Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas - Meiou Shinwa

First of all I have to mention that I didn't watch the first Saint Seiya anime series, OVAs andr OADs merely because I wasn't interested in the style or plot, so I wasn't a fan of the series when I started Saint Seya: Lost Canvas.
Despite this, this anime made me enjoy myself pretty much.

Story - 9/10
Simple but catching. The War between Hades and Athena and some dramatic inserts of the two to make it even more enjoyable. Include Pegasus in all this and you get a perfect mix of fights, drama and betrayals.

Art - 9/10
What can I say about it? The art ... was one of the elements that made me watch this series so you can guess form that how much I enjoyed it xD The design of the characters were fitting and the panoramas were just gorgeous.

Sound - 8/10
I didn't really like the opening song. My inner self was just screaming "Japanese people! stay away from English please!". Besides that it felt way too ..errr...children-series type of song, thing that's wrong since SY - Lost Canvas is a pretty dark series overall.
I have nothing to complain about the ending though. It was pretty and moving.
The insert songs between the scenes were good enough to make the right atmosphere so again, nothing to complain about it.

Character - 9/10
This is one thing that surprised me about this anime. Some of the characters, like Pieces and Virgo Gold Saints, even if they appeared in only 2-3 episodes of the series, that was enough to make me fall in love with them. The character development of the characters in such a short amount of time was outstanding.
The same with Yato, which I only thought will be a secondary character that everybody will forget once he gets off screen. I was wrong! lol xDD
Another character that surprised me was Alone, that despite everything he continued to cherish his past memories with his friends, deep inside his heart, even in his condition. The relationship between Alone, Tenma and Sasha was also really moving thinking about their present roles. So thumbs up to it.

Enjoyment - 8/10
I just gave it an 8 because of some fighting scenes that seemed awkward to me.

Overall - 8/10
8 because of the same reason as above but overall I really, really enjoy it and I am looking forward to the next season.

Story and Characters
Obviously in comparison to the original series, Lost Canvas cuts right to the last story arc. Not only is it a prequel, it's a very excellent addition and extension to the original source material. I thought some things in the last Hades OAV arcs to the original series needed to be elaborated on and Lost Canvas expands on certain specific aspects. I'd talk about them, but they'd be spoilers to both Lost Canvas, and oavs to the original series. On the outside, Tenma is a lot like Seiya, but has his own unique distinctions and qualities. In the original series, Seiya is portrayed ... more as a leader and it was kind of more of a team concept. However, Tenma isn't exactly a lone wolf, but he does have some help. To compare the two characters in a nut-shell, Seiya is more like Son Gokuu from Dragon Ball, while Tenma is more like Ranma and Inuyasha with their personalities. They're both fighters, but they express it in those kinds of ways.

What I also found interesting is that the current incarnation of the Unicorn Bronze Saint, Yato, has a lot more use in comparison to the original series, Jabu. The relationship Yato and Tenma have is kind of like a Ranma and Ryoga/Inuyaha and Kouga kind of one. They are very similar and yet they are always at each other's throats. Despite that, I found it very surprising how their relationship develops in the course of this series from bitter rivals, to cooperative partners that will always have each other's backs.

The series for this season is pretty well evenly paced and I like how it focuses on certain characters in certain episodes, and it's not just exclusively about Tenma. Some of the Gold Saints have their own central episodes and you get to learn about them. Though they will only have short appearences, they do make a significant contribution to the progression of the story.

The villains are still pretty much the same from the Hades OAVs, but still have their own unique personalities and qualities in which they all stand out. The OAV ends at an understandable place and of course a sequel has been confirmed and the way it ends just makes you wish to watch that sequel already. I say this is a very good introduction in the same way the Hades Sanctuary Arc respectively was.

