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I initially avoided the first season of Knights of the Zodiac (Saint Seiya) because I felt the whole concept was unnecessary, and the negative reviews solidified my lack of interest. However, a few weeks ago, I was scrolling through reddit and noticed some positive posts about Season 2, which persuaded me to give it a shot.

Honestly, it's not a bad show at all. Overall, it's probably the best attempt at remaking the original Saint Seiya. However, one thing kept bugging me throughout the remake: I wasn’t feeling as invested in the story or the characters. The show lacked the authenticity and awe that the ... original Saint Seiya consistently delivered, even on rewatching.

One of my favourite episodes of the original series is the Shaka arc (episodes 56–58). I love how Shaka, with his exaggerated sense of superiority and divinity, embodies the show's grandiosity. His powers and backstory, drawn from Tibetan Buddhism (the most esoteric form of Buddhism), intertwine these mystical elements with his character and abilities in a way that feels otherworldly.

To my surprise and delight, the Shaka episodes in Knights of the Zodiac are almost direct adaptations of the original anime (though I apologise if both versions are actually faithful to the manga, which I haven’t read). Since I enjoyed the original so much, I thought this was a good decision, as these episodes didn’t require much alteration.

However, watching these episodes helped me understand what was missing from Knights of the Zodiac.

"Why Knights of the Zodiac Is Good but Lacks Impact"

If I had to describe Saint Seiya in one word, it would be camp.

For those unfamiliar with the term, camp refers to something deliberately exaggerated, theatrical, and extravagantly flamboyant in style.

Saint Seiya never thrived on its plot—most fans would agree on that. What made it stand out was how over-the-top the armour designs, abilities, and lore were. The visuals were exaggerated, flamboyant, and surreal, while the tone was dramatic and theatrical. Every aspect of Saint Seiya—from the opening to the ending, the music, dialogue, references, animation, and composition—was tied together in a way that embraced this camp aesthetic. The result was a cohesive experience that managed to keep viewers invested, even as the story constantly pushed the boundaries of the absurd.

Knights of the Zodiac, however, lacks these elements. Partly, this is due to its CGI animation, which gives it a more sober and "realistic" feel, but the producers' creative choices also play a role.

The original Saint Seiya soundtrack is, frankly, iconic. Like Sailor Moon, Saint Seiya relied heavily on its music to set the tone and amplify the show’s distinctive style. Knights of the Zodiac, like Sailor Moon Crystal, deviates from the original score, opting instead for music and sound effects that, to me, lack the flavour, originality, and style needed to support a show that is, at its core, camp.

Shaka’s episode is an excellent frame of reference here. Compare the opening of each version and how Virgo's house is presented to the Saints (and to us, the viewers) upon entering.

In my opinion, the 80s anime offers a much more dramatic atmosphere. The whimsical, fantastical outdoor setting as the Saints enter Virgo’s house (in contrast to the more generic mountain landscape of Knights of the Zodiac) is elevated by the orchestral strings, which convey a sense of awe and divinity, making it feel as though the Saints are entering a form of "heaven." This ties in beautifully with Shaka's myth of being a "living god." On the other hand, Knights of the Zodiac opts for no music, relying instead on nature sounds and a subtle effect to signal Shaka’s cosmos. The effect is eerie, but it lacks the grandeur of the original.

I also appreciated how the 80s version used a gong sound as the Saints approached Shaka, giving his revelation a campy, almost theatrical vibe, as he is bathed in golden light—a clear nod to his god-like status. In contrast, Knights of the Zodiac depicts Shaka floating on a lotus flower, which, while visually interesting, makes him seem far more ordinary in comparison.

I don’t think the choices made in Knights of the Zodiac are bad, but they reflect a more grounded, sober approach that doesn’t fully capture the tone of Saint Seiya. At its core, Saint Seiya is dramatic and camp. Characters wearing outlandish armour, attacking at the speed of light, creating insane illusions, opening dimensions, and battling gods simply don’t mesh well with a more realistic tone and style. The grounded approach directly contrasts with the story’s inherent absurdity and theatricality.

"Conclusion"

While Knights of the Zodiac does a commendable job as a remake, I think there’s a fundamental misunderstanding of what made the original manga and anime so beloved. My feeling is that, because this remake was created primarily with Western audiences in mind, the producers assumed the camp aesthetic of Saint Seiya wouldn’t appeal to modern Western viewers. While I understand this perspective, it ignores the fact that the original was popular in the West—its failure in English-speaking countries was more due to a poor, censored adaptation, not an issue with the source material itself.

Additionally, Western audiences do appreciate camp, as evidenced by the success of shows like Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and Kill la Kill. The producers seemed to forget that making a show visually, musically, and tonally sober, while keeping the original plot (which relies heavily on drama and theatrics), exposes the weakest aspects of Saint Seiya.

The result is a good show, but one that lacks a distinct visual and musical identity—and, consequently, a show with a weak story that fails to fully engage the audience.