Saint Seiya: Saintia Sho is a series set in the same universe as the iconic original, with a focus on the fierce female warriors known as Saintias.
While I had high hopes for this spin-off, it’s important to analyze the anime critically and evaluate its various aspects.
In this review, I’ll provide ratings for the story, characters, soundtrack, animation, and an overall assessment, based on my experience as a fan.
Saintia Sho Synopsis
“Saint Seiya Saintia Sho” introduces a new generation of female warriors, the Saintias, dedicated to protecting the goddess Athena.
Amidst the familiar backdrop of the Saint Seiya universe, the series follows Shoko, a young Saintia, as she unravels the mysteries surrounding her missing sister and confronts formidable adversaries.
While the anime attempts to deliver exhilarating battles and nostalgic elements, it falls short in character development and storytelling, leaving viewers yearning for more depth.
With a mix of impressive action sequences and inconsistent animation, “Saintia Sho” offers a taste of the Saint Seiya world but leaves fans longing for the magic of the original series. It is canon to the original Saint Seiya universe.
Story (Rating: 6/10)
The Saint Seiya franchise has always been known for its rich mythology, compelling battles, and epic storytelling. “Saintia Sho” aimed to expand on this world by focusing on a group of female Saints tasked with protecting the goddess Athena. The concept was intriguing, offering a fresh perspective within the Saint Seiya universe.
However, the execution fell short of expectations. The story often felt disjointed, lacking the depth and coherence seen in the original series. While it introduced new characters and expanded the lore, it struggled to maintain a consistently engaging narrative. Many episodes seemed more like filler, contributing little to the overarching plot.
The pacing was also a concern, with rushed character developments and a lack of adequate world-building. Some important story arcs seemed underdeveloped, leaving viewers longing for more substance. The potential for intricate character relationships and deeper exploration of the Saintias’ struggles wasn’t fully realized.
Despite these drawbacks, “Saintia Sho” did manage to bring in some nostalgic elements from the original series, which provided moments of delight for long-time fans. Nonetheless, the overall storytelling left much to be desired, with a rating of 6/10 reflecting the series’ unfulfilled potential. Check a Saintia Sho manga review here!
Characters (Rating: 5/10)
Saint Seiya is renowned for its memorable characters, each with unique traits, backgrounds, and motivations. The original series built a strong emotional connection between viewers and its protagonists. In contrast, “Saintia Sho” introduced a new cast of Saintias and struggled to develop them effectively.
While the Saintias, especially the main character Shoko, had promising starting points, their character arcs often felt rushed and lacked the depth needed to truly connect with the audience. Viewers were left wanting more insight into the characters’ pasts, motivations, and personal growth.
The antagonists, on the other hand, suffered from one-dimensional portrayals, and their motivations were often unclear. The lack of well-defined villains made it challenging to fully invest in the conflicts that arose throughout the series.
Despite these issues, some original characters from the classic Saint Seiya series made appearances, bringing nostalgia and a sense of continuity to the story. But even these returning characters were not given ample opportunities to shine.
In the end, “Saintia Sho” fell short in terms of character development, with a rating of 5/10, indicating that there was much potential for growth that went untapped. Click here to know the strongest Saint Seiya characters.
Soundtrack (Rating: 6/10)
The soundtrack of a series can significantly impact the overall viewing experience. “Saintia Sho” delivered a mix of new and familiar musical themes, creating a sense of nostalgia while incorporating fresh elements. The opening and ending themes were catchy and memorable, aligning with the energetic spirit of the Saint Seiya franchise.
The background music added an extra layer of emotion to some key moments, enhancing the viewer’s connection to the story. The soundtrack successfully blended the old and new, creating a pleasant auditory experience.
However, there were moments where the soundtrack felt somewhat repetitive, lacking the grandeur and diversity that fans of Saint Seiya had come to expect. While it contributed positively to the overall atmosphere of the series, it didn’t stand out as a particularly exceptional aspect.
In conclusion, the soundtrack of “Saintia Sho” was well-crafted, but it didn’t reach the same heights as the original series, earning a rating of 6/10. Check the best original anime songs here.
Animation (Rating: 4/10)
The animation quality of “Saintia Sho” is a polarizing aspect for fans. While some moments showcased fluid and dynamic battles, other scenes suffered from inconsistent animation quality, especially during non-action sequences. Character designs varied from striking to unpolished, and at times, the animation did not do justice to the original character artwork.
One of the primary concerns among fans was the inconsistent use of 3D animation. While 3D can enhance action sequences, its implementation in “Saintia Sho” was often jarring and disrupted the visual cohesion of the series.
The animation quality was a significant letdown, especially when compared to the high standards set by the original Saint Seiya series. With a rating of 4/10, “Saintia Sho” struggled to maintain a consistent and visually appealing animation style.
To this day, the best animation in Saint Seiya can be seen in the movies, specially from 3 to 5. Check here the canonicity of all Saint Seiya movies.
Is Saint Seiya: Saintia Sho Worth Watching?
Saintia Sho was an ambitious attempt to expand the beloved Saint Seiya universe by focusing on the female Saintias.
Saint Seiya: Saintia Sho fell short in various aspects, including storytelling, character development, and animation quality. While it did provide moments of nostalgia and some enjoyable battles, it failed to capture the magic of the original series. I recommend it only to die-hard fans of the franchise
For dedicated Saint Seiya fans, “Saintia Sho” offered a chance to revisit the world they loved, but it left them yearning for more depth and substance. The series had the potential to be so much more, but it ultimately did not live up to its promise.
While it may appeal to die-hard Saint Seiya enthusiasts, it may leave them with a sense of unfulfilled potential and longing for the grandeur of the original series. Overall: 5/10.
You’re better off with another series, such as The Lost Canvas. Click here and read a complete review of Saint Seiya The Lost Canvas anime.