EPIC: The Musical

EPIC: The Musical, sometimes referred simply as EPIC, is a series of musical concept albums that retell an adaptation of the story of The Odyssey, chronicling the struggles of the legendary king Odysseus of Ithaca, from Ancient Greek mythology, on his journey to return home after the end of the Trojan War. 
The albums were written by Jorge Rivera-Herrans, who also played the part of Odysseus. The first album, The Troy Saga was released in December 2022, with a total of 9 albums released between 2022 and the final album's release in December 2024.
Due to the activity of Rivera-Herrans and other members of the EPIC cast, the series is particularly popular on TikTok.
== Canon ==
=== Music ===
The songs of the musical are divided into nine albums, referred to as Sagas, that are grouped up into two acts. The first act contains the first five Sagas, while the second contains the remaining four. Each saga covers a specific period of Odysseus’s journey.
The finished musical has a total of forty songs and its finished version was released on December 25, 2024:
* The Troy Saga was released in December 2022 and contains 5 songs (The Horse and the Infant, Just a Man, Full Speed Ahead, Open Arms, and Warrior of the Mind).
* The Cyclops Saga was released in January 2023 and contains 4 songs (Polyphemus, Survive, Remember Them, and My Goodbye).
* The Ocean Saga was released in December 2023 and contains 4 songs (Storm, Luck Runs Out, Keep Your Friends Close, and Ruthlessness).
* The Circe Saga was released in February 2024 and contains 4 songs (Puppeteer, Wouldn't You Like, Done For, and There Are Other Ways).
* The Underworld Saga was released in April 2024 and contains 3 songs (The Underworld, No Longer You, and Monster).
* The Thunder Saga contains 5 songs (Suffering, Different Beast, Scylla, Mutiny, and Thunder Bringer), and was released in July 2024, alongside remastered versions of the Troy and Cyclops sagas.
* The Wisdom Saga was released in August 2024 and contains 5 songs (Legendary, Little Wolf, We'll Be Fine, Love in Paradise, and God Games).
* The Vengeance Saga was released in October 2024 and contains 5 songs (Not Sorry for Loving You, Dangerous, Charybdis, Get in the Water, and Six Hundred Strike).
* The Ithaca Saga was released in December 2024 and contains 5 songs (The Challenge, Hold Them Down, Odysseus, I Can't Help But Wonder, and Would You Fall in Love with Me Again).
Jorge Rivera-Herrans, the musical’s creator, and the musical’s ensemble regularly shared in-progress clips of upcoming songs on TikTok, YouTube, and other social media platforms prior to the official release of their finished versions.
=== Characters ===
The characters with singing roles in EPIC: The Musical include:
* Odysseus, the king of Ithaca,
* Penelope, Odysseus’ wife and the queen of Ithaca,
* Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, and the prince of Ithaca, who seems to have been excluded from the line of succession to the throne of Ithaca in favour of conceding the title to the whichever suitor ends up becoming Penelope’s second husband,
* Anticlea, Odysseus’ mother,
* Polites and Eurylochus, Odysseus’ best friend and second in command, respectively,
* Elpenor and Perimedes, named members of Odysseus’ crew,
* Polyphemus, a cyclops,
* Circe, a sorceress,
* Tiresias, a prophet,
* Penelope the Siren, a siren that takes the name of Penelope,
* Scylla, a marine monster,
* Antinous, Amphinomus, Eurymachus, and Melanthius, the named suitors of Penelope,
* The 10 Unnamed Suitors of Penelope, each with a couple of individual lines but without a proper name,
* Calypso, a nymph exiled to Ogygia,
* The Princess Winnion, the only Winnion credited individually,
* Aeolus, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Athena, Hephaestus, Hera, Hermes, Poseidon, and Zeus, all of them Greek Gods.
* The Ensemble, the musical’s choir, which during some songs takes on the specific roles of The Crew, The Cyclops, The Winnions, The Laestrygonians, The Sirens and The Suitors.
