Sailor Moon Vs. Sailor Moon Crystal: A Reimagining of a Pop Culture Icon

Sailor Moon Vs. Sailor Moon Crystal: A Reimagining of a Pop Culture Icon

            While Sailor Moon Crystal does not aim to be a direct remake of Sailor Moon, and is intended to follow the manga more closely than the original manga, the first episode of each parallel the same story line of Usagi/Serena’s discovery that she is Sailor Moon and her first villain to defeat. Her friend Naru-chan/Molly’s mother is being possessed to use jewelry to sap the energy out of women who shop at the family’s jewelry store. Both introduce some of the main characters, including Usagi/Serena, her feline guide to all things magical Luna, her mother, and Sailor V, among others. Visually, many of the characters retain similar or the same features and costumes, although somewhat altered to suit more modern styles rather than those of the 1990’s.

Sailor Moon Crystal, Usagi Meets Tuxedo Mask

            Many of Usagi’s behaviors remain the same as her test scores are highlighted by both her teacher and her mother as being a 30%, which they are disappointed in, as is Usagi who realizes she did poorly. In both Luna is introduced with bandages covering the crescent moon on her forehead, and she is eventually the one to announce to Usagi that she is Sailor Moon. One of the first changes in Usagi’s behavior comes the first time she meets Tuxedo Mask, which employs a the modern Shoujo trope of slowing the moment down, zooming in with slow, sweet music, and then showing a softened background that highlights the wide eyed interest of the female character. This culminates, of course, in her embarrassedly running away before the conversation can continue. Another trope, which happens only in Crystal, is accidentally forgetting something and needing to return. In this case the forgotten item is her bag.

The original series has a more confident, sassy version of this moment between Tuxedo Mask and Usagi. It does not include a moment of focusing in on Usagi’s reaction to him, or the embarrassment, but instead has a more erratic Usagi commenting on how “cute” he is as she walks away. Her characterization here is more direct, and less shy, than the version seen in this scene of Crystal.

The opening sequences have also drastically changed between the two versions. The lyrics of the opening songs show a movement towards a stronger theme of female empowerment in the theme song of Sailor Moon Crystal, while the theme for Sailor Moon, was more simple and aimed more to be catchy. The lyrics to “MOON PRIDE,” the opening song for Crystal say:

“Ah, girls have their own pride that they can’t give up:

The determination to fight on their own instead of thrusting their fate onto a prince

Shiny Make-Up, we’ll shine, gathering the starry sky

We’re not so weak that we can’t do anything but need protection

Even if I’m shaken by waves of sorrow or scorched by flames of anger

I’ll pledge eternal love with the blinding brightness of lightning.”

Visually, the new opening section of the series focuses more on showcasing all of the Sailor Scouts while the original emphasized Sailor Moon primarily, even in the lyrics:

“Fighting evil by moonlight

Winning love by daylight

With her Sailor Scouts to help fight

She is the one named Sailor Moon

She is the one named Sailor Moon

She is the one . . . Sailor Moon!”

The opening for Crystal uses a song that tells a story and fits more into the category of a current, Jpop song, which has become more common in anime series being currently released. The songs aim to say something about a character, love, or the plot of the series through a song that sounds similar to the ones being released by popular musical artists. The song for the original series aimed to catch attention, especially of a younger audience, and to be catchy. It focuses on repetition, including the main line “She is the one named Sailor Moon,” to keep the emphasis on the main character of the series and her newfound identity as one of the Sailor Scouts. The lyrics in “MOON PRIDE” aim to discuss the themes of the series, including their bond as a team of Sailor Scouts that work cohesively together, their strength as women, and their pride. It focuses on showing the Sailor Scouts as strong female characters, although the term has become somewhat overused, as it points to the original ideas Naoko Takeuchi’s idea behind the group as a team of women that could defeat villains together like the popular dominantly male group The Power Rangers.