“Sailor Moon,” for many countries
around the world, is one of the most influential Japanese anime of the 1990s.
The adventures of schoolgirls that transform into sailor-suited magical
warriors themed after the moon and planets of the solar system was an unforgettable
hit. It was revived starting in 2014 as “Sailor Moon Crystal,” which retells
the original manga by Naoko Takeuchi compared to the first Toei anime which was
filled with filler monsters of the week. Reception to the “remake” was divisive
due to the uneven art style, but improved by the third season. Now the fourth
season, in the form of two movies next year, has been officially announced.
According to Comic Book Resources the first trailer for the “Sailor Moon Eternal”
anime movies was released online by Toei Animation last Sunday, June 30. The
date was appropriate due to it being the birthday of Usagi Tsukino, the clumsy
but good-hearted main character who transforms into the titular Sailor Moon.
This was also good news for fans of the “Sailor Moon Crystal” remake, who were last
informed that the fourth story arc was going to be adapted into several films way
back in 2017, one year after the release of the third remake season.
While the “Sailor Moon Crystal”
series that “Eternal” will follow from got flak for the character designs that
were far removed from the nineties look that is more iconic for franchise
followers, the upcoming movies is banking on more nostalgia due to the return
of Kazuko Tadano, the character designer from the original “Sailor Moon” and “Sailor
Moon R” series of 1992-1994. Her revamp of the “Crystal” character designs
further blends the remake look (based on Naoko Takeuchi’s artwork) with the
retro styling that fans yearned for. This is topped by the triumphant return of
“Moonlight Densetsu,” the unforgettable theme song of the nineties anime for
its first four seasons.
“Sailor Moon Eternal” will cover
the third story saga of Takeuchi’s manga called the “Dream” arc, which in turn
was first adapted into “Sailor Moon Super S” which aired in 1995-96. This sees
Usagi/Sailor Moon, her friends the Sailor Guardians, her boyfriend
Mamoru/Tuxedo Mask, and their future daughter Chibi-Usa/Sailor Chibi Moon as
they fight the Dead Moon Circus of Queen Nehelenia. While the “Super S” series
restricted the team to the core Guardians, “Eternal” will ostensibly follow the
manga storyline which also features the “Outer” Guardians: Sailors Uranus,
Neptune, Pluto and Saturn. Plotline is also altered between anime and manga.
“Sailor Moon Eternal – Part 1” is
scheduled to premiere on Japanese cinemas in early 2020, with “Part 2” arriving
in the latter half of that year. Only time will tell when they will be released
internationally like earlier “Crystal” seasons. Kotono Mitsuishi (original and
remake) reprises the voice of Sailor Moon alongside the “Crystal” cast.
Image from Den of Geek
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