Sailor Moon (TV series) facts for kids
| Sailor Moon | |
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Quick facts for kids 美少女戦士セーラームーン(Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn) |
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| Genre | Magical girl |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Junichi Sato (Season 1) Kunihiko Ikuhara (R - SuperS) Takuya Igarashi (Sailor Stars) |
| Produced by | Iriya Azuma (Season 1 - SuperS) Kenji Ōta Toshihiko Arisako (SuperS - Sailor Stars) Kōichi Yada (SuperS - Sailor Stars) |
| Written by | Sukehiro Tomita (Season 1 - S) Yōji Enokido (SuperS) Ryōta Yamaguchi (Sailor Stars) |
| Music by | Takanori Arisawa |
| Studio | Toei Animation |
| Licensed by | |
| Network | TV Asahi |
| English network | |
| Original run | March 7, 1992 – February 8, 1997 |
| Episodes | 200 (Original Japanese version and Viz Dub) 159 (DIC Entertainment/Cloverway Dub) |
| Anime film series | |
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Sailor Moon, also known as Pretty Warrior Sailor Moon in Japan, is a popular Japanese superheroine anime TV show. It was made by Toei Animation and first aired in 1992. The show is based on a manga comic series by Naoko Takeuchi.
The story is about a middle school student named Usagi Tsukino. She gets special powers to become the hero Sailor Moon. With her friends, who are also Sailor Soldiers, she fights evil villains to protect Earth. The series also shows Usagi growing from a shy girl into a brave and responsible young adult.
Sailor Moon became very famous around the world. It led to three movies, many video games, and music albums. A newer anime version, Sailor Moon Crystal, started in 2014.
Contents
The Adventures of Sailor Moon
The Sailor Moon anime series tells a big story over five seasons. Each season introduces new friends and enemies. The main goal is always to protect the world from evil forces.
Season 1: Sailor Moon (1992–93)
The first season introduces 14-year-old Usagi Tsukino. She is a normal schoolgirl until she meets a magical talking cat named Luna. Luna gives Usagi the power to change into Sailor Moon. At first, Usagi is surprised and not sure about her new role.
Sailor Moon's job is to find the Moon Princess and fight the Dark Kingdom. This evil group, led by Queen Beryl, tries to steal energy from humans. They also want the Silver Crystal, a powerful gem.
As Sailor Moon, Usagi meets other girls who also awaken as Sailor Soldiers:
- Ami Mizuno becomes Sailor Mercury, who is smart and shy.
- Rei Hino becomes Sailor Mars, who is brave and a miko (shrine maiden).
- Makoto Kino becomes Sailor Jupiter, who is strong and kind.
- Minako Aino becomes Sailor Venus, an aspiring idol with her own cat, Artemis.
The Sailor Soldiers often get help from the mysterious Tuxedo Mask. Usagi also starts to like him. They learn that they lived together in a past life on the Moon. Usagi was Princess Serenity, and Tuxedo Mask was Prince Endymion. The Dark Kingdom destroyed their old kingdom, but they were reborn on Earth.
The Sailor Soldiers face Queen Beryl and her monsters. In a big battle, Usagi becomes Princess Serenity and uses the Silver Crystal. She defeats Queen Beryl and brings her friends and Tuxedo Mask back to life. Everyone returns to normal, forgetting their adventures.
Season 2: Sailor Moon R (1993–94)
After a short time of peace, two aliens named Ail and Ann arrive on Earth. They use a special tree to steal human energy. Luna helps the Sailor Soldiers remember their powers to fight these new enemies. Ail and Ann eventually learn their lesson and leave Earth.
Soon after, a pink-haired girl named Chibiusa falls from the sky. She is from the future and needs the Silver Crystal to save her parents. A new enemy, the Black Moon Clan, follows her. The Sailor Soldiers and Tuxedo Mask travel to the future with Chibiusa.
In the future, they find out Usagi is the future queen, Neo-Queen Serenity. They also learn that Chibiusa is Usagi and Mamoru's daughter! They meet Sailor Pluto, who guards the Door of Space-Time. The Sailor Soldiers defeat Wiseman, who was controlling the Black Moon Clan. Chibiusa helps save the future, and then returns to her own time.
