Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon
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Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (美少女戦士セーラームーン Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn?)[1] (often abbreviated to PGSM) was a tokusatsu TV series in the Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon metaseries originally created by Naoko Takeuchi. It is created by Toei, the same company that produces the Super Sentai series. Toei have also done much to create the sentai genre to which the original story arguably also belongs.[citation needed]
PGSM came out in exclusively in Japan. It ran from 2003 – 2004, and was a retelling of the first major Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon arc (sometimes referred to as the 'Dark Kingdom' arc or just 'Classic') but with considerable plot divergences.
The theme song is called "Kirari*Sailor Dream!" and was performed by J-Pop singer Sae. The lyrics were written by Naoko Takeuchi herself.
The series lasted 49 episodes (called "Acts"), and also included two separate made for DVD specials, for a total of 51 acts.
Contents |
[edit] Production
| Act 14 January 10, 2004 - 4.0%* |
| (*Near death of a main character) |
| Act 15 January 17, 2004 - 3.2% |
| Act 16 January 24, 2004 - 3.2% |
| Act 17 January 31, 2004 - 4.7%* |
| (*Introduction of a new character) |
| Act 18 February 07, 2004 - 3.8% |
The broadcast originated from the Tokyo Broadcasting System. 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 of 2004 and then again at the end of the series.
In addition to the broadcast television show, there was also a stage musical performance by characters on the show. Some footage from the filming of the stage show was used in the television broadcast. There was also an instructional video released.
[edit] Plot
A great evil, consisting of Queen Beryl (a beautiful, spurned ex-resident of the Moon Kingdom), her four generals, and an amorphous evil power named Queen Metallia attempt to steal energy so that Beryl can take over the world.
Standing in their way are the Sailor Senshi, five high-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, Metallia and Sailor Moon each get too powerful to be reigned 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
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 story lines 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 "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 - Variations.
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.
[edit] New & altered characters
With the new adaptation of the show, several new characters were added to give it freshness and originality.
[edit] Sailor Luna
Many secondary characters were modified, most notably Luna. In Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Luna is portrayed as a stuffed toy, but is also occasionally rendered using CGI effects. The same woman who performed Luna in the original Japanese anime, Keiko Han, also does Luna's voice as a cat in PGSM. The human-version of Luna first appears in Act 26, as a young girl (played by Rina Koike) who uses her own cell-phone-like transformation device to transform into Sailor Luna. She initiates this by pressing the numbers 6-7-2 and reciting "Luna Prism Power, Make Up!".
Since gaining the ability to hold human-form, Luna has remained for the majority of her time as human, but often reverts back to the toy cat-form when she loses control by either sneezing, taking a direct attack from an enemy or falling unconscious (e.g. falling asleep). The human Luna may occasionally be drawn towards distractions that a normal cat would be (e.g. chasing balls and running from dogs).
Luna's personality as a human girl is essentially identical to her canon-established personality, except that she gives voice to her mild obsession with sweet foods more often.
The character of Luna does have a human form in the original manga story of Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon (and the Sailor Moon S movie), although she is portrayed as a young adult. For the live action, however, Naoko Takeuchi designed Sailor Luna herself, perhaps using Sailor Chibi Moon as a model.
As Sailor Luna, she is the "Guardian of Small and Cute Things" and uses candy in her powers. Her only named attack is Luna Sucré Candy in which she makes a barrage of candy and cookies and small explosions attack the enemy (similar to Sailor Chibi Moon's "Pink Sugar Heart Attack"). She also has her own Moon Stick that she can turn into a paper fan used to beat enemies (in particular, Kunzite). In one episode she was able to turn the stick into a butterfly net, and in another she turned it into a golden fan. The transformation power of the item altogether is similar to Chibiusa's Luna-P item. She is also able to move very swiftly and once used a super hearing ability through her candy powers.
