Saint Seiya

Saint Seiya follows a teenage fighter named Seiya who sets out to earn a mystic armor and join Athena’s holy band, the Saints. In a universe where warriors channel the power of the Cosmos, each Saint wears a Cloth named after a constellation and fights to defend the earth goddess Athena. Seiya, bold and driven, travels with fellow Saints who also strive for their own Cloths, facing rival factions, ancient prophecies, and brutal challenges. The drama blends myth, martial arts and space age science fantasy as loyalties are tested and destinies forged. The story also centers on proving oneself under pressure and earning the trust of teammates as they train for rising challenges.

Directed by Kazuhito Kikuchi and adapted from Masami Kurumada's manga Saint Seiya debuted in 1986. The voice cast includes Toru Furuya as Seiya and Hirotaka Suzuoki as Shiryu, among others. It draws on Japanese myth and heroic training, blending traditional animation with high energy battles.

Awards: While Saint Seiya is not known for major mainstream wins, it has earned lasting recognition within anime circles and fan communities, contributing to the genre's evolution. Its enduring popularity is reflected in retrospectives, merchandise and continued discussions among fans.

Saint Seiya helped popularize the shonen formula with ensemble teams, escalating martial arts, and mythic stakes. Its distinctive Cloth armors and dramatic power ups became visual shorthand for heroic awakenings, echoing in later anime, games, and fan communities worldwide. It spawned a wave of merchandise, video games and later anime that echoed its team dynamic and zodiac based costumes.

Reception & themes: Critics and audiences have embraced Saint Seiya for its bold mix of friendship, sacrifice and fate under cosmic forces. With an 8.474/10 average from 1,370 votes, the series is seen as a landmark in evergreen themes of trust, perseverance and rite of passage.