Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

The Five Sailor Senshi
Genre Magical girl, Sentai, Tokusatsu
Created by Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Company
Starring See below
Opening theme Kirari*Sailor Dream!
Composer(s) Michiru Oshima
Country of origin  Japan
Language(s) Japanese
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 49 + 2 specials + Concert (List of episodes)
Production
Producer(s) Shinya Maruyama
Yūma Sakada
Shinichirō Shirakura
Takeyuki Okazaki (chief)
Toshiyuki Takezawa (chief)
Kōichi Yada
Location(s) Tokyo
Running time 30 min./episode
Broadcast
Original channel CBC / TBS
Picture format NTSC
Original run October 4, 2003 – September 25, 2004
Chronology
Related shows Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon
External links
Official website

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (美少女戦士セーラームーン Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn?, often abbreviated to PGSM[1]) is a tokusatsu television series in the Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon metaseries originally created by Naoko Takeuchi. It is produced by Toei, the same company that produces the Super Sentai and the Kamen Rider Series.

PGSM came out exclusively in Japan. It ran from October 4, 2003 to September 25, 2004, and was a retelling of Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon's first major story arc, albeit with considerable plot divergences.

The theme music is called "Kirari*Sailor Dream!" and was performed by J-pop singer Sae. The lyrics were written by Takeuchi.

The series lasted 49 episodes (called "Acts"), and also included two separate made-for-DVD specials, for a total of 51 acts.

Contents

[edit] Plot

A great evil, consisting of Queen Beryl, her four generals, and an amorphous evil power named Queen Metaria attempt to steal energy so that Beryl can take over the world.

Standing in their way are the Sailor Senshi, five middle-school-aged girls: perky Usagi Tsukino, genius Ami Mizuno, paranormally gifted shrine maiden Rei Hino, tomboyish Makoto Kino, and J-pop idol Minako Aino; two beings that appear to be sentient stuffed cats (Luna and Artemis); and Tuxedo Mask, a jewel thief in search of a Silver Crystal.

Later in the series, Metaria and Sailor Moon each get too powerful to be reined in, and the conflict shifts to attempting to postpone the inevitable destruction of the planet Earth. (It looks like Earth is plunged into darkness and not actually destroyed per se, but the effect is the same.)

[edit] Changes to story

Queen Beryl as seen in the live action series, played by Aya Sugimoto.

Although Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon is a retelling of the first manga story arc, there are many differences that set it apart from the manga and anime. The storylines are more character-based and driven, focusing on the girls' civilian lives and their connection to the past more than on action sequences. While the first few episodes seemed directly based on anime and manga story lines, by the time Sailor Jupiter had arrived the show was starting to spin off in its own direction. Additionally, Usagi and Rei's relationship is closer in spirit to the manga; while they have their disagreements, it never gets to the heated level that it does in the anime.

One of the largest changes was to the character of Minako Aino, who, rather than being an ordinary girl among the other Senshi, is a famous pop idol. When introduced, she is fighting crime under the alias "Sailor V" (as in the other versions), and makes subtle reference to this double life in her music. Her most popular song, "C'est La Vie" (French for "That's Life!"), is a Japanese pun. In Japanese, the pronunciation of "Sailor V" (セーラーV [seːɺaːbwi]) is nearly identical to the Japanese pronunciation of "C'est La Vie." The song has an insouciant and uplifting tone, while the real phrase is a reminder that life can be harsh. For more information, see Minako Aino - In the live-action series.

In addition to plotline changes, some updating has been done to minor elements of the series, making them more in line with modern culture. For example, in the original anime and manga, there were scenes involving Ami and a cassette tape. In the new version, the tape is replaced by a MiniDisc. Instead of a transformation pen and communicators, each Senshi is given a magical camera phone and bracelets. Also, their secret hideout is not hidden in a video arcade, but rather in a magic karaoke room.

With the new adaptation of the show, certain characters were modified to give it freshness and originality. New aspects and forms include Sailor Luna, Dark Sailor Mercury, and Princess Sailor Moon. A new antagonist is also introduced: Mio Kuroki.