[edit] Dark Sailor Mercury
Also referred to as Dark Mercury or Darkury by fans. When Ami was kidnapped by Kunzite in Act 20, he immersed her in the power of Metallia to turn her evil and she became Dark Mercury. As Dark Mercury she was granted a new henshin device that was connected to a black leather strap. Her suit also changed giving her black, tribal designs on her collar and boots and a dark butterfly design on her bow. She also had black tooling on her back bow, under her skirt and under her collar. Her tiara also changed into a tribal design. Her transformation phrase was "Dark Power, Make up!".
Ami's attitude changed drastically as Dark Mercury, especially in her civilian form, becoming self-confident to the point of egotism. Her over all appearance in her civilain form changed as well, as she began dressing primarily in black and other dark colors and her hair became jet black. As Dark Mercury, she seems to have no intention of being a follower to anyone, and is always trying to pursue her own agenda, which is to kill her friends and become as strong as possible. She shows blatant disrespect to Kunzite and the other Shitennou, even to Queen Beryl. This may be due to the fact that, unlike even the Shitennou, she is shown directly exposed to Metallia's power during her conversion, as opposed to having Queen Beryl or another intermediary filtering it.
However, certain aspects of the real Ami still remained. She still wanted to do well in school, and wanted friends, but instead of confronting Usagi during classes, she brainwashed her classmates. She also seemed to have at least some sympathy for people, which was evident when she sewed Nephrite's cape for him, stating that she didn't like to see him alone.[2] This sympathy may have been a result of being exposed to Sailor Moon's power, which very gradually healed Ami, but this is not certain.
As Dark Mercury, Ami's powers were the same, but infused with dark energy and slightly stronger. She never had a proper attack phrase, but often used a sword fashioned from an icicle. In promotional pictures prior to her premiere, she was shown with a different sword, which seemed to have strings on it like a harp or violin; the latter seems more likely, as she is also seen holding a bow.
She eventually reverted to her former self, due to being exposed to the true power of the Silver Crystal, and also because her last battle ended with her injuring Usagi - causing her to remember who she really was and to turn back.
This story arc "replaces" the "Dark Endymion" arc from the manga and anime, where Mamoru, not Ami, is kidnapped.
[edit] Princess Sailor Moon
Usually referred to as simply "The Princess" (and referred to three times as Princess Serenity by Sailor Venus in Act 25, Act 26 and Act 36), Princess Sailor Moon was Sailor Moon's powered-up form for the series. However, in contrast to previous versions of the story, Princess Sailor Moon was actually introduced when she was "possessed" by the spirit of her former self, ending up being a bit more sinister (this is indicated by her lower-pitched, serious voice). She originally appeared after Queen Beryl took the Shitennou hostage in exchange for Mamoru. Sailor Moon transformed into Princess Sailor Moon and halted Queen Beryl using her sword.
It was obvious, however, that Princess Sailor Moon was not the same as Usagi when she showed no remorse for the fate of the Shitennou (at least Nephrite's fate), and she referred to Mamoru as "Endymion" instead of "Mamoru". Later in the series, she states to Usagi during inner dialogue that she has no qualms about destroying Earth if Mamoru was ever taken from her, and later on even summons her own special demons to fight her friends, all bearing moon-shaped signs similar to hers.
Princess Sailor Moon is constantly angry. She tends to leave flaming carnage in her wake; in one act, Usagi's friend Naru accidentally got too close and wound up in the hospital for a while. The only time she ever had another mood was in Act 49, when she was remorseful. Though smiling in most promotional material for the series, Princess Sailor Moon does not smile in the series itself.
Princess Sailor Moon later went on to be a major plot point, often showing Usagi trying to suppress her power in fear that she would eventually destroy the world, something that came to light in the series' finale in an Ideon-like fashion. Her internal conflict would be the major conflict for the rest of the series.
