To whom it may concern, the person who will inevitably take on the live-action Sailor Moon movie. While I personally do not support your decision, here are a few things I urge you to consider before tackling this canon.
Identify Your Source Material
Sailor Moon is no longer just a manga-turned-anime with three short movies. The popularity of the property has inspired musicals, a live-action television show (based more on the manga), and the Sailor Moon Crystal anime. With multiple retellings, the canon and characters can get messy.
If you want to go with the most recognizable iteration, it will be the 90s metaseries. Part of the US ‘anime invasion' in the late 90s and early 2000s, Usagi (Sailor Moon) is as synonymous with anime in the West as Goku and Pikachu. Plus, the anime is complete, with each season telling a full story. An adaptation would just be a matter of choosing the desired season(s).
The original anime takes place in the 90s. Any adaptation would run the risk of feeling dated if placed in a modern setting. No Sailor Moon fan is wondering, “What if it was set now?” “What would it be like if Usagi had a Facebook? Would she make one for her alter-ego?” These ideas are novel, sure, but would probably make for huge eye-roll moments. Save it for the fan art.
Pick a Name: Sailor Senshi vs. Sailor Soldiers vs. Sailor Scouts
The shows formal title is Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon, or Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon, in which Sailor Moon and company are the Sailor Senshi (Sailor Soldiers). The early American versions called them Sailor Scouts, something that may have changed when VIZ Media, who seem committed to accurate dubbing, acquired the property. So the question remains, what should they be called in a wide-release?
‘Soldiers’ might sound odd to newbies or casual fans, those unfamiliar with the fact that the girls are part of a space military, private guards for the Moon Kingdom and the Moon Princess AKA Sailor Moon. ‘Scouts’ probably won’t work, it’s not a jamboree. If you go ‘Senshi,’ you run the risk of mispronunciation. I lean toward the latter, a Japanese word that creates some room for viewer interpretation. Understanding that they are defenders, guardians, and protectors of earth and the solar system can be inferred from their actions.
Don’t Add Music
Sailor Moon has a sound. It’s a little jazzy, a little campy, and full of heart.
The Pokemon and the Digimon movie(s) are the best examples of wide theatrical releases altered to appeal to a broader audience. To lure modern youths, and cash in on some CD sales (when that was a thing), 4Kids Entertainment tied in music from popular musicians. Pokemon didn’t really include the new music in the film but added snippets during the end credits. The American Digimon movie, a Frankenstein of three separate features, threw new songs in willy nilly, probably an attempt to help glue the bits together.
Knowing you’re probably going to add music, it’s worth noting that a Sailor Moon reprise does not need a (insert popular artist here) song to appeal to a new audience. Instead, additions are likely to feel hamfisted and dated. The original soundtrack got the job done. Here are things from the OST that got us Sailor Moon fans in the mood:
“Moon Crystal Power Make Up!”
An obvious choice, this song is so integral to the show’s aesthetic.
“Usagi and Mamoru”
This score demonstrates the lighthearted and playful nature the music can convey.
“Otome Kokoro”
This showcases the more sensitive and contemplative tones the show can take.
“Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune”
This is the battle theme for characters who would likely not appear in the first Sailor Moon movie, but it’s just so good!
“Heart Moving”
With synth, sparkle, and cheesy lyrics, this is a shojo anime staple.
Curb the ditzy-ness
The dub of Sailor Moon is a good example of where an adaptation can go very wrong. At its core, it is a story about Japanese teenage girls in the 90s trying to find a balance between studying, fun, and saving the world.
Sailor Moon is known as a klutz and a cry baby, but she is so much more than that. Yes, she likes shopping, eating, and avoiding her homework, but there’s no need for further exaggeration. Her being a good person and thoughtful friend is what endears her to others. The dub overstressed the ditzy language, which could be blamed on the difficulty in lip-syncing. Often, the characters would ramble to fill in the mouth movements.
Read Some Fanfiction
Obviously, you’ll need to watch the television series, but fanfiction can also be a useful resource. Fanfiction is helpful when trying to understand the fandom’s focus and potential areas of interest. Without being overindulgent, you can get an idea of Fanon, or how the fandom understands and/or reads certain characters and relationships.
With a mostly female cast, there are several popular shipped relationships between them. There is, however, only one canonically f/f couple, Sailor Uranus and Neptune. The most pervasive non-canon ship is between Sailor Jupiter and Mercury. They are commonly read as best friends, sometimes even having romantic feelings for one another. None of this is ever stated in the show.
Extra Credit:
Watch Sailor Moon R: The Movie. It takes place in the second season, but it’s the first and most cohesive movie from the 90s property. While only 60 minutes long, the story is told completely and successfully. You could watch it having never seen Sailor Moon and get a decent grasp of the girls and their relationship; teenagers and best friends living dual lives as protectors of the earth.
Just remember, Sailor Moon says:
- Julia