History Main / TheEpic

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'' and ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'' adapt the events from ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' and respectively, ''Literature/FireAndBlood''.

** [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003 2003 anime]]: Has the same basic premise but goes in a different direction halfway through. Compared to the manga, it's mainly centered on the trials and tribulations of the Elric brothers, and has a more personal conflict, but it's still quite large in scope, since it involves a government conspiracy similar to the one from the manga, [[spoiler: as well as the discovery of an AlternateUniverse]].
* ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer'': InAWorld where NonLethalWarfare fought by schoolgirls with Tanks is a Martial Art that [[SeriousBusiness moves and shakes the fate of nations]], a [[FallenPrincess disgraced young warrior]] reluctantly returns to the path of ''"Panzercraft"'' to protect her School and newfound home [[spoiler: from imminent closure]]

* ''Fanfic/BreathOfTheWild'', the first of ''Fanfic/TheMythOfLinkAndZeldaSurvivorsOfTheCalamity'' series: Link awakens from a deep slumber in a cave without a memory aside from his name, is guided outside by a spectral voice, and has the unique power of speed. He awakens into an apocalyptic world ravaged by the EldritchAbomination of Calamity Ganon. He journeys across the vast kingdom of Hyrule, fighting foes and making friends, to find his own past. And once he does, he goes on a quest of combat to help Zelda defeat the calamitous apocalyptic entity once and for all. Has some familial elements because [[spoiler: Princess Mipha is the mother of his child, Princess Lochlia, and there are times when both characters fight alongside Link.]]

* ''Fanfic/CodePrime'' (crossover with ''Anime/CodeGeass'' and ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}''): Takes the existing conflict of ''Code Geass'' and merges it with the Great War between the heroic Autobots and villainous Decepticons, one that spans the entire galaxy. Together, the many Autobots and Black nights strike to liberate the Earth from the tyranny of TheEmpire [[spoiler: which is later taken over by the Decepticons]].

* ''Fanfic/ANewHopeDanganronpa'', which is basically ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'' if it was an epic. ''A New Hope'' is basically an emulation of ''Trigger Happy Havoc'' and its setting, but with a larger cast of characters [[spoiler: sidelined by an ongoing battle between the Future Foundation and Ultimate Despair]], followed by a series of Killing Games that take place in farther regions (space, the moon, an amusement park, a secret island filled with monsters, a train, a desert, and supposedly be followed by an underwater city). Though each of the sagas has different protagonists, the scale of the Killing Games creates a bigger world within the facets of the franchise.
* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'' is a WarFic that concerns Eostia, a [[CrapsackOnlyByComparison workable, but flawed]] country dealing with a MilitaryCoup started by its most renowned [[{{PMC}} mercenary group]], the Black Dogs. Escalating into warfare, a group of heroes that fight for the country, [[TheProtagonist Kyril]] especially, strive to achieve victory against the Black Dogs, not only via the battlefield, but also via rooting out their supporters within the country. In addition, the {{fanfic}} is a ContinuationFic of ''[[VideoGame/BloodBorne Bloodborne's]]'' [[spoiler:"Childhood's Beginning"]] ending, which details Kyril's next Hunt. Extraordinary deeds aside, he has been to some sort of Underworld / {{Hell}} prior to the events of this story[[spoiler: (the Hunter's Nightmare)]].

* ''Film/{{Interstellar}}'' fits this to a T. There's even a journey to the underworld [[spoiler: through a black hole.]]

** ''Literature/MistbornTheOriginalTrilogy'', twisting the traditional HighFantasy epic around by showing a world where the EvilOverlord won [[spoiler: and exploring the consequences of overthrowing that overlord]].

* ''[[Franchise/{{Dune}} The Dune Chronicles]]'': After two noble houses clash over the desert planet Arrakis, the heir of one of those houses rises to become a messianic figure whose life will reshape the Imperium - and throw the known universe into chaos. Subsequent books continue with the story of his downfall and ultimate legacy.

* ''Literature/TheMemoryWars'', by Creator/PaulAnthonyShortt, features [[spoiler: a protagonist who has been reincarnated throughout history, seeing the Fall of Troy, the old west, and eventually leading the people of New York against an army of gods and demons to save the world]].

* ''Literature/TheSongOfHiawatha'': Longfellow's major story about the Iroquois leader, is considered a national epic of the United States, and one of few measured up to the classics.

* ''Literature/{{Sorcery}}'' - A ''Literature/FightingFantasy'' gamebook miniseries that can be played individually or as a whole, chronicling the epic journey across the treacherous continent of Khakabad of your Wizard Hero to rescue the fabled Crown of Kings from the clutches of the Archmage of Mampang.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'': A young adventurer embarks on a quest to seize the greatest treasure the world has ever known, and in the process involuntarily joins the world's most-wanted list. Spans over 100 volumes and 1000 episodes.

