Relationship profile #1 ~ Usagi and Mamoru

Usagi and Mamoru are the main coupling in Sailor Moon. Destined for one another since time immemorial their relationship goes through several stages and develops throughout the story in a satisfying way. Their interactions are key to the continuation of the main story as well as contributing to the romantic subcurrent present within each version of the Sailor Moon saga.

Usagi and Mamoru are vital to the main plot as the protagonists of the story. Without their doomed relationship within the time of the Moon Kingdom, Sailor Moon as we know her would simply not exist and there would be no tale to tell. It is the love story between Serenity and Endymion which kick-starts the rebellion of the Earth Kingdom and the corruption of Queen Beryl. This rebellion takes the lives of both Serenity and Endymion, leading to their reincarnation in modern day Tokyo and the beginning of the new battle with the Dark Kingdom which is where the story starts for the viewer.

Upon their first meeting Usagi and Mamoru don't get on quite as destined lovers should. Usagi has just failed a test with 40/100 and in despair throws her scrunched up test paper behind her. Naturally, it hits Mamoru in the face leading to a brief confrontation. She believes him to be stuck up and he believes her to be stupid, having seen her test result. He compounds her dislike of him by referring to her as "Odango" or "dumpling"-head. This makes her angry and their relationship is soon set as one of annoyance and intense dislike.

However, Mamoru is also Tuxedo- Kamen who, as early as the first episode establishes himself as Sailor Moon's love interest. It is later in the first series, when the location of the Silver Crystal is revealed that Tuxedo-Kamen's identity as Mamoru Chiba is uncovered, much to Usagi's dismay. It is also important to note that with the Silver Crystal, the memories of the Senshi and Tuxedo-Kamen return to them and Usagi and Mamoru recognise each other truly for the first time. The joy of this moment is cut short as Mamoru is kidnapped by the Dark Kingdom and Brain washed. this opens up a whole new stage in the relationship between the couple.

The Brain-washing of Mamoru allows Usagi's character to expand and mature. For the first time she does not have Mamoru to save her anymore and also for the first time she knows and accepts her love,which makes her seperation from Mamoru doubly difficult. In the anime, she heals him and saves him however in the manga, the story takes a far more dramatic turn. Usagi, destitute with grief at her inability to save the man she loves, resolves to at least save him from himself and the taint of association with the Dark Kingdom. She takes the Silver Crystal sword and kills him, before killing herself. This is a strong statement by Naoko Takeuchi about the strength and depth of Usagi's feelings for Mamoru and it allows the audience to see a different side of Usagi's usually playful and relaxed character. With the help of the Silver Crystal, Usagi and Mamoru are healed and go on to defeat the evil Queen Metallia, leading to a short respite of peace.

In the anime however, there is yet more seperation for Usagi to endure. After a small time during which Usagi and Mamoru are happy and in love, Mamoru begins to have dreams informing him that if he stays with Usagi, then disaster will befall her. He breaks up with her and much of Sailor Moon R is spent dealing with the emotional anguish that this causes them both.

In the live action version of Sailor Moon, the plot line between Usagi and Mamoru is slightly different. She finds out that he is the engimatic Tuxedo Kamen but also that they cannot be together as he is already promised to another young woman. This story emulates the pain of seperation shown in the R season.

Eventually, Endymion and Serenity have their happy ending and are married. Naoko Takeuchi always swore to herself that the story would end with their wedding, and so it did.

Merchandise #1

Due to the Success of Sailor Moon there is a large amount of merchandise bearing the Sailor Moon logo. Some of it is rather unusual especially by western standards and i have collected a few examples here for your delectation.

A Sailor Moon cooking set including a chopping board, measuring spoons, knife, peeler, bottle opener, ladle, whisk and Spatula...

A Sailor Chibi Moon Karaoki set...

A Luna hat. Also available in Artemis colours...

Sailor Moon slippers available as each of the Senshi...

There is a great number of Sailor Moon cosmetic kits...

Sailor Moon socks...

                                           
A Sailor Moon baking set including a decorating kit and recipe book...

Naoko Takeuch is herself a big fan of of the Sailor Moon merchandise and owns a set of the senshi slippers. The fact that there is so much unusual merchandise makes being a moonie fun...if a little expensive!

Villain profile #1 ~ Queen Beryl

Queen Beryl is the enemy in the first series of every version of Sailor Moon. Queen of the Dark Kingdom, it is her mission to crush the Moon Kingdom, claim the Silver Crystal and rule the world; the basic super villain bit. In the anime she doesn't really have any other motive than her longing for power, however in the manga and live action versions she was a servent of Prince Endymion who could not bear the fact that he was in love with Princess Serenity instead of her. This underlying feeling of betrayal and heartache perhaps explains why she was so open to the corruption of Queen Metalia who becomes her mistress.

Queen Beryl's story begins before the Sailor Moon saga that we know. Before the scope of the story (although we are told about it), she helps Metalia crushthe Moon Kingdom, killing Serenity, Endymion, the Senshi and indirectly Queen Serenity. Metalia is sealed away by Queen Serenity but we are left assume that Queen Beryl was killed and reincarnated at the same time as the senshi or else her story does not make sense. It is Queen Beryl who reawakens Queen Metalia kick starting the Sailor Moon saga.