Art and Animation
As one can see, the original art design isn't done by Kurumada Masami. However, he allowed a Shoujo author, Teshirogi Shiori, to do the art for this respective title for the original manga. The anime respectively follows that art style faithfully from what I've seen of pictures on the internet and magazines, and I'm of course saying this because I have yet to read the manga of Lost Canvas. The anatomy of the characters are still for the most part pretty slim with some buff guys here and there. The costume designs are of course very faithful to the original material so nobody can fault that. The hairstyles are thinner in comparison to Kurumada's style, but it still works in contrast to the bodies, faces, and heads. The design of the villains are just as dark and yet still glossy as the Hades Chapter OAVs, but yet some of the characters have their own unique move sets and gimmicks.

As for the action, it's much more fluid and there is more emphasis on direct hand-to-hand combat as opposed to relying on special moves. However, with a much lesser character roster, the match up appeal isn't really that present here except in just a couple of fights. Of course Tenma will have the Pegasus Ryuusei Ken and it's presented in a different angle and not much recycled animation is abused in this. The action is still explosive and exciting, and like I said before, doesn't go to a point where it gets ridiculously over the top.

Music and Voice Acting
What really took me by surprised is the opening theme "The Realm of Athena" by EUROX. Of course in the tradition of Saint Seiya, it is rock with a good set of guitars as a hook, but the song itself is in perfect English. And the qualities in terms of lyrics in what made Pegasus Fantasy and Megami no Senshi so presentable and catchy, and reflects what the show is about, and it's not just some song that's promoting the artist or song, it's about the show itself, and Saint Seiya is one of the rare products to have music like that. It's a very good anyway and has its own distinct energy that relfects the overall atmosphere of the series. The general background music is of course new and is very intense at the right times and very acoustic during softer moments. A lot of the percussions and those acoustics used is also very appropriate to the setting in context to the time and place in a cultural sense so that's a nice touch.

As for the voice acting, I'm not at all familiar with the voice actors of Tenma and Alone. Kakihara Tetsuya, Tenma's respectice seiyuu, does a great job in making Tenma that arrogant but yet caring fighter. It really reminded me of Suzumura Ken'ichi's portrayal of Taitou from Jushin Enbu Hero Tales, a character very similar to Tenma. Shimono Hiro as the voice of Alone/Hades I think has to be the performance that has to get the most credit. You're playing who is supposed to be the most purest person on Earth, and then all of a sudden, becomes the God of the Underworld. He does a great job of a guy who for one minute is convinginly someone who believes in non-violence, and then the next moment is a God that doesn't care about life.

However, a familiar name that most new school fans should know is the voice of Hirano Aya, the voice of Suzumiya Haruhi, as the voice of Sasha/Athena. Of course in comparison to Haruhi, she is a leader and takes charge, but in a more serious situation, she is very authoritive and commanding as that character, but also compassionate and caring to Tenma. She's very serious, but yet calm. The influence of Han Keiko's original performance is also there, but of course the overall voice cast will still never compare to the original no matter how hard they try.

Overall
Well, to overall conclude, do you need any previous experience with Saint Seiya? It does help a lot. You can watch this with a fresh mind and still enjoy it. I say on the downside, it can potentially spoil the original series in some respective aspects. But as I said before, if you do have some familiarity, a certain aspect will be elaborated upon and I thought it was a nice touch. By the time you finish this part of the series, you feel like it's truly beginning. I can't say the characters develop tremendously in an individual sense, but this is made up for by the relationships the characters develop and try to maintain. The original series had a good balance between developing the characters individually and the relationships, but the original series easily had those opportunities. Hopefully when the next installment comes about, there will be a bit more emphasis on that.

What is it about? If you are asking yourself this question, and have never seen Saint Seiya, then this is definitely not for you.

Indeed this is only for Saint Seiya fans. Its basically a remake of the Hades saga but in an alternate universe. There are major changes in the plot composition though - enough changes to make it unpredictable enough. The characters cast are very different and fans will get an appreciation of the characters which have been traditionally left out or marginalised in the canonical Kurumada's original Saint Seiyas animes.

