodies of this genre, as are a few of the more recent ones. A very loose rule of thumb for the Discworld books: If the main character is Rincewind or Susan, it's probably going to be heroic or high fantasy; if it's Vimesy, the Watch, Moist, or Death, you are probably looking at low fantasy, the elderly barbarians are usually heroic fantasy, and if it's the witches then it's probably either going to be low or heroic fantasy. Pratchett seems to have started out creating straight parodies of heroic and high fantasy, and then gotten bored halfway through and slowly began integrating and exploring low fantasy settings more and more. [[BrokenBase Fans are divided ]] as to whether the earlier (and punchier) heroic fantasy parodies are better or worse than the later ( and more thoughtful and elaborate/longer) low-fantasy-with-an-emphasis-on-social-themes-and-character-based-comedies.

* Music/RonnieJamesDio is the one who truly brought this to prominence, as Dio was a massive fantasy nerd and part of bands whose whole shtick revolved around muscular barbarians slaying dragons. This was most evident with his band ''Elf'' and his later solo work. See [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkysjcs5vFU ''Holy Diver'']].

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. Though the game system is flexible enough that the enterprising DM can apply it to almost any {{fantasy}} subgenre, as printed it tends toward Heroic Fantasy.

** The ''TabletopGame/DarkSun'' setting specifically aims to emulate old pulp stories and is heavily influenced by ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'', as well as Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian.

* ''LightNovel/GoblinSlayer'' slowly becomes this trope: despite its RRatedOpening, the titular character refuses to "play by the rules" and slowly becomes a more typical fantasy hero (even when that's not what he's pursuing), thanks to the aid of TrueCompanions who are slowly helping him regain his humanity. While the setting does establish adventuring as a {{Grimdark}}, dirty affair - a medieval fantasy world that has its share of horrors - there also exists friendship, honor, hope and love; all the more reason that these ideals are certainly worth fighting for.

* ''Anime/RuneSoldierLouie'' is a comedic Heroic Fantasy spin-off of the high fantasy ''Roleplay/RecordOfLodossWar''.

[[folder:Light Novel]]
* ''LightNovel/GoblinSlayer'' slowly becomes this trope: despite its RRatedOpening, the titular character refuses to "play by the rules" and slowly becomes a more typical fantasy hero (even when that's not what he's pursuing), thanks to the aid of TrueCompanions who are slowly helping him regain his humanity. While the setting does establish adventuring as a {{Grimdark}}, dirty affair - a medieval fantasy world that has its share of horrors - there also exists friendship, honor, hope and love; all the more reason that these ideals are certainly worth fighting for.
%%* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}''%%
* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'' Though the narrative is driven by technology and is set in NextSundayAD, at its heart ''Sword Art Online'' is ''still'' fundamentally a fantasy of heroic warriors (and later, wizards) crusading across mythical lands, fighting for justice, honor and making the world a better place with swords and spells in their hands, courage and love in their hearts.
[[/folder]]

Heroic Fantasy sits somewhere in between. It tends to be distinguishable from HighFantasy by its scale--the problems are generally those of the heroes, not the world. Kingdoms and societies are portrayed mainly to the extent the heroes have an impact on them. On the other hand, it's distinct from Low Fantasy as well in that the heroes are actually ''heroic'' and their goals are morally sound or, at the very least, not overtly objectionable. An AntiHero in this setting is more likely to be a LovableRogue than a WellIntentionedExtremist.

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' started as this, though it quickly veered into HighFantasy territory. The [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist 2003 anime version]], on the other hand, stuck with Heroic Fantasy.

* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' is mostly this as well. The levels of mysticism are very slight (down to the special mode of the Longsword in Tri and its derivatives), but everything else is totally straight: minimal overarching plot, for the most part it's just a world where people make a living slaying or capturing giant monsters for the chance at building more weaponry with which to slay or capture tougher giant monsters.

* Marion Zimmer Bradley's ''Literature/TheMistsOfAvalon'' is either a DarkerAndEdgier or DeconstructedTrope version (or possibly DistaffCounterpart) of the Myth/KingArthur story.

* ''Series/{{Roar}}'' (pre-[[Myth/KingArthur Arthurian]] British Isles).

* Karl Edward Wagner's ''Literature/{{Kane}}''.

Heavily influenced by TheHerosJourney, the [[Myth/KingArthur Arthurian]] cycle, the Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian stories and movies, the game ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', and Myth/{{Classical Myth|ology}}.

* Arguably ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' goes from LowFantasy to a heroic but [[DarkFantasy dark]] fantasy at the end of the Golden Age arc where all the demons start coming out and become the main source of conflict.
** Or it was Heroic Fantasy all along without the characters noticing. After all [[{{Devil In Plain Sight}} Zodd the Immortal]] didn't exactly keep his existence a secret.

Often lumped together with Main/SwordAndSorcery, a genre coined by [[Literature/FafhrdAndTheGrayMouser Fritz Leiber]]. Unkind souls have described Heroic Fantasy as nothing but an upmarket term for Sword & Sorcery, though Leiber deliberately created it to set his stories and similar works by other writers apart from the general field of Heroic Fantasy.

** During 2nd Edition, the "heroic" aspect was an EnforcedTrope: Due to concerns about the then-recent [[TheNewRockAndRoll Satanic Panic]], editorial policy was to ensure that all official modules were about heroes doing good in the world, and support for evil or anti-heroic [=PCs=] was dropped as much as possible (for example, the assassin class was taken out).

* ''Franchise/DragonAge''. While the first game has a "unite the people to fight an army of evil" main plot, the side plots that make up the biggest chunk of the game follow the genre pretty straight. The second game focuses completely on a single protagonist rising in power within the hierarchy of one city, with the main factions being Templar (sword) and Mage (spell).

* The whole genre of PowerMetal is defined by heroic tales of fantasy folk heroes and heroines, and takes HeavyMithril UpToEleven.

** ''[[Creator/AtlasComics Ironjaw]]'' is Conan with a bear trap for a jaw.
** ''[[Creator/DCComics Claw the Unconquored]]'' is Conan or a Clonan with demon hand.