Pegasus Seiya
Encyclopedia
, also known as Seiya, is a fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...

 from the Saint Seiya
Saint Seiya
, also known as Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac or simply Knights of the Zodiac, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada and serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1986 to 1991, and adapted into an anime TV series by Toei Animation from 1986 to 1989.The story follows...

universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....

 created by Masami Kurumada
Masami Kurumada
is a Japanese manga artist and writer, known for specializing in fighting manga featuring bishōnen and/or mahō shōnen. He is famous as the creator/author of popular manga, such as Ring ni Kakero, Fūma no Kojirō, Saint Seiya and B't X. His male protagonists are a reflection of the classical and...

 as the main protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...

 of the media franchise
Media franchise
A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...

, which originated in the eponymous manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

 written and illustrated by Kurumada, later adapted to anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

, and subsequently inspiring soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...

s, OVAs
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...

, movies
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...

, video games, and other collectible
Collectible
A collectable or collectible is any object regarded as being of value or interest to a collector . There are numerous types of collectables and terms to denote those types. An antique is a collectable that is old...

s. Like most protagonists of Kurumada's works, his design for Seiya was inspired in the main character of his previous hit manga Ring ni Kakero
Ring ni Kakero
, or Put It All in the Ring, is a manga created by Masami Kurumada. A total of 25 volumes were published in Weekly Shōnen Jump between 1977 and 1981.- Plot :...

, Takane Ryūji.

In the story, Seiya is one of the 88 mythical warriors that have served the goddess Athena
Athena (Saint Seiya)
The Greek goddess is one of the main characters in the Saint Seiya series, a manga authored by Masami Kurumada, which was later adapted to anime and originated three other spin-off manga.Kurumada created her character based on the Greek goddess of the same name...

 during ages, protecting justice and peace on Earth, and are known as "Saints, the bringers of hope." As a Saint, Seiya dons one of the radiant and powerful armors of divine origins known as Cloths, his representing the constellation of Pegasus
Pegasus (constellation)
Pegasus is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the winged horse Pegasus in Greek mythology. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and remains one of the 88 modern constellations.-Stars:...

. He also possesses superhuman strength
Superhuman strength
Superhuman strength, also called superstrength, super-strength, or super strength, is an ability commonly employed in fiction. It is the ability for a character to be stronger than humanly possible...

 and speed, two of the many extraordinary abilities the Saints draw from their guardian constellations and an inner essence called Cosmo.

Creation and conception

When Masami Kurumada was in the process of creating Saint Seiya, he gave Seiya the name Rin at first, since Kurumada was going to title his manga "Ginga no Rin" (Rin of the Galaxy). However, as Kurumada continued developing his manga, he decided to change the name to Seiya, which was more fitting. First he spelled the name with the kanji
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...

 that meant "Holy Arrow", to relate it to Seiya's condition as a Saint, but later decided to use the kanji that meant "Star Arrow", to emphasize the constellation and mythological motif. Finally, he changed his manga title as well, to Saint Seiya, once he fully developed the concept of the Saints. Also, Kurumada stated that one of the first ideas he conceived for Saint Seiya was the Pegasus Meteor Fist. Since his manga was going to use the constellations as a very important and ever-present theme, he wanted his protagonist to have a special move that would be like a shower of meteors.

When Kurumada designed Seiya's likeness, he was inspired by Takane Ryūji, the main character of his hit manga Ring ni Kakero
Ring ni Kakero
, or Put It All in the Ring, is a manga created by Masami Kurumada. A total of 25 volumes were published in Weekly Shōnen Jump between 1977 and 1981.- Plot :...

, which he created 9 years before Seiya. Most protagonists of Kurumada's works bear a resemblance to Ryūji, because Kurumada subscribes to the revered Osamu Tezuka
Osamu Tezuka
was a Japanese cartoonist, manga artist, animator, producer, activist and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion and Black Jack...

's Star System (a stable cast of characters) technique.

The reason Masami Kurumada
Masami Kurumada
is a Japanese manga artist and writer, known for specializing in fighting manga featuring bishōnen and/or mahō shōnen. He is famous as the creator/author of popular manga, such as Ring ni Kakero, Fūma no Kojirō, Saint Seiya and B't X. His male protagonists are a reflection of the classical and...

 chose the Sagittarius Gold Cloth as the most famous of the Gold Cloths is because of its symbolism in relation to Seiya. In the Japanese language
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...

, Seiya means "star arrow", a metaphor for "meteor", and Sagittarius represents an archer, so Kurumada thought it would be a perfect match for Seiya, especially since he already had in mind that the Sagittarius Gold Cloth would eventually be worn by Seiya in certain parts of the manga. Hence, Seiya's zodiacal sign is Sagittarius, since in Kurumada's canon, a Gold Cloth bearer's sign must match the Gold Cloth he represents.

