Sailor Moon Eternal review: the Netflix movie goes back to the series’ heart

The 2014 collection Sailor Moon Crystal, the second try at an anime adaptation of Naoko Takeuchi’s Sailor Moon manga, met blended reactions from followers. It was a extra trustworthy adaptation of the manga collection than the beloved ’90s anime adaptation, however its central characters, the guardians of Earth (often known as the Sailor Senshi), appeared off. Sailor Pluto all of the sudden had lighter pores and skin. The CGI transformations the place the characters turn into their superpowered varieties felt outdated. And the muted tones lacked the intense, colourful prettiness followers remembered from the ’90s.

By season 3 of Sailor Moon Crystal, the CGI transformations have been gone, and the artwork fashion turned much less inflexible and extra playful. Now, 5 years later, season 4 of the collection, introduced on Netflix because the two-part movie Fairly Guardian Sailor Moon Everlasting The Film, appears like a end result of all the pieces the creators discovered from Crystal’s unique missteps. And it brings followers nearer to the center of what makes Sailor Moon nice.

Sailor Moon Everlasting follows the Dream arc of the manga, the place the mysterious Useless Moon Circus arrives in Japan throughout a photo voltaic eclipse. Their ruler, Queen Nehelenia, needs to take over the world by trapping people in nightmares, claiming the throne to the dominion of the moon — generally known as the Silver Millennium — and ruling over Earth, which she believes is rightfully hers. However the titular character, Sailor Moon (or Usagi), her destined love Mamoru (often known as Tuxedo Masks), Chibiusa or Sailor Chibi Moon (Usagi and Mamoru’s future daughter, who’s traveled to the current day — sure, that’s a factor), and her trusted pals and allies the Sailor Guardians (named after their respective planets), have one thing to say about Nehelenia’s ambitions. On the identical time, the Sailor Guardians meet a human-turned-unicorn-pegasus named Helios, who’s searching for one thing known as the Golden Crystal, and has eyes for Chibiusa.

Picture: Netflix

Whereas the unique ’90s anime took liberties in adapting Takeuchi’s manga, resembling utterly altering Queen Nehelenia’s backstory, Sailor Moon Everlasting is basically a precise retelling of the Dream arc. However even individuals who already know the manga might discover the animated model fascinating, given the possibility to see issues which can be new to the animated Sailor Moon universe, like Sailor Saturn’s full elaborate transformation sequence. The movie usually appears rushed, although, with a complete runtime of solely 160 minutes, in comparison with a typical 260-minute season of Sailor Moon Crystal. As an alternative of a cohesive movie, the two-part film usually appears like a collection of episodes strung collectively, which to be truthful, is the way it’s specified by the manga.

Among the attraction from the ’90s anime remains to be there, although. That is partly because of the return of Chiaki Kon, the collection director for season 3 of Sailor Moon Crystal, and Kazuko Tadano, who helmed the character designs for the primary two seasons of the ’90s anime, in addition to 1993’s Sailor Moon R: The Film. As she did with Crystal’s third season, Kon brings in a directorial fashion that enables for dynamic, stunning scenes. With Tadano’s character designs, Sailor Moon Everlasting helps create the very best model of Crystal by giving the characters contemporary seems to be consistent with the unbelievable vogue the ’90s anime is thought for, like Sailor Pluto’s mesh tank prime and black shorts. However she additionally shows the characters in a manner that makes them look enjoyable.

Fortunately, there are many swoony romantic scenes and humorous moments to make up for the sense of one thing lacking. The movies simply change between comedic and critical moments. As Usagi and Mamoru compete for the “placed on a courageous face so my accomplice doesn’t fear” award, a number of the different guardians want for their very own romantic companions. In a single scene, Rei (Sailor Mars) vents about eager to run her grandfather’s shrine “extra effectively,” and Mina (Sailor Venus) provides an answer with literal stars in her eyes — a “free husband helper.” Makoto (Sailor Jupiter) and Mina go on about how they need their very own boyfriends, however whilst they’re swooning over the thought, they instantly develop into stoic once they’re reminded that the villains could also be making a transfer. “It’s about time,” says Sailor Mars. “Convey it on, we’re prepared,” says Sailor Venus, as all the ladies serve up a fierce glare.

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The villains aren’t the one ones creating inside battles for the characters, although. As they’re combating villains and making an attempt to avoid wasting the world, one other monster is creeping up — impostor syndrome! Because the movie progresses, all of the inside Sailor Senshi (related to the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter) are attacked by the Useless Moon Circus, who prey on their false fears and actual insecurities.

Top-of-the-line examples is seen with Sailor Venus, who struggles with insecurity because the chief of the inside guardians after she loses her skill to remodel. Her disaster escalates as the opposite members of the workforce hold citing older, definitively cooler outer senshi who joined the workforce within the prior season, however have since disappeared. When Sailor Venus is attacked, the villains create a false dream situation the place she will save youngsters trapped on the highest of a constructing, which seems to be a entice. However finally, her talking-cat sidekick and greatest buddy, Artemis — right here seen animated in human type for the primary time ever — helps her reclaim her self-worth and energy. Whereas Sailor Moon’s storylines usually revolve round romantic love, moments like these, about various kinds of love are introduced as being simply as vital. In a fantastical, dreamy movie about combating heinous villains, what makes the Sailor Moon franchise particular is the creators’ skill to floor it in real-life, on a regular basis points.

This story arc was additionally tailored into many Sailor Moon followers’ least favorite season of the unique anime (although that season, styled as Fairly Soldier Sailor Moon SuperS, holds some sway with Chibiusa stans). However on this newer adaptation, the movie holds up with the remainder of the franchise and does the manga justice, in a manner that may let Sailor Moon followers swell up with moon satisfaction. Newcomers to the Sailor Moon franchise might get pleasure from this two-part film, however they’re certain to search out it complicated. There’s sufficient data to piece collectively a number of the story, particularly because it introduces a brand new villain — however finally, leaping in right here is precisely like beginning a present within the fourth season.

However for followers, this return to type is enterprise as ordinary. Sailor Moon, the character and the present, reveals that when the characters’ powers are channeled collectively, they develop into unstoppable, as a result of true energy comes from group. At its coronary heart, Fairly Guardian Sailor Moon Everlasting The Film is about overcoming evil with the ability of affection and friendship. And there’s nothing extra Sailor Moon than that.