[edit] Mio Kuroki

Mio Kuroki (黒木ミオ Kuroki Mio?), played by Alisa Yuriko Durbrow, is a strange and manipulative girl who joins Usagi's class at school. She is a fellow pop idol and thus has a rivalry with Minako Aino. She pretends to be Usagi's friend while doing all in her power to cause her sadness. Because of her forgiving nature, however, Usagi continually gives Mio extra chances. Mio soon becomes very envious of Usagi's closeness to Mamoru and fakes fainting in front of his motorcycle in order to kidnap him and take him to Queen Beryl. There, Mio taunts Mamoru, telling him that Beryl will kill him if he does not join the Dark Kingdom and become Beryl's lover.

Mio is revealed to be created from a part of Queen Beryl herself, apparently to do harm to Usagi. After kidnapping Mamoru, her main role is to keep an eye on him for Beryl. The only powers of her own she demonstrates are slight mind control powers, and teleportation, of both herself and others.

Toward the end of the series, Mio is apparently killed by Endymion/Metaria; she is somehow resurrected, however, as the main villain of the "Special Act". Once again, she kidnaps Mamoru, this time wanting to marry him so they can rule a new Dark Kingdom as King and Queen. She is confronted and attacked by the Shitennou, forcing her to transform into a plant-like monster that makes quick work of her former allies. Ultimately, her final form is destroyed by the Senshi's combined powers, channeled through the Moon Stick in the Sailor Planet attack.

After her revival for the Special Act, she seems to gain new powers. She can repair objects, cause them to appear out of thin air, and create monsters from flames. She can also summon legions of pierrot, or clowns, to serve her and gather energy, even creating replicas of the Shitennou. Mio is also able to brainwash others and transform into a plant-like monster. At one point she interrupts a television broadcast to announce that she is taking over.

[edit] DVD specials

[edit] Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Special Act

A sequel to the series, set four years later, that portrays the wedding of Mamoru Chiba and Tsukino Usagi (which, in the anime, is first shown in the Dark Moon arc of Sailor Moon R). Before their nuptials they must do battle with Mio Kuroki who has been resurrected and claims to be the new queen of the Dark Kingdom. She kidnaps Mamoru and Usagi and intends to force Mamoru to marry her. However, the Shitennou are revived and help their master to defeat Mio's youma, Sword and Shield. Meanwhile, the Sailor Senshi, minus Sailor Mars who is hospitalized with injuries from battling Mio while in her civilian state, use the Moon Sword provided by Queen Serenity to restore their power, enabling them to transform and defeat Mio. The story ends with Usagi and Mamoru's wedding, and Motoki and Makoto's engagement. This act is an hour long, twice as long as all the other acts.

[edit] Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Act Zero

The last special made for the series is a prequel of sorts that leads directly to the first episode. In it we see how Minako Aino met Artemis and became Sailor V on Christmas. She must use her newfound powers to foil a stage magician/jewel thief called Q.T. Kenko and his Killer Girl assistants. Meanwhile Usagi and her friends decide to dress in their own homemade sailor fuku in order to scare the thieves away from the jewelry store owned by Naru Osaka's mother, (Usagi as Sailor Rabbit, Naru as Sailor N, and their other friends, Kanami and Momoko as sailors K and M) only for Usagi to get kidnapped by Kenko. The actors who portray the Shitennou are featured as the inexperienced police officers group self-dubbed the "Police Shitennou" for comic relief: Captain Kuroi (Kunzite), Officer Akai (Nephrite), Officer Shiroi (Zoisite), and female Officer Hanako (Jadeite). The story ends with Luna coming to Earth, feeling the burn of hitting the atmosphere, in order to give Usagi her powers.

[edit] Mini-episodes

Act Zero also comes with two mini-episodes. Each one is approximately five minutes long and tells a quick short story. Hina Afterward shows what happened to Hina after breaking off her engagement with Mamoru Chiba. Tuxedo Mask's Secret Birth shows the origin of the Tuxedo Mask persona. It includes a joke-henshin sequence in which, rather than transforming magically, he pulls his clothes on with dramatic flair.

[edit] Super Dance Lesson

A quick video hosted by Luna, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Moon, that instructed the viewer how to perform the dances from different songs from PGSM. The dances included were for the songs "Romance" and "Here We Go! -Shinjiru Chikara-" (Here We Go!-信じるチカラ-?) Also demonstrated were "C'est La Vie ~ Watashi no Naka no Koi Suru Bubun" (C'est la Vie〜私のなかの恋する部分?) and "Kirari*Sailor Dream!" (キラリ☆セーラードリーム!?) although no formal instructions were given on how to dance to them.

[edit] Kirari Super Live!