Princess Sailor Moon had a sword, which also doubled as a harp with invisible strings. It was shown that she could heal people and the land as she played the harp. Otherwise, the exact effects of playing the harp is unclear, however, much of the time Princess Sailor Moon did so, the power of her Silver Crystal would feed the power of Queen Metallia, accelerating the devastation of the planet. Using the sword, she could deflect enemy attacks and unleash an unnamed devastating attack. She also had the ability to levitate, and possibly to teleport.
[edit] Mio Kuroki
Mio Kuroki (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 pretended to be her friend while doing all in her power to cause Usagi sadness. Because of her forgiving nature, however, Usagi still considered Mio a friend. Mio soon became very envious of Usagi's closeness to Mamoru and faked fainting in front of his motorcycle in order to kidnap him and take him to Queen Beryl. There, Mio taunted Mamoru Chiba, telling him that Beryl would kill him if he didn't join the Dark Kingdom and become Beryl's lover.
Mio is revealed as a being created from a part of Queen Beryl herself, apparently to do harm to Usagi. Toward the end of the series, Mio is apparently killed by Endymion/Metallia; she is somehow resurrected, however, and appears in the "Special Act" as the main villain. Once again, she kidnaps Mamoru, this time wanting to marry him so they could 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 Sword in the Sailor Planet attack.
[edit] Special items
A number of magical items, unique to the live action series, were introduced over the course of the story. These include:
- Jewelry Star Bracelet - A transformation item; each of the Inner Senshi (except Sailor Moon) has her own. These bracelets allow them to transform into Sailor Senshi. When Sailor Mercury was turned into Dark Sailor Mercury, her bracelet also changed in appearance and was known as the Dark Jewelry Star Bracelet.
- Heart Moon Necklace - Sailor Moon's transformation device which she uses in conjunction with a tube of lipstick to transform. This turns into a brooch when she is Sailor Moon.
- Sailor Star Tambo - An attack item; each of the Inner Senshi has her own. Together with Sailor Moon, these items enable the Senshi to use the "Moonlight Attractive Attack" and the "Sailor Planet Attack." Not all of them need be present to use these combined attacks. Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mercury are shown using theirs for named attacks--"Jupiter Thunderbolt" and "Mercury Aqua Storm"--which are unique to the live-action series. In the final episode and the Special Act, the Tambos are turned into weapons--a Mercury Sword, Jupiter Spear, and Mars and Venus daggers.
- Princess Sword/Princess Harp - Princess Sailor Moon conjures this sword to fend off attacks and perform a powerful blow in the form of a star. It also turns into a harp, that she uses to play for her sorrow, and sometimes to heal people.
- Decoy Silver Crystal - A crystal which Sailor Venus wore in a tiara in her hair during the early part of the series, when she was impersonating the Princess. She had many, in fact, and could cause them to explode at will. In particular, in Act 23, Nephrite fell victim when a fake Ginzuishou exploded in his hands.
- Teletia-S - A magical cellphone given to each of the Senshi. They can be used to contact more than one person at once, and are the PGSM version of Sailor Moon's transforming pen. Each Senshi can use her phone to take a picture of a person (or even a manniquin) and, later, turn her own clothes into the selected outfit. Human Luna also carries one, which she uses to turn into Sailor Luna. Luna's cellphone is called Lunatia-L.
- Crown Passport - The girls use karaoke passes, conjured by Luna, to enter their secret base (also conjured by Luna) in Crown Karaoke. The cards purport to be year-long passes to use the karaoke booths so that the Sailor Senshi can get into the base for free. When he first sees them, however, Motoki asks "We give one-year passes?" but then shrugs it off.
- Luna's Candy Wand - Sailor Luna's standard weapon; she uses it to perform an attack called "Luna Sucre Candy" and sometimes turns it into a fan (or a net) to attack people.
[edit] DVD Specials
[edit] Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Special Act
A sequel to the series that portrayed the wedding of Mamoru and 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 forces 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 bedridden with injuries from battle, use the Moon Sword provided by Queen Serenity to defeat Mio.
