1st TV anime for mythical fantasy in quarter century to feature a new generation

Toei Animation announced on Tuesday that the mythical fantasy anime Saint Seiya will return to television for the first time in about a quarter century with a new series, Saint Seiya Omega , on April 1. Saint Seiya Omega will have an original adventure action story with a new generation of characters, led by the protagonist Kōga. Like the heroes in the previous stories, the new characters will don the Holy Cloth armor.

Kōga is a 13-year-old boy who assumed the role of the Saint of the Pegasus constellation. His undefeatable spirit and rebellious nature are strong, as is his single-minded determination. Saori Kido (the goddess Athena) also appears as the protector of peace and all living things — and the woman who raised Kōga like a parent. Mars kidnaps Athena to establish a new world order, and Kōga stands up against Mars.

Other characters who appear include:

Yuna, the heroine and Bronze Saint of the eagle constellation Aquila

Sōma, Kōga's close friend and Bronze Saint of the lion constellation Lionet

Ryūhō, Kōga's younger brother and Bronze Saint of the dragon constellation Draco

Eden, the enigmatic Bronze Saint of the constellation Orion

Haruto, Bronze Saint of the wolf constellation

In the first episode, Athena sees the sleeping baby Kōga at the Sanctuary where the 12 Constellations can be seen. However, a looming darkness rises, and it topples a pillar right over Kōga. Fortunately, the Gold Saint Seiya appears and saves Kōga from certain death. Then, the malevolent enemy Mars appears, dressed in a cloak.

Morio Hatano, an episode director on Heartcatch Precure! and Kaidan Restaurant, is the series director, and Yoshihiko Umakoshi (Air Master, Berserk, Boys Over Flowers, Casshern Sins, Heartcatch Precure!, Mushi-Shi) is designing the characters and overseeing the animation process. Reiko Yoshida (Bakuman., D.Gray-man, K-ON!, The Story of Saiunkoku) is in charge of the scripts.

Source: Oricon, Mainchi Shimbun's Mantan Web

Image © Masami Kurumada/Toei Animation, TV Asahi, Dentsu

Update: More information added. Viz Media published the 28th Saint Seiya manga volume in North America in 2010, and ADV Films and DiC Entertainment released the Saint Seiya anime in North America. The Saint Seiya video anime spinoff, Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas - Meiō Shinwa, launched its second season last year. The media-distribution website Crunchyroll streamed both seasons of Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas - Meiō Shinwa in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

Update 2: Lionet's name corrected. Thanks, mangaka-chan.