Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas

Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – Myth of Hades
Pegasus Tenma and Alone in the cover of the first volume.
聖闘士星矢 THE LOST CANVAS 冥王神話 (Seinto Seiya: Za Rosuto Kyanbasu – Meiō Shinwa)
Genre	Martial arts, Mythic fiction, Drama
Manga
Written by	Shiori Teshirogi
Published by	Akita Shoten
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Champion
Original run	August 24, 2006 – April 6, 2011
Volumes	25
Manga
Anecdotes
Written by	Shiori Teshirogi
Published by	Akita Shoten
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Champion
Original run	May 19, 2011 – ongoing
Volumes	3
Original video animation
Directed by	Osamu Nabeshima
Written by	Yoshiyuki Suga
Studio	TMS Entertainment
Released	June 2009 – ongoing
Episodes	26

Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – Myth of Hades (聖闘士星矢 THE LOST CANVAS 冥王神話, Seinto Seiya: Za Rosuto Kyanbasu – Meiō Shinwa) is a manga by Japanese author Shiori Teshirogi. It is a spin-off based on the manga series Saint Seiya, which was created, written and illustrated by Japanese author Masami Kurumada. The Lost Canvas was published by Akita Shoten in the Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine since August 24, 2006, concluding after 223 chapters on April 6, 2011, with twenty-five tankōbon released. The story takes place in the 18th century, and focuses on how an orphan known as Tenma becomes one of Athena's 88 warriors known as Saints and finds himself in a war fighting against his best friend Alone who is revealed to be the reincarnation of Athena's biggest enemy, the God Hades.

In June 2009, TMS Entertainment started releasing a series of original video animations based on the manga, and has produced 26 episodes so far. Teshirogi also started releasing a spin-off series from Lost Canvas two months after the series ended. Titled Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – The Myth of Hades – Anecdotes (聖闘士星矢 THE LOST CANVAS 冥王神話 外伝, Seinto Seiya Za Rosuto Kyanbasu – Meiō Shinwa – Gaiden), the spin-off focuses on sidestories related with several Saints before the events of the main series.

Plot

See also: List of Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas characters

This manga tells the story of the previous Holy War, taking place in the 18th century, 250 years before the original series, in the Saint Seiya universe. The story centers on the fight between Tenma, one of the 88 Saints following Athena, and Alone, the reincarnation of the God Hades. While the two were close childhood friends in Italy alongside Alone's sister, Sasha, the trio separated with both Tenma and Sasha being sent to the Sanctuary; while Tenma had the Cosmos, the Saints' energy, awaken, Sasha was revealed to be the reincarnation of Athena. As years passes, everything that Alone paints is destroyed and is convinced that death means salvation by the god Hypnos and his follower Pandora. Alone then gathers Hades' soldiers, the 108 Specters to start a war against Athena.

During the war, the Saints and the Specters face off, including Tenma and Sasha who have to deal with Alone who starts making the "Lost Canvas", a painting of the Earth viewed from space, so that after he finishes it, the entire world will die. With Alone still not being fully controlled by Hades, Pandora, alongside Hypnos and his brother Thanatos lead the Specters. However, as the two Gods are sealed by the former Saints Pope Sage and Altar Hakurei, Alone invites the few remaining Saints to the Demonic Temples located in the Lost Canvas. Once the Saints go through the Temples, it is revealed that Alone is not possessed by Hades and is instead using the god's powers for his own motives. Additionally, Tenma's parents, Mephistopheles Yōma and Owl Partita appear as Specters in the Temples to force their son to transform his protective Pegasus Bronze Cloth into the most powerful armour, God Cloth. With the God Cloth, Tenma and his future reincarnations will be able to fight the Gods and aid Athena in ending all wars.

Following several battles in the Temples, Tenma faces Alone one-on-one with the former managing to defeat the latter, causing the Lost Canvas' destruction. Shortly afterwards, Alone is possessed by Hades who aims to kill Athena. Hades is forced to escape to the last Demonic Temple by the souls from the deceased Saints, and Tenma, Sasha, and Alone decide to follow him. The three manage to defeat Hades but they never return to Earth. The two surviving Saints, Libra Dohko and Aries Shion, then prepare for a possible future war against Hades, with the former leading the Athena's Saints and the latter observing Hades' seal.

Development

Shiori Teshirogi met Masami Kurumada in a public event she once visited during the time she was a new manga author. In such event, Teshirogi sent Kurumada the first manga she made as well as a letter which made Kurumada ask her to write The Lost Canvas. Although she was happy with such proposal due to the fact Saint Seiya has always been her favourite manga, she found troubles writing it since she used to write shōjo and Lost Canvas was meant to be from the genre shōnen. In order to do that, Teshirogi had to change various things from her style such as the narration and getting used to how to draw fights. Before the manga started, Kurumada sent Teshirogi a general version of the manga's story, but as long as the series continued, she started changing some parts after discussing with people from Akita Shoten. Additionally, the characters designs and Cloths were based on the second season from the Saint Seiya anime adaptation (known as Asgard), but she combined them with her own style. When Teshirogi was purposed to start The Lost Canvas she was informed that the series would last a few volumes. However, when the tenth volume was published, she was surprised by the series' length which she found amazing.

