Usagi Tsukino

Mikan Shiratori

Castor

Ami Mizuno

Yusuke Amade

Thetis

Princess Dia

Sakiko's Father

Queen Serenity

Jadeite

Yuuji Kimura

Mamoru Chiba

Minako Aino

Reika Nishimura

Rei Hino

Kyurene

Jumeau

Makoto Kino

Janelyn

Widow

Higure Akiyama

Katarina

Yumemi Yumeno

Sakiko

Yuuichirou Kumada

Usagi Tsukino is an average student and crybaby klutz who constantly scores low on her tests. Unexpectedly, her humdrum life is turned upside down when she saves a cat with a crescent moon on its head from danger. The cat, named Luna, later reveals that their meeting was not an accident: Usagi is destined to become Sailor Moon, a planetary guardian with the power to protect the Earth. Given a special brooch that allows her to transform, she must use her new powers to save the city from evil energy-stealing monsters sent by the malevolent Queen Beryl of the Dark Kingdom.<br>
<br>
But getting accustomed to her powers and fighting villains are not the only things she has to worry about. She must find the lost princess of the Moon Kingdom, the other Sailor Guardians, and the Legendary Silver Crystal in order to save the planet from destruction.<br>
<br>
(Source: MAL Rewrite)

You know, this show really isn't all that bad.

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

Series experience:  This is my first time delving into anything Sailor Moon!

Short review: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, or the original Sailor Moon series’ first season, is a classic shoujo anime and a must-watch for fans of magic girl series. With charming leads, relatable humor, and timeless art, Sailor Moon’s proves that with the right combination of uniforms, monsters, and sparkles, a simple premise could become an enduring franchise. 

Full review:

_Warning: review contains spoilers_

Sailor Moon screenshots pop up every once in a while in social media - from Usagi’s state as a useless crybaby to the fashion forward outfits of Rei, I don’t think the internet is running out of Sailor Moon stuff to repost just yet. There was even a Sailor Moon redraw challenge recently. I started the series a few weeks ago because of the fashion and the color palette. Everything I saw from Sailor Moon was pretty. Upon seeing the first episode, I was sort of confused at how simple everything was. Maybe compared to modern anime the plot of Sailor Moon looks cliche, but I was determined to keep watching. 

Once I progressed through a few episodes, I didn’t fully get the hype. I mean, the show is funny, and Usagi & Co.’s outfits never disappoint. The transformation sequences are always fun to watch, and it’s pretty cool to see in action one of the cornerstones of the magical girl craze that swept Eastern and Western countries alike. Still, the initial pattern of the series - monster of the week, discover a senshi, monster of the week, discover a senshi - confused me. I wondered how this was going to keep going. Eventually I figured out that the anime has a lot more monsters compared to the manga, to stretch out the first arc a bit. Once all the girls are together, progress and character development slowly come to light, and it is then that I realized that I appreciate the slowing down of the series a bit. It might seem “simple” to some viewers who are used to huge plot twists and heavy overarching character themes, but I learned that the beauty in Sailor Moon is getting to know and love each of the senshi for all of their strengths and flaws.

The last few episodes really quite explode in big character origin story reveals, which are expected somehow but not too cheesy. Reincarnation, of course, is a common theme in these magical girl shows, and it was done pretty well in Sailor Moon. We learn the reason why Usagi and Mamoru are so drawn to each other, and a little bit about the other members of the inner senshi. Once the girls fully come to realize their places as Usagi’s protectors, we get to be proud of them for coming so far and doing their part. Personally, only at the end did I realize that the girls’ basic but strong friendship was something that I was going to miss. 

One of the issues I have is the focus on the main couple. I don’t really have a problem with Usagi and Mamoru’s relationship per se, but I guess it’s more of the wasted potential of setting up more development or relationships for the other senshi. Minako has more than enough backstory for a few episodes, and we don't get a lot about Makoto. 

Regarding the animation, I mentioned before that the transformation sequences here really paved the way for some big anime now, which is really cool. A lot of repeat animations, but I don’t think that’s unusual for the time it was released. It doesn’t feel outdated, and the colors and character designs are still gorgeous. The music is so, so catchy. The opening is legendary, and before I knew it, Moonlight Densetsu was living in my mind rent free. All the BG music is so catchy and the voice acting is memorable and apt in a way that soon enough you will be saying their lines with them.

