Saint Seiya Anime vs. Manga: Spot the Changes! Let’s take a fun ride through the Saint Seiya universe.
We’re dishing on the cool differences between the anime and manga versions that all you fans out there need to know. Ready to dive in?
1. Bronze Saints as Half-Brothers
In the world of Saint Seiya, there’s a cool difference between the manga and anime versions about the Bronze Saints’ connections.
In the manga, all the Bronze Saints are like one big family—they’re actual brothers! This adds a whole new layer of closeness as they fight side by side to protect Earth and Athena. But, here’s the twist: in the anime, they don’t share that brotherly bond.
Instead, they come from different walks of life, each with their own story. This gives us a chance to dive into their individual characters and backgrounds more deeply.
While the anime focuses on their personal growth, the manga’s brotherly link makes their shared journey even more emotional and exciting. To know more about them being brothers, click here.
So, whether they’re brothers or not, the Bronze Saints show us that connections, whether through family or friendship, are a powerful force, shaping their universe in unique ways.
2. Armor Designs and Colors
One captivating distinction between the Saint Seiya manga and anime lies in the armor designs and colors of the Bronze Saints.
In the manga, armor designs are more intricate, encouraging readers to envision the colors themselves due to the black and white format. Conversely, the anime splashes these armors with vivid colors, giving each Bronze Saint a distinct and easily recognizable appearance that aligns with their personalities.
This dynamic use of color not only adds visual flair but also helps viewers distinguish between characters during intense scenes.
Thus, while the manga invites personal interpretation, the anime’s vibrant color palette contributes an extra layer of visual distinction and engagement for fans of Saint Seiya.
3. Different art style
The art style divergence between the Saint Seiya manga and anime is captivating.
In the manga, the art often exhibits finer details and intricate linework, granting readers a chance to explore characters and scenes through their personal visual interpretation. The monochrome nature of manga illustrations also allows readers to envision colors.
Conversely, the anime adapts the manga’s characters and universe with a vibrant and dynamic art style.
This transition to motion and color brings a unique energy to the characters’ actions and emotions. While the anime simplifies certain details, it compensates with fluid animation and expressive character designs.
This stylistic shift offers viewers a different but equally immersive way to experience the story.
In essence, the manga provides room for artistic imagination, while the anime captivates through its animated vivacity, underlining how artistic choices can reshape a beloved universe.
4. Hyoga’s initial motivation
In the Saint Seiya series, Hyoga’s initial portrayal diverges substantially between the manga and anime, yet his core personality, particularly in relation to his mother, remains consistent.
In the manga, he takes on a surprising role as a covert agent for the Sanctuary. His mission involves targeting the Bronze Saints due to suspicions of their alignment with a counterfeit Athena. Interestingly, his motivation for joining the tournament stems from a desire to seek revenge against his father, Kido, who abandoned both Hyoga and his mother.
As the story progresses, his interactions with the Bronze Saints lead to a transformative change of heart, causing him to align with his newfound brothers in arms.
Although Hyoga’s circumstances vary in the manga and anime, his deep-rooted qualities and his evolving bond with his comrades persist as pivotal aspects of his character.
5. Hyoga and Camus relationship
Furthermore, the nature of his connection with Camus, the Aquarius Gold Saint, differs notably in the anime.
Within the animated adaptation, Hyoga’s training stems from the Crystal Saint, who, in turn, was a student of Camus. Their interaction involves Hyoga recognizing Camus as his ultimate instructor due to the lineage of mentorship.
This constitutes the extent of their relationship in the anime. Conversely, the manga omits the Crystal Saint entirely and depicts Hyoga being directly tutored by Camus himself.
Notably, the manga exclusively presents a brief narrative arc where Hyoga engages in a battle within his homeland of Siberia.
6. The Black Dragon Saint has a Brother
Here’s an interesting twist in the Saint Seiya universe: the Black Dragon Saint’s story differs between the anime and manga.
In the manga, The Black Dragon actually has a brother, a significant element absent in the anime. This sibling dynamic adds depth, impacting his actions and character development. The manga’s exploration of their relationship delves into themes of loyalty and rivalry, giving the story an emotional touch.
In contrast, the anime focuses solely on the individual journey of the Black Dragon Saint, skipping the brotherly connection. To know more about the Black Saints, click here.
7. Steel Saints
The Steel Saints are an interesting case in Saint Seiya. They were actually invented just for the anime. This means they don’t appear in the original manga at all.
In the anime, the Steel Saints were added to provide extra support to the Bronze Saints during specific parts of the story. However, in the manga, it’s all about the main Bronze Saints and their challenges.
This highlights how adaptations can take their own path to keep things fresh. So, if you’re a fan of the anime and then check out the manga, you might notice the absence of these Steel Saints that you’ve come to know.
