I figured I post this here since I just found out about it...
Saint Seiya Omega
| Saint Seiya Omega | |
 The logo for Saint Seiya Omega |
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| 聖闘士星矢Ω (Seinto Seiya Omega) |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Martial arts, Mythic fiction, Drama |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Morio Hatano |
| Produced by | Tomoharu Matsuhisa, Gō Wakabayashi |
| Written by | Reiko Yoshida |
| Music by | Toshihiko Sahashi |
| Studio | Toei Animation |
| Network | TV Asahi |
| Original run | April 1, 2012 – ongoing |
| Episodes | 60+ |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Reiko Yoshida |
| Illustrated by | Keiichi Ichikawa |
| Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Magazine | Kerokero Ace |
| Original run | March 26, 2013 – ongoing |
Saint Seiya Omega (聖闘士星矢Ω（セイントセイヤオメガ） Seinto Seiya Omega, stylized as Saint Seiya Ω) is an anime series produced by Toei Animation. It is a spin-off based on the Saint Seiya manga series written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada, produced in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the franchise.[1] The series began broadcasting in Japan on TV Asahi on April 1, 2012. It is being directed by Morio Hatano (his debut as series director), with animation character designs by illustrator and animator Yoshihiko Umakoshi, known for performing the same duties on Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation, HeartCatch PreCure! and Casshern Sins.[1]
Toei Animation describes it as an "original anime story", separate from the continuity of Kurumada's manga.[1] Original Saint Seiya author Kurumada is not involved in the creative process of Omega, thus he is credited as the original creator of the series' concept.[2]
Omega was renewed for a second season, which started airing in April 7, 2013.[3]
Contents |
Series premise
The storyline of Omega takes place 25 years after the Holy Wars of the 20th century narrated in the original manga and its anime adaptation. The goddess Athena is still on Earth after reincarnating to continue her duty of protecting peace against several antagonistic deities. Athena and a new generation of Saints prepare to face new threats that lurks in this new era, in which Pegasus Seiya, the protagonist of Kurumada's manga, is revered as a Saint of legend.
Conception
The creative staff, including character designer Umakoshi and head writer Reiko Yoshida, previously worked under flagship Saint Seiya director Shigeyasu Yamauchi, either on the original Saint Seiya anime adaptation (director Morio Hatano was assistant director of its fifth film), or on his other works, such as Mushiking: Mori no Tami no Densetsu and Casshern Sins. They referred to Yamauchi as a strong influence in interviews.[4]
Characters
As an installment separate from Kurumada's work, the series will introduce characters new to the Saint Seiya fictional universe, that will make use of elements already established within it.[5] Some of them, such as the deities, exist in the original manga. Additionally, known elements from Saint Seiya, such as the Cloths, the armors worn by the Saints, bear their known constellations, but are presented in Omega with a new design that differs substantially from those in the original source material, and departing from it, the Cloths emerge out of jewels worn by the characters to envelop their bodies, which are known in Omega as ClothStones (クロストーン Kurosutōn).
The Cosmo essence, one of the basic concepts of Saint Seiya, is expanded in Omega with the addition of specific elemental properties: Fire (火 Hi), Wind (風 Kaze), Thunder (雷 Kaminari), Earth (土 Tsuchi), Water (水 Mizu), Darkness (闇 Yami) and Light (光 Hikari).
In the second season, the Cloths worn by the main characters are upgraded, sporting a new design much more reminiscent of Kurumada's original designs, and are stored in special boxes like in the original continuity.
Episode list
Reception
TV Asahi published recently in its main website that Saint Seiya Omega ranked third in the list of the ten most accessed series-dedicated websites.
Music
The opening theme song for the anime is called "Pegasus Fantasy ver.Ω" (ペガサス幻想(ファンタジー) ver. Ω Pegasasu Fantajī ver. Omega) performed by MAKE-UP featuring Shoko Nakagawa. Toshihiko Sahashi is the composer of the anime and it also has an official soundtrack that includes twenty-eight songs from the show including the opening theme and was released on August 22, 2012. Beginning episode 28, a new theme song was introduced; titled "Next Generation" (新星Ω神話（ネクストジェネレーション） Nekusuto Jenerēshon) and performed by Root Five (√５（ルート・ファイブ） Rūto Faibu).
A new opening song will be used from the start of the second season, titled "Saint Evolution" (未来聖闘士Ω（セイントエボリューション） Seinto Eboryūshon) and it will be performed by Nagareda Project (流田Project Nagareda Purojekuto).
Manga adaptation
It has been announced that the Omega animated series will be adapted to manga form, and it started serialization on March 26, 2013, in Kadokawa Shoten's Kerokero Ace magazine. The comic book will contain the arcs of the first season and it will also adapt the second season.[6]
Related merchandise
Bandai has announced the release of a videogame titled Saint Seiya Omega - Ultimate Cosmo. The release has been officially set for November 29, 2012.[7] Additionally, the release of a set of chibi PVC figures portraying the Bronze Saints, has been announced. A line of articulated figures by Bandai under the name S.H.Figuarts has also been announced, with Pegasus Kōga as the first character to be released.
Also from Bandai, a set of playing cards titled Saint Seiya Omega, for their Crusade Card System series has been announced for a June 2012 release[8]
Additionally, the first release of Saint Seiya Omega on DVD and Blu-ray disc was set for August 24, 2012. Each volume will include four episodes.[9]
More related merchandise has been revealed in Toei Animation's website for Omega, including t-shirts and a set of character badges, also, a lottery card game titled Sacred Lottery, for an upcoming release.[10]
Also, a CD single containing the theme song for Omega has been released, containing two songs, "Pegasus Fantasy ver. Ω" and "Get the Future", both in normal and karaoke versions.