Overall, I believe Sailor Moon’s original series is worth a watch. The girls are likable (and probably relatable to lots of teens), and the main romance is cute enough to satisfy a shoujo fan. I think girl power is an underrated anime genre, and Sailor Moon is one of those shows that could uplift someone when they’re feeling down. In the name of the moon, give it a shot!

Plot 7.5/10 
Animation 8/10 
Characters 9/10 

Overall personal enjoyment 9/10

Top 3 fave characters

Makoto/Sailor Jupiter - tall, multitalented, model-like looks and the cutest personality, I love herrrr the running gag of her failed love is too relatable too… I really like how she’s so headstrong and protective of everyone! of all the senshi her death scene was the most painfulll
Mamoru/Tuxedo Mask - one of the OG bishounen.. his good looks will never fade. I know it’s not that popular a thing now but the bullying the girl you like is strong with this one and somehow it still works! his own backstory is pretty interesting too
Rei/Sailor Mars - what a girl! she’s tough and cool, with a sharp tongue too. even though Rei has a bunch of vulnerabilities, she’s so loyal to her friends and her friendship with Usagi is so heartwarming. Even with all the Mamoru drama she stays an amazing friend

Others: Usagi, Naru, Kunzite

~~~img220(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/36/e9/df/36e9dfde786e4dc0c221feefba88eafb.gif)~~~

Thank you for reading!

Review for the manga: [Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Review](https://anilist.co/review/8073)
Review for the next season: [Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon R Review](https://anilist.co/review/8186)

As the first major directorial job of the famed director Junichi Satou— of Ojamajo Doremi, Princess Tutu, and Aria fame—as well as being one of the most influential magical girl anime of all time, Sailor Moon has steep expectations to live up to. And while it might at some points stumble under the weight of its own production, I believe that it ultimately sticks the landing.

While the animation is nothing to write home about, its style is one of its hallmarks. The show is constantly aglow with color, bringing forward an innocent charm; a richly lit Tokyo Tower always features prominently in the beautifully drawn streets of the Juban District, where much of the show takes place. As the series goes on, the Juban District becomes a close and familiar place for viewers, with characters constantly interacting with their environment—whether at the arcade or discussing team plans at Hikawa Shrine—in a way that allows for the area to feel very lived in and serving to strongly increase the comfortability of the viewer.

~~~img420(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7b/a1/17/7ba1171c4877508235a51b25b979e3cf.png)
Bro, vaporwave??????~~~

The music of the show remains a highlight. While the soundtrack of Sailor Moon is not utilized very expansively—the average episode will typically utilize at least 3-5 of the same songs—it is nevertheless a joy to listen to. With a mix of orchestral instruments as well as those typically utilized in rock and jazz, the show constantly has an energy lent to it by its sound, an energy that constantly lends to both the fast-paced comedy and touching romance that the show loves to juxtapose itself by.

~~~youtube(https://youtu.be/MWxJgokMkAQ)
I've heard this song at least 20 times, and it still hasn't gotten old~~~

On a different note, I must admit that the mainline story of Sailor Moon is not my favorite. That is not to say that it is “bad” or “inadequate,” but I firmly believe that this is not a show where the greatest strengths lie in its main story. Of course, this is not a universally agreed upon opinion; Sailor Moon Crystal exists if only to appease the parts of the fanbase who complained about how the 1992 show strayed so far from the original visions of mangaka Naoko Takeuchi. I am not one such fan. While the overarching romance between Usagi and Mamoru could be compelling, I found myself diverting my attention towards episodes—such as the episode where the gang goes to an anime studio or the episode about the boy who has a crush on Ami—that according to [some ](https://www.animefillerlist.com/shows/sailor-moon)are simply skippable filler. To put it in simpler terms, this is very much a show that I feel shines in its “filler” over the “essential” episodes. 

Arguably my biggest complaint about Sailor Moon is rather asinine. The transformation sequences for the Sailor Senshi are incredible, and rightly praised as such, with concise and dramatic posing framed by beautiful fabric animation that make them a joy to watch on an episode-to-episode basis. However, they are utilized inconsistently throughout the show. By Episode 33, all five Sailor Senshi are introduced into the show, meaning that, at most, there are going to be five transformations within a given episode, with some episodes not featuring all five transforming at once. One would think that the show would accommodate this and set a standard order and timing for every order of transformations, as a modern magical girl such as Precure would do. Sailor Moon does not do this, which means that in some episodes, transformations will be sped up, cut up, and otherwise fragmented. This obviously does not make the show unwatchable, but, especially within the context of binging, it makes watching segments of every episode somewhat jarring.

