The Saint Seiya franchise spans nearly four decades of animated content — from the original 1986 TV series to ongoing manga sequels. For newcomers, the volume of material can make entry points unclear. For returning fans, knowing which productions follow the canonical Kurumada story versus which diverge into filler or alternate continuities is essential. This guide covers every major animated production in broadcast order and by recommended watch sequence.
Original Saint Seiya TV Anime (1986–1989)
The original TV series premiered on TV Asahi on October 11, 1986, and ran for 114 episodes through April 1, 1989. Directed by Kōzō Morishita (later by Kazuhito Kikuchi), the series was produced by Toei Animation and adapted Masami Kurumada's Weekly Shōnen Jump manga simultaneously with its serialization, a common production model of the era that led to filler arcs when the anime caught up to the manga.
The series is structured around four arcs. The Galaxian Wars (eps 1–13) opens with a tournament among Bronze Saints, interrupted when the Black Saints steal the Sagittarius Gold Cloth. The Black Saints Arc (eps 14–23) pursues this threat while introducing Ikki as an antagonist-turned-ally. The Silver Saints Arc (eps 24–41) pits the Bronze Saints against increasingly powerful assassins dispatched by Pope Arles. The Sanctuary Arc (eps 42–73 and 100–114) is the series' centerpiece: all five Bronze Saints battling through the 12 Houses to save Athena.
Between episodes 74 and 99, the production inserted the Asgard Arc, a filler arc with no manga equivalent, featuring Norse mythology elements and new antagonists called God Warriors serving Odin. This arc introduced Saori Kido / Athena taking a more active role and featured some memorable individual battles, but it does not connect to the manga's story and can be skipped without loss of narrative coherence.
OVA Series (1990–2008)
Following the TV series' conclusion, the franchise continued through a series of OVA releases over the next two decades.
Poseidon Chapter (1990)
Released in 13 episodes between January and December 1990, the Poseidon Chapter adapts the arc in which Poseidon inhabits a human host and sinks the world beneath a rising ocean. The Bronze Saints must defeat his seven Marine Generals, each controlling one of the seven seas from a pillar — before Athena drowns in a reliquary at the ocean floor. The Poseidon arc is one of the shorter major story segments, and the OVA adapts it faithfully with improved production values compared to the TV series.
Hades Chapter Trilogy (2002–2008)
The Hades Chapter is divided into three OVA series produced over six years:
Recommended Watch Order
The following sequence gives the strongest narrative experience while managing filler content:
- Saint Seiya TV (1986), episodes 1–73 — Galaxian Wars through the beginning of the Sanctuary Arc.
- Asgard Arc (optional), episodes 74–99 — Watch here if desired, or skip to step 3.
- Saint Seiya TV, episodes 100–114 — Sanctuary Arc conclusion.
- Poseidon Chapter OVA (1990) — 13 episodes.
- Hades Chapter Trilogy (2002–2008) — 32 episodes total (Sanctuary + Inferno + Elysion).
- Soul of Gold (2015) — 13 episodes, optional Gold Saint spinoff.
- Legend of Sanctuary (2014 film) — Standalone; insert at any point.
- The Lost Canvas OVA (2009–2011) — Optional; alternate 18th-century Holy War mythology.
- Omega (2012–2014) — New-generation sequel, separate continuity.
Spin-off Series and Alternate Continuities
Saint Seiya: Soul of Gold (2015) — 13-episode digital series focusing on the Gold Saints who died in the Sanctuary Arc. Set in Asgard after an unexplained resurrection, the series gives extended arcs to Aries Mu, Taurus Aldebaran, and Leo Aiolia. Produced by Toei Animation for the franchise's 30th anniversary.
Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas (OVA, 2009–2011) — Adaptation of Shiori Teshirogi's manga, covering the 18th-century Holy War between Athena and Hades. Features predecessor versions of characters like Aries Mu, Libra Dohko, and Pegasus Tenma. Generally considered the best Saint Seiya spin-off in terms of storytelling and emotional weight. 26 OVA episodes across two series.
Saint Seiya Omega (2012–2014) — 97-episode TV sequel set years after the original series. A new generation of Bronze Saints — led by Kouga (Solar Pegasus) — battles Pallas and Mars. Introduces elemental Cosmo mechanics (fire, water, earth, wind, thunder, light, darkness) instead of the pure energy-based Cosmo of the original. Reception among original fans was divided; Omega built its own audience base.
Saint Seiya: Saintia Shō (2018) — 12-episode anime adapting Chimaki Kuori's manga about a female-centric cast of Saintia, women who serve Athena directly. The series intersects with the Sanctuary Arc timeline and presents the franchise's major conflict from a different perspective.
Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya (Netflix, 2019) — CGI production for Netflix's global platform. Adapts the Sanctuary Arc with redesigned characters (Andromeda Shun becomes Shaun, a female Saint), Western narrative pacing, and updated mythology framing. A separate continuity entirely from the 1986 series and the 2014 film.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main arcs of Saint Seiya?
The original anime covers: Galaxian Wars (eps 1–13), Black Saints (eps 14–23), Silver Saints (eps 24–41), and Sanctuary (eps 42–73, 100–114), with the non-canonical Asgard filler (eps 74–99). OVAs add the Poseidon Chapter (13 eps, 1990) and the Hades trilogy (32 eps, 2002–2008). Soul of Gold (2015, 13 eps) and Omega (2012–2014, 97 eps) extend the franchise beyond the original continuity.
In what order should I watch Saint Seiya?
