Sailor Moon facts for kids
| Sailor Moon | |
First tankōbon volume, released in Japan
on July 6, 1992 featuring Usagi Tsukino as Sailor Moon. |
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Quick facts for kids 美少女戦士セーラームーン(Bishōjo Senshi Sērāmūn) |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Magical girl |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Naoko Takeuchi |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| English publisher | |
| Demographic | Shōjo |
| Magazine | Nakayoshi, Run Run |
| English magazine | |
| Original run | December 28, 1991 – February 3, 1997 |
| Volumes | 18 |
| Anime television series | |
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| Other media | |
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Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon or Sailor Moon is a super popular manga (Japanese comic book) series. It was created by Naoko Takeuchi. The story was also made into an anime (Japanese cartoon) series by Toei Animation.
Sailor Moon became one of the most famous anime and manga series in the 1990s. It had five TV seasons, four movies, and many video games. Even today, it has a huge fanbase with lots of websites made by fans!
Contents
Meet the Sailor Guardians
The main character is Usagi Tsukino (called Serena in English). She is an eighth grader who is a bit clumsy and sometimes cries easily. She also struggles with her grades.
One day, Usagi meets a talking cat named Luna. Luna tells Usagi that she is actually Sailor Moon, a superhero! Her job is to fight evil monsters. These monsters try to steal energy from people.
Usagi is not alone in her fight. She has special friends who join her. They are Sailor Mercury, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Jupiter. Together, they form a team called the Sailor Senshi. Senshi means "soldier" or "guardian" in Japanese.
Each Sailor Senshi is named after a planet in our solar system. They use magical powers to transform into their superhero forms. When they are not fighting evil, they are normal young Japanese girls.
For example, Sailor Mercury's real name is Ami Mizuno (Amy in English). Sailor Venus is Minako Aino (Mina in English). Sailor Mars is Rei Hino (Raye in English). Sailor Jupiter is Makoto Kino (Lita in English). When they transform, they have amazing, colorful effects!
Friends and Family
Mamoru Chiba (known as Darien Shields in the English anime) is Usagi's boyfriend. He also has magic powers. He can transform into a hero called Tuxedo Mask. He helps the Sailor Senshi fight bad guys.
In the future, Usagi and Mamoru get married. They become the king and queen of Earth. Their daughter, Chibiusa (Rini in English), travels back in time. She comes to help them and the Sailor Senshi.
Usagi has a cat named Luna. Her name comes from the Latin word for moon. Minako has a cat named Artemis. His name is from the Greek goddess of the moon. Luna and Artemis are not ordinary cats. They can talk and have moon symbols on their foreheads. In the manga, they can even turn into humans. Luna turns into a human in one of the anime movies. In the future, Luna and Artemis have a kitten named Diana. Diana is named after the Roman moon goddess.
More Sailor Guardians
Later in the story, more Sailor Senshi appear. They are named after the planets Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (which is now called a dwarf planet).
Sailor Saturn's real name is Hotaru Tomoe. Sailor Uranus's real name is Haruka Tenoh (Amara in English). Sailor Neptune's real name is Michiru Kaioh (Michelle in English). Sailor Pluto's real name is Setsuna Meioh (Trista in English). In the Japanese anime, Haruka and Michiru are a couple. But in the English anime, they were changed to be cousins. This was done to make the show suitable for younger children.
Special Powers
Each Sailor Senshi has unique powers:
- Sailor Moon uses powers of love and healing.
- Sailor Mercury controls water and ice.
- Sailor Mars has fire powers.
- Sailor Jupiter uses electricity and plant powers.
- Sailor Venus has light and energy powers.
- Sailor Chibi Moon (Sailor Mini Moon in English) has love and sugar powers.
- Sailor Saturn has powers of death and rebirth.
- Sailor Neptune controls water.
- Sailor Uranus has earth powers.
- Sailor Pluto has powers over time and death.
- Tuxedo Mask can throw roses at enemies!
The Manga Series
The Sailor Moon manga has five main story arcs, or series:
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon R (Return/Romance)
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Super
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Stars
The manga was first published in a Japanese magazine called Nakayoshi by Kodansha. Later, Kodansha collected all the chapters into complete books called volumes. There are 18 volumes in total.
The Anime Series
The Sailor Moon anime mostly followed the story from the manga. Because it was so popular, Toei Animation made more seasons and movies.
The anime was brought to the United States by DIC Entertainment. This company changed some scenes and dialogue. They wanted to make it more acceptable for American children. Many anime fans did not like these changes. Because of their complaints, other companies like ADV Films and Pioneer Inc. later released uncut versions.
Here are the TV series and movies that were made:
Original TV Series (1992-1997)
- Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon
- Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon R
- Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon S
- Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon SuperS
- Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Stars
Revived TV Series (2014-present)
- Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Crystal
Movies
- Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon R: The Movie
- Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon S: The Movie
- Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon SuperS: The Movie
See also
In Spanish: Sailor Moon para niños
