Sailor Venus
Minako, leader of the Sailor Guardians and the first to awaken, once known as Sailor V.
Sailor Venus is a character from Naoko Takeuchi's manga Sailor Moon and its predecessor, Codename: Sailor V. Her civilian identity is Minako, and she is the leader of the Sailor Guardians, the young women who defend the Solar System from evil. Although Usagi Tsukino finds her fourth, Minako was the first Guardian to awaken her powers, before Usagi herself. Her abilities draw on love and beauty, light and golden metal. In the manga and anime she longs to become a famous idol, while the live-action version presents her as an established celebrity singer.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon and Codename: Sailor V
- First
- Codename: Sailor V: "Sailor V Arrives! - [Channel 44] Pandora's Ambition" (August 3, 1991)
- Creator
- Naoko Takeuchi
- Full name
- Minako Aino
- Nickname
- Mina
- Also known as
- Sailor V
- Princess Venus
- Princess Sailor Venus (PGSM)
- Weapon
- Love-Me Chain; Holy Sword (manga and Sailor Moon Crystal)
- Family
- Mr. Aino (father); Mrs. Aino (mother)
Facts from the source article.
Background
Minako began as the heroine of Codename: Sailor V, a shorter manga that came before Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon. At thirteen she is awakened by the white cat Artemis, who tells her that Venus is her mother star and that she must guard Earth; he also shows her Magellan Castle circling Venus. When Sailor V proved popular enough for an anime, Takeuchi was asked to add more girls and made Usagi the lead, folding Minako into the team. In the anime she spends time in London, where an Interpol officer named Katarina teaches her English. On joining the others, she first poses as the princess they seek, acting as a decoy for Usagi.
Did You Know?
- Artemis lives in Minako's home and is one of her closest friends.
- Her live-action hit song "C'est La Vie" puns on the name Sailor V.
- She later joins Usagi, Ami and Makoto at Azabu-Jūban high school.
- She co-stars with Rei Hino in the short story Rei and Minako's Girls School Battle.
More in Sailor Senshi & Allies
Elsewhere in Sailor Moon
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