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Wow… where to begin?
Ok, first of all, if you grew up watching Saint Saiya or saw any of the movies, be sure to put off those shiny, engraved nostalgia goggles, cause this is more your… generation X Saint Saiya. Don't take that comment the wrong way, as new is always a good fresh air into life, just not in this case.
As soon as I heard of this anime my butt was glued to the seat and I watched all the episodes that were out one after another. Sadly that huge, bright childish smile that it started with, slowly turn into such a state of ... confusion that I still can’t help myself but to throw my hands in the air with a very cliché WTF expression completely engraved into my face.
The story start with a big nostalgia trip, showing us characters of the old show (like Saiya, Shaina and Saori; even her old butler makes an appearance) and introduces us to our new main protagonist: Koga, which in turn will take the cloth of Pegasus.
The new villain, Mars the god of war, wants (of course) to take over the world, but as the story progresses we realize that this is not the same, linear story path that the old series took, and instead takes a new, more “modern” approach into the lives of our protagonists.
I don't want to spoil anything, but the changes taken with the series seem more to attract a new, younger public, by reformatting the way the cloths work, the powers of the cosmos and just, a lot of minor details that will surely will leave old fans lost and baffled, making them remember the old show with even more love and nostalgia in comparison.
The animation is good, as it is the sound track, but for today standards it seems very average. The new art concept for the characters is a modern, but accurate adaptation of the old ones, and to be honest some of the characters models are very original considering where we are coming from.
Sadly, the biggest changes to how this world works is what made it weak. First of all, we are introduced to a new form of elemental power, that seems to be in line with the cosmos of the characters, and each of them commands a different element. The Saints are now not trained by ancient masters or forged by hardship and misfortune like in the old series, but in a school of Saints.
A SCHOOL OF SAINTS!!!!
I'm sorry, is just so…. heart breaking.
In this school, they learn about their elemental abilities and how to control them, as well as prepare to serve Athena and protect her, although it seems they are not aware of the presence of Mars or any other villain in the world.
Ok, next we have… ninja saints…
OH GOOOOOOD NOOO!!!!!
I know is too early to give the series a formal review, since it’s not even over. Granted I am still watching it so is very unfair to judge it without giving it the chance to convince me otherwise… but… ninja saints????
I will admit that maybe my love for the original might blind my judgment, but this new take on the series surly will not sit fine with old school anime fans I'm pretty sure. Even some details like the armors looking more plastic than metallic, the fact that now your “elemental” power seems as important, perhaps even more than your cosmos, and the “level upgrades” of the armors, WHICH REQUIERS MEDALIONS TO WORK, really upset me. I grew up with the dark, story driven and most of the time bloody Saint Saiya; so to see this, energy, modern era, bright colorful take on the series somehow hurt my childhood in a way I thought anime just wouldn't do. It almost feels like the cartoon network version of Saint Saiya. (of course, that’s not to say there are bad shows in that channel, simply that the target audience for it is completely different from a Saint Saiya audience)
Lets say that at least there are some changes that are very well done. The new Gold Saints look and feel very good, and the difference in power between the characters and classes is very clear, unlike the original series in which it seem that the protagonists will win and revive endlessly. Also, the story of Athena seems interesting enough, even if is just to watch were they are going with this.

As I said, maybe is my childhood bitching that doesn't let me enjoy to the fullest this anime but, is impossible not to compare it with the original source so, do give it a try, if not for nostalgia value, at least to witness the changes and stare in horror like I REALLY try not to do, most of the time.