A Special Live Event occurred on May 2, 2004 at Yomiuri Hall. This Special Event was held for the 1,000 winners of the Sailormoon Campaign (a contest held earlier in the year, in which viewers had to send in UPC symbols to enter). The event combined musical performances, in which the cast members sang and danced to songs from the PGSM soundtrack, and a dramatic storyline with spoken dialogue, in which the Senshi had to stop the Shitennou from stealing the energy of the audience members. The show was recorded and released on DVD. The DVD also included bonus behind-the-scenes footage of the performance and interviews with the cast members.

[edit] Episode list

TV episodes[2]
Act # Episode title Air date
Act.1 "I am Sailor Moon!"
"Watashi ga Sērā Mūn!" (わたしがセーラームーン!) 		 October 4, 2003
14-year-old junior high student Usagi Tsukino suddenly and unexpectedly becomes a heroine after a falling black cat, Luna, awakens her in order to save the world. 
Act.2 "Ami Became a Friend"
"Ami-chan ga Nakama ni Natta wa" (亜美ちゃんが仲間になったわ) 		 October 11, 2003
Usagi tries to bond with genius girl Ami Mizuno, after learning from Luna that she too might be a Senshi. 
Act.3 "The Third Senshi is Miko Rei"
"Sanninme no Senshi wa Miko no Rei-chan" (三人目の戦士はみこのレイちゃん) 		 October 18, 2003
During a string of disappearances of miko priestesses, Usagi runs into another of them, Rei Hino, who becomes the third Senshi. 
Act.4 "Sneaking Into the Party!"
"Pātī ni Sennyū yo!" (パーティーに潜入よ!) 		 October 25, 2003
There is a rumor that the Mystical Silver Crystal will be exhibited at a high-society costume party. Tuxedo Mask decides to check on it, followed by Usagi, but the Dark Kingdom is still one step ahead... 
Act.5 "Is Usagi a True Friend?"
"Usagi-chan wa Hontō no Tomodachi?" (うさぎちゃんは本当の友達?) 		 November 1, 2003
Ami feels Usagi is only befriending her because of their mutual mission, and tries to make it look natural. 
Act.6 "The Transfer Student is Sailor Jupiter"
"Tenkōsei wa Sērā Jupitā" (転校生はセーラージュピター) 		 November 8, 2003
Usagi meets and befriends a new girl in school, the loner Makoto Kino, who becomes the fourth Senshi. 
Act.7 "He Saw Me Transforming!"
"Henshin suru no o Mirare chatta!" (変身するのをみられちゃった!) 		 November 15, 2003
Usagi thinks that Crown Karaoke attendant Motoki Furuhata might be Tuxedo Mask, so she decides to go on a date with him. Mamoru Chiba, who was tagging along, accidentally catches a glimpse of Usagi turning into Sailor Moon, unnoticed to her. 
Act.8 "Rei and Her Father"
"Rei to Otōsan" (レイとお父さん) 		 November 22, 2003
Rei feels distressed by the fact that her politician father wants to mend their strained relationship. Her distance from the matter just makes things worse. 
Act.9 "I'll Protect the Illusion Silver Crystal"
"Mamore! Maboroshi no Ginzuishō" (守れ!幻の銀水晶) 		 November 29, 2003
The rumor of the Mystical Silver Crystal is spread out through the city, and the girls find themselves in the middle of a massive rat race for the jewel. 
Act.10 "I am Queen Beryl, Queen of Darkness"
"Warawa ga Yami no Joō Kuin Beriru" (わらわが闇の女王クイン·ベリル) 		 December 6, 2003
Usagi runs away from home and decides to stay with Rei at Hikawa Shrine. There, Luna sees a link between the legend of Princess Kaguya and the real Moon Kingdom. Meanwhile, Zoisite concocts a plan to destroy all princesses in hopes of striking the Princess of the Moon. 
Act.11 "We Got to Meet the Real Minako!"
"Honmono no Minako-chan ni Acchatta!" (本物の美奈子ちゃんに会っちゃった!) 		 December 13, 2003
J-Pop star Minako Aino ends up in hospital after suffering an accident, and Usagi gets determined to see her idol. 
Act.12 "Sailor V's True Identity was the Princess!"
"Sērā Bui no Shōtai wa Purinsesu datta no!" (セーラーVの正体はプリンセスだったの!) 		 December 20, 2003
Usagi helps Minako get out of the hospital and they spend some quality time together. Later on, masked crimefighter Sailor V reveals herself to be Sailor Venus, the Princess that both the Senshi and the Dark Kingdom were soughing after. 
Act.13 "The Last of the Shitennou, Kunzite, Appears"
