The Heated Battle Of The Gods

Due to the series' high popularity in Japan and the rest of the world, four films based on ''Saint Seiya'' were released in theatres between 1987 and 1989, while the original TV series was still airing. The plots of these films do not comply with the chronology of the manga or anime storylines and therefore it is unknown at what point the events of the films take place. A fifth film named ''Heaven Chapter: Overture'' was released in 2004, originally intended to initiate a continuation of the manga. A sixth film, '' Legend of Sanctuary'', was premiered in 2014.

The first two movies received a theatrical release in France under ''Les Chevaliers du Zodiaque: La Légende de la Pomme d'Or'', and ''La Guerre des Dieux'', where ''Knights of the Zodiac'' was at its prime popularity in that country. These films were never released in the U.S until it was announced by Discotek Media in 2012 that they had acquired the rights to the first four movies in a two disc set. The DVDs contain the original Japanese audio track with English subtitles.

Evil Goddess Eris (1987)

:''Original title: ''Saint Seiya: Gekijōban'' or ''Saint Seiya: Jashin Eris

When Seiya, Hyōga and Shun visit Saori (Athena) at the orphanage, they meet an employee called Eri. An orphan herself, Eri takes a liking to Hyōga and one night they sit outside watching the stars. They see a shooting star and Hyōga asks Eri to make a wish. After Hyōga leaves, however, Eri becomes powerfully attracted to the shooting star and wanders alone into the woods, where she finds a golden apple. She is then possessed by Eris, the Goddess of Discord, and kidnaps Athena, planning to use the golden apple to suck her energy out, fully reincarnate and take over the world. Eris leaves a message for the Bronze Saints, who set out for the goddess's temple which appears on the mountains. There, the heroes fight the five Ghost Saints: Sagitta Maya, Lyra Orpheus, Southern Cross Khristós, Scutum Jan and Orion Jäger.

The Heated Battle of the Gods (1988)

:''Original title: ''Saint Seiya: Kamigami no Atsuki Tatakai

is the second anime film by Toei Animation based on the ''Saint Seiya'' manga. It premiered on March 12, 1988 in the Toei Manga Matsuri film festival along with the movie versions of ''Lady Lady!!'', ''Bikkuriman'' and ''Kamen Rider Black''. The soundtrack was composed by Seiji Yokoyama and released in the Saint Seiya Original Soundtrack IV – The Heated Battle of the Gods CD.

In Siberia, Hyōga saves a man that is being attacked. Injured, the man manages only to say something about Asgard. Some days later, Saori, Seiya, Shiryū and Shun are wondering about Hyōga and decide to go to Asgard to investigate. At Valhalla, the Lord of Asgard, Dolbar, says he has not heard of any Hyōga and neither has his right hand, Loki. However, at all times Seiya and the others can feel an evil cosmo emanating from Loki and the other Odin Saints called God Warriors. Shiryū, in particular, notices a familiar cosmo coming from Midgard, a mysterious, masked God Warrior. Dolbar makes it clear that he is trying to take control of both Asgard and the Sanctuary, imprisoning Athena in a strange dimension within the giant statue of Odin. Midgard reveals himself as Hyōga and tries to kill Shiryū to prove himself to Dolbar. Thus, it is the task of the Bronze Saints to defeat Dolbar, Loki and the rest of the God Warriors, to save Athena and Hyōga.

Due to this film's popularity, Toei Animation created the Asgard saga for the anime, which did not originally appear in the manga and is set between the Sanctuary and Poseidon arcs of the story.

Legend of Crimson Youth (1988)

:''Original title: ''Saint Seiya: Shinku no Shōnen Densetsu

is the third anime film by Toei Animation based on the ''Saint Seiya'' manga. Unlike its predecessors, which premiered on the Toei Manga Matsuri film festivals, this installment was instead shown at the ''Weekly Jump'' 20th Anniversary Festival along with the animated movie version of '' Sakigake!! Otokojuku''.

