Reviews

Sailor Moon was my very first anime, that I actually recognized as an anime! I was in the middle school, and still enjoying my pokemon, and what not, when I suddenly stumbled upon an anime, that was made by a woman, for girls - you can imagine, that I was thrilled! So I scooped some of the episodes out of the internet, and watched them in delight... with english dubs - urgh!. The characters were weird, the story all over the place and most of the time really infantile, and the voices obnoxious at best... and don't even get me started about the opening theme, the transformation scenes, and the lesbians turned into a cousins - you know, what I mean! I can so obviously tell, that the english dub was made for the american audiences - they didn't even made dubs for the final season, which had women, transforming into a guys... or was it the other way around! Why, those stupid, ignorant...!

Then, I learnd my english - somewhat - and watched the episodes in japanese, and boy, what a difference! The characters were actually very likable, interesting and had real and deep personality, the voices were much better, and nothing was cut out, or changed to make it look like kiddier, more saver, for our fragile little girl-minds! It felt pure, and subtle, and... pleasant, and I just loved it! The story for the first arc was interesting, and all the girls had their own personalities, which made them feel like a real people, and not some stupid, flat caricatures. I was genuienly touched, when Ren and Usagi started to form a some sort of harsh friendship, and I really liked, when Usagi started to adknowledge her responsibility as a senshi... even though it took her the entire season, and four dead friends to achieve!

The story is really lighthearted, and you can't call me a liar, if I told you, that the anime isn't plagued with episode after episode of this formulaic storytelling, with every episode introducing to us a whole new villain, and Tuxedo Mask's red rose. Because it's true - it does just that, and it does it good! The formula may sound, and look like of something, that should be boring, and what should always be avoided, when writing a good story, but believe or not, this formula actually works... often times! If you like these girls, you can really see them growing, and evolving as a group, with their own traits, and flaws, giving every one of them their own time to shine, and be in the center of the spotlight - it's not just the main heroine, that takes all the focus! And sure, there are themes about long lost romance, friendship and loyalty to the things that you love, and want to protect - all that mushy girly stuff - but those are actually pretty good too. I want to see the romance bloom! I want Queen Berryl to die, and the happy ending, God dammit! I was literally weeping, when Mamoru died! I was sobbing, when Usagi was left to face Berryl alone! The musical score was just perfect for that one, removing me to tears time and time again.

This anime is perfect for those, who wont say no to the girly antics, and spicy girlpower, because these gals sure have that... alot! The story isn't exactly the deebest of the literary pool, and the formulaic structure can be little hard to swallow time to time, but if you like these girls... any of the five, then you'll probably enjoy the ride too.

Story: 8
Art: 8
Sound: 9
Characters: 9
Enjoyment: 8
Overall: 8