In the making of the series, emotions are what Teshirogi pays attention the most when she is drawing which makes remake several of the illustrations she makes. In both Saint Seiya and Lost Canvas, her favorite character is the Pegasus Saint, who has become the one she likes drawing the most. When creating Tenma, Lost Canvas's Pegasus Saint, Teshirogi checked if Tenma's words would be like the ones from Seiya, but she realized that both characters had different personalities. The Cancer, Pisces and Taurus Gold Saints were developed with Teshirogi's idea of what she could do with the ones from the original series. When she received comments that these three Lost Canvas Gold Saints are more interesting than the ones from the original series, she answered that she did not mean to give them any special treatment. The characters' names are created according to their origins and constellation such as Pisces Albafica whose "Alba" was developed when Teshirogi was thinking of roses' names.

Media

Manga

Main article: List of Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas chapters

The Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas chapters were published by Akita Shoten in the Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine since August 24, 2006. The first volume was published on December 12, 2006, and twenty-five tankōbon collecting the work were released.

A short story comprised in 40 pages, or gaiden, titled Saint Seiya THE LOST CANVAS – The Myth of Hades – Yuzuriha Chronicles: The emblem of bloody ink (聖闘士星矢 THE LOST CANVAS 冥王神話 ユズリハ外伝 血墨の紋, Seinto Seiya Za Rosuto Kyanbasu – Meiō Shinwa – Yuzuriha Gaiden: Chizumi no mon) was published on October 16, 2009, in the issues 11 and 12 of Akita Shōten's Princess Gold comics magazine, which is oriented towards a female majority demographic. The story is set in the same continuity of Lost Canvas and further explores the past and motivations of the character Yuzuriha, and her younger brother Tokusa, as well as her perspective of the events surrounding the resurrection of Hades. This episode has yet to be included in a tankōbon compilation.

In the final chapter of The Lost Canvas, a new series of gaiden focusing on the Gold Saints was announced. Titled Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – The Myth of Hades – Anecdotes (聖闘士星矢 THE LOST CANVAS 冥王神話 外伝, Seinto Seiya Za Rosuto Kyanbasu – Meiō Shinwa – Gaiden), the first chapter was published on May 19, 2011.

OVAs

Main article: List of Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas OVA episodes

A series of original video animations (OVAs) series premièred in Japan on June 24, 2009. The production is by TMS Entertainment (Tokyo Movie Shinsha, part of "Sega Sammy Group", the company which will produce the SS Online game). The first season comprises 13 OVAs, each 30 minutes in length, and it covers the manga's first 54 chapters. All the OVA episodes will be released on DVD & Blu-ray. Season 1 ended on April 21 with the release of OVAs 11, 12 & 13. The Second Season premièred on February 23, 2011, adding 13 more OVAs to the series Season 2 ended on July 20 with the release of OVAs 24, 25 & 26.

The original design was unveiled at the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2009. The opening theme is "The Realm of Athena" by EUROX, and the ending theme is "Leash of Flower" (花の鎖, Hana no Kusari), by Maki Ikuno featuring Marina del Ray. The remaining tracks were developed by Kaoru Wada.

Merchandise

The Lost Canvas has spawned a few merchandise items. Two CDs have been released, one with the opening and ending theme songs called "Realm of Athena" and "Hana no Kusari" respectively. The other CD is the soundtrack for the first season which was released on September 25, 2009. Two figures in Bandai's Myth Cloth figure series have been released, which includes Pegasus Tenma and Bennu Kagaho. Other merchandise include a microfiber towel, a pocket mirror and two puzzles.

A CD Drama about one of Athena's Saints, Pisces Albafica has been made. The CD is currently only available to people that have purchased the first pressings of all 6 DVD or Blu-ray volumes of Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas. Only people in Japan are eligible to be sent the CD.

Reception

During its first week, the volume 13 from the manga sold 25,238 copies in Japan.

The anime series has received generally positive reviews by anime critics. It has been praised for it accessible to viewers who have no knowledge of the original Saint Seiya despite being a prequel and at the same time it allows fans from the to view events from a different point of view. While the use of characters was noted to be common within Japanese series in general, the delivery from various of them such as Tenma's and Alone's relationship was noted to be enjoyable. The animation was noted for standing out "beautifully" mostly in fights. Although the attacks performed by the character was found unintentionally funny by UK Anime Network as a result of its names, the notable display of violence made the reviewer wonder whether the show should aimed towards a young audience.

External links

• Shiori Teshirgoi's Blog (Japanese)
• Official OVAs website (Japanese)
• Official OVAs News Blog (Japanese)
• Official Vap website (Japanese)
• Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia