Sailor Moon

[Nod]

So....um.....I was wondering.....

Just what is it?

Is it any good?

[MJN SEIFER]

It's an anime and Yes it is amazing.

[Crushed Hope]

It is one of the weirdest anime shows I know of, then again I am not too into the Magical Girl anime thing, so I am a bit unknowing of what is really weird.

IT is a good show and I suggest you try and get all the episodes possible (I think there is one story arc that is not importable) >_>

[tomamar04]

Sailor Moon = Crap.

[LunarWeaver]

It's a lot of fluff and hearts. Personally, I love it...But that's just me. It's not for everyone.

[KoShiatar]

I loved it to death and as an anime it single-handedly started my undying passion for all things Japanese.
But if you're not a girl, and you're no longer 15, then you just mught find it fluffy.

[Mo-Nercy]

Card Captor Sakura and CCS: Master of the Clow do it so much better. In my limited experience with Sailor Moon, I found it all right...

I think it's a lot like Pretear. Though I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. xD

[TheAbominatrix]

I, personally, think it's amazing. It is very girly though, so if you arent into that then it isnt for you.

I'd read the manga first, it's much darker and more interesting... despite the horrid job Mixx did on translation and name continuity.

What is Sailormoon, exactly? Well, it's the story of a 13 year old girl name Usagi Tsukino. One day, she's approached by a talking cat named Luna, who gives her a transformation broach that allows her to become a Sailor Soldier called Sailormoon. Usagi, soon joined by other Sailor Soldiers, fights the evils threatening the world. Well... threatening Japan, at least xD.

It becomes a very deep, involving story, with over 30 (I used to know the exact number, but I've forgotten) Sailor Soldiers, lots of angst (in the manga at least), and some great humor. Again, it's not for everyone, but a lot of people really love it. It's one of the most popular anime series of all time, after all.

[DMKA]

Sailor Moon = Crap.
Die please.

http://fairy-dust.net/sailorobsession/galleries/moon/m7.jpg

It's quite an amazing thing really. It started out as a (rather extensive) manga, which Toei Animation (responsible for some of the more popular anime, including Dragonball/Z/GT) picked up and turned into what is one of the most popular anime in the world. The anime consist of five different series (or seasons...whichever you wish to reffer to them as): Sailor Moon, Sailor Moon R, Sailor Moon S, Sailor Moon Super S, and Sailor Stars, as well as three movies: Sailor Moon R: The Promise of the Rose, Sailor Moon S: Hearts in Ice, and Sailor Moon Super S: Black Dream Hole, some TV specials, and an ongoing musical (yes, like, a broadway musical) based upon it, usually reffered to as "Sera Miyu". The series is still shown on television in several countries, has been translated/dubbed/subbed into just about every major world language, has too much merchandise behind it to keep track of, and has a huge fan following.

In about 2003 I think (roughly six or seven years after the anime ended) someone decided to make yet another series; this time however, a live-action series, titled "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon". It spanned 2 seasons, with a total of 49 TV episodes, two special DVD exclusive episodes, and two or three very short "mini" episodes.

Something that needs to be kept in mind is that the manga, the anime, and the live action series are all separate entities; none of their stories go together...they just parallel each other in alot of ways...it's like an alternate retelling of the story, which is pretty neat (I'm just watching the live action series, and it's pretty interesting). All of them pretty much appeal to a wide range of age groups, but it's clear that each of them targeted different age groups (the manga being the most mature of them, then the anime being pretty universal depending on which point you were at, and the live action series more for the kiddies, though if you're a fellow moonie you love it anyway).

Personally, as many people already know, I'm a huge Sailor Moon fan...I'm currently watching the live-action series now that I got a fast connection (seeing as it will never see it's way outside Japan anyway), and it's quite nice to see something that I've never seen in the Sailor Moon universe. It's a great anime/manga really, and I think it has something for everyone...it has romance, it has comedy, it has action, it has it's really dramatic points, and it's extremely lighthearted points. I highly recommend it to everyone, though I know it's not for everyone, especially if magical girl stuff isn't your cup of tea. :D

[TheAbominatrix]

To add a little to what DMKA said... the movies only have titles from the American companies. In Japan, it's simply Sailormoon R movie, etc.

PGSM also was only 1 season long, but the amount of episodes you mentioned is right. It does get very very dramatic towards the end as well.

Oh, and to add to the list of 'series', there's the Parallel Moon 'session' in the Infinity Artbook, just a little nonsense story that isnt at all canon (but done by Naoko), and countless doujinshi (many of them hentai).

[Rengori]

I was also wondering what exactly it was, and DMKA answered the question perfectly.

[Yew-Yevon]

The same can be said about Naussicaa of the vally of the wind

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

<3

They said alll that is needed *is currently gets the subs* Sailor Moon, I fell in love the first time it aired on YTV, I haven't turned my back since. 200 Episodes of awesomeness. since watching the subs, I can't even stand to watch it in English anymore...Personally the manga was the best, and Codename Sailor V is a must read, for it makes you appreciate Sailor V so much more and also it is the prequil, and if I remember correctly the reason why Sailor Moon is here.

BTW anything by Hayao Myazaki is awesome. I read the Nausicaa manga and I watch several of the movies.

[TheAbominatrix]

Yeah, Code Name Sailor V was the original manga (also published in Nakayoshi I believe), and from it Naoko developed the idea for Sailormoon and an expanded team of Sailor Soldiers. And Sailor V was such an awesome character (with such a tragic story) that Naoko pulled her over into the Sailormoon story.

I feel the same way about the dub... I'm watching the series subbed again right now, and the dub is just awful. Not just for the amount of censorship or the bad voices, but the horrid 90's slang they toss around "As if!". Ugh.

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

I love the subs 'cause I can see Michiru and Haruka flirt. I still do not get how they called the cousins in the NA version, when certain scenes said so much more.

[TheAbominatrix]

The American censorship of the homosexual relationships always cracked me up, especially since it's a kid's show in Japan. Just shows the differences in the two countries.

Still, thanks to the stupid dub I still have trouble viewing Zoicite as a guy, even though I've known this fact for many many years.

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

Isn't Fisheye a guy too?

Yeah, but I find the manga you can tell, though I never watched the first season subs yet...8need to make data CDs and clean up his hardrive of Sailor Moon*

[TheAbominatrix]

Yeah, Fisheye is as well. The two (Zoicite and Fisheye) were so feminine in appearance that it was easy to simply change their characters to females to avoid having to deal with the homosexuality issues. I suppose Michiru and Haruka were even harder, but as it's nothing explicit, I dont see why they didnt just make them best friends or something. Making them cousins just added a creepy incest vibe to their constant touching.

Different countries have handled all this in different ways... one place (I believe it was Germany, and I'm not sure) dubbed SailorStars and made the StarLights pairs of identical twins... males and females.

For those of you who dont know, the three StarLights (Sailor Starmaker, Starfighter, and Starhealer) are originally female. When they come to Earth seeking their lost princess they decide to do so as males... so they assume the guise of boys. But when they become Sailor Soldiers, they're girls again. In the anime at least, in the manga they're always girls, just crossdressing and posing as boys. Anime had them as physical boys (which did not sit well with Naoko).

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

Yeah, I remember watching their transformation sequences. If you watch the star thingy near their chest as they transform you can see their breat enlarge. No I am not a perve, I am just saying you can see them actually change gender. Their hips also become more curvy.

I love when Michiru and haruka flirted, those were my favorite scenes. What they would save when they are alone. <3 Michiru and Haruka. Also Seiya had a thing for Usagi too, which was cute at first then sad at the end, when she kinda said Mamo is her only one, but Seiya still loved her. Also was it me or did they hint to Seiya and Princess Fireball having a thing at one time?

[DMKA]

Anime had them as physical boys (which did not sit well with Naoko).
Yes, because she considered it "a cheap way around her rule that only women can be senshi" :p

It's a shame that they won't bring Stars over here...it happens to be the best in my opinion. It even has the best animation (Eternal Sailor Moon's second attack sequence is nothing short of astonishing), but it doesn't seem like it will ever get licensed over here due to the gender swapping...which makes me wonder why so much other stuff (including bizzare hentai titles like Nightshift Nurses and Cool Devices) like Ranma which practically revolves around a character who constantly switches genders, HAVE been licensed. o__O

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

Who only knows. also you are forgetting about Usagi fighting Chaos/Galaxia in the nude. that is probably a big factor too. But yeas Stars was the best.

