Exploring the intricacies of canon within the Saint Seiya universe, a significant question emerges: Is Saint Seiya: Heaven Chapter Overture truly part of the established narrative?
Initially, Saint Seiya Heaven Chapter Overture was intended to be part of the canon storyline. However, the manga’s creator expressed dissatisfaction with the movie’s narrative direction. Consequently, the creator chose to retell the events of the movie within the Saint Seiya: Next Dimension manga.
This decision was driven by a desire to align the story more cohesively with the overarching canon of the Saint Seiya series. Click here to read a review of the movie.
The retelling in the manga allowed for better integration of the movie’s content into the established continuity.
As a result, the Heaven Chapter Overture’s narrative underwent adjustments and refinements in the Saint Seiya: Next Dimension manga, ensuring a more consistent and satisfactory connection to the broader Saint Seiya universe.
Saint Seiya: Heaven Chapter Overture Production
Saint Seiya: Heaven Chapter Overture emerged from a creative endeavor to extend the saga’s narrative.
Conceptualized as a sequel to the original manga, Heaven Chapter Overture production aimed to continue the adventures of the iconic Bronze Saints. The movie was crafted with the intent of deepening the canon, exploring untold aspects of the characters and their universe.
Dissatisfied with certain story elements, Kurumada pivoted, choosing to retell the movie’s story within the Saint Seiya: Next Dimension manga. Read a review about the manga here.
This decision altered Heaven Chapter Overture’s trajectory, emphasizing Kurumada’s commitment to a cohesive and harmonious canon.
Thus, what was initially a sequel-to-manga narrative journey transformed into a reconsideration of storytelling coherence, exemplifying the dynamic nature of creative evolution.
Was Kurumada dissatisfied with Heaven Chapter Overture?
The movie follows Seiya as he makes it his mission to find Athena and protect her once again, even if it results in him denouncing the gods.
Saint Seiya: Heaven Chapter Overture is a movie that was released in 2004 as a prequel to the planned Heaven arc after Hades. However, the movie ended up being a mess as a lot of changes were made to Kurumada’s vision, which really angered him to the point that he got dissatisfied with the results.
Kurumada is the author of Saint Seiya, and he was unhappy with the Heaven Chapter project, so Apollo’s participation in the Saint Seiya universe was cut short.
Next Dimension is the real canonical sequel to Saint Seiya, and Overture isn’t canon since day 1 of release.
The dissatisfaction of Kurumada with the movie led to the Heaven Chapter project falling apart.
Despite the dissatisfaction of Kurumada with the movie, it was still released and has been viewed by many fans of the series.
Was Heaven Chapter Overture a Prelude to the Zeus Saga?
Seiya: Heaven Chapter Overture is the fifth Saint Seiya movie released in theaters on February 14, 2004
It was planned to be a prequel to the Heaven arc after Hades, which was supposed to be the next arc in the Saint Seiya series. However, the movie ended up being a disappointment to Masami Kurumada, the author of Saint Seiya, who was not satisfied with the changes made to his vision.
The plot of the movie is not canon with the chronology and events of the manga or anime plots, except for Heaven Chapter – Overture.
Changes from Heaven Chapter Overture to Next Dimension
Masami Kurumada, the author of Saint Seiya, was not satisfied with the changes made to his vision in the movie Saint Seiya: Heaven Chapter Overture.
As a result, he made corrections in Saint Seiya: Next Dimension to make it more in line with the canon compared to the movie. For example: Apollo’s participation in the Saint Seiya universe was cut short in Next Dimension, unlike in the movie where he played a significant role.
Next Dimension is the real canonical sequel to Saint Seiya, unlike the movie which is not canon.
Kurumada’s corrections in Next Dimension were made to ensure that the story follows his original vision for the series. Despite the dissatisfaction of Kurumada with the movie, it was still released and has been viewed by many fans of the series.