The official website of Akita Shoten 's Champion RED magazine revealed on Thursday that an anime adaptation of Chimaki Kuori 's Saint Seiya: Saintia Shō spinoff manga has been green-lit. The website does not reveal the anime's format (such as film, television, video anime, or net anime,)

Champion RED teased last month that it will have an important announcement for the Saint Seiya franchise .

The manga is set immediately after the main storyline's Sanctuary arc after the defeat of Gemini Saga from Masami Kurumada 's original Saint Seiya manga, but before the Posieidon arc. However, whereas the original manga followed a boy named Seiya and other Saints who fight to protect the goddess Athena, the new series follows a female "Saintia" named Shō who fights evil deities to protect Athena.

The manga launched in Champion RED magazine in 2013. Akita Shoten published the manga's eighth compiled book volume (seen right) on June 8, and will publish the ninth on December 20.

Kuori's previous works include Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny: The Edge , Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny: The Edge Desire , and the manga adaptations of the Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack film and the Sengoku Basara games.

Update: Corrected story timeline. Thanks Lord Geo!