The Knights of the Zodiac: the differences between movies, anime and manga

Though it won sequels and spin off over the years it was the first Knights of the Zodiac animated series to gain more popularity and gain more fans. With the release of a live-action movie in theaters, some people may be wondering what the differences are between the movie and the Knights of the Zodiac cartoon. Therefore, we will address the main points of divergence between the two works.

Simplified mythology and fewer knights (at least, for now)

The Knights of the Zodiac design, originally shown in Japan between 1986 and 1989, was a remarkably faithful adaptation of the manga created by Massami Kurumada. The story accompanies an orphan, Seiya, who discovers that he possesses a force of cosmic origin called Cosmos and that his destiny is to be one of the guardians of the goddess Athena, embodied in a girl named Saori.

Besides him, other young people are predestined for this role, such as the Knights of Athena. It is up to them, together with the goddess, to avoid any kind of threat to the planet. There are 88 warriors in total. The anime already presents this mythology in the first episodes, also revealing the existence of many of these knights, such as the 12 of gold (each linked to a zodiac sign).

For its part, the film only skims the surface of this mythology. One of the examples of this is that not all five leads appear in the film. Only Seiya and Ikki are in the live-action. So, no Shun, Shiryu, Hyoga or any mention of them. There are likely plans to feature them in any sequels.

A different Mitsuma Kido

In the cartoon Knights of the Zodiac, one of the central figures was Mitsumasa Kido, a businessman who brings together several children around the world in order to awaken the Cosmos in them. The one who has adopted Saori, the incarnation of the goddess Athena, and uses his wealth to go in search of the knights.

Perhaps to have a more universal cast, the film makes changes to the ethnicity of the character, who takes a western name, Alman Kido, and is played by the Englishman Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings). In the cartoon, Mitsumasa is Saori’s adoptive grandfather, while in the film he acts as a stepfather.

In the animated version he organizes fighting tournaments which are intended to identify potential knights. In the feature film the businessman is not directly involved in these contests, but ends up discovering Seiya just as he watches a fight.

No Sanctuary Saga (for now)

The first saga of Knights of the Zodiac is among the most remembered (and loved) by the public. In this initial moment, we witness the clashes of the knight candidates who compete for the armour. And the Sanctuary Saga reaches its peak during the Battle of the Twelve Houses, when Seiya and his friends face the Golden Saints to save Athena’s life.

If it’s adapted for theaters, the Sanctuary Saga should only develop closer to the original in any sequels. Will we have the dramatic moments of this clash between the bronze knights and the golden knights? Also because the live-action makes no direct mention of the Sanctuary. To be seen.

More like reboot

The latest animation of Knights of the Zodiac, the first season of which was released exclusively on Netflix in 2019, reintroduces the characters to the new generations. The series, which is now being shown by Crunchyroll, in addition to bringing the plot to the present day, makes some changes.

One of the changes, which also appears in the film, is the creation of the villain Guraad, who wants to defeat the gods and dominate the planet. However, the film also makes some changes. In the live-action Guraad is a woman, played by Famke Janssen. Also, she is Alman Kido’s ex-wife.

Thus, in the actor film, Guraad not only turns against the knights, but also against his adopted daughter, Saori.

The post Knights of the Zodiac: the differences between movies, anime and manga appeared first on Olhar Digital.

Source: Olhar Digital

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.