"Shitennō Saigo no Hitori Kuntsaito Arawaru" (四天王最後の一人クンツァイトあらわる) 		 December 27, 2003
Usagi and Mamoru meet an amnesiac man called Shin, and decide to help him remember about his life. However, when it happens, he is revealed to be Kunzite, the fourth of the Generals of Dark Kingdom. 
Act.14 "Usagi is Turning into a Youma?"
"Usagi ga Yōma ni?" (うさぎが妖魔に?) 		 January 10, 2004
Follow-up from the previous episode. Kunzite attacks Sailor Moon so she will become a Youma. Ami, however, does her best not to let it happen. 
Act.15 "I'll Punish the Thief!"
"Dorobō o Oshioki yo!" (どろぼうをおしおきよ!) 		 January 17, 2004
Minako's jewelry is stolen, and Usagi teams up with Mamoru to catch the thieves. 
Act.16 "I Must Save Osaka!"
"Ōsaka-san o Tasuke nakya!" (大阪さんをたすけなきゃ!) 		 January 24, 2004
Naru Osaka thinks Ami is upstaging her as Usagi's best friend, but when she is kidnapped by a Youma, Ami takes quick action to save her. 
Act.17 "Minako Transforms in Front of Rei's Eyes!"
"Rei no Me no Maede Minako ga Henshin!" (レイのめのまえで美奈子が変身!) 		 January 31, 2004
Minako and Rei are petting a stray dog when an Youma attacks suddenly. In spite of her illness, Minako decides to fight along and is discovered by Rei to be Sailor Venus. 
Act.18 "At Last, All Five Sailor Senshi are Together"
"Tsuini Sorotta Gonin no Sērā Senshi" (ついにそろった5人のセーラー戦士) 		 February 7, 2004
Follow-up from the previous episode. Minako and Rei quarrel over the way they should battle as Senshi, when the Youma that Sailor Mars had let slip shows up again - and it might take the combined power of all five Senshi to stop it. 
Act.19 "Usagi's Nervous Valentine"
"Usagi no Dokidoki Barentain" (うさぎのドキドキバレンタイン) 		 February 14, 2004
Usagi decides to help a little girl called Hikari Nozaki to find a Valentine's Day present to the boy she likes. Hikari's determination also inspires Usagi to give a Valentine's present of herself to Tuxedo Mask. 
Act.20 "Hina was Mamoru's Fiancée..."
"Hina-san wa Mamoru no Konyakusha datta no..." (陽菜さんは衛の婚約者だったの...) 		 February 21, 2004
Usagi is asked by Hikari to go on a double-date with Mamoru when she learns he is engaged to Hina Kusaka. Meanwhile, Ami is worried that the bond between the Senshi is not as strong as it should be, and ends up kidnapped by Kunzite. 
Act.21 "What Did You Do to Ami!?"
"Ami-chan ni Nani o Shita!" (亜美ちゃんになにをした!) 		 February 28, 2004
Follow-up from the previous episode. Ami starts to feel sick and, with Usagi's uneasy feelings and Rei constantly bickering with Minako, Makoto is the only one left to look after her. It is revealed that Ami's sudden illness is Kunzite's doing, as he brainwashes her to become Dark Mercury and turn against her once-fellow Senshi. 
Act.22 "Ami Becomes an Enemy..."
"Ami-chan ga Teki no te ni..." (亜美ちゃんが敵のてに...) 		 March 6, 2004
Usagi is shocked to see the sudden change in Ami's attitude, as the remaining Senshi and Luna try to find a way to bring her back. 
Act.23 "In Order to Awaken Her Senshi Powers, Rei Sings"
"Senshi no Chikara o Mezamesaserutame, Utau Rei" (戦士の力を目覚めさせるため、うたうレイ) 		 March 13, 2004
Minako arranges for Rei to perform for hospital children as a J-Pop singer under the name "Reiko Mars". Usagi helps Rei overcome her insecurity and dislike of singing. 
Act.24 "I Can't Forget About Mamoru Chiba After All"
"Yappari Chiba Mamoru no Koto ga Wasurerarenai no" (やっぱり地場衛のことがわすれられないの) 		 March 20, 2004
Mamoru prepares himself to study abroad, much to Usagi's sadness. 
Act.25 "So Tuxedo Mask's True Identity was Mamoru Chiba..."
"Takishīdo Kamen no Shōtai ga Chiba Mamoru datta nante..." (タキシード仮面の正体が地場衛だったなんて...) 		 March 27, 2004
Following the previous battle, Usagi realizes Mamoru's secret identity as Tuxedo Mask, and learns that he, too, knew of her being Sailor Moon. His own stirred feelings lead Hina to break up with him. Later, it is found that the Princess, actually, is not Sailor Venus... 
Act.26 "Usagi is the Real Princess!"
"Usagi-chan ga Hontō no Purinsesu!" (うさぎちゃんが本当のプリンセス!) 		 April 3, 2004
