Saint Seiya Saintia Sho

Saint Seiya Saintia Sho was produced in 2018 by studio GONZO as an original net animation, serving as a spin-off to Masami Kurumada's long-running Saint Seiya franchise. The series adapts the manga written and illustrated by Chimaki Kuori, which shifts the perspective from the traditional male protagonists to the Saintias, a specialized group of female bodyguards serving the goddess Athena. The project was conceived to expand the mythos of the Sanctuary while introducing a new aesthetic and emotional focus centered on the bond between the protectors and the deity they serve.

The character design was handled by artists Keiichi Ishikawa and Ayana Nishino, who sought to maintain the classic, angular 1980s aesthetic of the original series while refining the line work for a modern digital audience. Upon its release, the series was met with a mixed reception from the core fan base, who appreciated the expansion of the lore and the new female-led narrative, though some critics noted that the animation quality lacked the consistency seen in previous high-profile Saint Seiya installments. It remains a notable entry for its attempt to diversify the gender dynamics of the franchise's traditional combat-heavy formula.