~~~youtube(https://youtu.be/o6HAHogcHFI)
Seriously, that fabric animation is fantastic!~~~

The Tokyo of the 1990s is a land of fads. While not strictly an intentional component of Sailor Moon’s ethos, it is nevertheless worthwhile to examine how the anime functions as a representation of the waning years of Japan’s economic bubble. Much of the “filler” of Sailor Moon takes place in new buildings or experiences that crop up across Tokyo every other day, whether that means an aerobics studio, a love cruise, or even a princess training camp, places that offer no practical value and that are, at times, relatively absurd. This anime is able to capture the end of an era for Japan, the closing of a time where people had more money than they knew what to do with, who put it in all in unrealistic ventures that would mostly collapse.

~~~img420(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/29/f4/06/29f4063e887a087667bb4e4d72384d0a.png)
Pictured: Usagi dreading the incoming Japanese economic crisis
~~~
It is worth noting that the manner of action within Sailor Moon is fundamentally different from the modern magic girl anime (i.e., Precure). The Sailor Senshi do not spar off with their opponents in any sort of active way. For the most part, battles involve the girls running away from villains, getting attacked by villains, and then, after enough time has passed, utilizing their unique powers to take down the villain. This “reactive” manner of battle is very different from the modern, “proactive” angle of magical girl, which Precure animator Hisashi Kagawa described as “pretty young girls like in Sailor Moon [engaging] in ‘Dragon Ball’-like action,” wherein the girls will actively put their all into the fight and spar off against enemies on a level playing field. Obviously the two types of actions are of their respective eras, and are built on top of even older trends, but it is still fascinating to go back to an anime such as Sailor Moon and see how the genre looked before several drastic changes took place over time.

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon is a lot of things. It is one of the most aesthetically pleasing shows I have ever watched. It is a show jampacked with charming characters and lovely music. It is a conceptual jumble that at times can be downright bewildering to view. But above all, it is an anime that delivers on a promise of showcasing the “Miracle of Romance,” and I truly do love it for that.

The Greatest Deconstruction of Magical Girl Anime since Madoka Magica

It all started when Usagi, 14, in 2nd year of Japanese middle school,, who's a bit of a klutz and a crybaby, as she was late to school (as usual), rescued a cat from being bullied by children and removed some bandage from that cat's forehead, unveiling a crescent moon-shaped mark. Little did she know at that moment that this simple action would change her life and she'd become a superheroine in japanese sailor uniform that fights against evil in the name of love and justice! While helping people being tormented by evil bad guys, she learns how to use her newfound powers and finds more girls who can also transform and join her in her quest to find a mysterious princess and a mysterious Silver Crystal.

As "classic" as this intro may sound, you have to understand that Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon marked a turning point in the Mahou Shoujo genre back in 1992. Indeed, up until now, the concept involved a solitary little girl acquiring powers which she would then use to solve people's problems, and this secret would be shared with no-one. What Sailor Moon adds to the used-up formula is a spark from the sentai genre, such as Kamen Rider, Power Rangers, etc. This is why she repeats her introduction for each villain she faces, with those exaggerated movements and poses. This is why her secret isn't just for herself but gets shared among the Sailor Guardians as they unite to defeat evil. Sailor Moon invented and popularized the concept of having multiple magical girls on the stage, a formula so potent that it became the standard for Mahou Shoujo stories from that point onwards: _Ojamajo Doremi, Tokyo Mew Mew, Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica_, etc.

