The Epic Journey Continues: A Review of Saint Seiya OVA Hades Batch
The Saint Seiya franchise has been a beloved and iconic part of many anime fans' childhoods, and for good reason. The series, which first debuted in 1986, has captivated audiences with its unique blend of action, adventure, and fantasy. One of the most critically acclaimed arcs of the series is the Hades Batch, a collection of OVAs (original video animations) that continue the story of Seiya and his friends as they face off against the powerful and malevolent Hades.
What is the Hades Batch?
The Hades Batch is a series of 13 OVAs that were released between 2002 and 2003. The OVAs are a direct continuation of the original Saint Seiya series and take place after the defeat of the Titan God, Cronus. The story follows Seiya and his friends, known as the Bronze Saints, as they journey to the Underworld to confront Hades, the God of the Dead.
The Story So Far
For those who may be new to the series, here's a brief recap: Saint Seiya is a young boy who becomes a Saint, a warrior with extraordinary abilities, in order to protect the world from evil. Along with his friends Shiryu, Hyoga, Shun, and Ikki, Seiya battles against various enemies to protect the goddess Athena and the world.
In the Hades Batch, the Bronze Saints are transported to the Underworld, where they must face their greatest challenge yet. Hades, the ruler of the Underworld, seeks to conquer the world of the living and has launched a massive assault on the gods' realm, Olympus. The Saints must use all their skills and strength to defeat Hades' minions and eventually face off against the god himself.
Themes and Character Development
One of the standout features of the Hades Batch is its exploration of mature themes, such as death, sacrifice, and the afterlife. The series also delves deeper into the characters' backstories and motivations, adding depth and complexity to the story.
The characters' development is particularly notable in the Hades Batch. Seiya and his friends are forced to confront their own mortality and the consequences of their actions, leading to some truly emotional moments. Meanwhile, new characters are introduced, adding fresh perspectives and conflicts to the story.
Action and Animation
The action scenes in the Hades Batch are some of the most epic and intense in the entire series. The animation is top-notch, with beautifully rendered backgrounds and fluid fight choreography. The OVAs feature a mix of hand-drawn and digital animation, which holds up surprisingly well even today.
Conclusion
The Saint Seiya OVA Hades Batch is a must-watch for fans of the series and anime in general. The story is engaging, the characters are well-developed, and the action is non-stop. Even 20 years after its initial release, the Hades Batch remains a beloved and iconic part of the Saint Seiya franchise. Saint Seiya Ova Hades Batch
If you're new to the series, I recommend starting with the original Saint Seiya series to get a feel for the characters and world. However, if you're looking for a more mature and complex storyline, the Hades Batch is an excellent place to jump in.
Rating: 9.5/10
Recommendation: If you're a fan of action-packed anime with deep characters and themes, the Saint Seiya OVA Hades Batch is an absolute must-watch.
The Ultimate Guide to the Saint Seiya: Hades OVA Saga After a 13-year hiatus following the original 1980s run, the
finally brought the classic Saint Seiya story to its grand conclusion. Released in three distinct batches of Original Video Animations (OVAs) between 2002 and 2008, this saga is widely considered the peak of the franchise's storytelling and visual presentation. The Three Batches of the Holy War
The Hades saga is split into three specific chapters that follow the Saints' descent from the Sanctuary into the depths of the Underworld. Chapter 1: (13 Episodes)
Hades revives fallen Gold Saints (including Saga, Camus, and Shura) as Specters to invade the Twelve Houses and take Athena’s head. Highlights:
Incredible animation by Shingo Araki and a high-stakes 12-hour ticking clock. Chapter 2: (12 Episodes)
The Bronze Saints awaken the "Eighth Sense" (Arayashiki) to enter the Underworld while still alive. They must navigate the eight prisons of the Underworld to find Athena. Highlights:
The battle against the Three Judges of Hell and the ultimate sacrifice at the Wailing Wall. Chapter 3: (6 Episodes)
Reaching the paradise beyond the Underworld, the Saints face the twin gods, Thanatos and Hypnos, before the final confrontation with Hades himself. Highlights:
The debut of the God Cloths and the resolution of Seiya’s search for his sister, Seika. Why the Hades Batch is a Must-Watch
The Hades OVAs serve as the definitive "canon" conclusion to the original manga's storyline. The Epic Journey Continues: A Review of Saint
✅ Do not skip the Sanctuary OVAs – they set up the entire Hades arc.
Where does it fit in the main timeline?
After the Poseidon Arc (end of original TV series, ep 114). The Hades OVAs ignore the Asgard filler arc (TV eps 74–99) — but that’s fine.
