Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter - Inferno

Released in 2005, Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter - Inferno serves as the second major arc in the OVA adaptation of Masami Kurumada’s seminal manga, picking up immediately after the Sanctuary arc. Produced by Toei Animation, this series was created to finally bring the conclusion of the long-running Hades storyline to the screen, a decade after the original television series concluded. It reflects a shift toward higher production values and a more mature tone, aiming to satisfy the long-standing demands of fans who had awaited the completion of the saga since the early 1990s.

The character designs were handled by Shingo Araki and Michi Himeno, who are celebrated for defining the iconic, flowing aesthetic of the Saint Seiya franchise. Their approach focused on maintaining the ethereal, heroic proportions established in the original series while utilizing more modern animation techniques to depict the grim, descending layers of the underworld. Upon its release, the series was received as a highly anticipated event, recognized for its commitment to the source material and its role in revitalizing interest in the classic Saint Seiya mythos for a new generation.