Heroes: The Movie ~ Epicure

***Heroes: The Movie ~ Epicure*** is a 2D animated martial arts gourmet action film produced by Round 1 Animations and distributed by Imaginate Entertainment, with the association of Komic Features.

The movie is a stand-alone sequel to *Heroes The Movie: Rise of Rachael* and a direct sequel to the animated web series and comics *Heroes Unmasked: The Animation* (based on the 2020 'action role-playing video game' *Heroes Unmasked* (developed by CyberConnect2)), and *Heroes Universe* (a canonical comic book series serving as a continuation of the game). The movie follows Liberty, Akira, and Asuka as they went to New Fork in bringing back Master Chef Yujio's Epic Meal Parade on Epicure Day by making meals to everyone as a tribute to his daughter. Meanwhile, a onion humanoid named Onio regenerates from his previous defeat and is planning to start a skirmish on Epicure Day, which gets the attention of the main trio in hopes of stopping him and saving the holiday.

The movie was released in February 20th, 2022. Upon release, it received little views, but was positive for its fighting and cooking scenes, story, characters, soundtrack, and covering up Jaibrian's melancholic

## Development

After the cancellation of *Heroes Unmasked: The Movie* with the existence of *Heroes Universe*, series creator Cappy was preparing to begin the production of *Cruz & Eastwood*, the upcoming 3rd Komic Features film. After eating homemade Chinese food, he began to grow a liking for food more often (because why not?). Therefore, he decided to postponed the production of *Cruz & Eastwood* to Summer of 2022 and began making plans on this new *Heroes* film in late November.

Cappy decided to make the movie a light-hearted, culinary adventure film where he stars modern characters Liberty, Asuka and Akira into the movie. The tone of the film being happy-go-lucky was decided by Cappy due to looking at several children movies he enjoyed most when he was a kid, as well as some shonen tv shows/films that he watched when he was a teenager. Those being *Over The Hedge*, *Rise of the Guardians*, *Dragon Ball Super: Broly*, *Toriko* and *Big Hero 6*.

Animation began on December 31st, 2021. The new animation techniques that Cappy did to the animation of the film was from his test video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJZyG3ncNZo), featuring characters of what it seems like they're based on the *Powerpuff Girls* (one of which is Blossom based on the webcomics *Powerpuff Girls Doujinshi* while the other is a unnamed fan-made powerpuff/shadowpuff; otherwise, it could be Bell but switched color palettes).

## Story

Liberty is starting to get really hungry after her battle with a criminal armed with a gun. Akira suggests her that he, she and Asuka could go to New Fork City to enter the Epic Meal Parade on Epicure Day. The trio headed over there via the Wonder Cloud and head towards the Master Chef's Mealhouse. Liberty, Akira, and Asuka was told by Mast Chef Yujio that his daughter Ragnis (who was well-known for taking on mad creatures and this supervillain named Onio) has died from an illness (which was a heart disease), thus making people stop celebrating Epicure Day. Liberty gains spirit to herself and everyone by wanting to work for him as part-time students. Yujio agrees and gives them the Culinary Cap.

For their first sight of a mad creature, they encountered a Yeteran. The trio fought and won against it, bringing it to Chef Yujio's kitchen. Liberty and Akira was tutored by the chef in how to cook food by making the Yetern into Kabuki Mix (based on a Yapanese meal). Upon eating the food leads to Liberty and Akira delighted and continues to fight more mad creatures, making Yujio much more happier like the old days with Ragnis. In the night, a piece of onion becomes a humanoid which was revealed to be Onio, who is planning on killing everyone in the upcoming Epicure Day after he became furious over his previous defeat with Ragnis. In the next day, Liberty and Akira have a conversation about them being acquainted friends. This was interrupted with Asuka calling Liberty and Akira to help her and defeat Onio in Jock Avenue. The 2 found a damaged Asuka being trapped by Onio, as the humanoid onion tells the duo about his backstory of why Epicure Day exist.

Onio proceeds to give Liberty a 10 minute brawl to make him fulfill his desire to cause havoc in the following day. During a flashback, a young, powerless Liberty trains with her Aunt Kyoko, who was given orders. Liberty replies by not taking orders from anyone, pushing her limits and punching her aunt with a strong punch, damaging her. Cutting back to the present, Liberty gives Onio a Super Special Smash and tells him that she'll take orders from no one and has to get ready for tomorrow's event. Akira and Liberty brought Asuka back to Yujio and is trying to figure out how to beat Onio since he has regeneration. Asuka recommends the team to use the Power Cube (that Asuka secretly brought in) to bring Jaibrian back on Earth from the Heavens.

Liberty and Akira managed to use the Power Cube to summon Jaibrian, as she appears more evil like her previous status. Liberty and Akira confronts her but are no match for her overwhelming powers. Asuka stops Jaibrian's rampage by giving her a Strawbanana Smoothie, in which Jaibrian has gain her positivity back after drinking it. She was then brought to Yujio who learned about her dark past and decided to adopt Jaibrian as his 2nd daughter and give her the care she needs, like how he was with his previous, deceased daughter Ragnis. The adoption is complete, with Liberty glad about Jaibrian having a much more better life and Yujio wanting tomorrow's Epicure Day be a tribute to both Ragnis and Jaibrian.

It's Epicure Day in the Epic Meal Parade. Everyone is enjoying their meals, with Liberty, Akira, and Asuka having fun serving people's meals. Yujio steps out and gives a relaxing speech to everyone about the Epic Meal Parade being back and serving as a tribute to his daughters. Onio shows up and forces his employees to come out to fight him. However, Liberty, Akira, and Asuka flies out of the building and confronts Onio. The more they get damaged, the more they transform. The trio kept on trying to fight Onio but he managed to become Fiery Onio to burn the characters up. However, Jaibrian, using Unmask, shows up at the blink of an eye and confronts Onio all by herself, getting trapped by chains and was burned alive by Jaibrian's Inferno Outburst, finally defeating him once and for all. Back in Antoon,

Jason acknowledge Liberty and her friends' teamworthy efforts once more and hopes that she brings food in the way back. Liberty, Akira, and Asuka prepares to leave, with Jaibrian giving the trio one last high five (alongside Yujio) as a sign of victory. FIN.

## Music

The music was composed by Emily Atwell and Kozue Sugita. The music themes would revolve around mostly orchestras with a few having rock/metal, being composed by Jordan Lopat.

## Characters

 Akira
 Asuka
 Chef Yujio
 Jaibrian

## Trivia

* *Heroes: The Movie ~ Epicure* is not just based on *Dragon Ball* and *Hunter × Hunter*, but also *Toriko*, another shonen series from Shonen Jump with not just fighting but also cooking food.