Is the Anime Really Finished?#
Whether Knights of the Zodiac (also known as Saint Seiya) is “finished” depends entirely on which path you take through its massive library of content.
If you follow the original anime trajectory, the story progresses from the initial 1986 series through a series of sequels, culminating in The Hades Chapter - Elysion. However, the franchise is far from dormant. A modern remake path began with the Netflix series Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya (2019) and continued through Battle for Sanctuary Parts 1 and 2, with the latter concluding in June 2024.
For those seeking a definitive conclusion, the anime provides several endings across different timelines, but the broader universe continues to expand. If you only watch the anime, you will miss a vast amount of lore and storytelling found in the source material and spin-off manga, such as Next Dimension and Episode.G. Given that new manga projects are still being launched—including a new Tenkai-hen manga scheduled for May 2026—the overall saga remains very much active.
If you want to dive into the action right now, you can watch the anime on Prime Video.
Themes and Appeal: Who is this for?#
Knights of the Zodiac is a high-stakes blend of action, drama, and the supernatural. The story follows Seiya, a 13-year-old who trains rigorously to earn the title of “knight of Athena.” After obtaining the Pegasus bronze armor, Seiya returns to Japan for the Galactic Tournament, driven by the hope that his lost sister will see him on television.
As the plot evolves, the stakes rise from personal goals to a global struggle. Seiya and his brothers fight to protect humanity from the forces of evil under the guidance of Saori Kido, the reincarnation of Athena. This series is best suited for viewers who enjoy:
- Epic Battles: High-energy combat featuring cosmic armor and supernatural powers.
- Emotional Drama: Strong themes of brotherhood, sacrifice, and the quest to reunite families.
- Mythological Influence: A world built around the protection of a goddess and divine conflicts.
If you love the aesthetic of the series, you can buy official merchandise here to bring the armor into your own collection.
Recommended Watch Orders#
Because of the various remakes, sequels, and spin-offs, the order in which you consume Knights of the Zodiac can change your experience. You can refer to our relationship tree below for a visual map of these connections.
The Release Order#
For those who want to experience the franchise as the world did, start with the original 1986 Saint Seiya series and its subsequent 80s specials (such as Evil Goddess Eris and The Heated Battle of the Gods). Move then into the 2000s era with The Hades Chapter (Sanctuary, Inferno, and Elysion) and Tenkai-hen. Finally, explore the modern era with Saint Seiya Omega (2012), Legend of Sanctuary (2014), Soul of Gold (2015), and the Netflix remake series.
The Recommended Path#
For a streamlined experience, we suggest starting with the original 1986 series to understand the core foundations. Once you have the basics, move into the Hades Chapter sequels to see the primary conflict through to its conclusion. If you prefer modern animation, you can start with the 2019 Netflix remake and follow it through to Battle for Sanctuary Part 2.
The Completionist Order#
Completionists should integrate every anime adaptation available. This includes the main series and Hades sequels, but also the spin-off anime like Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas and Saint Seiya: Saintia Shō.
The Mixed-Media Path (Anime + Manga)#
For those who don’t mind reading, the most comprehensive way to experience the story is to supplement the anime with the manga. Start with the original 1986 manga, then dive into the prequels like Saint Seiya Episode.G and The Lost Canvas. You can also explore contemporary spin-offs like Dark Wing or the recently concluded Kaiō Saiki - Rerise of Poseidon. Buy the manga here to fill in the gaps the anime leaves behind.
Useful Extras#
Keep an eye on the calendar! The Saint Seiya universe is still expanding. Recent news indicates that Saint Seiya Episode.G: Requiem has recently resumed from hiatus, and a new Tenkai-hen manga is launching in May 2026.
Whether you are a lifelong fan or a newcomer, there is always something new to discover in the world of Athena’s knights.
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Knights of the Zodiac • manga • 1986 to 1990 (Shonen Jump Japan 1986 No.1+2 to 1990 No.49)
└─(adaptation)→ Saint Seiya • anime • 1986-10-11 to 1989-04-01
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter - Sanctuary • anime • 2002-11
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya Tenkai-hen • anime • 2004-02-14
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter - Inferno • anime • 2005-12-17 to 2006-02-18
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter - Elysion • anime • 2008-03-07 to 2008-03-20 (episodes 1-2 on Animax PPV)
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya: Evil Goddess Eris • anime • 1987-07-18
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya: Legend of Crimson Youth • anime • 1988-07-23
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya: Warriors of the Final Holy Battle • anime • 1989-03-18
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya: The Heated Battle of the Gods • anime • 1988-03-12
└─(related)→ Saint Seiya Omega • anime • 2012-03-31 (Brazil - Premiere Date)
└─(adaptation)→ Saint Seiya Omega • manga • 2013-03-26 (serialized in Kerokero Ace)
└─(related)→ Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary • anime • 2014-06-11
└─(related)→ Saint Seiya: Soul of Gold • anime • 2015-04-11
└─(remake)→ Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya • anime • 2019-07-19 (Netflix; eps 1-6)
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac - Battle for Sanctuary - • anime • 2022-07-31 to 2022-10-09 (streaming on Crunchyroll)
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac - Battle for Sanctuary - Part 2 • anime • 2024-04-01 to 2024-06-10
└─(prequel)→ Saint Seiya Episode.G • manga • 2002-12-19 to 2013-06-19 (serialized in Champion RED)
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya Episode.G: Assassin • manga • 2014-04-05 (serialized in Champion Red Ichigo)
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya Episode.G: Requiem • manga • 2020-01-28 (serialized in Manga Cross)
└─(prequel)→ Saint Seiya: Next Dimension - The Myth of Hades • manga • 2006-04-27
└─(prequel)→ Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas - Meiō Shinwa • manga • 2006-08-03 to 2006-08-17 (Shonen Champion, 2006 #36/37 - #38)
└─(adaptation)→ Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas • anime • 2009-06-24 to 2010-04-21
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas • anime • 2011-02-23
└─(sequel)→ Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas - Meiō Shinwa Gaiden • manga • 2011-05-19 to 2012-04-26 (Shonen Champion, 2011 #25 - 2012 #22/23)
└─(spinoff)→ Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas - Meiō Shinwa Bangaihen • manga • 2014-12-19 (series of one-shots in Champion RED)
└─(spinoff)→ Saint Seiya: Saintia Shō • manga • 2013-08-19 (serialized in Champion Red)
└─(adaptation)→ Saint Seiya: Saintia Shō • anime • 2018-12-10 to 2019-02-18
└─(spinoff)→ Saint Seiya: Kaiō Saiki - Rerise of Poseidon • manga • 2022-09-16 (serialized in Champion RED)
└─(spinoff)→ Saint Seiya: Dark Wing • manga • 2020-12-19 (serialized in Monthly Champion Red, Feb 2020)
└─(spinoff)→ Saint Mariya • manga • 2025-01-06 (serialized in Princess, Feb 2025)