Athena receives the visit of Phoebus Abel, her older brother and God of the Corona. He informs her that he has come to destroy humanity as punishment for their corruption, just as it was done in ancient times. He dismisses Seiya and the Bronze Saints, as she will now be guarded by Abel's three Corona Saints, Atlas of Carina, Jaō of Lynx and Berenice of Coma Berenices, and the five resurrected Gold Saints who died in the Sanctuary battle: Saga of Gemini, Deathmask of Cancer, Shura of Capricorn, Camus of Aquarius and Aphrodite of Pisces. When Athena rebels against Abel's plan, he attacks her, sending her soul to Elysion, the final resting place from which there is no return. The Bronze Saints immediately rush to the Sanctuary to save her and ultimately overcome Abel.

Unlike the other ''Saint Seiya'' movies made in the 1980s, this one was a full featured film, having a running time of 75 minutes. The events occur sometime after the Poseidon saga and before the Fallen Angels saga (4th movie).

Warriors of the Final Holy Battle (1989)

:Original title: ''Saint Seiya: Saishū Seisen no Senshitachi'' ( 聖闘士星矢 最終聖戦の戦士たち)
The plot involves the coming of Lucifer to the Sanctuary, where his underlings systematically dispose of the surviving Gold Saints. Athena goes to Lucifer to ask for peace, placing herself in peril. The Bronze Saints must then come to her rescue, destroying Lucifer's Fallen Angels (''Seima Tenshi'' in Japanese) in the process.

The soundtrack was composed by Seiji Yokoyama and released in the Saint Seiya Original Soundtrack VIII – Warriors of the Final Holy Battle CD.

Heaven Chapter: Overture (2004)

:''Original title: ''Saint Seiya: Tenkaihen Josō Overture

After the success of the OVA series ''Hades - Chapter Sanctuary'', this movie served as a continuation to the Hades saga. Injured after his confrontation with Hades, Seiya is in a wheelchair and vegetative state under Saori's care. The Goddess Artemis, Saori's older sister, comes to Earth and strikes a bargain with her. In return for restoring Seiya's mind and body, she will take control over Sanctuary. Now Seiya and his fellow Bronze saints must fight Zeus and his Angels to restore their homeland. Hoping that it may bring peace on Earth, Saori goes to the Sanctuary and starts spilling her blood. Upon invading the Sanctuary, the Bronze Saints learn that Athena was banished by Artemis and decide to fight the moon goddess in order to rescue their true goddess and free the Earth from Artemis's ominous control.

The movie focuses mostly on Seiya and Athena, as the other Bronze Saints are not seen as much; they only appear during their respective fights with the other Angels, and briefly towards the end. However, Eagle Marin also appears, as Ophiuchus Shaina, Unicorn Jabu, and Hydra Ichi do, though the latter three are just cameos.

The movie also has a very ambiguous ending, with many plot points and danglers unresolved with rushed out spott animation. Also many cut from it original script such as Seiya's cloth early in the film, Seika’s appeared and crucial important role was outmitted, two more angels opponent for other Saint to fight, world building of content even rewritten that the Libra Cloth box was supposed to be in the film at one time.

Legend of Sanctuary (2014)

Live-action film (2023)

A live-action film was announced at Comic Con Brazil 2016. On September
21, 2021, ''The Hollywood Reporter'' reported that Tomasz Baginski will direct the live action film, Josh Campbell and Matt Stuecken will write the film and Andy Cheng will be the stunt coordinator and fight coordinator for the that will star Mackenyu as Seiya, Madison Iseman as Sienna, Sean Bean as Alman Kiddo and Diego Tinoco as a man hired to kill the vulnerable goddess. Famke Janssen, Nick Stahl and Mark Dacascos are also cast in the film. Filming will take place in Hungary and Croatia. The film will be released in 2023.

References

{{Toei Animation films 2000s

Films
2004 anime films
Saint Seiya
Japanese animated fantasy films
Discotek Media
Saint Seiya
Lists of films based on manga