No review yet ? It's a shame... This was the best thing ever produced related to Saint-Seiya. I'll be trying to explain you why as good as I can... While the other Saint-Seiya movies were painfully formulaic, Legend of Crimson Youth was one of a kind. Granted, its story is rather basic: Phoebus Abel, a fallen God banished by Zeus and Apollo, resurfaced after a long absence. He's accompanied by his bodyguards, the corona saints, while showing to Saori Kidou, i.e. Athena his sister. He proposed her to join him to his final residence following World's end. Bronze saints sedition ensues. In fact, what differs is art execution.For the era, displayed means were exceptional. Character design, animation, music, background art it has aged stunningly well, given that the title is 23 years old !
If one word can sum it up, it's poetry. There isn't a single moment of emotion falling flat if you pay attention, thanks to the strong, imaginative and yet simple mise-en-scene...
From Abel immersed in his cup's play of light while brooding over spooky memories to Seiya awkwardly stumbling on harbor surroundings, cut to a shot of some scrapped doll representing his state of misery.
Imagery never cease to be downright amazing, from start to last frame.

To be fair, characterization of some of the main cast needed to be worked more. That's why I rated it a 9 instead of 10.
Abel's the best villain of the serie ever created, next to the knight of Gemini. He's an extremely refined person who cherish beauty of art, while at the same time he can turn in the wink of an eye into a terrifying brute in order to defend his convictions. His relation with Athena is really interesting, too bad their common past was never used. In fact, I wouldn't mind watching an entire arc if it was to build his character at full potential.
Some says it borders to incest. I don't know, you can only speculate about it...
Even so, incest isn't shocking for a deity. Hera's Zeus sister and spouse after all, and examples abound in Greek mythology. I personally think it's fraternal passion formed when he was on his own against jealousy of major Gods.

I can hardly describe how much I love this movie. I saw it when I was a kid (sure, I wasn't supposed to watch a PG -13 but meh...) it literally blew my mind. I was totally receptive to its sensitiveness... Here probably originates my long time love for animes, as far as I can tell. Yet, I seldom rate 10 my overall reviews: I do it only for overwhelming stuff like studio Ghibli's...
I hope Legend of Crimson youth bring to you, reader, as much joy and fascination as it did to me back then...