Act 1: The Stains of Betrayal
The OVA opens not with a battle, but with a memory. 243 years ago, during the previous Holy War, the young Pope of Sanctuary (Crane’s predecessor) entrusts two loyal Gold Saints—Shion and Dohko—with a secret mission: seal an ancient, volatile weapon known as the Hades Batch, a failed prototype of the Surplice. Unlike the Surplice, the Batch devours its wearer’s soul to multiply physical strength tenfold, turning them into a mindless, immortal berserker. The Batch was sealed inside the Tartarus Vault beneath the Sanctuary temple, guarded by a lone, forgotten disciple of the Pope: Sisyphus the Loyal — a Silver Saint who chose eternal imprisonment to watch over the seal.
Back to the present (the 12 hours after Athena’s suicide). Sanctuary is in ruins. Shion’s ghost and Dohko, having faked their deaths, meet in the crumbling Pope’s chamber.
"Pandora wasn’t just waiting for the Gold Saints to die," Shion says. "She was waiting for the Hades Batch to mature. The seal breaks at nightfall. If the Batch activates, the souls of the 12 Gold Saints cannot open the Wailing Wall—they’ll be absorbed as fuel."
Act 2: The Vault of Silence
Dohko, Shion, and a reluctant Kiki (who can read the ancient Mycenaean seals) descend into the Tartarus Vault—a labyrinth where time flows backward. The deeper they go, the younger Dohko becomes, while Shion’s ghost grows more transparent. The vault is filled with the frozen ghosts of failed Bronze and Silver Saints from past wars, each whispering a single word: "Unworthy."
They find Sisyphus, now a skeletal figure fused to a giant stone door. He hasn’t aged—he’s been praying for 243 years straight. His Cosmo is a dim, red flicker.
"You came to break the seal?" Sisyphus rasps. "Then kill me first. My living will is the final lock."
But before they can act, three Specters of the Batch Guard — beings made from the regrets of dead Saints — attack: Lyra Orpheus’ Shadow (using sound-based attacks), Cepheus Albiore’s Shadow (plant vines soaked in blood), and a twisted Crane Yuzuriha (her limbs replaced with scythes).
Act 3: The Price of Memory
This is where the OVA earns its emotional weight. The "Shadows" are not illusions—they are actual clones created by the Batch’s ability to record and replicate the DNA of any Saint who ever bled near the vault. Saint Seiya: Hades – Sanctuary (eps 1–13) Saint
Kiki is gravely wounded protecting Dohko. Shion realizes the only way to destroy the Batch permanently is not by force, but by severing its memory of all Saints. That means erasing their own memories of their comrades—including Shion’s memory of Aries Mu, and Dohko’s memory of the Bronze Saints he trained.
The final battle: Dohko uses the Rozan Hyaku Ryu Ha not as a dragon swarm, but as a single, concentrated blow that petrifies the Batch’s core. Shion, fading fast, casts Starlight Extinction—not as an attack, but as a rewrite of the room’s karmic record. He whispers to Kiki: "When I’m gone, tell Mu… his father was proud."
Sisyphus, freed from his duty, uses his last silver Cosmo to create a barrier that returns Dohko and Kiki to the surface—but at the cost of his own soul joining the Wailing Wall as an 13th Gold Saint in spirit.
Act 4: The Unseen Offering
Final scene. The Bronze Saints (Seiya, Shiryu, Hyoga, Shun, Ikki) stand before the Wailing Wall in the Underworld. They don’t know what happened above. As the 12 Gold Saints’ apparitions appear, Seiya notices a faint, 13th golden glow—shaped like a kneeling Silver Saint holding a broken lyre.
"That’s… not one of the 12," Hyoga whispers.
The OVA ends with Dohko on the surface, aged again, looking at a sealed stone coffin with the words HADES BATCH - NEUTRALIZED 1990 carved into it. He opens his worn hand—inside is a petrified petal from Yuzuriha’s hair.
"Some memories," he says, "were never erased."
A complete Saint Seiya Ova Hades Batch usually organizes like this:
Disc 1-3: Sanctuary
Disc 4-6: Inferno
Disc 7-8: Elysion
The Saint Seiya OVA Hades Batch has contributed significantly to the enduring popularity of the Saint Seiya franchise. It has allowed both old and new fans to experience the epic battles and emotional depth of the series. The Hades arc, in particular, is remembered for its intense storytelling and character development, making it a beloved part of the Saint Seiya saga.
The success of the OVAs, including the Hades batch, has also led to the creation of subsequent anime projects within the Saint Seiya franchise, including movies and more recent series that continue to explore the universe and its characters.