[edit] Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Act Zero
The last special made for the series, ironically, 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. She must use her newfound powers to foil a jewel thief called Cutie Kenko. 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. The actors who portray the Shitennou are featured as inexperienced police officers for comic relief. The story ends with Luna coming to Earth in order to give Usagi her powers.
One blooper in Act Zero: As Sailor V goes to fight Cutie Kenko's henchwomen, she is wearing the blue strap-on shoes that she wears elsewhere in the series. When she ducks out of the way causing two of the henchwomen to hit each other, she is wearing tennis sneakers.
[edit] Mini-episodes
Act Zero also came with two mini-episodes. Each one was approximately five minutes long and told quick short stories. Hina Afterward showed what happened to the character of Hina after breaking off her engagement with Mamoru Chiba. Tuxedo Mask's Secret Birth showed 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-" Also demonstrated were "C'est La Vie~ The Loving Part Inside me" and "Kirari*Sailor Dream!" although no formal instructions were given on how to dance to them.
[edit] Kirari Super Live!
This is DVD footage of the live-stage show of the same name. Kirari Super Live featured the actors and actresses from the show singing and dancing to the various songs from the show. The cast of the Seramyu musical of 2004 was purportedly part of the audience.[citation needed]
[edit] Cast
n.b. Names are westernized.
- Miyuu Sawai as Usagi Tsukino / Sailor Moon / Princess Serenity
- Chisaki Hama as Ami Mizuno / Sailor Mercury / Dark Mercury
- Keiko Kitagawa as Rei Hino / Sailor Mars
- Myū Azama as Makoto Kino / Sailor Jupiter
- Ayaka Komatsu as Minako Aino / Sailor V / Sailor Venus
- Rina Koike as Luna Tsukino / Sailor Luna
- Keiko Han as Luna (voice, cat form)
- Kappei Yamaguchi as Artemis (voice)
- Jyouji Shibue as Mamoru Chiba / Tuxedo Kamen / Prince Endymion
- Aya Sugimoto as Queen Beryl
- Jun Masuo as Jadeite
- Hiroyuki Matsumoto as Nephrite
- Yoshihito Endou as Zoisite
- Akira Kubodera as Kunzite
- Alisa Durbrow as Mio Kuroki
- Chieko Kawabe as Naru Osaka
- Masaya Kikawada as Motoki Furuhata
- Kaori Moriwaka as Ikuko Tsukino
- Naoki Takeshi as Shingo Tsukino
Many of these actors also appear in the Kamen Rider series, including Jyouji Shibue (Mamoru) and Masaya Kikawada (Motoki) in large roles. Hiroyuki Matsumoto (Nephrite) and Yoshihito Endou (Zoisite) also appear, as well as Tomohisa Yuge (the fake Tuxedo Mask from PGSM Act 9) and Satoshi Ichijo (Yuuto from Act 32).
[edit] References
- ^ 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 merchanidise. In the live-action series, however, it is translated "guardian," and is printed as such during the show's opening sequence.
- ^ Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Act 24.
[edit] External links
- Fly Me to the Sailormoon The Official Toei site
- Sailormoon Channel Official Bandai site
- HICBC Official HICBC Sailor Moon site
- Genvid News updates and forums
- Smashed Ice Information, media, and pictures
- Sailor Dream Product and show information
- Shingetsu Episode, magazine, and publication translations
- Three-Lights.net Magazine scans of actresses and show
- Kirari-PGSM.net Information, Galleries, Multimedia
- A Soldier's Effigy Information, episode screencaps
- Bishôjo Senshi Sailor Moon at the Internet Movie Database
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| Codename: Sailor V | Manga | Anime | Episode list | English adaptations | Musicals | Video games | Live action Actors | Story locations | Sailor Moon R movie | Sailor Moon S movie | Sailor Moon SuperS movie | Parallel Sailor Moon |
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