Character attributes

Seiya is the eponymous main character of the manga series, Saint Seiya
Saint Seiya
, also known as Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac or simply Knights of the Zodiac, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada and serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1986 to 1991, and adapted into an anime TV series by Toei Animation from 1986 to 1989.The story follows...

. He is one of the eighty-eight saints of Athena
Athena (Saint Seiya)
The Greek goddess is one of the main characters in the Saint Seiya series, a manga authored by Masami Kurumada, which was later adapted to anime and originated three other spin-off manga.Kurumada created her character based on the Greek goddess of the same name...

, and serves loyally at her side. Seiya draws his Cosmo from the constellation that connects to the Cloth. At the start of the series, Seiya's main objective is to find his older sister Seika, who disappeared from Japan when he was sent to train to become a Saint. However, as the series continues, Seiya eventually starts fighting alongside the other Bronze Saints to protect Athena, albeit reluctantly at first. During his childhood in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

, he met Eagle Marin, a female Silver Saint who trained him to become a Saint. Due to her similarities to Seika, Seiya starts thinking Marin is his sister, but later he discovers he was wrong and finds his real sister. Seiya tends to be the most immature Saint, as he frequently jokes and is not quite concerned about the consequences of his actions.

Although Seiya began his journey as a Bronze Saint, the lowest of three ranks, his abilities gradually grow to rival those of the Gold Saints, the most powerful of Athena's soldiers. He achieves this by awakening his 7th sense, the essence and origin of the Cosmo. Before descending into the realm of Hades, he also awakes his 8th sense Cosmo, allowing him to enter into the Underworld without being subject to its laws.

The Pegasus Cloth represents the Pegasus constellation
Pegasus (constellation)
Pegasus is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the winged horse Pegasus in Greek mythology. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and remains one of the 88 modern constellations.-Stars:...

, which is associated with Pegasus, the divine winged horse from Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...

. Seiya trained for 6 years and defeated 10 other trainees in order acquire the Pegasus Cloth and the status of Saint of Athena. The Pegasus Bronze Cloth suffers damage various times throughout the series, with Aries Mu typically responsible for repairs. In Kurumada's manga, the Cloth changes shape each time it is fixed, with each revision evolving the Cloth into a more detailed form while its appearance remains the same in the anime until the series' second arc. When the Gold Saints use their blood to revive the Bronze Cloths, the second version of the Pegasus Cloth changes from bronze to golden hue whenever Seiya charges his Cosmo to the maximum. With the Cloth that Seiya uses in the Hades arc, Seiya is able to use its wings to fly, both normally and through dimensions. In his fight against Thanatos, it resurrects its God Cloth state, which was last seen in the ages of myth, further increasing Seiya's Cosmo and vitality.

Eventually, Seiya becomes powerful enough to wear the Gold Cloth of Sagittarius
Sagittarius (constellation)
Sagittarius is a constellation of the zodiac, the one containing the galactic center. Its name is Latin for the archer, and its symbol is , a stylized arrow. Sagittarius is commonly represented as a centaur drawing a bow...

, a Cloth that had lost its true owner 13 years before the events of the series. When Seiya has the Gold Cloth on, his Cosmo is magnified. Nevertheless, while Seiya uses the Sagittarius Gold Cloth many times throughout the series to save Athena from certain peril, he is never officially granted ownership of the Cloth.

Techniques

Pegasus Ryūsei Ken (Pegasus Meteor Fist): Seiya fires several punches in the form of meteors. Each time he gains experience in battle, they increase speed and power. Furthermore, it has the power to reach the speed of light when it burns his cosmos beyond the seventh sense.

Pegasus Suisei Ken (Pegasus Comet Fist): Seiya focuses on several meteors a single point, forming an immense comet. It is his strongest blow and he uses it only in times of extreme hardship and despair.

Pegasus Rolling Crash : Seiya grabs opponent and throws himself into heaven. By virtue of its momentum, it makes the opponent fall head first into the ground.

Plot overview

Seiya always plays a prominent role in all the arcs of the series. In the Sanctuary Arc, Seiya returns from his training in Greece, looking for his sister, but is attacked by the many Saints sent by the Pope. When Athena is attacked by the Phantom Arrow, Seiya, along with his partners, go to the twelve temples of the Sanctuary to find the Pope and remove the arrow. In order to get to the Pope, the Bronze Saints are forced to fight against the Gold Saints, whom Seiya is able to engage in combat by awakening the 7th sense, the essence of Cosmo.

During the Poseidon Arc, Seiya fights against the Marine Generals, fabled warriors who command Poseidon
Poseidon (Saint Seiya)
The Greek god is one of the main antagonists in the manga Saint Seiya, created by Masami Kurumada and later adapted to anime. Kurumada based his character on the mythological persona of the same name....

's army, and whose power matches that of the Gold Saints.

