# Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya (聖闘士星矢: Knights of the Zodiac)
**Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya** (聖闘士星矢: Knights of the Zodiac) is a Japanese CGI anime series that remakes the 1986 *Saint Seiya* television anime for a global audience. Produced by [Toei Animation](https://www.edgepedia.org/toei-animation) as a Netflix original, it follows the young warrior Seiya and his fellow Knights of the Zodiac as they protect the reincarnated Greek goddess [Athena](https://www.edgepedia.org/athena) from Olympian gods bent on destroying humankind.[1](https://www.toei-animation.com/saint-seiya-knights-of-the-zodiac-on-netflix/) • [2](https://toei-animation-usa.com/newsAdmin/knights-of-the-zodiac-saint-seiya-to-be-released-on-netflix-original-58.html) The first season premiered on Netflix on July 19, 2019, and the series later continued on [Crunchyroll](https://www.edgepedia.org/crunchyroll) under the title *Battle for Sanctuary*.[1](https://www.toei-animation.com/saint-seiya-knights-of-the-zodiac-on-netflix/) • [3](https://corp.toei-anim.co.jp/en/press/press3640146825760962351.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Basis | CGI remake of *Saint Seiya*, Masami Kurumada's manga serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1986 to 1991[2](https://toei-animation-usa.com/newsAdmin/knights-of-the-zodiac-saint-seiya-to-be-released-on-netflix-original-58.html) • [4](https://aitias.uanl.mx/index.php/a/article/download/97/87) |
| Season 1 | 12 episodes of about 30 minutes each; the first 6 were available on Netflix from July 19, 2019[1](https://www.toei-animation.com/saint-seiya-knights-of-the-zodiac-on-netflix/) |
| Key staff | Director Yoshiharu Ashino; story editor and head writer Eugene Son; character design Terumi Nishii; armor design Takashi Okazaki[2](https://toei-animation-usa.com/newsAdmin/knights-of-the-zodiac-saint-seiya-to-be-released-on-netflix-original-58.html) |
| Later seasons | Season 2, *Battle for Sanctuary*, streamed on Crunchyroll in over 200 countries and territories excluding Japan and Mainland China, and on iQIYI in Mainland China[3](https://corp.toei-anim.co.jp/en/press/press3640146825760962351.html) |
| Run | 3 seasons, 36 episodes, first aired July 19, 2019, last aired June 10, 2024[5](https://latestnetflix.com/series/90855) |
| English cast | Bryson Baugus (Seiya), Emily Neves (Saori), Blake Shepard (Shiryu), with Sentai Filmworks' Sentai Studios producing the dub[5](https://latestnetflix.com/series/90855) |
| Reception | Season 1 scored 20% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer from 5 reviews[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/saint_seiya_knights_of_the_zodiac) |
## Spoilers
### Premise and changes from the original
The series follows the modern-day adventures of young warriors called Knights, sworn protectors of the reincarnated Greek goddess Athena. Each Knight wears a powerful armor based on a chosen zodiac constellation, and together they aid Athena in her battle against powerful Olympian gods who seek to destroy humankind.[2](https://toei-animation-usa.com/newsAdmin/knights-of-the-zodiac-saint-seiya-to-be-released-on-netflix-original-58.html) In the second season's story, Athena has been born under a dark prophecy that she will lose the war against Poseidon and Hades and lead mankind to ruin; after a god-killer arrow strikes her heart, Seiya must ascend the Sanctuary and defeat twelve legendary Gold Knights within twelve hours to save her life.[3](https://corp.toei-anim.co.jp/en/press/press3640146825760962351.html)
The remake departs from the source material in setting and casting. It is set in the present day rather than the late 1980s, and the English-language cast lists renamed characters, including Andromeda Shaun and Seiya's sister Patricia, whom he searches for at the start of the story.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/knights_of_the_zodiac_saint_seiya/s01) • [8](https://www.thereviewgeek.com/saintseiya-knightsofthezodiac-s1review/) Reviewers noted that the first season adapts the original's opening arcs, including the Galaxian Wars tournament and the Black Knights, at a much faster pace, with episodes that jump ahead without much explanation.[8](https://www.thereviewgeek.com/saintseiya-knightsofthezodiac-s1review/) • [9](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/knights-of-the-zodiac-saint-seiya)
