is a 2004

2004 in film

The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...

 animated film adaptation of the 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 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...

 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...

. Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi and written by Michiko Yokote

Michiko Yokote

is a Japanese screenwriter. In facts it's a team of screenwriters: they use this name because they are coordinated by a woman named Michiko.-Tokusatsu:*Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger*Mahou Sentai Magiranger*Jūken Sentai Gekiranger*Tensou Sentai Goseiger-Anime:...

 and Akatsuki Yamatoya, the film was first released in Japanese theaters on February 14, 2004.

After 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...

 started writing and drawing the manga 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...

 in 2006, Tenkai-Hen Josō ceased being part of the canon of the mythology of Saint Seiya, except for the segments where Seiya is in a coma due to the curse of Hades's sword.

Plot

After the bloody battle against Hades, 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...

's Saints are still recovering when they find themselves face to face with their newest and most formidable foe: the dreadful goddess Artemis, accompanied by her Angels. Artemis replaces Athena as the Earth

Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...

 guardian deity and takes over the Sanctuary, turning Athena's Saints into her servants.

Upon invading the Sanctuary, the Bronze Saints learn that Athena was banished by Artemis and decide to fight the moon goddess in order to rescue their true goddess and free the Earth from Artemis's ominous control.

The movie focuses mostly on Seiya and Athena, as the other Bronze Saints are not seen as much; they only appear during their respective fights with the other Angels, and briefly towards the end. However, Eagle Marin also appears, as do Ophiuchus Shaina, Unicorn Jabu, and Hydra Ichi, though the latter 3 are just cameos.

The movie also has a very ambiguous ending, with many plot points and danglers unresolved.

New characters

The film's main antagonist. Worried about Athena's closeness to the human beings, Artemis descends to Earth in order to take over her sister's place. Athena surrenders the Earth to Artemis, who takes the Sanctuary and Athena's Saints to herself. Whenever the moon goddess appears, the day becomes night and the moon shines brighter than the sun; Artemis can levitate, distort reality and she is also an archer.

Minor antagonist. During the final showdown, he protects Artemis from Seiya

Pegasus Seiya

, also known as Seiya, is a fictional character from the Saint Seiya universe created by Masami Kurumada as the main protagonist of the media franchise, which originated in the eponymous manga written and illustrated by Kurumada, later adapted to anime, and subsequently inspiring soundtracks, OVAs,...

's Pegasus Meteor Fist and takes over the battle. He is said to be more powerful than either Athena and Artemis.

Angels

The are the chosen warriors of the Olympian Gods. Their armors are named . They are also some of most powerful foes Athena's Bronze Saints have ever faced. The Cloths of Seiya, Shiryū and Hyōga are all more or less destroyed in their respective battles against the Angels.

The only human among the angels. Though never stated he is apparently the leader of the angels and the closest and trusted servant of Artemis as Seiya is the same to Athena. He turns out to be , the long lost brother of Marin, he gives up his humanity to serve Artemis in order to be powerful like a god. However, by the end of the movie, he sacrifices himself to protect Athena. He attacks with gold spears and electric charges. His finishing move is "Highest Altitude". He is supposed to have the same stats and attributes as Seiya, as they are the same size and share the same birthday. However, while formidable, he is not match for Seiya once Hades' curse on Seiya is lifted. He was mentioned by Shaina in the original manga series, although his name was not revealed.

Based on Icarus

Icarus

-Space and astronomy:* Icarus , on the Moon* Icarus , a planetary science journal* 1566 Icarus, an asteroid* IKAROS, a interplanetary unmanned spacecraft...

, son of Daidalos

Daedalus

In Greek mythology, Daedalus was a skillful craftsman and artisan.-Family:...

; he flew too near the sun with wax-attached wings, then he fell into the sea and drowned.

Arguably the strongest of the angels. He attacks with Energy Spheres and absorbs energy attacks, and he can redirect or combine them with his own power to make a reverse attack. He is defeated by both Hyōga and Shiryū. Much of the fight initially happens off-screen; Seiya, after regaining the Pegasus Cloth, stumbles upon Shiryū and Hyōga, who have already taken quite a beating from Odysseus. Odysseus has also smashed their cloths off-screen. Seiya then also takes a vicious beating from Odysseus, and like his fellow Bronze Saints also has his cloth shattered as well. However, Shiryū and Hyōga are able to energize their Cosmos and finally (though just barely) kill Odysseus with a combined attack.

Odysseus

Odysseus

Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....

 (Ulysses): King of Ithaca; husband of Penelope; wandered ten years after fall of Troy before arriving home.

He uses wings to attack. Arguably the weakest of the 3 Angels, his finishing move is a Solar Beam. He tends to fly more than the other Angels, and is the first of the Angels to be defeated, by both Shun and Ikki. Unlike Odysseus, he does not or is unable to shatter Ikki and Shun's Bronze Cloths. Although Ikki's attack is the one that finishes him off, Ikki would not have been able to achieve the victory without Shun's help, as Shun distracts Theseus using the 'Nebula Chain' and 'Nebula Storm' attacks.

Named after Theseus

Theseus

For other uses, see Theseus Theseus was the mythical founder-king of Athens, son of Aethra, and fathered by Aegeus and Poseidon, both of whom Aethra had slept with in one night. Theseus was a founder-hero, like Perseus, Cadmus, or Heracles, all of whom battled and overcame foes that were...

, son of Aegeus; slew Minotaur; married and deserted Ariadne; later married Phaedra.