Effectively this seems like a reaction to fans's eternal complains about certain characters e.g. ... Jabu of unicorn, Aldebaran and Aphrodite of Pisces among others who are always, so to say, left out of the big picture. Here we do get a better appreciation of these Knights and their abilities, and also a fair amount of airing time is devoted to the other Gold Saints too.

The series seems to revolve around the previous holy war between the Hades camp and that of Athena, and often devolve into mini stories exposing the powers and personality of each Gold Saint and other important characters.

For Saint Seiya fan this will not fail to be a 10. But those who have not watched the whole of the Saint Seiya saga will somewhat lack the appreciation needed to fully enjoy this and could be bit lost and probably might find the battle meaningless and boring since they can't relate well to the characters.

After the classic series, the best anime of Saint Seiya, also as video quality. If you are a fan of the knights of the zodiac, definitely for you. But even if you are not.

Some of my friends started the series without having seen the historical anime (or read the original manga). Certainly, you lose some references that only a fan of SS can grasp, but the story a detached structure, with of its own story and his own characters, and in the early stages explains the basics, so it is not strictly necessary to have seen the old series to start it.


STORY: 10

The story tells ... of 3 childhood friends, orphans, Tenma, Sasha and Alone, forced to separate, and that fate will pose as enemies, in the so-called holy war between the forces of the goddess Athena (the Saints) to defend the Earth, and the army of the underworld led by Hades (the Specters), which aims to conquer it.

In these first 13 episodes the first main characters will be presented, and we will have the actual beginning of the war.What you will see here will be what you will find later, that is a REAL WAR, between epic and dramatic moments, with clashes, sacrifices, meaingful deaths, and built personal stories, in a very good climax.

By heart, the first season covers up to chapter 54 of the manga (concluded with 223).


ART: 10

Like i said, the graphics here are excellent, the best after the historical series. This is due to the OVA format and the TMS study (not Toei) that spent a lot of care on it.


SOUND: 9

At first glance it may not seem like it, but it offers good soundtracks.


CHARACTERS: 10

Tenma (the main protagonist) is the standard shonen protagonist, in line with the others of SS. Alone (the main antagonist) is a controversial character, which will come as a surprise. Sasha (the other protagonist) is the best Athena of SS, forget about Saori from the original series (always kidnapped and to be saved).

Then there are the presentations and actions of the first gold saints, from the good Dohko and Shion, to others that will remain immediately etched in your hearts, such as Albafica, Asmita and Hasgard.

Some enemies will also have a good scene, including the powerful Minos and the violent Kagaho.


ENJOYMENT: 10

A moderate beginning, which will result in a war fought, with many losses on both sides, where epic and drama will not fail, already starting from this first part.

I don't get why people voted so high for this anime...

The characters are bleak, at best, as well as the story. Stuff usually just...Happens, with like a brief explanation or 5 seconds of informing the viewer that it just happens, I guess?

It seemed interesting at first, with Hades + Athena's revival, but then the show just skips 2 years...Right off the bat? Now, I've seen this being done in Naruto, Fairy Tail, One Piece (the big 3) because, well, they have A LOT of episodes and time to explain characters/plots, etc., and they can (maybe) afford it (tho I still think it's one of ... the boldest and baddest moves generally made by anime/tv shows/movies), but to do it right off the bat in an anime like this...Well, there goes the character creation/struggle/progression part. And the "plot armor" employed more than a dozen times per episode really puts a strong emphasis on this.

All in all, 1/10, and it's more than this show deserves. This score is only based on the promise this show had at the beginning and the potential to make some very interesting and entertaining characters, but it failed miserably.

Saint Seiya : The Lost Canvas- Myth of Hades-

Story:10: 10
This anime OVA takes place in Italy 18th century, Where three orphan friends grew up together until one day, the girl Sasha was adopted and a reincarnation of the goddess of war, Athena.The story twist once Sasha's brother changes personality and Tenma two of the siblings best -friend decides to be one of Athena's saints. Alone, Tenma's and. Sasha's friend loves to paint and is pure hearted and doesn't believe solving a problem with violence, a good pure heart perfect for a reincarnation of Hades king of the underworld.his friends try to save him, Alone from ... returning to his real human side.