=== Cut Songs ===
Due to the public showcase of the creative process during the writing and recording of the soundtrack for the musical, snippets of several songs that were cut from the final version of EPIC: The Musical were published in social media before the decision to cut them was taken. Many of these snippets have been taken by the fandom of EPIC with the same enthusiasm shown for the canonically released songs from the final version, often inspiring the creation of fanworks and treated as pseudocanon for the story retold in EPIC. 
Some characters who originally had singing roles planned for the musical, but lost them due to the songs they appeared in getting cut, include: Menelaus, Helen of Argos, Maron (a priest of Apollo at the city of Ismarus), the god Hades and the goddess Eris. The characters of Elpenor and Perimedes no longer have full songs focused on their perspectives in the final version of the musical, but they both still have minor roles in other songs as part of Odysseus crew. 
Songs cut from the final version of EPIC: The Musical include: Mercy Has a Price, Ismarus, Your Light, Man of the House (Eurylochus' version), Unhand Him, Comfort Zone, Cope with That, Pick Me, Be Mine, Man of the House, Trick, Athena vs. Aphrodite, Hades, Appetite, In Vain, The Light Inside, Olive Tree, The Lotus Eaters, and The Boy and the Boar. 
=== Canonised Animatics ===
TBA
== Fandom ==
Fans of the musical refer to themselves as "Winions" on social media.
Due to the originally audio-only nature of the canon, the fandom frequently creates visual fanart and animatics based on individual songs in order to visualize the events being narrated in each track. Some of these animatics have received attention and support from the musical's creator.
Fans have also created instrumental and cover versions of both current and to-be-released songs. Among these, there is a significant number which were published as audition videos after Rivera-Herrans announced that he was seeking new voice actors to play characters yet to be introduced to the narrative. 
=== Tropes ===
Popular tropes in fanworks for EPIC: The Musical include:
* Canon Divergence AU.
* Everybody Lives.
* Percy Jackson and the Olympians Crossover or AU.
=== Memes ===
Wet Hades: TBA
12 Long Years: TBA
Who!?: TBA
=== Interactions with Other Fandoms ===
TBA
== Fanworks ==
=== Covers ===
Instrumentals:
*Just a Man | EPIC: The Troy Saga (Piano Cover/Sheet Music), by Rochi (March 31, 2023).
Video-Auditions:
* #EpictheMusical audition: ANTINOUS. How y’all think I did? 😳 #MorganClae, by Morgan Clae (March 27. 2023).
Vocals:
* Thanks 2023 for this. ♥️ by Morgan Clae (December 8, 2023).
=== Meta ===
*EPIC: The GREATEST MUSICAL That Doesn't EXIST?, by Undeniably Idiotic (January 12, 2024).
*The Hype For THE CIRCE SAGA Broke The Internet, by Undeniably Idiotic (February 25, 2024).
=== Parodies ===
* Parody of "Hold Them Down" by @j@jorgeherrans but Antinuous is planning a different kind of surprise, by davidingsings (March 26, 2023).
=== Translations and Subtitles ===
Translated Covers:
* [ES] RUTHLESSNESS - EPIC: The Musical en Español | Animatic | Cover Español | David Delgado, by David Delgado (September 21, 2024).
* [ES] GOD GAMES | EPIC: THE MUSICAL | COVER ESPAÑOL LATINO | KARU VER., by KARU COVERS (September 3, 2024).
* [PT] The Horse And The Infant - DUBLADO | Epic the Musical, by Epic Dublado (September 1, 2024).
* [PT] Epic The Musical | No Longer You | Dublado(PT-BR), by DannyVox (September 16, 2024).
* [RU] Эпик - Монстр - русский кавер feat. ‪@kate_skkn‬ (Epic the Musical - Monster - russian cover), by karpetinnknty and @kate_skkn‬ (June 8, 2024).
* [RU] [rus cover] Warrior of the Mind (EPIC: The Musical) «Воин разума», by The Warblers (May 11, 2024).
Subtitled Videos:
* [EN, ZH]【中文字幕】史詩：音樂劇 特洛伊傳奇到智慧傳奇 直播錄影 [EPIC: The Musical livestream 1~7 SAGAS], by EPIC粉絲翻譯社群 (September 23, 2024).