Season 3: Sailor Moon S (1994–95)
The Sailor Soldiers face a new group called the Death Busters. These villains steal "Heart Crystals" from people to find special Talismans. Two new Sailor Soldiers appear: Haruka Tenoh (Sailor Uranus) and Michiru Kaioh (Sailor Neptune). They are also looking for the Talismans.
Sailor Pluto returns, and Chibiusa comes back to the present. Chibiusa also gains her own powers as Sailor Chibi Moon. The Talismans create the Holy Grail, which lets Usagi become Super Sailor Moon.
The Death Busters want to bring back a powerful evil being called Mistress 9. Chibiusa becomes friends with a sick girl named Hotaru. Hotaru is the daughter of the Death Busters' leader, Professor Tomoe. Unknown to them, Hotaru is also Sailor Saturn, a powerful Sailor Soldier who can destroy and restart planets.
Mistress 9 takes over Hotaru's body. The Sailor Soldiers fight to save Hotaru and the world. Sailor Saturn awakens and helps defeat Mistress 9 and Pharaoh 90. Hotaru is reborn as a baby, free from evil. Uranus and Neptune accept Usagi as their true queen.
Season 4: Sailor Moon SuperS (1995–96)
Chibiusa stays in the present to train as a Sailor Soldier. She meets a winged unicorn named Pegasus in her dreams. Pegasus gives the Sailor Soldiers new "Super" forms.
They use these powers to fight the Dead Moon Circus. This circus group targets people with beautiful dreams. They want to find Pegasus, who hides the Golden Crystal. Their leader, Queen Nehelenia, needs this crystal to be freed from a mirror.
Queen Nehelenia was once a queen who became obsessed with her beauty. She was sealed away by Queen Serenity. The Sailor Soldiers defeat Queen Nehelenia with the Golden Crystal. Pegasus returns to his home world.
Season 5: Sailor Moon Sailor Stars (1996–97)
Sailor Galaxia frees Queen Nehelenia, who seeks revenge. The Outer Sailor Soldiers (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Saturn) return to help. Queen Nehelenia curses the city, affecting Mamoru and threatening Chibiusa. Usagi, as Eternal Sailor Moon, frees Queen Nehelenia from her sadness.
After this, Mamoru goes to study in the United States. Usagi and her friends start high school. Chibiusa returns to her own time. A new group of enemies, the Sailor Animamates, appear. They steal "Star Seeds," which are like a person's life force.
Usagi gets help from the Sailor Starlights. They are three Sailor Soldiers disguised as an idol group called the Three Lights. They are looking for their ruler, Princess Kakyuu. A small girl nicknamed Chibi Chibi also appears and lives with Usagi.
It is revealed that Sailor Galaxia sealed Chaos, the source of all evil, inside herself. She sent her own Star Seed away, which became Chibi Chibi. Sailor Galaxia steals the Star Seeds of Princess Kakyuu and all of Usagi's friends, including Mamoru. Usagi uses her kindness to free Sailor Galaxia from Chaos. This brings back all the Sailor Soldiers, Princess Kakyuu, and Mamoru. Everything returns to normal, and Usagi and Mamoru share a kiss.
Making the Anime
The Sailor Moon anime was made by Toei Animation. It was based on the manga comics by Naoko Takeuchi. The show was very popular, so the creators kept making new stories. The anime often followed the manga closely, but sometimes had its own ideas.
The series first aired in Japan on TV Asahi on March 7, 1992. It ran for 200 episodes until February 8, 1997.
English Versions
In 1995, a company called DIC Entertainment brought Sailor Moon to North America. They made an English version of the first two seasons. Some parts were cut to make them shorter or to remove certain content. This version aired in Canada on YTV and in the U.S. in syndication.
Later, the show also aired on Cartoon Network's Toonami block. In 1999, another company, Cloverway Inc., made English versions of Sailor Moon S and SuperS. These versions had fewer changes.
In 2014, Viz Media got the rights to Sailor Moon in North America. They created a brand new English version of the entire series, including the movies. This new version kept all the original content and was not cut. It started streaming online and was released on Blu-ray and DVD.
Sailor Moon Movies
During the TV show's run, three animated Sailor Moon movies were made. They were usually released in December during school holidays in Japan. Each movie was often shown with another anime film.
- Sailor Moon R: The Movie (1993)
- Sailor Moon S: The Movie (1994)
- Sailor Moon SuperS: The Movie (1995)
