Saint Seiya: Legend of Crimson Youth

Athena is deceived and killed by a god named Abel, and her soul goes to the underworld. To bring her back, the Bronze Knights have to fight both Abel's warriors and former friends. Shigeyasu Yamauchi directed. It is the third Saint Seiya feature. This is the longest and most ambitious of the series' theatrical entries; it runs over an hour and the animation is clearly above the television standard. The core of the story is betrayal: characters who were once on the same side facing each other, giving the fights emotional weight. Gold armour and a density of mythological reference dominate the design; the fights are short and built on impact. The series was broadcast in many countries and these films belong to that generation's memory. The story is comprehensible on its own, but no character history is given. Who it is for: viewers who watched Saint Seiya and like eighties anime action. Who it is not for: newcomers to the series; nobody is introduced.