* [EN, TH] God Games (เทพกรีฑา) - EPIC: The Musical | Thai Lyrics, by Mainnlody (September 1, 2024).
* [AR] Epic the musical : legendary / مترجمة, by Silver one translation (September 20, 2024).
* [RU] Эпик - Держи Друзей Близко - русские субтитры (Epic the Musical - Keep Your Friends Close - rus sub), by karpetinnknty (January 4, 2024).
=== Videos ===
Animatics and Animations for Cut Songs:
* [EN, ES] COPE WITH THAT || EPIC THE MUSICAL ANIMATIC, by Pibi (July 27, 2024).
Animation Memes:
* Sexy Fish- Epic the musical- animation meme, by Irunaki xd (August 17, 2024).
Live-Action Reenactments:
* There are other ways | Cosplay live action video, by Mælibé (April 12, 2024).
* 'No Longer You' EPIC Music Video (MaukusNoise), by Maukus Noise (July 1, 2024).
Narrative Animatics and Animations:
* [EN, ES, FR, RU] My Goodbye | EPIC: The Musical | Animatic, by WolfyTheWitch (February 7, 2023).
* [EN, ES, FR] Done For | EPIC: The Musical | Animatic, by WolfyTheWitch (November 17, 2023).
* [EN, RU] Ruthlessness | EPIC: The Musical | Animatic, by AnniFlamma (December 30, 2023).
* Done For | EPIC The Musical | Animatic, by AnniFlamma (February 27, 2024).
* [EN, ES] There Are Other Ways | EPIC: The Musical ANIMATIC, by Gigi (June 30, 2024).
* [EN, ES] Monster | EPIC: The Musical Animatic, by Gigi (May 15, 2024).
* Thunder Bringer [ EPIC: The Musical ] Full Animatic, by Duvetbox (July 12, 2024).
* [EN, ES] Wouldn't You Like / EPIC: The Musical Animatic, by Ximena Natzel (February 20, 2024).
Stage Animations:
* [EN, ES] Get In The Water - Epic the Musical, by aeli tan art (January 16, 2024).
* EPIC: The Musical Troy Saga -Complete Stage Animatic, by MydnyteRaven (April 8, 2023).
* EPIC Lighting Design - Ruthlessness, by Adams Productions (February 6, 2024).
Stop-Motion Animations:
* EPIC: The Musical IN LEGO (Polyphemus + Survive) ‪@JayHerrans‬, by BucketsAnimations (May 24, 2024).
=== Visual Fanart ===
File:Epic band au, walk with me, by @awnrii.jpg|alt=Digital art of Odysseus, Eurylochus and Polites wearing modern clothing and playing an electric guitar, a bass guitar, and a drum set, respectively. Text on the image says "Odysseus: electric guitar, lead vocals", "Eurylochus: bassist, backing vocals", and "Polites: drummer, percussionist"|by @awnrii
File:Fight, little wolf, by @maybemacdc.jpg|alt=Digital art of Telemachus in a fighting stance with Athena at his back.|by @maybemacdc
File:Bow down to the immortal Calypso, by @cariantidraws.jpg|alt=Digital drawing of Calypso in 3 different posses|by @cariantidraws
=== Written Fanfiction ===
* i cant mansplain, manipulate, manslaughter my way out of this (manwhore it is-), by scarlet_sam (August 5, 2024). Crack fic in which Odysseus manages to convince Zeus to allow both him and his men to stay alive.
* i see in your face, there is so much guilt inside your heart, by snoringsauropod (February 3, 2023). A Hurt-Comfort one-shot about war-related guilt centered on Odysseus and Polites.
== Multifandom Fanworks ==
=== Videos ===
Animatics and Animations Set to Songs from EPIC: The Musical:
* Animatic: Get in the Water - Avatar the Last Airbender | EPIC: the Musical cover by Morgan Clae, by RubyDianArts (December 11, 2023). An animatic for the fandom of Avatar: The Last Airbender in which Hama attempts to drown Fire Nation soldiers with her waterbending after escaping from prison, set to "Get in the Water", from the Vengeance Saga.