## Production
Toei Animation announced the project in December 2018, describing it as a worldwide comeback for the 1986 action series, produced in CGI with 12 episodes of approximately 30 minutes each.[1](https://www.toei-animation.com/saint-seiya-knights-of-the-zodiac-on-netflix/) • [10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNA4E3AuGIk) The production team combined Japanese and Hollywood talent: director Yoshiharu Ashino (*D.Gray-man Hallow*), story editor and head writer Eugene Son (*Duel Masters*), character designer Terumi Nishii (*[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure](https://www.edgepedia.org/jojos-bizarre-adventure-tv-series): Diamond Is Unbreakable*), and armor designer Takashi Okazaki (*[Afro Samurai](https://www.edgepedia.org/afro-samurai)*).[2](https://toei-animation-usa.com/newsAdmin/knights-of-the-zodiac-saint-seiya-to-be-released-on-netflix-original-58.html) The series was produced with Toei Animation and released jointly by Netflix and Toei Animation worldwide.[11](https://sola-ent.com/works/knights-of-the-zodiac-saint-seiya-animation/)
A production interview explains that the visual style was deliberately chosen for international audiences: because English dialogue paired with a Japanese cel-style look would feel incongruous, the team adopted a 3D look common in North America, while aiming to evoke the atmosphere of the original manga and of the 1986 character designs by Shingo Araki and Masami Kurumada.[12](https://cgworld.jp/feature/202003-cgw259hsseiya.html)
## Release and seasons
The first season launched on Netflix on July 19, 2019, with the first six episodes available that day.[1](https://www.toei-animation.com/saint-seiya-knights-of-the-zodiac-on-netflix/) Toei's investor materials describe it as a Netflix original series that began worldwide distribution from that date.[13](https://corp.toei-anim.co.jp/en/ir/library/result/main/01/teaserItems1/07/linkList/0/link/202003_1Q_presen_e.pdf)
The second season, *Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac - Battle for Sanctuary*, moved from Netflix to Crunchyroll, which carried it in over 200 countries and territories excluding Japan and Mainland China, with iQIYI streaming it in Mainland China; the international release was set for summer 2022.[3](https://corp.toei-anim.co.jp/en/press/press3640146825760962351.html) Toei's 2023 investor presentation confirmed that broadcasting of a new season of the full 3D CG animation broadcast in 2019 had been determined.[14](https://corp.toei-anim.co.jp/en/ir/library/result/main/0/teaserItems1/0111/linkList/0/link/202303_1Q_presen_e.pdf) A third season followed, and the series ended with episode 36, "To Save Athena!", on June 10, 2024.[5](https://latestnetflix.com/series/90855) As of late 2026 the show streams on Netflix and Crunchyroll in the United States.[15](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/saint-seiya-knights-of-the-zodiac-2019)
## Reception
Critical reception of the first season was negative. Rotten Tomatoes recorded a 20% Tomatometer average from five reviews and a 50% Popcornmeter score from more than 250 audience ratings.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/saint_seiya_knights_of_the_zodiac) Reviewers criticized the rushed pacing and weak sense of stakes: Common Sense Media called the remake faster-paced but jarring, with episodes that jump ahead years at a time, while praising the fluid fight animation, and Ready Steady Cut wrote that poorly timed one-liners dulled the sense of what was at stake.[9](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/knights-of-the-zodiac-saint-seiya) • [16](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/saint_seiya_knights_of_the_zodiac/s01) The Review Geek found that the CGI remake brought back the characters and ideas but lacked the depth and heart of the original 2D series.[8](https://www.thereviewgeek.com/saintseiya-knightsofthezodiac-s1review/)
## Context in the franchise
The remake belongs to a franchise of unusual scale. The original manga reached a total circulation of over 35 million copies, and Toei Animation had produced more than 250 television episodes and six theatrical films broadcast or released in more than 80 countries and regions before the remake premiered.[17](https://media.netflix.com/ja/only-on-netflix/80186926) The 1986 anime itself ran 114 episodes of 30 minutes, and the franchise as a whole spans 9 sagas and 277 episodes, with particular success in Europe in the 1980s and a strong following in Latin America.[18](https://www.toei-animation.com/catalog/saint-seiya/) • [19](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-05-12/knights-of-the-zodiac-masami-kurumada-saint-seiya-manga)