After the real Princess is discovered to be Usagi, Luna fills the girls in with the story of the Moon Kingdom. True to their fate, Usagi and Mamoru are set apart when he decides to depart to England. 
Act.27 "Luna Became a Sailor Senshi!"
"Runa ga Sērā Senshi ni Nacchatta!" (ルナがセーラー戦士になっちゃった!) 		 April 17, 2004
After being bathed by the power of the Princess' Silver Crystal, Luna gained the ability of assuming a human form, who can become a Sailor Senshi of her own. 
Act.28 "Welcome Back, Ami!"
"Ami-chan Okaeri!" (亜美ちゃんおかえり!) 		 April 24, 2004
Follow-up from the previous episode. Dark Mercury injures Sailor Moon in battle and, when she realizes this, she ends up breaking free from Kunzite's control. Now Ami and Usagi must find a way to escape the Dark Kingdom's domains together. 
Act.29 "Minako's Rival, Mio Kuroki, is a Transfer Student?"
"Minako no Raibaru, Kuroki Mio ga Tenkōsei?" (美奈子のライバル、黒木ミオが転校生?) 		 May 1, 2004
A new popstar, Mio Kuroki, starts to upstage Minako in the showbusiness, while at the same time transferring to Juuban Middle High School - coincidentally enough, to the very class in which Usagi studies. 
Act.30 "Mio Deceives Usagi"
"Usagi o Damasō to suru Mio" (うさぎをだまそうとするミオ) 		 May 8, 2004
Usagi's classmates give her the cold shoulder after Mio makes them think her wounds are Usagi's fault. Mio tells Usagi to arrange a Minako Aino concert to make up for it, but she has a different outcome in mind... 
Act.31 "Jupiter Awakens Her Senshi Powers!"
"Jupitā ga Senshi no Chikara ni Mezameta!" (ジュピターが戦士の力に目覚めた!) 		 May 15, 2004
Makoto worries about being the only Senshi whose power has not yet been awakened, so she tries whatever she can to make it, while dealing with her feelings and Motoki. 
Act.32 "Mamoru Came Back"
"Kaettekita Mamoru" (かえってきた衛) 		 May 22, 2004
Usagi finds out that Mamoru has gone amiss in London, and is determined to find him at any costs. To that end, she has Mio hook her up with a popular TV artist. 
Act.33 "Ami is Changing Schools?"
"Ami-chan ga Tenkō?" (亜美ちゃんが転校?) 		 May 29, 2004
A Youma strikes in the middle of the night and, while Ami and Rei take care of it, they are caught by police. Ami's mother gets concerned after learning of this and proposes her to change schools. 
Act.34 "A Mother-and-Daughter Talk"
"Hanashiau Oyako" (はなしあう親子) 		 June 5, 2004
Ami decides to run away from home, and ends up developing a strong bond with Rei, because of their distant relationships with their parents. Together, they decide to try and close their old wounds. 
Act.35 "Sailor Venus and Zoisite are Working Together?"
"Sērā Vīnasu to Zoisaito ga Kyōryoku?" (セーラーヴィーナスとゾイサイトが協力?) 		 June 12, 2004
Minako observes that Zoisite, too, wants to prevent a second destruction of the world, so they cooperate to make the Princess (Usagi) forget about the Prince (Mamoru). 
Act.36 "Princess Sailor Moon Appears!"
"Purinsesu Sērā Mūn Tōjō!" (プリンセス·セーラームーン登場!) 		 June 19, 2004
Queen Beryl hatches a plan to have the Prince by force, thus awakening the rage within Sailor Moon and turning her into Princess Sailor Moon. 
Act.37 "The Princess Will Cause a Catastrophe!?"
"Purinsesu ga Wazawai o Okasu!?" (プリンセスがわざわいをおこす!?) 		 June 26, 2004
When the power of the Princess manifests itself again, Usagi disappears and her friends search the whole Tokyo for her. 
Act.38 "Believe Me! I Definitely Won't Destroy the Planet!"
"Shinjite! Zettai, Hoshi wa Horobinai!" (信じて!ぜったい、星はほろびない!!) 		 July 3, 2004
After Usagi learns that the Princess' grievance over the loss of her Prince led Earth to be destroyed, she swears to not use her power in the harmful way it is intended to. 
Act.39 "Usagi's Mother's Challenge as a Reporter!!"
"Usagi-chan no Mama ga Repōtā ni Chōsen!!" (うさぎちゃんのママがレポーターにちょうせん!!) 		 July 10, 2004
Usagi finds that Minako's flamboyant manager, Sugao Saitou, used to be a classmate of her mother, and decides to help her with her big shot as a TV reporter. 
Act.40 "Minako vs. Rei - Where's the Battle?"
"Minako buiesu Rei Baturo no Yukue wa?" (美奈子VSレイ バトルのゆくえは?) 		 July 17, 2004