Beryl's role as a villain is strong because of her vehement hatred towards the Moon kingdom. This makes her irredemable as a character meaning that we all root exclusively for the senshi as they set about defeating her. This is unlike future villains who have deeper reasons for what they do and are thus more rounded and challenging characters. Queen Beryl's simplicity is a vital fragment of the story at this stage for two reasons. First is that Usagi and the senshi are still coming to terms with themselves and their new found powers, to expose them to a complex and deep version of Beryl would have thrown their character development off mark somewhat. Second is the fact that the Senshi are the main characters of the story. It is essential that the audience side with and love them before they begin to perform challenging or morally difficult behaviour or else there is a risk of dispersing or even losing the viewers.

"Why must you always take everything away from me, Princess?" - Queen Beryl

Location profile #3 ~ Rainbow bridge

The Tokyo Rainbow bridge was completed just as the second series of Sailormoon began to air, opening in 1993. Extending over the Tokyo port area the Rainbow Bridge was visable from Naoko Takeuchi's work room in which she drew the manga and wrote the storylines for the subsequent anime. Although it is called the "Rainbow bridge" the towers are infact white and are lit up at night creating a dazzling light display. These lights are powered by solar pannels placed on the bridge itself.

The animators of Sailor Moon used this location to great effect as a battle ground for the Senshi and the black moon sisters Petz and Calaveras. It was also used in the second season opening.

Perhaps more importantly, in the manga side notes Naoko Takeuchi speaks of the view from her window as being an inspiration to her. It may be that the Rainbow bridge is more than simply a Sailor Moon location but also a progenating force behind the creativity of the series.

Posting Schedule

Now that i have built up a small back catalogue of posts i will be limited my posting schedule to every Monday and Thursday. Sadly, real life won't allow me to carry on at my current pace !

*~Thanks~*



Character Profile #13~ Artemis

Artemis is a counterpart to two characters; Luna and Minako. It is he who enters the story with the nearest thing to a complete memory which ensures his place as a main character that is not superceded by his human colleagues or by Luna who could have overshadowed him with her similarity in physical form or function.

Artemis appears for the first time in "Codename Sailor V", the underrated prequal manga, where he finds, recruits and guides Minako Aino; the original Sailor Senshi. He has a slightly immature personality forever taking matters into his own hands and attempting to impress Luna ending up in a variety of scrapes. He is however also a passionate character who takes his purpose as guide and friend to the Senshi very seriously. It is Artemis who most often offers practical advice, leaving any emotional or personal advice to Luna.

Artemis is however very close to the character of Minako, supporting her when she is alone and knowing before anyone else when something is wrong. This access to another character makes Artemis  more interesting and also allows the viewer that same point of entry to Minako.

Artemis also has a close relationship with Luna, to whom he eventually gives a daughter in the form of Diana. Though his courtship of Luna is clumsy at best, the audience never doubts that his love is true and that he will always and has always been at her side. This allows the relationship to progress in a different way to that of Usagi and Mamoru whose relationship is rather stop and go.

Artemis is less stand alone than other characters but this in itself makes him different and rounded as a complete character. His relationship with Minako is different to the relationship between Luna and the other Senshi, setting them apart as something else. Capable of great courage, Artemis walks a fine line between friendship and leadership which makes his character challenging but lovable.

"Always trust and have faith in your friends" - Artemis

Saban Moon ~ Heinous error or terrible mistake?

Sailor Moon is one of the most influential animations of all time. It was only natural that eventually it make its way world wide, beginning in the 1990's with its distribution to North America. Toei put the series up for sale in a bidding process, part of which involved the bidders displaying when they intended to do with the rights to such a franchise. The two main bidders were DiC and Renaissance- Atlantic in conjuction with Toon Makers.

There is a misapprehension that the other competitor was Saban. Saban has been responsible for such Japanese cross-overs as "Power Rangers", "Digimon", "Super Mario Bros." and "Dragon Ball Z" and Saban's history with DiC has been fraught, with a few legal cases between the two and a large amount of competition in the children's programme and dubbing market. Also, Saban was for a time attached to Renaissance- Atlantic, so Sailor Moon fans began to dub the bidding project, "Saban Moon". This however is not the case as Saban actually had nothing whatsoever to do with the bid for the franchise.

DiC approached Toei with its own dub of the series. This dub isn't particularly fantastic and there was alot of tweaking with footage and episode structure in order to westernise the story. However, Renaissance-Atlantic went forth with an entirely new concept of Sailor Moon; the first episode of which being written, directed and produced by Toon Makers founder and president, Rocky Solotoff.

Toon Makers created the 17 minute promo video as well as the 2 minute music video seen on many video streaming sites such as Youtube. Soon after however, this version became known as Sailor Moon's "Worst Case scenario". The pilot episode has so-far never seen the light of day and perhaps this is a good thing as there are still Sailor Moon fans baying for Saban's blood; even though Saban is an innocent by-stander in this escapade.

Toei handed Sailor Moon to DiC who set about murdering the series in their own way, however the legend of "Saban Moon" refuses to die. It is my feeling that this is simply because it is so painful!

• The animation is americanised. This would not be a problem except that the series was already animated in Japan.
• The character design is altered pretty radically.
• Any references whatsoever to Japanese culture are cut and the series looks like an episode of "Beverly Hills 90210".
• It is quite simply NOT Sailor Moon anymore.

Rocky Solotoff still insists that this new version of Sailor Moon would have been an improvment upon the original and that eventually it would have proven more popular. However, Moon fans everywhere say "keep dreaming!"