A separate live-action film, *Knights of the Zodiac*, reached theaters in 2023, directed by Tomasz Bagiński and starring Mackenyu as Seiya alongside [Sean Bean](https://www.edgepedia.org/sean-bean), Famke Janssen, and [Madison Iseman](https://www.edgepedia.org/madison-iseman).[19](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-05-12/knights-of-the-zodiac-masami-kurumada-saint-seiya-manga) • [20](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/knights-of-the-zodiac/critic-reviews/) Made on a budget of 60 million USD, it grossed only about 7 million USD globally and received poor reviews, with ratings not exceeding 40% on major review platforms.[21](https://ejournal.upbatam.ac.id/index.php/basis/article/download/8722/3938) Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 20% Tomatometer from 25 reviews, with its critics consensus stating that impressive visuals are not enough to cover for the film's threadbare plot.[22](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/knights_of_the_zodiac)
## References
1. [SAINT SEIYA KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC ON NETFLIX, Toei Animation (June 15, 2019)](https://www.toei-animation.com/saint-seiya-knights-of-the-zodiac-on-netflix/)
2. [Knights of the Zodiac: SAINT SEIYA to be released on Netflix Original, Toei Animation USA](https://toei-animation-usa.com/newsAdmin/knights-of-the-zodiac-saint-seiya-to-be-released-on-netflix-original-58.html)
3. [This summer, Crunchyroll and iQIYI are bringing the new seasons of Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac, Toei Animation press release](https://corp.toei-anim.co.jp/en/press/press3640146825760962351.html)
4. [Religious Cosmogonies in Japanese Anime, Aitia (UANL)](https://aitias.uanl.mx/index.php/a/article/download/97/87)
5. [SAINT SEIYA: Knights of the Zodiac (2019), Latest Netflix](https://latestnetflix.com/series/90855)
6. [Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/saint_seiya_knights_of_the_zodiac)
7. [Season 1 – Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/knights_of_the_zodiac_saint_seiya/s01)
8. [Saint Seiya: Knights Of The Zodiac – Netflix Season 1 Review, The Review Geek](https://www.thereviewgeek.com/saintseiya-knightsofthezodiac-s1review/)
9. [Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya – Parents' Guide & TV Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/knights-of-the-zodiac-saint-seiya)
10. [Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix, YouTube (December 8, 2018)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNA4E3AuGIk)
11. [Knights of the Zodiac Saint Seiya Animation, SOLA Entertainment](https://sola-ent.com/works/knights-of-the-zodiac-saint-seiya-animation/)
12. [欧米文化を織り交ぜて現代にアレンジ『聖闘士星矢: Knights of the Zodiac』, CGWORLD (March 2020)](https://cgworld.jp/feature/202003-cgw259hsseiya.html)
13. [Toei Animation investor presentation, March 2020 period](https://corp.toei-anim.co.jp/en/ir/library/result/main/01/teaserItems1/07/linkList/0/link/202003_1Q_presen_e.pdf)
14. [Toei Animation investor presentation, 2023 period](https://corp.toei-anim.co.jp/en/ir/library/result/main/0/teaserItems1/0111/linkList/0/link/202303_1Q_presen_e.pdf)
15. [SAINT SEIYA: Knights of the Zodiac – streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/saint-seiya-knights-of-the-zodiac-2019)
16. [Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac: Season 1, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/saint_seiya_knights_of_the_zodiac/s01)
17. [SAINT SEIYA: Knights of the Zodiac, Netflix Media Center](https://media.netflix.com/ja/only-on-netflix/80186926)
18. [Saint Seiya catalog page, Toei Animation](https://www.toei-animation.com/catalog/saint-seiya/)
19. ['Knights of the Zodiac' review: Lost in translation, Los Angeles Times (May 12, 2023)](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-05-12/knights-of-the-zodiac-masami-kurumada-saint-seiya-manga)
20. [Knights of the Zodiac critic reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/knights-of-the-zodiac/critic-reviews/)
21. [Vol. 11 No. 2 October 2024, E-Journal Upbatam](https://ejournal.upbatam.ac.id/index.php/basis/article/download/8722/3938)
22. [Knights of the Zodiac, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/knights_of_the_zodiac)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Anime and manga › Anime series, episodes, and franchises › OVAs, ONAs, and streaming-original anime*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license