Battle Spirits Heroes is the fourth Battle Spirits anime. It premiered on September 18, 2011, and aired at 7 a.m. Tokyo time during Sundays on TV Asahi, right between Digimon Fusion (later, Saint Seiya Omega) and Super Hero Time.
The series, which takes place in a completely new continuity from any of the previous series in the franchise, tells of a boy named Hajime Hinobori, whose parents have created a battle system allowing for "real" Battle Spirits.
Also see Battle Spirits Sword Eyes for the 5th series in the franchise.
This show provides examples of:
- Action Girl: Kimari, who made it to the national tournament, solidifying her place as one of the best battlers in Japan. Nora Nyao, one of the world tournament positions is even more so, especially out-of-battle. She's an accomplished martial artist.
- Art Shift: Regular anime style to CG during battles.
- Balloon Belly: An occasional running gag when the characters eat a lot.
- Big Brother Worship: Kataru to Manabu. Exaggerated to the point that it comes off as romantic attraction to some fans, such as Kataru showing jealousy of Kimari at the thought of her being a couple with his brother, and turning fiercely protective of him.
- Big Friendly Dog: Safari. Kouta can even ride on top of him.
- Bland-Name Product: CFC (Though actually, it stands for Clackey Fried Chikuwa, not Chicken.)
- Blush Sticker: Kataru's seem to be permanent.
- The Bully: Kobushi used to be, when he went around battling weak opponent's to win their strongest card.
- Card-Carrying Villain: Dr. Sunset. Proud evil scientist, has a Right-Hand Cat, and is always plotting world domination. Too bad for him, he easily was subjugated by Kimari.
- Chaste Hero: Hajime. Roller Izumi making moves on him does nothing for him, and when asked who he was in love with, his answer...
Battle Spirits. - Christmas Episode: Episode 15.
- Collectible Card Game: One of several anime adaptations of one.
- Combat Commentator: Both a (mostly) unseen announcer and Galaxy Watanabe. Who share a seiyuu.
- In the world tournament arc, Galaxy Watanabe is joined by tv announcer Yui Inoue, and Kimari in this role.
- Cool Big Sis: Mika, who is an adult that works in the card shop, but often hangs out with the kids and tries to serve as a mentor figure to them.
- Duels Decide Everything: Obviously. It's Battle Spirits.
- Happily Married: Hajime's parents sure seem this way. They're also Sickeningly Sweethearts.
- Hot-Blooded: Naturally, most everyone is. It's a Battle Spirits anime. Arata and Hajime in particular.
- Hot Springs Episode: Ep. 12. Chihiro not taking a bath with the others is also the first sign that she's in fact a girl.
- Jerkass: Manabu and Tegamaru can be this. Both both have their moments of Jerk with a Heart of Gold too.
- Lighter and Softer: Compared to the previous series, Battle Spirits Brave.
- Magical Girl: None actually appear, but in one of Kimari's summon performances, she appears as a magical girl.
- Master of Disguise: Mika. She certainly loves dressing up.
- Meaningful Name: Hajime and Kimari are plays on begin and finish respectively. Also, Kobushi Nigiri, as nigirikobushi means clenched fist.
- Tameru Tachibana, a self-proclaimed hero of justice, sharing a last name with the mascot character, Justice Tachibana.
- Merchandise-Driven: Like every Battle Spirits anime, its primary function is to sell cards.
- Ms. Fanservice: Hajime's mother, Akari, is this for Battle Spirits Heroes. For example, in the first episode she stores cards in her cleavage.
- Mythology Gag: For starters, Galaxy Watanabe is back, and his hair is blond again.
- Episode 5 briefly shows two little kids admiring Chihiro's art. A closer look reveals they're human versions of En and Fant. Similarly, in ep 24, Barone and Zack lookalikes are seen watching the championship.
- In ep 6 there's a food stand called Clackey Fried Chikuwa.
- And on the subject of Gekiha Dan/Brave references, posters of Dan and Zazie can be seen in episode 11.
- Episode 13 is a gold mine. The arcade games seen contain art of Revolver, an off-colored Mira, and Clackey's main spirits. Plus, there's a whack-a-mole game of Bladras afraid of having core taken, and plushies of the Deathmatch Group Pentans.
- Tegamaru's first opponent in the Hero Championship has a jacket just like Zolder's. His name is also Ichiro Tanaka, the same as Koutaro's father in Gekiha Dan. Though, because both characters are extremely minor, the identical name could be a coincidence.
- Nice visor, Tameru. Wasn't it Elliott's?
- The Narrator looks a lot like Pantera, also voiced by Jun'ichi Suwabe.
- Toshihide Tsuchiya, seiyuu of Meganeko's grandfather in Toppa Bashin, once again plays a character surrounded by secondhand books.
- No Fourth Wall: Like in the previous series, there's an omniscient narrator. This time around, he's treated like a character and can converse with the other characters.
- Promotion to Opening Titles: As of the second OP, Tameru, Ser-jii, Galaxy Watanabe, Announcer Inoue, Antony, Renard, Dragon Eye, Sunset, Bomber, and Katabura, who was actually yet-to-be-introduced when the OP started.
- The Rival: Tegamaru is this to Hajime. Though, with the theme of the series, everyone is a rival.
- Ship Tease: Mainly Arata and Mika, though Kimari gets some with Hajime, Manabu and Tameru.
- Stalker with a Crush: Tameru is this to Kimari. She's not happy about it.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Hajime's is seasoned rice. Also, Tegamaru loves his milk.
- Tsundere: Mika is a type B, with Arata. Normally a very kind and friendly character, she treats him mostly abrasively despite hints that she may have a crush on him.
