There has been a lot of talk about the so-called Holy Wars. Fierce gods with superhuman abilities at war with each other, fighting for control over humanity’s worship and admiration. We have seen this allegory played out throughout our history and cultures, whether they were the ancient Greek gods, Roman, Egyptian, Norse or Hindu gods…
But the question remains…were they really just a myth? Or can we learn and embody something from them?
The origin
Originally released in 1986 in Japan, Knights of the zodiac or Saint Seiya is a manga-based television series that tells the story of a young cage fighter named Seiya, who unforeseenly uses special powers he never realized he possessed.
He soon learns that his gifts and specialty are not just for his entertainment, as he is obliged to protect Sienna, the reincarnation of the Olympian goddess Athena, from other Greek gods and their own respective knights, who seek to destroy her and take over to rule the earth. .
To fulfill his true destiny, Seiya must undergo special training, face his own past and give up all his individualistic desires… and ultimately take his rightful place among the Knights of the Zodiac.
Each knight’s abilities come from their constellation-based armor, which gives them access to their own special source of cosmic energy, depicted with their own appropriate energy color.
Our main character’s zodiac sign is Pegasus, which makes him the Pegasus Saint or Pegasus Knight. There are a total of five knights bound to Athena, with the sacred task of ending the gods’ control over the Earth and taking the fate of humanity into their own hands.
Interesting plot, right? Wonder where they got it from…
A new film adaptation
The original series ran for 114 episodes on cable TV in Japan and achieved a staggering IMDB rating of 8.4. In 2019, Netflix republished it in English, but the series only lasted two seasons before being removed.
The film will premiere worldwide in a week or two… and fans will have a lot to say about it. With a pretty amazing budget of $60 million dollars and elite Japanese production Toei Company at the helm… Is it worth the hype?
The film, which is already being released in Japan and Latin America on April 27, doesn’t seem to live up to the greatness of the original series… but that’s to be expected. Hollywood is cursed when it comes to Japanese anime re-releases, as they tend not to follow the original storyline to a tee… and fans aren’t always so forgiving.
Don’t let that discourage you, though. There will definitely be changes to the plot, which will make it accessible to us, the regular audience. It’s the story as a whole that is meant to inspire you, educate you, make you think… and of course entertain you.
Sean Bean, one of the film’s main actors who starred in both films Lord of the Rings And Game of Thrones said in an interview with GamesRadar:
“What makes this film unique, I think, is the fact that it combines two types of elements, which are very interesting to me: Greek mythology – which I was always interested in as a child – and the Japanese culture, the anime, the manga. Combining these complements each other very well in the end product. It’s very fascinating and very exciting,” he said.
The Idea of the True Self – Saint Seiya, also known as Pegasus Knight
There are many lessons and teachings that we expect to be shown in the film, as with any film that follows the Hero’s Journey storyline.
What makes this one special is its extreme sci-fi plot, closely tied to actual ancient Greek mythology… making it, in our opinion, a fascinating watch.
It is in myths that the keys are hidden.
As you watch it, stay clear and allow yourself to experience the emotions that are stirred as the film’s story unfolds.
For Seiya, it is not an easy path to becoming Saint Seiya. He must give up his lower nature and allow his True Self, the Pegasus Knight, to come through and fulfill his destiny: protecting Athena and fighting the evil forces.
But again, it’s not an easy road for any of us. It takes dedication, sacrifice, hard work and most of all, a willingness to be part of something bigger than yourself. The willingness to discover your gifts, damn it… even the belief that you have certain specially designated gifts comes as a shock to most people. But you do. We all do. There are no accidents. And you neither.
The original name for the Japanese series was Saint Seiya Awakening.
What does it mean to awaken? Awakening, for what exactly? Or shall we say: awaken to whom?
What lies at the end of the tunnel is a mystery for each of us to discover. A journey full of exciting adventures, trials and tribulations. But we can be inspired. We can learn from those who have gone before us and adjust our paths accordingly.
Becoming a Saint, or so to speak, awakening to your True Identity, which is one with the God Source, is inevitable. It just depends on how you do it.
Will you do it in honor, with your head held high as you walk through the Valley of Death? Or will you crawl your way to heaven? The choice is yours. But it starts with the courage to pursue who you really are.
So, fellow reader, will you wake up?
In the words of Seiya from the trailer: “Show me the path I have chosen.”
May it be so.
