Saint Seiya also known as Knights of the Zodiac, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada
Monday, October 12, 2009
Saint Seiya (聖闘士星矢, Seinto Seiya), also known as Knights of the Zodiac, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada and serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1986 to 1991, and adapted into an anime TV series by Toei Animation from 1986 to 1989.
The story follows five mystical warriors called the "Saints" (or "Knights") who fight wearing sacred armors named "Cloths" which designs derive from the various constellations the characters have adopted as their guardian symbols. These Saints have sworn to defend the reincarnation of the Greek goddess Athena in her battle against the other Olympian gods who want to dominate Earth.
Both the anime and manga were very successful in Japan and several European countries but neither of them were translated in English until 2003. The anime series won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize in 1987 and four animated feature films were even shown in Japanese theaters. However the anime was cancelled and left unfinished in 1989. In 2002, Toei Animation continued the anime in the form of various OVA series (the final one ended in 2008), in order to adapt the remaining manga story arcs, and following this revival of the franchise, a fifth film was screened in 2004