[DMKA]

Who only knows. also you are forgetting about Usagi fighting Chaos/Galaxia in the nude. that is probably a big factor too. But yeas Stars was the best.
True true. I think the main reason is probably because it's been marketed so highly as a "for kids" show here in America, yet uncut, here in America it has so much contents that would not be kid friendly...and alot of parents seem to go blind when it comes to looking at a rating label.

[XxSephirothxX]

I always considered it the girly version of Dragonball Z, and the two episodes I actually watched were rather retarded, but based on other people's opinions of it I'd say I underestimated the series. I'm sure whatever I saw on Cartoon Network was horribly butchered.

[DMKA]

I always considered it the girly version of Dragonball Z, and the two episodes I actually watched were rather retarded, but based on other people's opinions of it I'd say I underestimated the series. I'm sure whatever I saw on Cartoon Network was horribly butchered.
I wonder what episodes you saw...I've never seen an episode even remotely similar to Dragonball Z.

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

Stupid American ratings....I could just imagine the butcher fest if they did get the liscense in NA. Stars would be like 10-15 minutes long an episode...

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

I simply cannot stand this series. As was mentioned, it isn't for everyone and it just wasn't for me. The episodes strike me as extremely cheesy and I just cringe when I hear or read (depending on whether it's the subtitles or dubbed) some of the dialogue. It's just... not my thing.

[Skarr]

when i was really into sailor moon was around the time it was on c/n...i was in 6th grade...mostly all of the guys in my class watched it...but mainly because they considered it softcore porn with sex teases and no real trace of any of those traits...i guess the transformation scene got them...or the hentai porn...i dunno...i grew out of sailor moon...but this thread reminds me of it...i used to like it and part of me still does...i used to love one of the themes...some dude playing the flute at thier school...it was heart felt

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

There was no porn in Sailor Moon...But you means when Allain plays the flute. *never watched that season in Japanese so doesn't know his real name*

[Skarr]

i said that...but those guys watched whishing it might happen

[TheAbominatrix]

Allan in the dub. Seijuurou Ginga at school, and Ali at home as far as the Japanese version went. Ali and En were their real names, which makes a cute little 'Alien' joke.

And there isnt one trace of hentai in Sailormoon, most especially in the American version.

[Skarr]

i meant on the net

[DMKA]

i used to love one of the themes...some dude playing the flute at thier school...it was heart felt
Click the attachment and experience the remenisence that is Allan's flute. :D

[XxSephirothxX]

I didn't mean literally like DBZ, I meant in the sense that it was the cheesy over-done way too long show with crappy animation and voice acting. That sort of thing.

[DMKA]

I didn't mean literally like DBZ, I meant in the sense that it was the cheesy over-done way too long show with crappy animation and voice acting. That sort of thing.
Crappy animation and way too long? Again, I'd like to know what episodes you saw, because I've never seen such.

[Skarr]

holy <img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"> dude.......this is awesome dmka

[Shlup]

The animation was semi-crappy in the first season because it's old. Like, 1988 or something old. As animation improved and the budget increased, it got better. I think the animation by the 5th season is beautiful.

[TheAbominatrix]

I've noticed the animation tends to flux a lot. Some episodes, even first season, will be gorgeous, but the very next episode will look yuck again. It levels off and gets consistant around the S series, however.

[DMKA]

That is true. Stars has beautiful animation throughout though.

[TheAbominatrix]

Well like I said, it starts getting consistant around S. But they still occasionally fluctuate between the ugly flat fat faces and the slimmer, prettier ones. The Stars animation changed in general, most noticably in the eyes.

[Rinoa_Heartillly]

I loved the whole series! However, I hate english dubbing, it sucks butt. There's 200 episodes and some specials along with I believe 3 movies, a broadway kinda show every year in Japan. There also some rumours that Japan has a Sailormoon theme park. Yeah, I'm a fanatic. :D If anyone has seen the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon episodes, it's weird, I find the transformation too goofy.... I still think the manga is better.

[Takara]

Heh, what would there be to censor in episode 200 anyway? Even if Usagi is naked, it's not like you see details like nipples.

