Moon Prism Power! Exploring the Magical World of Sailor Moon

Did you know that the original plan was for the Sailor Moon anime to run for only six months, but it ended up running for five years? That’s a testament to the quality of the show. Whether or not you’re a fan of anime, Sailor Moon has something special for everyone. Find out everything there is to know about the famous anime.

Introduction

One of the most influential anime series globally, Sailor Moon, debuted in the early 1990s. Since then, it has become a cultural phenomenon in Japan and beyond. Toei Animation was in charge of production for Sailor Moon.

Throughout its five-year runtime on ANN (TV Asahi), the series had more than one producer, although Iriya Azuma was in charge of most of it. Junichi Sato, Kunihiko Ikuhara, and Takuya Igarashi all directed the anime at some point during its runtime.

Sailor Moon, also known as Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn, is an anime adaptation of Naoko Takeuchi's manga series of the same name. The story follows super-heroine Usagi Tsukino as she defends the world against evil villains. The anime would go on to become one of the most popular animated shows on the planet, with dubbed versions released in North America, Europe, China, Australia, and several other regions.

The anime was just the first of many future adaptations of Sailor Moon’s manga, and others have followed since then. The character and her world have also inspired countless video games, music, and films.

The Creation of Sailor Moon

We wouldn't have Sailor Moon on our screens without the creation of the manga series by Naoko Takeuchi in December 1991. Before working on the project, she had created Codename: Sailor V, which was published in August of that year. Takeuchi wrote the manga's sequel, Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon, with the intention of building a magical girl story universe. The manga also infused elements of Super Sentai, one of her favorite TV series and the inspiration for North America’s Power Rangers.

Nakayoshi, a monthly shojo manga magazine, published the Sailor Moon series from 1991 to 1997. Like most shojo manga Japanese comics, the series catered to female teenagers and young female adults. Takeuchi’s initial plan was to have the series cover a single story arc. However, executives at the publishing company convinced her to continue the series by adding four more arcs.

In 1992, Toei Animation adapted Sailor Moon into an anime that ran less than two months behind the manga. Hence, new seasons for both the manga and anime were often published simultaneously.

Sailor Moon: The Anime Revolution

Sailor Moon played a significant role in the magical girl media genre, just as its creator intended. Fantasy media featuring young girls with magical abilities, who are typically unable to use those abilities until they transform into an alter ego, dominates this genre. The genre took form in 1962. Since then, it has served as a gateway for female adolescents to develop an interest in manga and anime.

By combining concepts of the “transforming heroine” with common feminine interests, such as fashion, teamwork, and romance, Sailor Moon revolutionized the genre for good. The anime drew inspiration from other popular superhero franchises, especially Super Sentai and Kamen Rider. Those two were popular tokusatsu live-action hero shows at the time and were famous for their heavy use of special effects.

When Sailor Moon made its TV debut on March 7, 1992, the expectation was for it to run for only six months. However, the reception was so fantastic that its popularity soared and it continued to run until the last episode was released on February 8, 1997, nearly five years later.

Key Characters and Their Impact

Next, we’ll introduce you to the main characters of Sailor Moon. Dozens of protagonists, antagonists, and supporting characters appear throughout the series. However, we’ll only explore a few of the main ones below.

• Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon): She is the main protagonist of the anime and manga series. She lived an average life as a 14-year-old before getting powers that transformed her into Sailor Moon. Usagi is immature and self-absorbed at first, but she gradually embraces her responsibility as a superhero as the series progresses.

• Minako Aino (Sailor Venus): She is a Sailor Guardian who crossed over from Codename: Sailor V. She is the leader of the four guardians of Sailor Moon, which include Sailors Mercury (Ami Mizuno), Jupiter (Makoto Kino), and Mars (Rei Hino). Minako’s life-long dream is to become a famous singer.

• Naru Osaka: Naru is Usagi’s best friend throughout the series. She is saved from a youma attack by Sailor Moon early on in the series. She falls in love with a villainous  Nephrite in the first season, but he dies trying to save her.

• Mamoru Chiba (Tuxedo Mask): He is Usagi’s main love interest. Mamoru had a tragic childhood after losing his parents and memories in a car accident. He has a psychic connection to Usagi. They have a rocky relationship at first but they eventually fall in love with each other. Mamoru often fights alongside Sailor Moon as Tuxedo Mask. Mamoru and Usagi would eventually meet their daughter from the future, Chibiusa, AKA Sailor Chibi Moon (Sailor Mini Moon in the English dub).

• Queen Beryl: Leader of the Dark Kingdom and summoner of youma monsters, she is the main antagonist in the first story arc. She attempts to reawaken Queen Metaria by sapping energy from humans. Later, Sailor Moon was able to defeat her.

• Luna: Alongside Diana and Artemis, the talking cat named Luna belongs to a group of cats from Mau. Luna plays the most important non-human role in the story, as she gave Usagi her magical powers and sometimes works alongside her, like they did in the episode titled “Protect the Melody of Love: Usagi Plays Cupid.”