In the Hades Arc, Seiya tries to fight against the Specters of Hades, the lord of the Underworld, but Seiya is sent out of the Sanctuary due to an order from Athena to protect the Bronze Saints. After her apparent death, Seiya goes to the Underworld to give Athena her Cloth. With the destruction of the Wailing Wall, Seiya arrives in Elysion, and after fighting against the gods Hypnos and Thanatos, he encounters Hades. During the fight, Seiya is mortally wounded when he protects Athena from the sword of Hades and his Cosmo disappears, thus leading readers to believe the Pegasus Saint died.

However, in 2006, Kurumada continued the story in Saint Seiya: Next Dimension
Saint Seiya: Next Dimension
, also known as simply Next Dimension, is an ongoing manga written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada. It is a prequel and continuation to his manga series Saint Seiya; placed during the previous "Holy War" between the deities Hades and Athena and their respective minions; the Specters and the...

. Here Seiya is shown sitting in a wheelchair and has somehow survived Hades's attack but remains in an unresponsive state,suffering from Hades' curse, while being pushed by Athena. The goddess travels to the past to find a way to remove Hades's sword before it strikes Seiya.

Appearances in other media

Seiya also appears in Saint Seiya related manga. In Saint Seiya Episode G
Saint Seiya Episode G
is an ongoing shōnen manga written and illustrated by Megumu Okada. A side-story and a derivative work of Masami Kurumada's Saint Seiya, it first started being serialized in the monthly magazine Champion Red on January 19, 2003 and was later compiled into volumes by Akita Shoten, with the first...

, Seiya appears in Leo Aiolia's vision, and in Saint Seiya: Next Dimension
Saint Seiya: Next Dimension
, also known as simply Next Dimension, is an ongoing manga written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada. It is a prequel and continuation to his manga series Saint Seiya; placed during the previous "Holy War" between the deities Hades and Athena and their respective minions; the Specters and the...

, he appears when Pegasus Tenma sees his future in the Crateris Cloth. Seiya also stars in all Saint Seiya movies, in which he defeats the antagonist using the arrow of the Sagittarius Cloth, with the exception of Heaven Chapter ~Overture~, in which he scarred the god Apollo with his fist.

In the movie Heaven Chapter ~Overture~, Seiya was cursed by the sword of Hades, instead of dying as he did, both in the manga and anime. Seiya is able to do minor damage to the god Apollo with a single attack. The conclusion of the actual fight between the two is not depicted; instead, the climax of the movie cuts to a peaceful scene where Seiya apparently becomes reacquainted with Saori Kido. It was explained in the Japanese DVD audio commentary with director Shigeyasu Yamauchi that, since Seiya's and Saori's greatest strength was their love and trust for each other, Apollo erased their memories so that they would never again be able to find the will to rebel against the gods.

Pegasus Tenma

Tenma is Seiya's incarnation in the 18th Century. He appears only in Masami Kurumada's Saint Seiya: Next Dimension
Saint Seiya: Next Dimension
, also known as simply Next Dimension, is an ongoing manga written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada. It is a prequel and continuation to his manga series Saint Seiya; placed during the previous "Holy War" between the deities Hades and Athena and their respective minions; the Specters and the...

and Shiori Teshirogi's Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas
Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas
, also known as simply The Lost Canvas, is a manga by Japanese author Shiori Teshirogi, a spin-off based on the manga series Saint Seiya, which was created, written and illustrated by Japanese author Masami Kurumada...

manga, both prequels of the original manga. The few facts that both universe have in common is that Tenma is a friend of Alone, Hades's chosen body of the time, since their childhood, and that they soon become enemies. Tenma has the same appearance as Seiya, and uses the same type of techniques.

Reception

In Japan, Seiya is the most unpopular character in Saint Seiya, ranking 5th in the Bronze Saints character poll. However, in the technique poll, his Pegasus Meteor Fist ranked 1st. Merchandise based on Seiya has also been released, including plush
Plush
Plush is a textile having a cut nap or pile the same as fustian or velvet.Originally the pile of plush consisted of mohair or worsted yarn, but now silk by itself or with a cotton backing is used for plush, the distinction from velvet being found in the longer and less dense pile of plush...

es and action figures with different cloths.

Several anime and manga publications have provided both acclaim and criticism of Seiya's character. DVDVisionJapan criticizes the fact that Seiya takes beating after beating but gets back up every time. However, they praise his seiyu, Tōru Furuya
Toru Furuya
is a veteran narrator and seiyū born on July 31, 1953 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As a child, he was a member of Gekidan Himawari, a children's acting troupe...

, for giving the character a good array of emotions. Anime News Network
Anime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...

 comments that Seiya's voice actor for the English dub is unsuitable, and that he enunciates strange words and does not sound at all heroic. They also criticize Seiya for being an underdog in all the fights. DVDVerdictReview.com describes Seiya as poorly developed, wholly characterised by his affiliations and connection to a constellation.

See also

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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