* Monster [ Jayce x Viktor | ARCANE X EPIC THE MUSICAL ANIMATIC ], by Sonofan Official (December 7, 2024). An animatic for the Arcane: League of Legends fandom in which Jayce Talis takes the role of Odysseus during "Monster", from the Underworld Saga, and the song is reinterpreted as being about his grief over the falling out of his relationship with Viktor and his subsequent character arc.
* [EN, ES] My Goodbye - BillFord Animatic, by Gallows (October 2, 2024). An animatic for the Gravity Falls fandom centered around the relationship between Bill Cipher and Stanford Pines, set to "My Goodbye", from the Cyclops Saga.
* [EN, ZH]【EPIC/拟狮子王】The horse and the infant节选“will of the gods”, by 白石空崎 (September 19, 2024). Animatic for The Lion King in which a comparison is drawn between the threat that Kovu represents to Simba and the one Astyanax represents to Odysseus, using the song "The Horse and the Infant", from the Troy Saga.
* "The Song of Achilles" animatic - Just a Man, by Giulia Toneatto (May 22, 2024). Animatic of the retelling of the stories of Achilles and Patroclus from The Song of Achilles, set to "Just a Man", from the Troy Saga.
* Done for | Hazbin Hotel animatic, by Crashite (March 1, 2024). Animatic of Alastor and Lucifer Morningstar from Hazbin Hotel having a confrontation set to "Done for", from the Circe Saga.
* Shen Jiu [SVSSS Animatic] || Perimedes Epic: The Musical, by Caramlfnnn (July 22, 2024). Animatic for the 人渣反派自救系统 [The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System] fandom, where 沈九 [Shen Jiu] takes the role of Perimedes in a conversation with 洛冰河 [Luo Binghe] (who takes the role of Elpenor) set to the song "Comfort Zone", which was cut from the final version of EPIC: The Musical.
* The underworld Jiang Cheng x Epic the musical, by Takanosenpai (May 17, 2024). Animatic for the 墨香铜臭 [Mó Dào Zǔ Shī] fandom, set to "The Underworld", from the Underworld Saga, in which 江澄 [Jiang Cheng] encounters the souls of 魏无羡 [Wei Wuxian] and 江 厌离 [Jiang Yan Li] while traveling.
* Love in Paradise - Epic The Musical | LMK Animatic, by Madabapf (September 14, 2024). Animatic for the Lego Monkei Kid fandom utilizing the song "Love in Paradise", from the Wisdom Saga, in which Macaque retells stories about himself and 孫悟空 [Sun Wukong] to MK.
* White Whale Animatic (Moby-Dick) EpicThe Musical Charybdis song by ‪@JayHerrans‬, by JustTheGuy (October 1, 2024). An animatic for the Moby-Dick fandom of the final battle between Captain Ahab and the White Whale, set to "Charybdis", from the Vengeance Saga.
* [EN,ES] THE UNDERWORLD || FUTURE OF ROTTMNT ANIMATIC, by Pibi (June 30, 2024). Animatic for the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in which Leonardo has a vision set to "The Underworld", from the Underworld Saga.
Animatics and Animations Set to Songs from Other Fandoms:
* [EN, ES] WAITING ON A MIRACLE || EPIC THE MUSICAL ANIMATIC, by Pibi (October 7, 2024). Animatic of Telemachus set to "Waiting on a Miracle", from Encanto.
* army dreamers | epic, by awnrii (July 21, 2024). Animatic of Odysseus, Polites and Eurylochus set to "Army Dreamers", by Kate Bush.
=== Written Fanfiction ===
* The Other Father, by IzzyMRDB (January 1, 2024). A crossover AU in which EPIC’s Poseidon takes over a parental role for Percy Jackson after landing on his universe.
== External Links ==
* Tag for EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), on Archive of Our Own.
* Tag for #epic the musical, on Tumblr.
== References ==
Category:Theater
Category:Mythology
Category:EPIC: The Musical