And honestly, it's not difficult to understand why Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon marked the collective consciousness: from the very first seconds, the viewer is treated to an opening sequence that is memorable from A to Z: very colorful imagery mixing romanticism and mischief with a little touch of surrealism, catchy music, this OP is then followed by the title card, showering the eye with pastel colors and flattering the ear with a charming jingle that quite simply never gets old. Sailor Moon is definitely part of those anime that make a very strong impression from the get-go. As a matter of fact, the anime itself is quite theatrical at times, with its romanticism and tragic aspects, and a lot of scenes leave a strong impression, like the lovely panning shot of Tuxedo Mask kissing Usagi in her dress under the moon, or the Christian aspect of Queen Serenity dying on collapsed pillars forming a cross behind her.

Our protagonist, Usagi, also certainly doesn't leave people indifferent. Her being a crybaby can sometimes be a turnoff, but I found her almost immediately incredibly endearing due to the fact that she's just a 14 year-old girl who now has to deal with having a secret life of fighting against terrifying demons that prey on people to steal their energy, but also because she's a girl with a lot of heart who desires a lot of genuine attention and love. Seeing her sleeping while dreaming about becoming a star loved by the public was quite touching and her innocent behavior behind her many "aspirations" certainly made my heart melt. She's a very straightforward girl who doesn't lie to herself, which is commendable.
 
As formulaic as the show can be, one of its strengths is that it uses a lot of settings/places that are aimed at women: the early part of the show mostly consists in the antagonist deceiving women through the sweetness of "free stuff" to take advantage of them by stealing their life force, which is honestly a very good lesson that is spelled very early on: "there is no such thing as a free meal" and women should beware of predators (people, companies or governments) that make promises that are too good to be true: strings always come attached.

As the formulaic part of the show progresses, 2 other girls join Usagi in her quest very early and they form the main trio. This is what I'd consider to be the best part of the show, which manages to find a balance between episodic content, character interactions, and progression, while also hinting at some much bigger backstory. This is also the part where Naru, Usagi's best friend, becomes an important character and starts to fall for the main antagonist of the arc, Nephrite. This is an arc about the power of love, and how the innocent pining of a young girl manages to win over a cold-hearted being that was hellbent on accomplishing his mission before anything else. This arc culminates in the most emotional moment of the entire series and... unfortunately, it's all downhill from here on out.

You see, for a show to remain consistent, sometimes evolution is needed. The problem is that after Nephrite's arc comes the Rainbow Crystals arc and their introduction is quite brutal to say the least, while also confining the show in its formulaic aspect. First of all, until that point, the goal had been to either defend people or look after the Silver Crystal. Now it turns out, all of a sudden, that the McGuffin was actually somehow divided by the lunar queen into seven smaller McGuffins, which reside into people who are actually monsters but don't know that. 

As a result, there's now a rush for all the parties for whoever will manage to get the seven Dragonballs... I mean Chaos Emeralds... I mean, Rainbow Crystals. And yeah, I've said all parties because, for some reason, Tuxedo Mask, going through an identity crisis, decides that now, he should become a "third party" and compete with both the Sailor Guardians and the Dark Kingdom bunch for the McGuffins in search for his past. The problem is that he had always been an ally of the Guardians so far and there's no reason for him to antagonize his protégées, especially since he could still ask them to help him once they've gathered all the crystals.

This search ends up repeating (or rather continuing) the same pattern as the first part of the series and we're 26 episodes in. Sure there might be some level of character development, like Ami developing reciprocated feelings of love for the young Urawa, but in essence, the series is completely stagnating here and Zoisite is not nearly as interesting as Nephrite. At this point, it's pretty obvious that we're completely in filler territory. In fact, during the entire second half of the anime, only episode 34, 35, and the last 3 episodes offer interesting content. Unfortunately, after all this filler, the obvious revelations and the "shocking" events fall flat and do not affect me. Also, unfortunately, Sailor Venus was introduced to the series way too late and the 4 accompanying Guardians have been tagalongs for quite some time at that point, so there's been no proper character development and interactions haven't changed since the beginning of the series.

