SAINT SEIYA: Knights of the Zodiac returns to television in 2019 with a new adaptation of Masami Kurumada’s classic shonen manga. This version picks up where the original anime left off, following Seiya of the Pegasus Cloth as he fights to save Athena from the god Hades. The result is a mixed bag: ambitious, stylish, and occasionally overlong, but rarely dull.
The series leans heavily on spectacle. Battle scenes are rendered with dramatic lighting, slow-motion effects, and a score that swells at every critical moment. The animation is fluid, and character designs hew closely to the original artwork. Fans of the manga will recognize the iconic poses and signature moves, though some of the more elaborate transformations feel stretched out to fill episode counts.
Trailer, via Netflix.
Seiya’s Return
The story begins with Seiya discovering that Athena, the goddess he serves, has been kidnapped by Hades. He sets out to rescue her, but his path is blocked by the Gold Saints who guard the Sanctuary, the holy temple of Athena. These battles form the backbone of the series, and they are often the strongest episodes.
The writing is uneven. Character motivations are sometimes thin, and the pacing suffers in the middle stretch. Some arcs feel padded, with filler battles and repeated flashbacks that test the patience of longtime viewers. The show also struggles with its tone, shifting between serious drama and campy action in ways that don’t always land.
“I am the Gold Saint of Cancer.”
That line, spoken by one of the antagonists, captures the series’ identity problem. It is delivered with genuine menace, but the context around it can feel forced, as if the show is trying to balance reverence for the source material with the need to entertain a younger audience.
The Sanctuary Battles
The Sanctuary arc is where the series shines brightest. Each Gold Saint has a distinct personality and a memorable fighting style, and the show does a solid job of building tension as Seiya faces each one in turn. The fights are well-choreographed, and the animation holds up even during the most complex sequences.
The supporting cast is also worth noting. Shiryu, Hyoga, and Ikki all get their moments, and their interactions add warmth to an otherwise grim storyline. Their bonds with Seiya are tested throughout the series, and these quieter character moments are some of the best writing in the entire run.
Music and Style
The music is a strong asset. The main theme, composed by Yuki Kajiura, is a soaring anthem that captures the epic scale of the story. Individual battle themes are also distinctive, with tracks that shift between tense strings and triumphant brass. The score does a lot of the emotional work, carrying scenes that might otherwise feel hollow.
The direction is confident, with a clear visual style that draws on the manga’s dynamic panel layouts. Camera angles are frequently bold, and the show doesn’t shy away from showing the full scope of its action sequences. That confidence pays off in the best episodes, where the combination of animation, music, and composition creates genuinely exciting moments.
Where It Falls Short
The series isn’t without flaws. The plot drags in the middle, and some subplots feel like they exist only to pad the runtime. The show also leans on melodrama in ways that can feel heavy-handed, particularly in its later episodes. Characters make decisions that strain credulity, and the stakes sometimes feel larger than the writing can sustain.
The pacing is also an issue. Episodes that could have been condensed into twenty minutes are stretched to forty or fifty, which slows down the overall narrative momentum. This is a common problem in adaptations of serialized source material, but it is especially noticeable here, where the show tries to fit decades of story into a single season.
Final Word
SAINT SEIYA: Knights of the Zodiac is a flawed but entertaining adaptation. Its strengths lie in its visuals, its music, and its occasional bursts of pure action. When it commits to being a bold, dramatic epic, it delivers. When it settles into filler territory, it loses focus.
The series is best enjoyed as a guilty pleasure for fans of the genre. It won’t appeal to everyone, but those who grew up with the original manga will find plenty to appreciate in its ambitious approach and its commitment to spectacle. It is not a perfect adaptation, but it is a passionate one.
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