Reviews

Sailor Moon is not only the most influential magical girl series of all time, it stands today as one of the major pillars of anime. Throughout the world, girls as well as boys were enchanted by the five sailor senshi; living normal, inconspicuous lives at first, then transforming into a magical team to fight evil. It was a stable for kids my age at the time, but the series has become such a classic that if I had a daughter, I would introduce her to classic Sailor Moon first above anything else. Sailor Moon is a better role model than Barbie and most other girl shows anyways.

Story: 10
Before Sailor Moon, magical girl shows centered around mischievous but lovable girls causing trouble with their powers. Once Sailor Moon took the spotlight, a Power Ranger-esque team of transforming magical girls fighting evil became the new norm! Such a little change caused ripples throughout the entire anime industry, and they all have Sailor Moon to thank for it. Sailor Moon's writing is very well done on its own, with some arcs being in a league of their own (Sailor Moon S) and some that could've been done better (Super S). Either way it will leave you wanting more.

Art: 7
Sailor Moon's art was pretty average during its heyday. Most of the fantastic animation centered around their transformations and special attacks, which, unfortunately becomes quite repetitive. But if you're a true Sailor Moon fan, you'll enjoy the transformations regardless. And it must be said that Naoko Takeuchi did a fabulous job at designing the Sailor Senshi outfits to be beautiful without being trashy.

Sound: 10
In spite of its age, Sailor Moon has a timeless soundtrack, with the most memorable of them all being the legendary opening, "Moonlight Densetsu." While the transformations can get repetitive, the music somehow doesn't. Even at my age now, I'll find myself humming a theme song from Sailor Moon sometimes.

Character: 9
All of Sailor Moon's characters get a chance to shine, and they're all fully fleshed out and layered. The villains often shift from being your typical "Monster of the week" to a villain with a lot more emotional depth to them. And if you watch the original, uncut Sailor Moon, it should be very clear that this is a very LGBT friendly series.

Enjoyment: 10
I've started rewatching Sailor Moon again in its entirety, and I must say this show aged exceptionally well. It was one entertaining episode to the next. Even the filler was entertaining! I almost never say that about an anime!

Overall: 10
This is a classic, and a must watch for anyone who calls themselves anime fans. The entire shoujo and much of the fantasy market would be a very different place today if it wasn't for Sailor Moon. Do yourself a favor and watch it!