Iconic Episodes and Story Arcs

The five seasons of Sailor Moon roughly correspond to the five story arcs of the anime series. They were:

• Sailor Moon (1st season and Dark Kingdom arc)

• Sailor Moon R (2nd season and Black Moon arc)

• Sailor Moon S (3rd season and Death Busters arc)

• Sailor Moon SuperS (4th season and Dead Moon Circus arc)

• Sailor Moon Sailor Stars (5th season and Stars arc)

Next, we’ll look at the most memorable episodes from those seasons and how they defined their story arcs and the entire series.

• Season 1, Episode 34 (Usagi and Mamoru learn the truth): Prior to this episode, neither Sailor Moon nor Tuxedo Mask were aware of their true identities. Usagi transforms in his presence and he realizes who she is. We also see her first transformation into Princess Serenity. This powerful moon princess appears after her tears form the magical Silver Crystal.

• Season 3, Episode 36 (Death and rebirth of Hotaru): Hotaru dies in this episode. But Usagi makes one final transformation into her Super Sailor Moon form and defeats the Pharaoh 90, leader of the Death Busters. Usagi also finds Hotaru reborn as a baby.

• Season 5, Episode 2 (All Sailor Guardians assemble): This episode depicts the first time we get to see all 10 Sailor Senshi come together to fight a battle.

The Art and Animation Style

As an art, Sailor Moon is a masterpiece that was able to reinvent what people considered shojo manga. It maintained the classic elements that appealed to adolescent females but added action sequences that allowed a broader demographic to enjoy the show. The creators of the animation did not shy away from using beautiful and dreamy colors. Hence, Sailor Moon contained a lot of vibrant pink, blue, and purple hues.

The anime’s magical girl transformation scenes set the visual standards for future anime styles, especially in the magical girl genre. Those scenes fully embody the famous Sailor Moon anime aesthetics with displays of hearts, glitter, pink ribbons, and stars. 

Sailor Moon’s Cultural Influence in Japan

Sailor Moon did not just set the standard for future anime styles; it also impacted Japanese culture. For one, it was one of the first shows to depict femininity as a powerful trait rather than a sign of weakness. It was also one of the first to address LGBTQA+ themes. In fashion, the anime featured characters wearing trendy 90’s clothing. It became famous for leading a fashion movement of girls dressing as feminine or masculine as they wanted, irrespective of their career choices.

The soundtracks of the movie followed mainstream pop music, leading to the creation of several musicals that continued to evolve even after the show ended. Also, the opening theme song, “Moonlight Densetsu,” was successfully released in CD format.

Merchandise and Media Expansion

After the original Japanese version of the Sailor Moon anime ended in 1997, Toei Animation did not release another serialized animated version until 2014, when they published Sailor Moon Crystal. The younger generation of anime lovers were treated to three seasons of the anime. Although it was not as fantastic or influential as the original, it was fairly successful. After several attempts to create live-action adaptations, they finally produced a live-action TV series in 2003 titled Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. In 2021, Toei Animation and Studio Deen co-produced a two-part animated film, Sailor Moon Eternal, as a sequel to Sailor Moon Crystal.

Merchandise campaigns of iconic Sailor Moon characters have also been released over the years, including collaborations with Sanrio, ColourPop, Maison de FLEUR, and Uniqlo. Bandai and Banpresto handled the majority of video game adaptations.  Another Story, The 3D Adventures of Sailor Moon, and Sailor Moon: The Moon Shines were some of the most iconic video games. 

Sailor Moon Around the World

Sailor Moon’s iconic status is partly due to how well it was received internationally. The first countries outside Japan to air episodes of the anime were France and Spain. Many other countries in Asia, Europe, and South America followed suit. The English-dubbed adaptation released in North America was also quite successful, helping the franchise establish an audience in the USA and Canada.

Legacy and Ongoing Relevance

The lasting legacy of Sailor Moon serves as an inspiration for many female-led superhero animations, including Tokyo Mew Mew (2002) and Cardcaptor Sakura (1998). Its most recent reboot, Sailor Moon Crystal, which follows the manga more closely than the original anime, remains a favorite among the Gen Z section of Sailor Moon fans. All themes of female empowerment portrayed in the manga and anime are still highly relevant in the modern era.

Visiting Sailor Moon Locations in Japan

If you’re in Japan, you can experience iconic themes and motifs in person by visiting Sailor Moon-related locations in the country. One of the best places in the world to see Sailor Moon exhibitions is the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Museum, which takes place in different locations across Japan. It features both new and old illustrations, original drawings, and manuscript holograms. You can also buy related goods and merchandise at the venues (Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, and Fukuoka). The latest exhibition at the Kanayama Minami Building Museum of Art, Nagoya, ends on September 1, 2024.

There’s a Sailor Moon-themed cafe located outside the Roppongi Museum, which serves as the venue for the Tokyo exhibition. The cafe sells different kinds of desserts, beverages, and main dishes. Popular menu items are their themed bread, omelette, parfait, latte, and pudding a la mode.

Conclusion

Sailor Moon means more than a media product to young girls all over the world. It’s a beloved icon that continues to inspire and entertain new generations. While you watch any of the animated iterations, don’t forget to share the experience with family and friends.

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