The Sailor Moon manga was created in 52 Acts, starting in Japan in 1991.
Sailor Moon (also called Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon) is a manga by writer-artist Naoko Takeuchi.
The name means ‘sailor soldier’ or ‘sailor scout’ – magical girls who are destined to save the world from destruction.
The name is derived from the costumes worn by the super-girls, which resemble a school uniform, known in some circles as a sailor costume.
Takeuchi started her series with one sailor scout, who was supposed to defend the world.
This manga was known as Codename: Sailor V, which followed the story of one cute sailor solider that fought evil in outer space.
It was later adapted for the anime, where the main character became part of a team.
By combining the magical girl genre with the Super Sentai Series, it was the beginning of a new franchise.
The Beginning of Sailor Moon
The manga was created in 52 Acts, starting in Japan in 1991.
It came to the Western culture, such as the United Kingdom, in 1992, making it twenty years old!
Sailor Moon became an anime due to its success. It featured Usagi Tsukino (known as Serena Tsukino in the Western adaptation), a 14 year-old school girl who thinks her life is plain and ordinary.
She appears to be a typical school girl, until she meets a lilac talking cat named Luna.
Luna reveals that Usagi/Serena is ‘Sailor Moon,’ the soldier of love and justice on behalf of the moon.
She must protect the Earth against the evil Dark Kingdom.
Usagi/Serena is not alone in having to save the world.
She is joined by:
– Mamoru Chiba/Darian Shields (Tuxedo Mask)
– Ami Mizuno/Amy Mizuno (Sailor Mercury)
– Rei Hiro/Raye Hiro (Sailor Mars)
– Mokoto Kino/Lita Kino (Sailor Jupiter)
– Minako Aino/Mina Aiona (Sailor Venus)
– Chibiusa/Rini (Sailor Mini Moon)
– Haruka Tenoh/Amara Tenoh (Sailor Uranus)
– Michiru Kaioh/Michelle Kaioh (Sailor Neptune)
– Setsuna Meioh/Trista Meioh (Sailor Pluto)
– Hotaru Tomoe (Sailor Saturn)
The Sailor Moon Series
The anime has had six series, featuring many of the characters mentioned and the ever-growing fear of evil with the Dark Kingdom.
These series include:
– Sailor Moon
– Sailor Moon R
– Sailor Moon S
– Sailor Moon Super S
– Sailor Moon Sailor Stars
The manga and anime both incorporate many themes, including astronomy, astrology, Greek myths, Roman myths, geology, Japanese elements, teen fashion, and school girl antics.
It has been described as empowering, with feminist tendencies, due to its large female superhero cast.
However, others criticize it for its bright colors and cutesy action sequences.
The franchise has produced a lot of merchandise, including The Art of… books, live-action television shows and films, stage musicals, and games.
The fans of the series are very loyal, and the Sailor Soldiers are incredibly popular choices for cosplay at comic conventions.
FAQ
What is Sailor Moon?
Sailor Moon is a Japanese anime and manga series that first began in 1991. It tells the story of a teenage girl named Usagi who transforms into a superheroine named Sailor Moon to fight villains and protect the world. The series has been popular all over the world and has inspired many spin-offs, including live-action TV shows, movies, and musicals.
Who created Sailor Moon?
Sailor Moon was created by Japanese artist Naoko Takeuchi. She began working on the series in 1991 and it quickly became a huge success in Japan and other parts of the world. Takeuchi has said that she was inspired by many different things when creating the series, including her own experiences as a teenager and her love of science fiction and fantasy stories.
What are some interesting facts about the characters?
One interesting fact is that the character of Sailor Moon was originally intended to be a cheerleader, but Takeuchi decided to make her a superheroine instead. Another fun fact is that the character of Sailor Mercury is named after the planet Mercury and is known for her intelligence and technology skills. Additionally, the character of Sailor Venus was originally supposed to be the main character of the series, but Takeuchi decided to focus on Sailor Moon instead.
Why is Sailor Moon important?
Sailor Moon is important for many reasons. For one, it was one of the first anime series to feature strong female characters who were able to save the world. It also helped to popularize anime and manga in the west, leading to a wider appreciation of Japanese pop culture. Finally, Sailor Moon has been a source of inspiration for many people, especially young girls who have been empowered by the message of the series and the strength of its characters.
Zayn Anderson is a prolific writer with a passion for uncovering the world’s intriguing facts. Armed with an insatiable curiosity, he delves into various subjects, from history and science to nature and technology.