Minako decides to give up on her career so that she can focus in her mission during her final days. Rei takes on her Reiko Mars persona again to prevent it from happening. 
Act.41 "Actually, I'm a Senshi!"
"Jitsu wa Senshi nano!" (じつは戦士なの!) 		 July 24, 2004
In order to protect the ones close to them, Usagi and Makoto have no choice but to let Naru and Motoki know that they are Sailor Senshi. 
Act.42 "I Won't Use the Power of the Illusion Silver Crystal!"
"Maboroshi no Ginzuishō no Chikara wa Tsukawanai!" (幻の銀水晶の力はつかわない!) 		 July 31, 2004
Follow-up from the previous episode. Naru enters a coma after Princess Sailor Moon awakens again. Usagi conjectures that negative emotions fuel her power, so she tries her best to suppress such emotions. 
Act.43 "Usagi and Mamoru's Promise"
"Usagi to Mamoru no Yakusoku" (うさぎと衛の約束) 		 August 7, 2004
Mamoru, while still under Queen Beryl's grip, strikes a deal with her so he can see Usagi, if only for one last time. She agrees, but he must return until sunset. But does he really intend to do so? 
Act.44 "Zoisite Turned Back into a Stone"
"Ishi ni Modotta Zoisaito" (石にもどったゾイサイト) 		 August 14, 2004
Concerned that Queen Metalia's powers are slowly sapping Mamoru's life away, Zoisite decides to have his life claimed to save his master. Queen Beryl, however, proposes him to take Sailor Moon's life instead. 
Act.45 "Youma Metalia's Violent Attack"
"Metaria Yōma no Hageshii Kōgeki" (メタリア妖魔のはげしい攻撃) 		 August 21, 2004
Minako's health grows steadily worse, which Ami and Makoto find out when Sailor Venus detransforms during a battle and cannot transform back. 
Act.46 "Sailor Venus Awakens Her Senshi Powers"
"Senshi no Chikara ni Mezameta Sērā Vīnasu" (戦士の力にめざめたセーラーヴィーナス) 		 August 28, 2004
Minako's powers awaken when she realizes how wrong she was in casting aside her current life to give priority to her past life. But it takes Makoto being injured for it to happen. 
Act.47 "Goodbye, Minako"
"Sayōnara, Minako" (さようなら、美奈子) 		 September 4, 2004
Minako decides to take surgery to heal up from her condition, even knowing that the success rate is minimal. In the end, however, she passes, much to the mourning of her fellow Senshi - especially Rei. 
Act.48 "Mamoru is Captured by Metaria!"
"Mamoru ga Metaria ni Nottorareta!" (衛がメタリアにのっとられた!) 		 September 18, 2004
When Queen Metalia is about to unleash her destructive power, Mamoru decides to seal it within himself. However, no matter how much he struggles to keep this power under control, he is overcome, becoming Metalia Endymion. 
Final Act "The Five Sailor Senshi Surpassed Their Previous Lives"
"Zensei o Norikoeta Gonin no Senshi-tachi" (前世をのりこえた5人の戦士たち) 		 September 25, 2004
After Sailor Moon has no choice but to kill Endymion, the Princess uses her power to destroy the world again, and the other Senshi are too late to stop it. Realizing that the world's demise was, in fact, the result of her selfishness, Serenity uses again the power of her love for Endymion to bring the world back to its original state, giving Usagi and Mamoru a second chance in life. 
Direct-to-video
Act title Release date
Special Act "We're Getting Married!!"
"Watashi-tachi Kekkon Shimasu!!" (わたしたち結婚します!!) 		 November 24, 2004
Four years after the world is restored, Usagi and Mamoru are engaged. However, evil rises again in the form of a reborn Mio Kuroki and, with Rei incapacitated, the remaining Sailor Senshi must rejoin and battle one more time. 
Act.ZERO "The Birth of Sailor V"
"Sērā Bui Tanjō" (セーラーV誕生) 		 March 25, 2005
This episode explores how Artemis met Minako (much like Luna would do to Usagi later) and had her awake to her calling as the elusive crimefighter Sailor V, while Usagi and her friends decide to help out by trying to stop thieves assaulting Naru's mother's jewelry store. 
Act.ZERO "Hina Afterward"
"Hina... Sonogo" (陽菜...その後) 		 March 25, 2005
A short drama showing what happened to Hina after she left Mamoru. 
Act.ZERO "Tuxedo Mask's Secret Birth"
"Takishīdo Kamen Tanjō no Himitsu" (タキシード仮面 誕生の秘密) 		 March 25, 2005
Usagi wants to know how did Mamoru become Tuxedo Mask. 