* ''Manga/TwentiethCenturyBoys'': Spanning several decades and told in AnachronicOrder, a group of everymen accidentally [[CreateYourOwnVillain create]]--then attempta dangerous cult from spreading a plague and taking over the world.

* ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'': A juvenile delinquent dies, then gets brought back from the dead to help the afterlife solve paranormal mysteries and defeat powerful demons.

* ''Manga/TwentiethCenturyBoys'': Spanning several decades and told in AnachronicOrder, a group of everymen accidentally [[CreateYourOwnVillain create]]--then attempt to stop--a dangerous cult from spreading a plague and taking over the world.

* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'': After losing everything in a war that changes Japan forever, a wandering swordsman vows never to kill again and settles down in a dojo that's fallen on hard times, finding friends, love, and a new home for himself, while dealing with his past and stopping rebels who seek to overthrow the current government.

* ''Manga/TwentiethCenturyBoys'': Spanning several decades and told in AnachronicOrder, a group of everymen accidentally [[CreateYourOwnVillain create]]--then attempt to stop--a dangerous cult from spreading a plague and gaining political/social influence for the sake of world domination.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'': Upon learning he's the son of Zeus, a young God embarks on a quest to train and become a hero worthy of a place on Mount Olympus, while Hades, the ruler of the Underworld, plots against him. A much LighterAndSofter reimagining of [[Myth/ClassicalMythology the myth of Herakles]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'': Upon learning he's the son of Zeus, a young God embarks on a quest to train and become a hero worthy of a place on Mount Olympus, while Hades, the ruler of the Underworld, plots against him. A much LighterAndSofter reimagining of [[ClassicalMythology the myth of Herakles]].

* ...The story overall contains majestic themes (such as [[BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil good versus evil]]) typically relevant to the values of a culture or a nation.

* ...The story overall contains majestic themes (such as [[BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil good versus evil]]) typically reflecting the values of a culture or a nation.

* The story overall contains majestic themes (such as [[BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil good versus evil]]) typically reflecting the values of a culture or a nation.

* The story overall contains majestic themes typically reflecting the values of a culture or a nation.

* ... Have multiple (three or more) separate adventures in the course of their quest or journey.

* Ride/WaltDisneyWorld's ''The Hall of Presidents'' attraction is a national American epic that details the achievements of American presidents throughout the history of the United States of America.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'': A young adventurer embarks on a quest to seize the greatest treasure the world has ever known, and in the process involuntarily joins the world's most-wanted list.

* ''Manga/InuYasha'': A high school girl falls into a well that transports her to Feudal-Era Japan, where she meets the titular Inuyasha and travels with him and a group of other allies to find the scattered shards of the Shikon Jewel before the demon Naraku can obtain them.

* ''Manga/SoulEater'': Three masters and their shape-shifting human weapons fight the ultimate embodiment of madness.
* ''Manga/SoulHunter'': A young Immortal on a quest to defeats and seals rogue immortals on human world and in doing so, involves in a plot that could changes the fate of the entire planet.

* ''LightNovel/HighSchoolDXD'': A LoveableSexManiac gets reincarnated as a devil after having been murdered on his first date, and gets thrown into a three-way conflict between Angels, Fallen Angels, and Devils, and countless other mythologies butt in, [[HaremGenre all the while he tries to become the Harem King]].

** ''LightNovel/FateZero'': The story behind the tragic events of the Fourth Holy Grail War, which set the stage for those of ''Fate/stay night''. This prequel decisively broadens the story into a [[GenerationalSaga Familial epic]] as a major theme is how the descendants of the Fourth War's participants inherited their parents' powers, conflicts, curses, and ideals.

* ''Literature/LesMiserables'', the classic French epic about Jean Valjean, a minor criminal who becomes a good man.

* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': Approached by a creature who offers to make her a magical girl, an ordinary girl is plunged into a destructive cycle of suffering, tragedy, and despair that determines the fate of the entire universe.

* ''Fanfic/DearDiary'': Two opposed gods awaken and use two [[TheChosenOne chosen ones]] as their tools of a war that will rock the region, leading to a multi-faction civil war, as the Pokémon belonging to one of said chosen ones who doesn't have the best intentions for the world try desperately to defy fate and stop the calamity.

* ''Literature/TheBrokenEarthTrilogy'' - The tale of a woman's quest through a post-apocalyptic world to find her daughter, and becoming enmeshed in a war between immortal beings, with her actions on the DayOfReckoning having the power to destroy the world for good or stop the ViciousCycle of apocalyptic events from ever happening again, leading her into a life-or-death conflict with that same daughter.

* ''Literature/TheShahnameh'', the Iranian national epic, concerned with the mythical history of the Persian kings from primordial times to the Islamic conquest.

* ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'': One of the most famous and influential Chinese epics, alongside ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' and ''Literature/WaterMargin''.