Art: 10:10
They look so realistic, human like good in emotion,sadness and all types of emotions ,were well put in too process,the light the animals and stuff.since they are realistic like they don't have huge eyes, theyg really look human like, and that's the reson why I loved Lost Canvas the most, the art was awesome.

Sound: 9:10
They use the same background music from d gray man, kind of, gets old but then they change.

Characters: 10:10
You'll love the characters even the bad ones, I sure did I thought Hades was beast and awesome. The main character is likable too, all of them are exept the really bad ones that kill the gold saints,or innocent people.

Enjoyment: 10:10
Did I tell you how much suspence and. Willing to see the next episode when the one I just watched just finished watching.It keeps you it tact,when they go to the past they don't last long like 15 minutes it's more like 5 to 10 minutes.Japanese, Spanish what ever language it's entertaining until the end WAY better than Saint Seiya Omega let's say for Omega they killed the art.

Overall: 10 out of 10
I enjoyed this anime until the end all it. Needs and ending though hopefully there is.the good thing is they didn't blur out blood or hide in shade when the people cried.the opening was awesome!!the fights are epic they really left it open for season 3. Overall I want you to enjoy a really good greek god and zodiac plot to a world of great warriors.
I sure enjoy Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas and I hope you do too. Thanks for reading my review and enjoy the show!!

This anime is an absolute masterpiece. I grew up watching Saint Seiya and I dare say, this spin off is just as good as the classic Saint Seiya series or even better in some aspects. The animation and Renaissance inspired art is captivating to say the least. I really hope TMS picks this anime up again. I need to see more of it! Alone was the most intriguing character and I loved the fight scenes. The best Shonen I've ever seen in my life. This anime is in my top three. If you want to start watching Saint Seiya, I recommend The Lost Canvas since ... it is short and does a great job in telling the story, rules, and themes of what the Saint Seiya universe is all about!

I have to say being a sucker for Greek mythology this caught my eye by chance. I watched it on a whim and surprisingly it's a very good series. I even went as far as tracking down the original Saint Seiya/Knights Of the Zodiac to seen if it was just as good and that one captivated me too. If you're one for for a lot of blood shed and Greek myths. I definitely recommend this and the original series as well ^^

English Version:

General: (7.85 / 10)
We are facing one of the latest canon adaptations of Saint Seiya, but at the same time treading neither more nor less than its beginnings, with a saga that covers the previous battle against Hades more than 100 years ago, so while we obtain other characters the foundations of history in general are preserved but let's go through point by point.

Story: (7.5 / 10)
This time, as I already mentioned, we have to review the battle against Hades but from another perspective to the adaptation it received in 2004. This time they tell us the story of Tenma, Sasha and Alone, a ... group of Orphans who grew up together from small to that one day, they adopted Sasha no more and no less so that later she became the goddess athena.
And that fate would lead Alone to become the successor body of Hades and therefore Tenma to be chosen to be the knight of Pegasus.
The truth is that this point of the 3 friends / brothers who separate to later become Enemies is a fairly typical resource which leads him to sin originality to the anime. However, in what these first 13 chapters have been, their execution has not been bad, they knew how to manage their times and rhythm so that it makes a pleasant entertainment, it remains to wait for what happens in the second part but not to force things too much to our protagonists and suppress development can easily be one of the best adaptations of Saint Seiya

Sound (7/10)
The sound I suppose has been acceptable, it is difficult to replace certain tones of sound that one was recorded at the time under the title of Saint Seiya and that are not here, also I do not remember any truly memorable OST in what was this first installment and as for the OP / ED they are nice but they did not leave a great impression on me either.

 Art (8.5 / 10)
In the Animation, on the other hand, if we have had a very favorable change, which was to be expected taking into account the large number of years between its different adaptations and "Lost Canvas" it is the closest to our present and in addition to those that observe the that best reflects on the characters and gives pleasure to appreciate.