[edit] Cast

Many of these actors also appear in the Kamen Rider series, including Jyouji Shibue (Mamoru), as Kamen Rider Ibuki, and Masaya Kikawada (Motoki), as Kamen Rider Ichigo in large roles. Hiroyuki Matsumoto (Nephrite) and Akira Kubodera (Kunzite) also appear, as well as Tomohisa Yuge (the fake Tuxedo Mask from PGSM Act 9), who portrayed Kamen Rider Zolda and Kamen Rider TheBee, and Satoshi Ichijo (Yuuto from Act 32), who played Kamen Rider Gai. More recently, Rina Koike (Luna in human form) who played Shizuka Nomura from Kamen Rider Kiva.

The cloaked youma which appeared starting in ep. 37 are redesigned Golem Hei from the 1992 Super Sentai series Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger (which were adapted to the Putty Patrol in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers).[citation needed]

[edit] Distribution and reception

Ratings Snapshot from the Newtype USA magazine
[citation needed]
Act 14 January 10, 2004 - 4.0%[3]
Act 15 January 17, 2004 - 3.2%
Act 16 January 24, 2004 - 3.2%
Act 17 January 31, 2004 - 4.7%[4]
Act 18 February 7, 2004 - 3.8%

The broadcast originated from Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting. Another 28 television stations in Japan retransmitted the series,[citation needed] though some of them were weeks behind the TBS schedule because they started airing the series late.

There are several radio programs called "DJ Moon" based on the show that originated from Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting radio and were broadcast on other radio networks in Japan. The shows were a combination of a radio drama and promotional tool for the TV series, often foreshadowing upcoming events. These shows were later sold on CD.

The live action broadcast's ratings were not as high as those of the original show. The show had a high start, but then the ratings slid. They picked up in January 2004 and then again at the end of the series.

In addition to the broadcast television show, there was also a stage musical performance, Kirari Super Live! by characters on the show. Some footage from the filming of the stage show was used in the television broadcast. A special limited-edition promotional video, Super Dance Lesson, was available for purchase only through order forms found in the magazines Youchien, Mebae, and Shougaku Ichinensei in July 2004.[5]

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ The word senshi has been officially translated in the other Sailor Moon series titles as "soldier," and is occasionally written that way in English letters on merchandise. In the live-action series, however, it is translated "guardian," and is printed as such during the show's opening sequence.
  2. ^ Adapted from http://www.sailormoon.ws/archives/040205.html
  3. ^ (Near death of a main character)
  4. ^ (Introduction of a new character)
  5. ^ Act.38 バックナンバー - 美少女戦士セーラームーン（東映公式）

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Sailor Moon
Franchise
Episodes
Films
Protagonists
Antagonists
Supporting characters
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Guardian_Sailor_Moon"
Personal tools