Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (2003 - 2004)
Production: Toei
Episodes: 49
By Gerald Conde

Introduction

Nearly eight years after the successful Toei anime based on the manga, creator Naoko Takuchi announced to the millions of Internet fans that a new incarnation was in the works. Through a contest children (only God knows if her wish was granted) were to vote for what form the incarnation would be in. In that fashion, the Tokusatsu version of Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon was born. It was of course was going to be in Japanese and a cultural conversion would be out of the question unless this series was subtitled in one’s country or completely re-done

The Story

14-year old Usgai Tskuino (the enthusiastic Miyuu Sawai), a student in her second year of middle school stumbles upon a talking cat who gives her a pendant that lets her transform into Sailor Moon. . In her past life she was the princess of the Moon and owner of a very powerful piece of jewelry and of course this comes back to haunt her as Queen Beryl tries to regain her power back and seek revenge. Much like the Manga, ‘Betty la Fea’ wallflower Ami/Sailor Mercury (Chisaki Hama) and steaming teakettle Rei/Sailor Mars (Keiko Kitagawa) are quickly introduced in this series. Loyal friend and tomboy Makoto/Sailor Jupiter (Myuu Azama) only joins until episode 6. As you may remember early in the manga and anime, they didn’t know Usagi was the princess and were in search of her. Unlike the other incarnations, Sailor V makes many appearances before gaining her orange costume in episode 12. Minako Aino (Ayaka Komatsu), in this version she is a pop idol and a much more serious person (unlike her 2-dimensional counterpart) due to the fact that she remembers her past life. She poses as the princess to protect the real one and harbors a sad secret.

The series gains its own wings in its interpersonal relationships and freewheeling from the source material such as making Ami Mizuno evil—Dark Mercury and transforming Luna into a wigged little girl in order to be Sailor Luna. Ami being the most popular character, it made sense to make her evil, adding much tension to the story.  As for the Usagi/Mamoru Chiba romance, there were plenty obstacles in their path such as Mamoru’s fiancée Hina Kusaka (Moeko Matsushita) who he has been promised to since childhood ( his income has come from her father due to his being an orphan). Mamoru portrayed by Jyoji Shibue went on to play Kamen Rider Ibuki in Kamen Rider Hibiki. The four subordinates of Queen Beryl, known as the Shitennou, are actually the guardians of Mamoru’s alter ego (Prince Endymion in the Manga) and are as well in this series, therefore they follow Mamoru much throughout the series—namely Zoisite (Endou Yoshito) who favors him more than Beryl. Halfway through the series, Kuroki Mio is introduced as a fellow teen pop idol, rival to Minako; she was created for Beryl to infiltrate Usagi’s school and ruin her reputation. Mio then becomes the main villain in the movie ‘Special Act’ highlighting the events after the series.

Once Queen Beryl discovers Mamoru is Endymion, her crush from the past life, she kidnaps him. This pushes Usagi to the limit, bringing forth her inner princess—becoming Princess Sailor Moon, her Sentai-like upgrade. Princess Sailor Moon cannot be damaged and is sort of a loose cannon that can’t be tamed. Not only must the Sailor Senshi defeat Queen Metalia and Queen Beryl, they must deal with Dark Endymion and Princess Sailor Moon.

Review

Many fans were concerned about the series’ distinct difference from the anime, being that it was adapted mostly from the manga. In the manga there was no ‘Rainbow Crystal’ journey, no Yuuichirou Kumada (he only existed in the anime) and no Nephrite-Naru relationship. Many factors of the manga were bestowed to this series such as Rei and Minako’s close relationship; Rei’s businessman father who she resents for not visiting her dying mother; Makoto’s parents dying in a plane crash leading her to believe she is destined to be alone; and the fact that Queen Beryl’s underlings were actually Mamoru’s guardians. Completely absent is Zoisite and Kunzite’s famed relationship (it was merely hinted upon in the manga). Being this series only covers the first manga, that means no Chibi-Moon and since the series is geared towards a younger audience, a child-sailor such as Sailor Luna would be a gimme. While it takes the series a bit of episodes to find itself, it is extremely trying to endure the girls pirouette the villains but when a new director comes in around episode 16, the action kicks up. The Crown Game Center (which really existed in real life) is now a Karaoke center, as much of the show includes karaoke singing and songs from the teen actresses themselves. They go into a secret headquarters inside with their individual colored items. Motoki (Masaya Kikawade who went on to play Kamen Rider 1 in Kamen Rider: The First) stills works there and friends with Mamoru but now sort of a geek.

What is a bit disappointing is the utter uneven track of the special attacks. Fans disputed some attacks had no anime-like sequences and some attacks required no call word. Perhaps the producers were going for a practical smooth action feel or to downplay Western criticism over such sequences. And I’m disappointed that the producers didn’t keep track of when an attack was introduced or not. In other incarnations, the Senshi had to either earn or work for their newest attack. They did have an arc about awakening their true Senshi but it was a bit too late. They gain a team attack, common in Sentai, but in one episode used it without Sailor Venus, making one scratch their head at the point of it being a team attack. Another annoying factor is the rather noticeable fact that Luna and Artemis are plush figures. This series, much unlike Super Sentai, used the actual out-of-the-box toys to advertise the toys (Sentai merely use adult-size props). The transition between toy to CGI walking kitty is very disorientating and still disturbing by the end of the series.

What is satisfying in the series was of course the arrival of Dark Mercury. Also enjoyable was  the interpersonal relationships between the girls themselves and how they feel about their parents. An episode even goes out of its way to make a point that they are really from the Moon, which makes Usagi uncomfortable, and fret that she isn’t her mother’s daughter. They even meet Queen Beryl early on which never occurred in the previous incarnations. Usagi’s best friend Naru Osaka (Chieko Kawabe) is a presence throughout the series instead of fading away like in the past and finally discovers Usagi is Sailor Moon. And coming from Sentai, the rubber monsters in the beginning are laughable but then become wonderfully elaborate costumed monsters unlike the model-like villains in the anime. Well, let me just omit the addition of Zyuranger’s Golem Hei in robes for several episodes.

Conclusion

I consider the series an overall success anyway you look at it. Either if you love anything Sailor Moon or enjoy Asian soaps or enjoy teen girls do cartwheel attacks, this is for you. It is very engaging. Also interesting is the fact that the ultimate danger in the end is not Metalia, but Usagi herself. He powers are absolute--the demise of the Earth itself, a wonderful allegory of the danger we fear is inside ourselves. Of course, Usagi ultimately tames her beast and the world is reborn, much in Sailor Moon tradition. I really, really recommend this series, enjoy!

Gerald Conde