Characters (8/10)
Did you think that by changing the cast of characters this series could not match its predecessor? well, if you thought like that you are wrong. This adaptation achieves quite well what is proposed above all with the Protagonists who do not over exaggerate expressions but they look much more natural and even at the moment they have obtained a successful development and depth without too much "Power Up" taken out of the ass and maintaining a line sustainable.
In the secondary cast it is also nice and it is shown within everything in an acceptable way in the series, because we agree that if they were given a greater place on stage and minutes, the adaptation would not cover everything in these 26 chapters.


Enjoy: (8.25)
I liked it, obviously this can vary depending on what happens in the face of the second part of the title, but at the moment it is a premise that complies and putting aside its main series next to its other OVA / Film I consider that this is the most concrete . Without looking too far to shorten the time and that leaves the viewer eager for more chapter by chapter. And as I already mentioned the "story of friends" does not close me as much, but thanks to the characters it becomes pleasant.
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Version en Español:

General: (7,85 / 10)
Estamos ante una de las Ultimas adaptaciones canon de Saint Seiya, pero a la vez pisando ni mas ni menos que sus inicios, con una saga que abarca la anterior batalla contra Hades hace mas de hace 100 años, por lo que si bien obtenemos otros personajes se conservan las bases de la historia en general pero pasemos a repasar punto por punto.

Historia: (7,5 / 10)
En esta ocasión como ya mencione nos toca repasar la batalla contra Hades pero desde otra perspectiva a la adaptación que recibió en el 2004. En esta ocasión nos cuentan la historia de Tenma, Sasha Y Alone un grupo de Huérfanos que se criaron juntos desde pequeño hasta que cierto dia, adoptaron a Sasha ni mas ni menos para que luego se convirtiera en la diosa athena.
Y que el destino llevaría a Alone a convertirse en el cuerpo sucesor de Hades y por ende a Tenma ser elegido para ser el caballero de Pegaso.
La verdad es que este punto de los 3 amigos/hermanos que se separan para luego convertirse en Enemigos es un recurso bastante típico lo que lo lleva a pecar de originalidad al anime. No obstante en lo que han sido estos primeros 13 capítulos su ejecución no ah sido mala, supieron administrar bien sus tiempos y ritmo por lo que hace un entretenimiento agradable, quedara esperar lo que suceda en la segunda parte pero de no forzar demasiado las cosas para nuestros protagonistas y suprimir el desarrollo puede quedar fácilmente como de las mejores adaptaciones de Saint Seiya

Sonido (7 / 10)
El sonido supongo que ah sido aceptable, es difícil reemplazar ciertos tonos de sonido que uno lo quedaron grabado en el tiempo bajo el titulo de Saint Seiya y que aqui no estan, ademas no recuerdo algún OST verdaderamente memorable en lo que ah sido esta primer entrega y en cuanto el OP/ED son agradables pero tampoco me dejaron una gran impresión.

Arte (8,5 / 10)
En la Animación en cambio si hemos tenido un cambio muy favorable, lo que era de esperar teniendo en cuenta la gran cantidad de años entre sus distintas adaptaciones y "Lost Canvas" es de la mas cercana a nuestro presente y ademas de las que observe la que mejor se plasma sobre los personajes y da gusto de apreciar.

Personajes (8 / 10)
¿Pensaron que por cambiar el elenco de personajes esta serie no podría igualar a su antecesora? bueno, si pensaron así están equivocados. Esta adaptación logra bastante bien lo que se propone sobretodo con los Protagonistas que no sobre exageran expresiones sino que se les ve mucho mas natural e inclusive de momento han obtenido un desarrollo e profundidad acertado sin demasiado "Power Up" sacado del culo y manteniendo una linea sustentable.
En el elenco de secundarios también es agradable y se los muestra dentro de todo de una forma aceptable en la serie, por que convengamos que si les dieran un mayor lugar en escena y minutos la adaptación no llegaría abarcar todo en estos 26 capítulos.


