SAINT CLOTHES
The Saint Cloth line (Saint Clothes / 聖衣) is Bandai Spirits' flagship action figure franchise based on Masami Kurumada's Saint Seiya universe. Famous for pioneering removable die-cast metal armor that reassembles into constellation totems, the line spans four decades of groundbreaking anime collectibles.
Cronologia
Panoramica
The Saint Cloth line (also known as Saint Clothes or Seitōshi Seii Taikei) is a iconic collectible action figure franchise created by Bandai (now Bandai Spirits) in partnership with Toei Animation and author Masami Kurumada.
Centered around the protective armors (Cloths) worn by Saints in the Saint Seiya universe, the figures feature a unique engineering hallmark: removable die-cast metal armor pieces worn by an articulated figure body that can be detached and re-assembled separately into an 'Object' (totem) representing the character's constellation.
Over its decades-long history, Bandai Spirits has produced the line across multiple formats, ranging from compact 10 cm figures like D.D. Panoramation to 1/6 scale (~30 cm) Saint Cloth Crown masterpieces, with core collector lines like Saint Cloth Myth and Saint Cloth Myth EX standing at approximately 15 cm to 18 cm tall. Positioned as a premier premium die-cast action figure brand, the line covers characters from Bronze Saints to Gold Saints, God Warriors, Specters, and divine God Cloths.
Storia
Launched in October 1986 as the Saint Cloth Series (Seitōshi Seii Taikei), Bandai revolutionized Japanese toy manufacturing by combining articulated plastic figures with die-cast metal armor plates, selling over 8 million figures globally during its initial run.
Following vintage reissues in 2003, Bandai evolved the franchise into the high-end adult collector market with the launch of the Saint Cloth Myth series in November 2003 to commemorate the 12th anniversary and the Hades OVA release.
In August 2011, Bandai introduced Saint Cloth Myth EX, offering superior articulation, dynamic facial sculpts, and seamless armor integration without part-swapping. The product line has continuously evolved with specialized sub-lines such as the 1/6 scale Crown grade (2011), screen-accurate movie figures in Saint Cloth Legend (2014), compact diorama sets in D.D. Panoramation (2016), and the modern Saint Cloth Myth EX Metal line (2020) featuring reinforced die-cast joints, extending into planned 40th-anniversary releases through 2026 and 2027.
I PEZZI DI SAINT CLOTHES
Collezionismo
For action figure collectors, Bandai Spirits' Saint Cloth franchise represents a unique niche combining high-density die-cast metal weight, intricate puzzle-like armor assembly, and anime display aesthetics. A popular practice among serious collectors is purchasing dual figures of key characters in order to display both the articulated Saint in full armor and the constellation Object totem side-by-side.
Market trends demonstrate exceptionally strong value retention for rare Tamashii Web Shop exclusives, Original Color Editions (OCE), large-scale Crown figures, and out-of-print God Cloths. Bandai Spirits' continuous strategy of issuing dynamic 'Revival' versions and introducing structural upgrades like 'EX Metal' bodies ensures that early releases retain legacy value while giving new collectors an accessible entry point into the line's upcoming 40th-anniversary milestone.
Bandai created the short-lived Saint Cloth Crown line in 2011 specifically to experiment with massive 1/6 scale (30 cm) die-cast armors.
