Saint Seiya is a legendary anime, and this is due to the incredible adventure it takes us on. Composed of four major chapters - Sanctuary, Asgard, Poseidon, and Hades -, the anime has a total of 9 arcs that we wanted to classify.
#9 The Silver Knights
The Silver Knights are among the least popular characters in the manga. Caught between the main heroes and the Gold Saints, they struggle to find their place. The anime could have done them justice, but it did worse than that. It's an arc riddled with fillers. Steel Saints, Signless Saints, and other unnecessary additions weigh down the story, even to the point of harming the best representatives of the Silver Saints. In the end, despite moments that will remain legendary, like the fight between Shiryu and Algol, we just have one desire: to finally see the arrival of the Golden Saints.
#8 Hades - Inferno
The passage to Hell was expected, especially after the excellent Hades - Sanctuary series, but it was a real disappointment. The idea of a chase was promising, but poorly executed, and not only on a narrative level. The lack of budget is evident, making this one of the least well-animated parts of the work. Regarding the plot, apart from the three judges of Hell, no antagonist really stands out. It's no better on the hero side, with Shiryu and Hyoga relegated to the background, as are most of the Gold Saints, with the exception of Kanon. The arc nevertheless makes up for it with the introduction of Orpheus, the development of Shun, and its poignant ending.
#7 Hades - Elysion
The Elysion part is qualitatively similar to Inferno's, but has the merit of being shorter and slightly better animated. That said, it is perhaps even too brief. This arc is supposed to conclude the anime, but everything is too rushed. It's all the more frustrating since Hades, Thanatos, and Hypnos form a solid trio of antagonists. We will still remember the satisfaction of seeing our heroes don sublime divine armor and reach a level of power never before equaled.
#6 The Galaxian Wars
Saint Seiya begins with a tournament that shook up the codes of the genre, as we mentioned in a previous article. Despite this, if it is so low in the rankings, it is mainly because it is short and only serves as an introduction to the work. Indeed, this arc's sole purpose is to present the stakes and lay the foundations of the Saint Seiya universe. Is that a problem? Not at all, because it fulfills this role wonderfully.
#5 Poseidon
A bit like the Silver Saints, the 7 Generals of Poseidon don't enjoy great popularity. Less powerful and less interesting than the Gold Saints, they also suffer from another big problem: they come after the much-loved Divine Warriors of Asgard. The Poseidon arc can hardly do better, but "less good" doesn't mean "bad." It skillfully reinvents the Sanctuary arc, with pillars guarded by opponents who still have substance, and is especially visually sublime. It is undoubtedly the best animated arc of all Saint Seiya, thus offering a beautiful way to conclude the original series.
#4 The Black Knights
The serious stuff begins with this arc. Seiya, Hyoga, and Shiryu and Shun must recover the pieces of the Sagittarius gold armor stolen by Ikki and his Black Knights. The heroes then face their doubles, a classic but effective concept. The great strength of the arc, however, lies in the character of Ikki. He adds nuance to what we saw during the Galaxian Wars and reveals how deeply tragic his fate, like that of his former companions, is. His defeat and redemption have a lasting impact on the anime, to the point of inspiring other villains later on.
#3 Hades - Sanctuary
Remaking the Sanctuary arc was a bold move, but doing it from the villains' perspective proved particularly judicious. It's an arc steeped in a melancholic atmosphere, driven by an exceptional opening and a pervasive dark mood. We delve deep into the psyche of the Renegade Knights, forced to reluctantly take Athena's leadership. Hades - Sanctuary thus marks a strong comeback for Saint Seiya in anime, a comeback that should have maintained the same level of quality in subsequent chapters.
#2 Asgard
Filler episodes and arcs are generally considered inferior to canon content. One arc, however, stands out: the Asgard arc in Saint Seiya. Created to give Masami Kurumada time to advance his manga, it ultimately established itself as a masterpiece. Heroes face other heroes in a tragic battle that should never have taken place. This dramatic arc reinforces Poseidon's legitimacy as a major antagonist, something that, unfortunately, will not be fully confirmed.
#1 Sanctuary
The first position could only go to him. This arc marked the history of Saint Seiya and the manga in general. The famous rise of the Twelve Houses has become legendary, to the point that the work had difficulty breaking away from this model. Still, it is a true gem of suspense, and a terribly effective formula that has inspired many other anime.
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