But do you know what is worse than bad writing? Insults. And there are some in the second part of the series that effectively soured my appreciation of the work overall. Those are mostly linked to Usagi. You know, that cute girl who triggered my paternal instincts at the start of the series? The problem is that she has basically not evolved in 30+ episodes and repeats the same actions during every episode. Worse, she effectively becomes the worst part of her own show due to her usual antics and interactions with Rei becoming obnoxious. However, after it turns out that, TADAAA, Usagi was the Moon Princess all along, she starts developing negative behaviors, like _giving up the fight while in enemy territory,_ which results in Kunzite defeating the 4 other Sailor Guardians while she was just sitting there watching it. She even went as far as __refusing to turn back Katarina into a human just because she had stolen the man Minako was in love with__, and it took Minako's pleading to spur Usagi to actually heal Katarina. Like, um, Usagi? Hello? What were you planning to do then? You can't exactly let a monster running around, especially since it discovered your identity so, did you mean to kill her? What the hell?
The flashback episode also reveals that Queen Serenity never split the Silver Crystal into the Rainbow Crystals, as we clearly see that she dies while the Silver Crystal just floats away and the seven great demons are not even mentioned during the Lunar invasion, which basically corroborates the idea that the entire Rainbow Crystals arc was nothing but pure filler.
And I won't talk much about that ending that basically invalidates the entire series like Sonic 06's ending erased all the events of the game, because it's self-explanatory.

Ultimately, and while it might be presomptuous of me to say so, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon is not the "anime classic" that most people seem to think. It suffers from many writing issues, too many to be forgivable, and doesn't offer much in the realm of character development until the very last few episodes, and the filler aspect can't be used as an excuses: after all, a few years later, the animated adaptation of Cardcaptor Sakura would prove everyone that filler can be nicely written. Unfortunately, Sailor Moon is not on the same level.

A "classic" whose filler content gets more and more sour as episodes go by (long read)

#__Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon__

___Warning: review contains spoilers___
Series experience:  This is my first time delving into anything ''Sailor Moon''!



Short review:
__Sailor moon__ is a __Japanese manga__ series written and illustrated by __Naoko Takeuchi__. An anime television series adaptation by __Toei Animation__ premiered on Mar 7, 1992. The final episode aired on Feb 27, 1993.

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, or the original Sailor Moon series’ first season, is a classic shoujo anime and a must-watch for fans of magic girl series. With relatable humor, charming leads and timeless art, Sailor Moon’s proves that with the right combination of uniforms, monsters, and sparkles, a simple premise could become an enduring franchise.

This my friends, is a classic for a reason!

Story:
It all started when Usagi ''14 years old'', in 2nd year of Japanese middle school who was late to school (as usual). rescued a cat from being bullied by children and removed some bandage from that cat's forehead, who knew that this would reveal a crescent moon-shaped mark. Little did she know at that moment that this simple action would change her life and she'd become a superheroine in japanese sailor uniform that fights against evil in the name of love and justice! While helping people being tormented by evil bad guys, she learns how to use her newfound powers and finds more girls who can also transform and join her in her quest to find a mysterious princess and a mysterious Silver Crystal.

Full review: 
Once I progressed through a few episodes, I didn’t fully get the hype. I mean the show is funny, and Usagi's outfits never disappoint. The transformation sequences are always fun to watch, and it’s pretty cool to see in action one of the cornerstones of the magical girl craze that swept Eastern and Western countries alike. But still, the initial pattern of the series -> monster of the week, discover a senshi, monster of the week, discover a senshi - confused me a little. I wondered how this was going to keep going. Eventually I figured out that the anime has a lot more monsters compared to the manga, to stretch out the first arc a bit. Once all the girls are together, progress and character development slowly come to light, and it is then that I realized that I appreciate the slowing down of the series a bit. It might seem “simple” to some viewers who are used to huge plot twists and heavy overarching character themes, but I learned that the beauty in Sailor Moon is getting to know and love each of the senshi for all of their strengths and flaws.




