The appeal and reviews of "Saint Seiya: Saintia Sho": A story of new warriors

Saint Seiya Saintia Sho - Review and Recommendation

Overview

"Saint Seiya: Saintia Sho" is a TV anime series based on the manga "Saintia Sho" written by Masami Kurumada and illustrated by Chimaki Kuori. A total of 10 episodes were broadcast on SKY PerfecTV! Anime Set for Prime Video from December 10, 2018 to February 18, 2019. It is produced by GONZO, with series director Masato Tamagawa, series composition by Ikuko Takahashi, and character designs by Keiichi Ichikawa and Ayana Nishino. Music is by Toshihiko Sahashi, and the series is produced by Toei Animation.

■ Story

The protagonist, Shoko, is a junior high school student attending Ryusei Gakuen Junior High School. Five years ago, her older sister, Kyoko, went abroad to study, and her whereabouts became unknown. One day, Shoko is attacked by an unknown entity, and learns of the existence of the Goddess Athena, the Saints, and the Saint Girls, and the cruel fate of herself and her sister. With the resurrection of the evil god Eris imminent, evil spirits become more active. While Seiya and his friends fight in the Galactic War and the deadly battle at the Zodiac, Saori and the Saint Girls fight a fierce battle with the help of the Gold Saints. The key to everything lies with Shoko, who has just begun training to become a Saint Girl. The story of girls who fight against fate, despite being overwhelmed by their cruel fate, begins.

■Explanation

"Saint Seiya: Saintia Sho" is the latest work in the "Saint Seiya" series, following "Saint Seiya: Soul of Gold" in 2015. "Saintia Sho", written by Masami Kurumada and illustrated by Chimaki Kuori, has been serialized in "Champion RED" since 2013, and has been made into a long-awaited anime. The story depicts Saori Kido's awakening and growth as the goddess Athena, behind the story of Seiya and the Bronze Saints, from the Galactic War to the battle at the Sanctuary of the Twelve Houses. The story is told from the perspective of the Saintias, special beings who are allowed to become "Saints" while remaining "female", and who are Athena's maids and personal guards. The Saintias sympathize with Saori's feelings as Athena, and grow as Saints themselves as they witness the deadly battle of Seiya and his friends. The character designs are by Keiichi Ichikawa, a descendant of Araki Productions, and Fumina Nishino, while Toei Animation and GONZO are teaming up to create animation, breaking new ground. A new "Saint Seiya" legend that depicts the backstage story of the original story, long envisioned by the original author Masami Kurumada, begins here.

■Cast

・Shoko: Aina Suzuki ・Kyoko: M.A.O
・Saori Kido: Inori Minase

■ Main staff

Series Director: Masato Tamagawa Series Composition: Ikuko Takahashi Character Design: Keiichi Ichikawa, Ayana Nishino Chief Animation Director: Keiichi Ichikawa, Ayana Nishino Music: Toshihiko Sahashi Animation Production: GONZO
・Production: Toei Animation

■ Main Characters

・Shoko: The protagonist is Shoko of the Eclair constellation. She is a junior high school student at the private Ryusei Academy junior high school division. She is an all-around athlete, energetic and competitive. She practices martial arts at her father's karate dojo. Drawn by fate, she chooses to become a Saint Girl.
Kyoko: The older sister of Kyoko Shoko of the Eclairs. She has a kind personality and cares for her younger sister. Due to an incident in the past, she vows to become a Saint Girl in order to fight against fate.
Saori Kido: Goddess Athena She is the head of the Grad Foundation, which she inherited from her late grandfather, and is in fact the incarnation of Athena, the goddess of "war." While struggling with her identity as Athena, she organizes the Galactic War.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: Sisters of Destiny! Shoko and Kyoko・Episode 2: Each's Resolution! The Goddess and the Saintly Girls・Episode 3: Blooming in the Darkness! The Evil Spirits of Eris・Episode 4: A Sad Reunion! The Bond Between Separated Sisters・Episode 5: Fly! Like Pegasus・Episode 6: Conflicting Souls! Saori vs. The Pope・Episode 7: Deadly Battle of the Zodiac! The Dazzling Illusion of the Frightening Evil Spirit・Episode 8: Clash of Nightmares! The Burning Fist of the Lion・Episode 9: The Whirlpool of Conflict! The Golden Apple and Orion's Devotion・Episode 10: Shine Girls! At the End of a Noble Prayer

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
Period: 1-10
Song Name: The Beautiful Brave
Lyrics: Yuriko Mori Composition: Koji Takanashi Arrangement: Koji Takanashi Vocals: Shoko (CV. Aina Suzuki), Kyoko (CV. M.A.O), Saori (CV. Inori Minase), Mie (CV. Megumi Nakajima)

・ED1
Period: 1-6, 8-10
Song title: Smile Resonance Lyrics: Yuriko Mori Composition: Shuji Katayama Arrangement: Shuji Katayama Singer: Shoko (CV. Aina Suzuki), Kyoko (CV. M.A.O)

・ED2
Duration: 7
Song title: Blessings for those who die in conflict Lyrics: Funta7
Composed by: Takeshi Fujisawa Arranged by: Takeshi Fujisawa Vocals by: Eris the Evil God (CV: M.A.O)

■Review

"Saint Seiya: Saintia Sho" is a work that allows fans of the original "Saint Seiya" series to enjoy the story from a new perspective. In particular, by depicting the story from the perspective of the Saint Girls who fight behind the scenes of the Saints, it has been able to appeal to a new audience as well as existing fans. The main character, Shoko, is an all-around athletic and energetic character, but she is drawn by fate to choose the path of a Saint Girl, which is appealing. In addition, her relationship with her sister, Hibiki, and Saori's conflict as the goddess Athena are carefully depicted, beautifully expressing the growth of the characters and the deepening of their relationships.

GONZO, in charge of animation production, faithfully reproduced the worldview of the original work while adding new elements to enhance the visual appeal. In particular, the character designs by Ichikawa Keiichi and Nishino Ayana incorporate a more modern sensibility while still maintaining the atmosphere of the original work, giving viewers a fresh impression. Additionally, the music by Sahashi Toshihiko provides effective background music that enhances the emotions as the story unfolds, enriching the viewing experience.

The story development is also excellent, depicting the galactic war between Seiya and his friends and the deadly battle at the Zodiac alongside the battles of the Saint Girls, allowing viewers to enjoy the story from two different perspectives. In particular, the episodes depicting the tension surrounding the resurrection of the evil god Eris and the bond between the sisters are moving and capture the hearts of viewers. The subtitles of each episode also symbolize the development of the story, and are designed to draw the viewer's interest.

The theme songs are also an important element in enhancing the appeal of the work. The opening theme, "The Beautiful Brave," is sung by the four characters Shoko, Kyoko, Saori, and Mii, and conveys the bond between the characters at the center of the story. The ending themes, "Smile Resonance" and "Blessings for Those Who Die in Conflict," reflect the atmosphere of each episode, enhancing the emotions of the viewer.

■Recommendation

"Saint Seiya: Saintia Sho" is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the original "Saint Seiya" series, but also to new audiences. In particular, the story that depicts the growth of the girls and the deepening of their relationships will move the audience. In addition, the high-quality animation by GONZO and the music by Toshihiko Sahashi also enhance the appeal of the work. Furthermore, the theme song is an important element that enhances the atmosphere of the story, enriching the viewing experience. Please enjoy this new "Saint Seiya" legend.