Recommended: (1) TV eps 1–73; (2) optional Asgard filler eps 74–99; (3) TV eps 100–114; (4) Poseidon OVA; (5) Hades trilogy OVAs; (6) Soul of Gold; (7) Legend of Sanctuary film can slot in anywhere. The Lost Canvas and Omega are optional expansions after completing the main story.
Should I watch the Asgard filler arc in Saint Seiya?
The Asgard arc (eps 74–99) has no manga equivalent. It introduces Norse mythology with memorable individual battles but doesn't connect to the main canonical story. Fans who want completeness watch it; those following the manga's story line strictly skip from ep 73 to 100. Neither choice loses essential narrative information for the Sanctuary Arc's conclusion.
What is the Hades trilogy in Saint Seiya?
The Hades trilogy consists of three OVA series: the Sanctuary Chapter (13 eps, 2002), Inferno Chapter (13 eps, 2005–2006), and Elysion Chapter (6 eps, 2007–2008). Together they adapt the final arc of Kurumada's manga, concluding the original story with the Bronze Saints' battle against Hades in Elysium. Production quality is notably higher than the 1986 TV series.
What is Saint Seiya: Soul of Gold?
Soul of Gold is a 13-episode digital series (2015) marking the franchise's 30th anniversary. Gold Saints who died in the Sanctuary Arc find themselves resurrected in Asgard and face a new conflict. The series gives Aries Mu, Taurus Aldebaran, Leo Aiolia, and others full protagonist arcs — something the original series couldn't provide given their antagonist or minor-ally roles.
Is Saint Seiya Omega a direct sequel?
Omega (2012–2014, 97 episodes) is set years after the original series with Seiya retired. It follows new Bronze Saints — primarily Kouga (Solar Pegasus), with elemental Cosmo mechanics. It is a sequel in timeline but a separate story with a new main cast. Original fans' reception was mixed; it developed its own audience.
What is the Galaxian Wars arc about?
The Galaxian Wars (eps 1–13) is a tournament organized by Mitsumasa Kido to determine which Bronze Saint is worthy of the Sagittarius Gold Cloth. When the Black Saints steal the Cloth and kidnap Saori, the tournament structure dissolves into the series' main narrative. The Galaxian Wars establishes the five Bronze Saints' individual powers and personalities before the larger conflict begins.
What is Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas?
The Lost Canvas is a manga by Shiori Teshirogi (2006–2011) adapted into OVA series (2009–2011, 26 episodes). Set 243 years before the main series, it depicts the previous Holy War between Athena and Hades with predecessors of characters like Dohko and Mu. The OVA adapts only part of the manga but is considered among the best Saint Seiya animated productions for its character depth and emotional storytelling.
What is Saint Seiya: Next Dimension?
Next Dimension is an ongoing manga by Masami Kurumada himself, serializing since 2006. It extends the original story via time travel to the 18th-century Holy War, connecting to the Lost Canvas era. As of 2026, Next Dimension remains active, the only Kurumada-authored Saint Seiya material currently in publication.
How many episodes is the Poseidon arc?
The Poseidon Chapter OVA runs 13 episodes (1990). The arc follows the Saints battling Poseidon's seven Marine Generals, one per sea — to prevent the ocean from swallowing the Earth, while Athena is sealed in a special container at the ocean floor. It is the shortest of the major arcs and can be watched in a single sitting.
Is the Hades OVA better than the original 1986 anime?
The Hades OVA trilogy has higher production values — smoother animation, more detailed designs, improved fight choreography — and follows the manga more faithfully than the TV series. However, the 1986 TV series carries deep nostalgic weight for longtime fans, and its longer runtime developed character relationships that the OVAs necessarily compressed. Both are worth watching for different reasons.
Does the Saint Seiya anime follow the manga closely?
The 1986 TV anime follows the manga's structure with significant expansion — 1–2 manga chapters become 2–4 anime episodes, and the Asgard Arc is entirely original content. The Hades OVA trilogy is closer to the manga with less padding. The Poseidon OVA aligns reasonably faithfully. The broad story — Sanctuary, Poseidon, Hades — maps to Kurumada's arc structure across all adaptations.
What is the Silver Saints arc about?
The Silver Saints arc (eps 24–41) involves Pope Arles dispatching Silver Saint assassins — warriors who outclass Bronze Saints by rank — to eliminate the Bronze Saints before they can threaten the Sanctuary. Battles against Perseus Algol, Auriga Capella, and others establish the power gap between Bronze and Silver tiers while revealing hints about the Gold Saints' existence and the Sanctuary's corruption.
Can I start watching Saint Seiya from the Sanctuary Arc?
Starting at episode 42 is possible, the Sanctuary Arc is largely self-contained — but not ideal. The earlier arcs establish each Bronze Saint's personality, powers, and emotional backstory. Shiryu's sacrifices, Hyoga's grief over his mother, Ikki's traumatic origin — all land harder with the setup in place. Starting from episode 1 is the recommended approach.
What is Saint Seiya Episode G?
Saint Seiya Episode G is a manga spin-off by Megumu Okada (2002–2009), followed by Episode G: Assassin (2014–2019). It follows Leo Aiolia approximately two years before the main series, fighting the Titans — gods predating the Olympians. Episode G gives Gold Saint Aiolia a full protagonist treatment unavailable in the original anime, and is frequently cited as essential reading for fans who felt the Gold Saints deserved more development.
What is the Netflix Saint Seiya adaptation?
Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya (Netflix, 2019) is a CGI series adapting the Sanctuary Arc with a Western narrative sensibility. Andromeda Shun is reimagined as Shaun, a female Saint. Produced by Toei Animation for Netflix's global platform, it is a separate continuity from the 1986 series and the 2014 film, and was aimed at audiences new to the franchise rather than existing fans.