When I heard the news that the anime classic Sailor Moon was being remade I was excited. After all, I still have a big place in my heart for it. It was the first anime I ever watched. It helped me make friends who also watched it. I had Sailor Moon merchandise. I carried a torch for Tuxedo Mask for many years. Most of my Japanese students, to my surprise, didn’t know about Sailor Moon. A remake is chance for them to notice an anime other than One Piece. Yes, I was excited about the news but I was also apprehensive. Like with certain Hollywood movies, was a remake necessary?
Hollywood just keeps remaking old movies. The results are either really good or cringeworthy-horrible. I started to think about this in terms of the Sailor Moon remake. It has been twenty years since the release of Sailor Moon. The timing isn’t bad. The news is that the anime will be closer to the manga and aimed towards older viewers. The manga wasn’t like the shiny, kid friendly television show we all know. It could get pretty serious and sad. In the original anime, some elements were glossed over entirely. Just look at the romantic relationship between fellow sailor scouts Neptune and Uranus. They made them cousins in the American version! The relationship between Usagi and Mamoru was more intimate in the manga than in the anime. There were some dark scenes in the manga. Will fans of the original be put off? I don’t think so. If you read and loved the Sailor Moon manga you know what to expect. This remake could appeal to a new generation of fans.
The estimated release date is between November 2013 and January 2014. It was originally slated to be released summer of this year. However, production was delayed. Merchandise has been released to promote the new anime. A theme song performed by Japanese idol group Momoiro Clover Z has been announced as well. As an eternal Sailor Moon fan, I am eager to see the new remake. Moon prism power, everyone!
