Saint Seiya premiered on TV Asahi in 1986, produced by Toei Animation, adapting Masami Kurumada's manga about five orphaned boys trained to become armored Saints in service of the reincarnated goddess Athena. It became a defining action series of its decade, exported worldwide under names like Knights of the Zodiac, and helped shape the visual grammar of shonen combat anime that followed, from its constellation-themed armor designs to its emphasis on loyalty and sacrifice among its central cast of Bronze Saints.
This cell carries the name Andromeda Shun, one of the five principal Bronze Saints and consistently the most sought after by collectors for his gentleness and inner strength, qualities that set him apart from his more aggressive companions. As a single 35mm frame from the original television production, it represents a physical fragment of the show's animation history, a tangible artifact from the cels used to bring Shun's likeness to the screen during the anime's original 1986 broadcast run.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm colour release print of Saint Seiya TV Anime Series (1986).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, cleanly punched with no torn or deformed holes visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track, appearing as a dual bilateral (variable-area) pattern, runs along one edge beside the picture.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture.
Base & colour
Base appears neutral to very slightly warm; dye image shows strong, saturated colour with no visible fading.
Projection history
No scratches, splice marks, or cue marks are visible in this capture.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames run consecutively as a single continuous shot and the animated style matches the TV anime series on record.
Era check
A dual bilateral variable-area optical track on 35mm colour positive stock is consistent with a Japanese theatrical or broadcast-release print from the mid-1980s production period of the film on record.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
CROWN SERIAL 000063020
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