8. Pope Ares’ Minions
In the Saint Seiya anime, there’s an arc known as the “Pope Ares’ Minions” arc.
The Pope Ares’ Minions arc is what’s called “filler.” Filler means that it’s not part of the original source material, which in this case is the manga. The “Pope Ares’ Minions” arc was created by the anime producers to give the manga more time to progress ahead of the anime adaptation.
So, while it adds extra episodes to the anime, it’s not something that came from the original story created by the manga’s author.
This kind of thing is quite common in long-running anime series to avoid catching up to the manga too quickly. So, if you’re reading the manga and wondering about this arc, know that it’s not part of the manga’s core story. Check all of the Saint Seiya sagas here.
9. Dohko’s Purple Skin
In the Saint Seiya manga, a notable difference emerges in the portrayal of the character Old Dohko when compared to certain adaptations like the anime.
Old Dohko’s skin tone in the manga maintains a more natural complexion, devoid of any purple hue. In contrast, the anime and other adaptations sometimes present Old Dohko with purple skin.
This deviation is important as it distinguishes the manga’s depiction from some visual adaptations. To know more about his transformation, click here.
This variance, though subtle, underscores how artistic choices can lead to differences in character appearance across different media interpretations.
While Old Dohko’s characterization and role remain consistent, this distinction in skin color serves as a tangible example of how adaptations can influence visual elements of a beloved character within the Saint Seiya universe.
10. Asgard Saga
The Asgard Saga in the Saint Seiya anime is a prime example of “filler.” Filler refers to content that is not derived from the original source material, which in this case is the manga.
The Asgard Saga was created by the anime producers to extend the storyline and provide more episodes. In the manga, there is no Asgard Saga. Instead, the main narrative progresses in a different direction. The Asgard Saga was introduced in the anime to allow the manga to get ahead, avoiding catching up too quickly.
While it offers viewers more episodes to enjoy, it’s not part of the core story that the manga author originally penned. Click here to know more about the Asgard saga.
Filler arcs like the Asgard Saga are common in long-running anime to maintain pacing and avoid overtaking the source material. If you’re a fan of the original manga, it’s important to know that the Asgard Saga is an anime-only addition.
11. Final Fight vs Saga
In the Saint Seiya series, a significant contrast arises between the anime and manga versions regarding the climactic battle against the Evil Saga.
In the anime, the final showdown agaisnt Saga is depicted, while in the manga, the story doesn’t progress to that point. Notably, in the manga, Saga thoroughly overwhelms Ikki with his Galaxian Explosion, leading to the good side committing suicide due to his inability to bear the evil counterpart’s actions.
Moreover, the other saints don’t recover after Saori reaches the summit, instead falling into a comatose state.
Interestingly, the anime takes a different route. Saori manages to revive the Bronze Saints, a deviation from the manga’s portrayal where only the Gold Saints are left unrevived.
This divergence underscores how narrative choices impact character fates and resolutions, demonstrating how adaptations can yield distinct and thought-provoking storylines.
12. Sorento’s First Appearance
After the grueling Twelve Houses battles, the Bronze Saints were left battered and had to be hospitalized.
While the bronze saints were hospitalized, Sorrento was assigned the task of eliminating them. However, a remarkable shift occurred when Aldebaran stepped in, coming to their rescue. As the Asgard Saga doesn’t exist in the manga, his fight against Ziegfried isn’t shown.
This turn of events highlighted the intricacies of character dynamics within the Saint Seiya narrative.
13. Marine vs Gold Saints
The following dynamic is integral to the manga’s narrative, emphasizing how external factors can influence power differentials and outcomes within the story. B
The manga distinctly establishes that the Marine Generals possess powers that are at least on par, if not superior, to those of the Gold Saints. Their relative inferiority is primarily attributed to the constraints imposed by their scales and the restored power of the Bronze V2 Saints, which was augmented by the Gold Saints’ abilities.
y showcasing the potential of the Marine Generals, while also acknowledging the significance of certain circumstances, the manga offers a nuanced portrayal of power dynamics that enriches the Saint Seiya universe.
14. Kanon is Supposed Dead
This last alteration underscores how narrative choices can diverge between media interpretations, leading to distinct character actions and outcomes.
In the manga, Kanon is believed to have met his demise as he intercepts the trident meant for Saori, adopting the pose that was initially intended for Poseidon. Conversely, in the anime adaptation, Seiya assumes this role by taking the trident’s strike aimed at Saori.
The manga’s portrayal of Kanon’s self-sacrifice and its subsequent impact on the story offer readers a different perspective compared to the anime’s depiction.
This divergence exemplifies how variations in plot dynamics contribute to the rich storytelling found within the Saint Seiya series.