Knights of the Zodiac (Saint Seiya) out now!

Knights of the Zodiac, a live action movie based on the popular Japanese manga/anime series that started in the 1980’s, was released in cinemas on May 12. Also called Saint Seiya, this series is based on Greek mythology, and is very popular around the world, but never really managed to go mainstream in the US.

The reasons why it never became popular in the US are explored in the video below, it was partly due to the fact that the US version of the anime was censored and edited for the US market, effectively ruining the experience. It is no suprise that the watered down version of Saint Seiya (Knights of the Zodiac) was not well received in the US. The rest of the world got the original cut and that is why it became popular.

Watch the short history of Saint Seiya below, and if you are interested to start watching the animes, the image below tells you in what order to watch them, as there are many.

Saint Seiya is a Japanese anime series that was written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada. The series was serialized in Shueisha’s shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1985 to 1990. The story follows five mystical warriors called the Saints who fight wearing sacred sets of armor named “Cloths”, the designs of which derive from the various constellations the characters have adopted as their destined guardian symbols. The Saints have sworn to defend the reincarnation of the Olympian goddess Athena (in her fictional depiction specific to the series) in her battle against other gods who want to dominate Earth.

The anime adaptation of Saint Seiya was produced by Toei Animation and directed by Kōzō Morishita and Kazuhito Kikuchi. The series aired on TV Asahi from October 11, 1986, to April 1, 1989, and consisted of 114 episodes. The anime was licensed for English release by Viz Media and was broadcast on Cartoon Network and Anime Network in the United States.

Saint Seiya has been successful internationally across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America. The series has been adapted into several spin-offs, including Saint Seiya: Next Dimension, Saint Seiya Episode.G, Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas, Saint Seiya: Saintia Shō, and Saint Seiya: Meiō Iden – Dark Wing. The series has also been adapted into several films, including Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary and Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac.

The anime has been praised for its unique storyline, memorable characters, and epic battles. The series has also been noted for its use of Greek mythology and its incorporation of elements from other mythologies and religions. The anime has been influential in the shōnen genre and has inspired several other anime series, including Naruto and One Piece.

In conclusion, Saint Seiya is a classic anime series that has had a significant impact on the anime industry. The series has been successful both in Japan and internationally and has inspired several spin-offs and adaptations. The anime’s unique storyline, memorable characters, and epic battles have made it a fan favorite, and its influence can be seen in many other anime series today.