《聖鬥士星矢 LEGEND of SANCTUARY》是在聖鬥士系列中具有劃時代意義的作品。它由東映動畫製作，於2014年上映，不僅是聖鬥士星矢系列的第六部電影作品，更是首次以全CG技術打造的長篇動畫電影。這種製作方式在當時象徵著東映對技術突破的挑戰，也展現創作者想要以嶄新的視覺效果，將這部經典作品再次帶到觀眾面前的企圖心。最早於2014年6月11日在安錫國際動畫影展進行首映，之後於6月21日在日本正式上映。

原作者車田正美曾表示，這部作品在世界觀與角色設定上盡可能保持貼近漫畫原作，但在表現手法上則大膽革新。由於過去的手繪動畫無法完全呈現某些戰鬥或場景的震撼感，因此決定全面使用CG，以突破視覺限制，並藉此吸引新世代觀眾的關注，同時也讓舊有的鐵粉透過全新的感官體驗再次連結這部作品。

故事的開端圍繞著少女城戶沙織展開。她因為無法理解自己所擁有的神秘力量而感到困惑不安，卻在某次遇襲時被年輕的天馬座聖鬥士星矢所救。隨後，她才逐漸了解自己實際上是女神雅典娜的轉世，而星矢和其他聖鬥士的使命就是守護她，協助她完成對抗聖域教皇的宿命之戰。這一設定讓沙織的角色不再只是被動的象徵，而是以帶有神性卻依然懷有凡人情感的形象，被置於生死與使命交織的處境中。

主線劇情承襲漫畫經典的「黃金十二宮篇」，星矢與青銅聖鬥士同伴——天龍座紫龍、鳳凰座一輝、白鳥座冰河、仙女座瞬——必須在十二小時內穿越聖域的十二宮，迎戰把守在各宮殿內的黃金聖鬥士。每一座宮殿都是一道難以逾越的試煉，不僅象徵著力量上的挑戰，也代表著信念、忠誠與宿命的碰撞。黃金聖鬥士們不只是單純的反派，而是各自懷有不同信念的守護者，讓戰鬥的張力中帶有哲理性的辯證。

電影雖然僅有93分鐘，但它試圖將「十二宮篇」這段龐大而經典的劇情濃縮進去，因此節奏緊湊、戰鬥場面華麗。透過全CG的呈現，聖衣的金屬質感、戰鬥的速度感與能量衝擊都比以往更加震撼。觀眾能感受到那股介於現實與神話之間的壯闊氛圍，也讓角色們在閃耀的聖衣之下更具現代英雄的氣質。

《聖鬥士星矢 LEGEND of SANCTUARY》在劇情上或許因篇幅而有所取捨，但它的最大價值在於將這部跨越世代的經典作品以全新的姿態呈現。它既是對原作的致敬，也是一種革新嘗試，讓人看見「聖鬥士星矢」不只是八〇年代的回憶，而是仍能不斷進化、延續下去的神話傳說。

Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary is a landmark entry in the Saint Seiya franchise. Produced by Toei Animation and released in 2014, it is the sixth Saint Seiya film and the very first to be created entirely with CG animation. This bold decision represented Toei’s attempt to break through technological limits of traditional hand-drawn animation and to reintroduce the classic work to audiences with a fresh visual impact. The film premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 11, 2014, and was officially released in Japan on June 21 of the same year.

According to original author Masami Kurumada, the worldbuilding and character settings in this film were deliberately kept close to the manga, while the production method embraced a complete visual overhaul. Because earlier animation techniques could not fully capture the scale and intensity of certain battles, the creative team opted for full CG production. Their main goal was not only to present the story with greater spectacle but also to attract new audiences while offering longtime fans an entirely new way to reconnect with the series.

The story begins with a young girl, Saori Kido, who is troubled by mysterious powers she cannot understand. One day, she is attacked by an assassin sent to kill her, but is saved by Pegasus Seiya, a young Saint. Through this event, Saori learns that she is in fact the reincarnation of the goddess Athena, while Seiya and the other Saints are her protectors, destined to help her fulfill her mission of challenging the Pope of Sanctuary. Saori’s role is therefore more than a symbolic one—she embodies both divine presence and human vulnerability, placed at the center of a struggle where duty and sacrifice are inescapable.

The film adapts the classic Twelve Temples Arc from the manga. Seiya and his fellow Bronze Saints—Dragon Shiryu, Phoenix Ikki, Cygnus Hyoga, and Andromeda Shun—must cross the twelve Zodiac Temples of Sanctuary within twelve hours. Each temple is guarded by a Gold Saint, among the most powerful warriors of the cosmos. These confrontations are not simply tests of strength but clashes of faith, loyalty, and destiny. The Gold Saints are portrayed not as mere antagonists but as guardians with their own convictions, which adds philosophical depth to the battles.

Although the film’s runtime is only 93 minutes, it condenses the grand and beloved “Twelve Temples” storyline into a fast-paced narrative filled with dazzling battle sequences. Thanks to CG animation, the metallic brilliance of the Cloths, the speed and force of combat, and the bursts of cosmic energy are brought to life with an intensity never before seen in the franchise. The visual spectacle creates a mythic atmosphere that bridges fantasy and heroism, making the Saints shine like modern champions.

In terms of narrative detail, some sacrifices were inevitable due to the film’s limited length. However, the true significance of Legend of Sanctuary lies in its reinvention of a generational classic. It is both a tribute to Kurumada’s original vision and a bold reimagining, proving that Saint Seiya is not just a cherished memory of the 1980s but an evolving myth that continues to inspire new audiences across eras.