Disfrute: (8,25)
Me gustado, obviamente esto puede variar según lo que suceda de cara a la segunda parte del titulo, pero de momento es una premisa que cumple y haciendo un lado su serie principal al lado de sus otras OVA / Película considero que esta es la mas concreta. Sin rebuscarse demasiado para acortar los tiempo y que deja al espectador con ansias de mas capitulo a capitulo. Y como ya mencione la "historia de los amigos" no me cierra tanto, pero gracias a los personajes se torna agradable.

I just wanna know what my life is for
Winning every match, I have to play?
I haven't felt like this before
The truth is gonna be revealed today

I really don't have anyone to slay
No need to live this way
Love will fill the world and it will reign
Supreme

... We just wanna know what our lifes are for
Beating every hostile who stand in the way?
Have you ever felt like this before?
A secret's gonna be unfolded today

We really don't have any foes to slay
No more need to live this way
Love will fill the world and it will reign
Supreme forever!

Saint Seiya

A mediocre Hades chapter soft-reboot, with none of what made the original Saint Seiya series good in the first place (that is, visceral battles, moral and metaphysical themes, imaginative world-building, and an outstanding soundtrack).

If you're already invested in the Saint Seiya franchise you might enjoy Lost Canvas, since it competently addressed many criticisms of the original show, and it can be amusing to watch past incarnations of beloved characters kicking ass. Unfortunately though that's the most this series tries to accomplish, never going beyond shallow fanservice.

Newcomers on the other hand should avoid watching it, as they will be dropped into these preposterous scenarios without a ... proper buildup, and won't be able to understand how could anyone be invested in these plots and characters.

It's a work of art.
The story sounds simple at first, however, as things advance, it gets more and more complex, with more and more layers and the characters have so much importance that their own stories make the general, background story even richer. For those who read the manga and know more than what the anime shows, this first season only got to introduce a little of what the big story of Lost Canvas is.
The art is amazing, the animation is perfect, the colors, the angles, the way the scenes were directed. The art is basically alive, being creepy when it has to, being pretty ... and soft when it needs, and also very violent and brutal when it has to be. The voice acting and sound effects are very good, but I missed the intensity and tragedy of the background music the older Saint Seiya animes offered us, however, definitely it's more than the basic, it makes the anime richer.
The characters are the best thing about Lost Canvas in my opinion. Even support characters get the respect and attention they deserve, everyone is important somehow and most of them get some background, development and a proper closing, when it's the case. The support characters that didn't get that in these episodes definitely got more attention in "season 2" or in the manga.
I loved the facts the story it's not "unilateral protagonist" like, every character has a role.
I had a lot of fun watching, honestly, I wanted more, too bad this anime didn't get the success it deserved.

So this was the first part of the Lost Canvas series, uh? what has been presented over and over and over to me as "Th3 BeZtEzt ThIng EvUr!11!!", and surprise surprise...it isn't. It is adequately fun and well presented (more than the crappy hades chapter saga, which I dropped by episode two for the shitty CGI art and the snooze-inducing action) if you consider the fact that this is CLEARLY intended as a fanservice thing more than anything else, meaning the writer adressed some of the things that happened in the original animes to give fans what they wanted. Nothing wrong with that (we're a ... talking of a series - Asgard arc excluded - based on repeating the Golden Saints arc at nauseam for fanservice) but it seems to me that the fanservice didn't get fully the appeal of these characters to the fans, with the main offender being Pisces. I get making him stronger, but as a fan of him what made him interesting originally was the difference between his feminine, gentle, bishonen beauty and the idea he was a certified SOB able to kick serious ass. This is the reason why they set him up against his equal, the gentle and kind yet stronger than an atomic bomb Andromeda Shun, they matched perfectly. Also the writer didn't seem to fully get the reason why the female saints wear masks, but whatever. That said, it's a fun watch overall but it's NO SOBSTITUTE for the original 80's series. Watch that before this one or really you won't get the appeal of the characters, not just the ones who are not here (all the main bronze saints except pegasus).