Saint Seiya: Les Chevaliers du Zodiaque

Oh boy, what to say? I wish I could point out positive and negative things on the new series, but the truth is that there's no positives.

-There's no improvement over the original series plotwise, but the the netflix series compresses so much in only 6 episodes, that the characters end up being shallow, and a lot of character development of the original series is left out. -The new cloth design is a joke compared to the V1 the characters should be wearing (and don't get me started on the dog tags). -The quality of the animation is terrible. CG needs to be much more dark and grittier to look good on a show like this; This was obviosly made for children and not for the fans of the original series. -The comic relief of the show isn't actually funny. -What's up with the ridiculous name changes on the translation from japanese?

Dumb, sanitized, Americanized, likely homophobic take on Saint Seiya. They should have not called it Saint Seiya if they only want to borrow the design characters and some scenes off the manga but getting the whole world view wrong or Americanized.

As if characters can't be grey, KotZ (not going to call it Saint Seiya) split Mitsumasa Kido into two characters, one good while another evil. The evil one is a military guy who doesn't believe in superstitions but want to use technology to take the power of the gods. ....wait, is this guy supposed to represent America? The theme of science/technology/rationality vs gods/magic/supernatural is to me clearly American. And even here it got Saint Seiya wrong: where as Cosmo in Saint Seiya is natural power that exists in every being, now Cosmo seems to be a supernatural power. Freak of nature. Unnatural. Totally different philosophy than original StS.

Also, they changed an iconic feminine, stereotype-breaking male character into a stereotypical token female character. Is it to avoid showing tender moments between two men like between Hyouga and Shun later? Or is it because the writer only understands stereotypes and can't accept a feminine male character who wears pink?

Me, as a huge, huge, huge fan (because its my favorite serial of all time and I have something very deep with this from my childhood). Right now I am a filmmaker and a screenwriter for almost 20 years and I have to say this. The problem with this new version its the complete lack of understanding of MELODRAMA. Yes, the way Knights of the Zodiac works is MELODRAMA. It is a like a MEXICAN TELENOVELA (if you hire a mexican producer of Televisa of the 90´s. This would be a masterpiece). Yes I know the story you are making its the same as it was in the 90´s but without all the elements of MELODRAMA that generates emotions in people (where are those super extreme close-ups? the elements of secrecy? the elements of anticipation? surprise? building tension moment by moment with revelations? They dont have to be even credible (because it is not realism or naturalism, it is a MELODRAMA). In every single chapter characters cry (until they dont have any more water in their body), they fight for friendship for the ones they love even if they have to spill the last drop of blood in their body and they dont care to die and suffer so much pain (that why its extremely bloody "but it has a reason that works" Knights of the Zodiac are MESIANIC HEROES "they die to save the other like Jesus Christ"). There is no series that have made me cry more than Knights of the Zodiac. Mix MELODRAMA (which is the exaggeration of reality in order to produce emotions) with a deep understanding of friendship (to die for them "EXAGERATION, EXAGERATION, EXAGERATION!!!"). In Knights of the Zodiac fights are very short (they are just a climax), they take a lot of time building anticipation. Knights of the Zodiac are extremely sad, and characters (that you love) they die and you cry for them!!!!!. But at the same time they give you hope and they make you want to be the best friend in the world. I am sorry, but without the elements of Melodrama, the serial wont work. Another comment, the music is horrible, it doesnt generate anything (but I am not going to talk about it because I am not an expert), but Knights of the Zodiac had an amazingly excellent soundtrack. Well, lets see what happens in the next episodes.

Worst. dialogue. ever.

My wife loved the original. But we couldn't even get through episode 2. They literally narrate everything they do, including describing the gestures their own hands are making as they make them. It's so on the nose, literal and leaves nothing to the imagination.

For example, a snippet of conversation during battle with a bad guy:

"I think I'm stronger, faster and smarter than you. That is why I will am continuing to fight you. Oh no, you are using your hands to make an 8 pointed star in a power attack. Oh no, I must get out of the way. Don't go near your attack. I do not believe what you are saying. Oh no, what you just said is true and I believe it now"

It's not unwatchable, just Americanized. Bad dialogue and corny. It's enjoyable but don't expect the original. I personally preferred the 3D animation of the last movie.