Overall, I believe Sailor Moon’s original series is really worth a watch. The girls are likable and probably relatable to lots of teens, and the main romance is cute enough to satisfy a shoujo fan. I think girl power really is an underrated anime genre, and Sailor Moon is one of those shows that could uplift someone when they’re feeling down. 

Fav characters:
Minako Aino/Sailor Venus totally is my favorite of the girls so far! I love how she is the most grown besides all of them, in some way she takes care of them and I really like that personality
Mamoru/Tuxedo Mask is one of the OG bishounen... his good looks will never fade. Also bullying the girl you like is strong with this one and somehow it still works! his own backstory is pretty interesting too.

Music (op/ed):
Japanese make the catchiest openings for the animes, It's such a lovely opening. There's a little melancholy to it, it's a little serous, a little scary. Absolute classic and forever in my heart. The new opening theme has NOTHING against the original

This ending was so beautiful. It gives me goosebumps. Sailor Moon has some of the most amazing beautiful music, it's so calm and has a nice beat.

Ratings:
Plot 7.5/10
Animation 8/10 
Characters 9/10 
Music 7.5/10

Overall personal enjoyment 9/10

In the name of the moon, give it a shot!

This my friends, is a classic for a reason!

Love in *Sailor Moon* always has been hanging around the branch of romance people run up to with eager eyes. Teenage girls pass through days in a city dressed in the blessings of the pink and rosy, ribbon tied by hands who wish to hold those of the people they love--few fulfilled, most in yearning. The sailor soldiers of love and justice were only agents of romance and world peace through local service to me, as nothing else could overcome the sheer attachment of the series to the same subject. It was a pleasant surprise that through the final confrontation, *Sailor Moon*'s love unlocked a more universal concept for itself to cleanly use the slice-of-life elements and the lack of heroic super abilities on a grandiose scale to its advantage. Initially, it gave a stale taste that the expected amount of "Magic" in "Magical Girl" was undetected, but indeed, it seems like older shows are masters of brainwashing right at the denouement, sweeping the floor with an explosive finish to compensate for the slow journey laden only with bread crumbs of refreshing lore and action.

Ordinary Schoolgirl Usagi does not need to be a Revolutionary Girl Utena. A protagonist who leads like Usagi--who leads with stellar incompetence, clumsiness, and easily-distracted near-sightedness--is surely to be a ticking time bomb at the mercy of character development (or lack thereof). Her irresponsible behavior contrasting the sober heroism of the other four, to me, sets her above the rest of the cast by miles not only because of colorful dynamics interplaying, but also because *Sailor Moon* makes a fictional life realistically filled with challenges one would rather want to opt out of in exchange for the simple days of going to school, being late, spending late nights at entertainment; hanging out with friends, talking about boys in turn, eating shortcakes and chocolate parfaits; finding love, giving love, and receiving love. It is the love for the ordinary life and everyone presiding within it that prevails by the end alongside, of course, the same old romance which will never fade away, and will continue to fill the Earth with tempting levels of energy foreign invaders would want to get their hands on and defile with their pessimistic ideals. I could tolerate the myriad of silliness everyone and their mother can fully enumerate by virtue of its time period, production conditions, supreme OP and EDs, and beauty one might attribute to nostalgia-related things, and though it has definitely affected my enjoyment, *Sailor Moon* still poses considerably in its landing.

There will be more to explore for four more seasons and extra content. I am hopeful for the future installments, and shall settle on this score for now, what with its problems that have left me sour much along the way, especially with the way our girls were treated like under-leveled players in terms of the administration of their personality and relevance aside from their powers being dead an episode after arrival. Toleration can really only do so much when the problems still lie at the back of the head.

Sailor Moon Series Watch Order

Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon R

Sailor Moon R Movie

Sailor Moon S

Sailor Moon S Movie: Hearts in Ice

Sailor Moon SuperS

Sailor Moon Ami's First Love

Sailor Moon SuperS Movie

Sailor Moon Sailor Stars

Sailor Moon Crystal Season 1 Dark Kingdoms

Sailor Moon Crystal Season 2 Black Moon

Sailor Moon Crystal Season 3 Death Busters

Sailor Moon Crystal Eternal Movie 1

Sailor Moon Crystal Eternal Movie 2