And I LOVE Sailormoon. I wish I had grabbed the DVDs for the first 2 seasons when they were still floating around. Can't find them anywhere now. Grr. :(

[Rinoa_Heartillly]

And I LOVE Sailormoon. I wish I had grabbed the DVDs for the first 2 seasons when they were still floating around. Can't find them anywhere now. Grr. :(

*insert dramatic music* I know!!! :D They still sell them in anime conventions! Also, the adv films site. Last time I've seen it it was still the same price that I've bought it before, $130. :D

[DMKA]

The first two seasons tend to pop up on eBay constantly. That's where I got my season 2 boxset for $60. :D

[Shlup]

I downloaded most of the episodes, including PGSM. I got all the movies and a bunch of episodes on video at the dollar store too. xD

I also have all of the first season videos, and the R boxed set. All dubbed. Ehehehe.

I have a ton of Sailormoon crap. TheAbominatrix and I have a ton of absolute crap from when anime stuff was hard to get in the US and we'd buy anything we saw. xD

[TheAbominatrix]

Sailormoon ice creeeeeeeeam! xD

Srsly, those were fun times.

[Shlup]

You'd swear the Sailormoon ice cream is the same as the other kinds but, no, it's not nearly as good as, say, Ninja Turtle ice cream.

...Man I could go for a Donatello right now.

[MJN SEIFER]

I always considered it the girly version of Dragonball Z, and the two episodes I actually watched were rather retarded, but based on other people's opinions of it I'd say I underestimated the series. I'm sure whatever I saw on Cartoon Network was horribly butchered.

The English Translation Pwns american Dubed and It's not girly _ It's Anime it's for boys and girls and It's got a better story than DBZ

[DMKA]

You'd swear the Sailormoon ice cream is the same as the other kinds but, no, it's not nearly as good as, say, Ninja Turtle ice cream.

...Man I could go for a Donatello right now.
I never had the nerve to buy the moon healing crystal wand ice cream thing, and yes, the ninja turtle ice creams were the shiz, with bubblegum eyes.

[TheAbominatrix]

I always considered it the girly version of Dragonball Z, and the two episodes I actually watched were rather retarded, but based on other people's opinions of it I'd say I underestimated the series. I'm sure whatever I saw on Cartoon Network was horribly butchered.

The English Translation Pwns american Dubed and It's not girly _ It's Anime it's for boys and girls and It's got a better story than DBZ

The English translation is horrid, both factually and in general slang. It's also very girly. It's an anime specifically targetted at GIRLS. It's fine for guys to like it of course, but it's made for young (5 to 7 or so) girls.

[Shlup]

I think by "English Translation" he meant subbed. And the dub isn't American, it's Canadian.

[DMKA]

And the dub isn't American, it's Canadian.
The first two seasons anyway.

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

Stephany Beard or Sugar, w/e you want to call her, has too high pitch of a voice, or at least she did when she did Chbiusa in S and SuperS....

[DMKA]

Stephany Beard or Sugar, w/e you want to call her, has too high pitch of a voice, or at least she did when she did Chbiusa in S and SuperS....
Her parody of "The Real Slim Shady" just scares me.

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

Stephany Beard or Sugar, w/e you want to call her, has too high pitch of a voice, or at least she did when she did Chbiusa in S and SuperS....
Her parody of "The Real Slim Shady" just scares me.
I never saw it, and the way it sounds, I am glad that I didn't.

[XxSephirothxX]

I didn't mean literally like DBZ, I meant in the sense that it was the cheesy over-done way too long show with crappy animation and voice acting. That sort of thing.
Crappy animation and way too long? Again, I'd like to know what episodes you saw, because I've never seen such.

I have no idea what episodes I saw. I was trying to say that I'd assumed this--I'm not saying it's accurate. But based on how many seasons/versions of the show there were, I think I may have been right about the overlong part. The only things I remember were some guy with a mask in some lame fight with somebody else, and in the other one a girl eating a lot of rice.

Edit: Right, dammit. Right.

[DMKA]

I have no idea what episodes I saw. I was trying to say that I'd assumed this--I'm not saying it's accurate. But based on how many seasons/versions of the show there were, I think I may have been write about the overlong part. The only things I remember were some guy with a mask in some lame fight with somebody else, and in the other one a girl eating a lot of rice.
x)

All five seasons of Sailor Moon combined don't have as many episodes as Dragonball Z alone does. It's nowhere near as long.