Sailor Moon is one of the most iconic anime series of all time both in Japan and western markets. Its 30-year history is a testament to its popularity, but its also full of retcons in some regions. This leaves many struggling to know what the series is about and where to start with it.
With multiple series getting released over the years and multiple brands within each, it’s worth taking a look at the foundation of the series. Here’s how the series came to be, who created it, and where to watch it.
Sailor Moon was created by manga artist Naoko Takeuchi in 1991.Â
Though Takeuchi went to university to study pharmacy, she entered the manga industry after graduating. Her original work was the award-winning Love Call, which was followed by a number of one-off stories. Her first serial manga was entitled Maria and ran for two years.Â
Official Trailer | Sailor Moon: The Complete First Season | VIZ
She worked on another series called The Cherry Project from there but a one-shot named Codename: Sailor V was turned into a serial manga. The manga was then picked up by Toei Animation to become an anime, which led to the expansion of the universe and the creation of the franchise.
The manga ran from 1991 to 1997. Following its conclusion, Takeuchi continued creating various styles of manga including comic strips, one-shots, and short-lived serials. In recent years she has been a supervisor for the Sailor Moon Crystal anime and movies.
The character Sailor Moon is 14 years old.
Though anime characters’ ages are often vague, that’s not the case here. Early on in the series, Usagi Tsukino states she is 14 years old before gaining her powers and meeting with the rest of her team.
The series takes place over the course of a few years which does see her age along the way. By the end of the series, she is 16 years old.
Sailor Moon is available on a number of subscription streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, and Crave.
Sailor Moon Crystal Set – Official English Trailer
There are actually two different anime series including the 1990s original and the 2014 reboot entitled Sailor Moon Crystal. Both have a number of accompanying movies. Depending on your region, one, both, or neither are available on major streaming services. Check the listings of your go-to service and see what’s available.
Additionally, Viz’s 2014 re-dubbing of the original series was released on Blu-Ray. It can be found on a number of online retailers.
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