Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

English Title: Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon
Mangaka: Naoko Takeuchi
Pub. Date: 1992
# of Vols.: 18

TV Series: 1992 (46 Episodes)
R: 1993 (43 Episodes)
S: 1994 (38 Episodes)
SuperS: 1995 (39 Episodes)
Stars: 1996 (34 Episodes)
R Movie
S Movie
SuperS TV Special
Ami-chan no Hatsukoi
SuperS Movie

Season 1 follows the soldiers' introductions, meeting each girl and getting the background for the series. Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion (Selene and Endymion) once loved each other a long time ago, when the descendents of the Moon watched over the people of Earth, that was until a dark force consumed and twisted the hearts of those of Endymion's court leading to a confrontation between the dark queen-witch Beryl. The lovers were killed, along with the guardian soldiers loyal to the princess. Queen Serenity witnessing the ruination of her kingdom sealed the dark forces away and used the last of her magic and energy to send her daughter and court to Earth's future where they were all reborn. This is where the series picks up, with the two lovers and the four girls coming to know their past and finishing the battle begun so long ago.

The next arc introduces Usagi and Mamoru's daughter from the future, and explains how the two will come to ascend the throne for Earth. Their daughter came to them to seek help against those exhiled from Earth seeking to exact revenge for their banishment. Later seasons introduce more guardians, and work with the relationships of the characters, and some of the minor characters.

The series is epic in themes and full of myth references and following a group of girls working through the years that will change them into young women. Takeuchi first wrote a manga titled Code Name wa Sailor V, which was Minako's first appearance. During the off and on period of writing it, she took the challenge of expanding the story and creating a team superheroine, magical girl storyline which resulted in Sailor Moon. The series was meant to incorporate popular elements of shows like Power Rangers but aimed at young girls. Not all mahou shoujo is superheroine focused, many are not, but Sailor Moon due to its genesis, turned out that way.

While not the first anime I was exposed to, it was the first shoujo series and also my introduction to mahou shoujo. It still remains a favorite for nostalgic reasons and for the characters. There are great changes in the main heroine's character from ep. 1 to the end. She's very whiny when we first meet her, not to mention a bit flighty, but it's amazing what the pressure of protecting lives and having to reevaluate the priorties of one's life can do. She grows unselfish and once she has younger charges to care for, motherly even. And with a 200 episode span to work with, the growth of not just Usagi, but the rest of the cast is paced well.

In 2003 Naoko and her publisher began updating the manga. Changes include slight dialogue and scene/art changes, with the intent of modernizing or bringing the story out to a new generation of fans. The biggest note is the new title: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon versus the original accepted English title Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon. The new set of the manga also includes more chapters per volume.

Note: There are more specials besides the main two (Ami-chan No Hatsukoi & the SuperS TV special), there is also Make-Up! Sailor Senshi/Dreaming Moon for example. Plus, several musicals and a live action TV series for 2003.

Also, Sailor Moon is the first mahou shoujo to combine elements of the genre with sentai, team fighting stories. Shows that would come later such as Wedding Peach and Tokyo Mew Mew owe that element to Sailor Moon's seamless use of the two.

Notes for Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon:
Senshi Notes
Guardian Notes
Villain Notes
Various Notes

Magical Companions
Luna, Artemis, and Diana-family of cats from the Moon Kingdom

Magical Phrase
Sailor Moon
Moon Prism Power, Make-Up-to transform
Moon Crystal Power, Make-Up
Moon Cosmic Power, Make-Up
Moon Crisis, Make-Up
Moon Eternal, Make-Up
Moon Tiara Action/Stardust
Moon Healing Escalation
Moon Princess Halation
Moon Spiral Heart Attack
Rainbow Moon Heartache
Moon Gorgeous Meditation
Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss
Silver Moon crystal Power Kiss

Sailor Chibi Moon
Moon Prism Power, Make-Up
Moon Crisis, Make-Up
Pink sugar Heart Attack
Twinkle Yell

Sailor Mercury
Mercury Power, Make-Up
Mercury Star Power, Make-Up
Mercury Crystal Power, Make-Up
Shabon Spray/Freezing
Shine Aqua Illusion
Mercury Aqua Rhapsody
Mercury Aqua Mirage

Sailor Mars
Mars Power, Make-Up
Mars Star Power, Make-Up
Mars Crystal Power, Make-Up
Akuryou Taisan
Fire Soul
Fire Soul Bird
Burning Mandala
Mars Flame Sniper

Sailor Jupiter
Jupiter Power, Make-Up
Jupiter Star Power, Make-Up
Jupiter Crystal Power, Make-Up
Supreme Thunder
Supreme Thunder Dragon
Sparkling Wide Pressure
Jupiter Oak Evolution

Sailor Venus
Venus Power, Make-Up
Venus Star Power, Make-Up
Venus Crystal Power, Make-Up
Crescent Beam
Crescent Beam Shower
Venus Love-Me-Chain
Venus Love and Beauty Shock

Sailor Pluto
Pluto Planet Power, Make-Up
Dead Scream
Time Stop

Sailor Uranus
Uranus Planet Power, Make-Up
World Shaking
Space Sword Blaster

Sailor Neptune
Neptune Planet Power, Make-Up
Deep Submerge
Submarine Reflection

Sailor Saturn
No transformation in the anime
Silent Wall
Silence Glaive Surprise

Sailor Starlights
Fighter Star Power, Make-Up
Maker Star Power, Make-Up
Healer Star Power, Make-Up
Star Serious Laser (Fighter)
Star Gentle Uterus (Maker)
Star Sensitive Inferno (Healer)

Sailor Planet Attack-senshi together

Magical Items
Sailor Moon
Tiara
Henshin Pen
Communication Device (like a calculator)
Wristwatch communicator
Compact-various upgrades throughout series
Moon Stick
Cutie Moon Rod
Spiral Heart Moon Rod
Kaleidomoon Scope
Eternal Tiare
Holy Grail
Locket given to Sailor Moon by Tuxedo Kamen
Ginzuishou

Sailor Chibi Moon
Luna-P
Time Key
Heart Compact
Pink Moon Stick
stallion Reve
Crystal Carillon

Sailor Mercury
Henshin Pen
Computer
Communication device (like a calculator)
Wristwatch communicator
Visor
Mercury Power Sticks

Sailor Mars, Jupiter, Venus
Ofuda (Mars)
Henshin Pens & Sticks
Communicators

Sailor Pluto, Uranus, Neptune
Henshin Sticks
Garnet Rod (Pluto)
Garnet Orb (Pluto)
Space Sword (Uranus)
Deep Aqua Mirror (Neptune)

Sailor Saturn
Silence Glaive

Sailor Starlights
Sailor Star Yell
Microphones attached to ear