Sailor Moon (TV series)
A schoolgirl becomes a magical warrior to defend Earth.
Sailor Moon is a Japanese superhero anime television series produced by Toei Animation, based on the manga of the same title by Naoko Takeuchi. It originally aired in Japan as Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon and follows the adventures of Usagi Tsukino, a middle school student who becomes a magical warrior known as a Pretty Soldier. The series is notable for its global popularity, spawning numerous additional media including films, video games, and soundtracks, and for inspiring a reboot series, Sailor Moon Crystal, which began airing in July 2014.
Quick Facts
- Based On
- Sailor Moon · Naoko Takeuchi
- Genre
- Magical girl
- Director
- Junichi Sato (season 1) · Kunihiko Ikuhara (R–SuperS) · Takuya Igarashi (Sailor Stars)
- Producer
- Iriya Azuma (season 1–SuperS) · Kenji Ōta · Toshihiko Arisako (SuperS–Sailor Stars) · Kōichi Yada (SuperS–Sailor Stars)
- Developer
- Sukehiro Tomita (season 1–S) · Yōji Enokido (SuperS) · Ryōta Yamaguchi (Sailor Stars)
- Music
- Takanori Arisawa
- Open Theme
- "Moonlight Densetsu" by DALI (Episodes 1-89) and Moon Lips (Episodes 90-166) / "Sailor Star Song" by Kae Hanazawa (Episodes 167-200)
- Company
- TV Asahi · Toei Advertising · ja · 東映エージエンシー · Toei Animation
- Country
- Japan
- Language
- Japanese
- Network
- ANN (TV Asahi)
- First Aired
- 1992-03-07
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Set in Tokyo in the 1990s, the series follows 14-year-old Usagi Tsukino, an underachieving schoolgirl who meets a magical talking cat named Luna. Luna gives Usagi the ability to transform into Sailor Moon, tasked with locating the moon princess and battling the evil Dark Kingdom led by Queen Beryl. Usagi is joined by other Sailor Soldiers: Ami Mizuno (Sailor Mercury), Rei Hino (Sailor Mars), Makoto Kino (Sailor Jupiter), and Minako Aino (Sailor Venus), along with the mysterious Tuxedo Mask, whose civilian identity is Mamoru Chiba. The story reveals their past lives on the ancient moon kingdom of Silver Millennium, where they served Princess Serenity, and their reincarnation on Earth after the kingdom's destruction.
The series is divided into story arcs: Sailor Moon (1992–1993) covers the battle against the Dark Kingdom; Sailor Moon R (1993–1994) introduces extraterrestrials Ail and An and the future-born Chibiusa, who is revealed to be Usagi and Mamoru's daughter; Sailor Moon S (1994–1995) features the Death Busters and the introduction of Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, and Sailor Pluto, as well as the awakening of Sailor Saturn. Throughout, Usagi matures from an emotional middle school girl into a responsible young adult.
Reader's Guide
The article notes that Sailor Moon's popularity in the United States led to the manga being released there by Tokyopop. The anime's success spawned numerous additional media, including films, video games, and soundtracks. A new animated adaptation, Sailor Moon Crystal, a reboot series that more closely follows the manga, began airing worldwide in July 2014. The series was dubbed for release in various regions including North America, Southeast Asia, Greater China, Australia, Europe, and Latin America. The article emphasizes the series' global reach and its role in expanding the franchise beyond the original anime, highlighting its lasting impact on popular culture.
Did You Know?
- The series originally aired in Japan from March 7, 1992, to February 8, 1997.
- The manga by Naoko Takeuchi was published from 1991 to 1997 in Nakayoshi.
- A reboot series, Sailor Moon Crystal, began airing worldwide in July 2014.
- The anime was dubbed for release in North America, Southeast Asia, Greater China, Australia, Europe, and Latin America.
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