Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac

Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac debuted in 1986 as a television adaptation of Masami Kurumada's manga, produced by Toei Animation. It emerged during a period of high creativity in shonen manga, grounding its narrative in a blend of Greek mythology and Western constellations. The series follows a group of warriors known as Saints who draw power from their internal energy, or Cosmos, to protect the reincarnation of the goddess Athena.

The character designs, notably those by Shingo Araki and Michi Himeno, are highly regarded for their fluid lines and striking visual flair, which elevated the material beyond its source. While the show faced initial skepticism regarding its unconventional mythological focus, it eventually achieved significant international success, particularly in Europe and South America, becoming a defining title for the late eighties animation boom and influencing countless action-oriented series that followed.