Kodansha's Sailor Moon Manga Re-Release

If you’re the around josei age like myself (young 20’s) then you’ll probably remember growing up watching Sailor Moon. I remember fondly being completely obsessed with this show (arguably I still am). So when to my delight I got to my local bookstore to see Sailor Moon Volume 1 sitting on the shelf for sale I snagged it so quickly I left a trail of moon dust in my wake. That was over a year ago, and all volumes have been released. For those who haven’t watched Sailor Moon, or for Sailor Moon fans this is a must pick up, and any shoujo fan as well.


This manga is being released right in time for the re-release of the Sailor Moon anime which is getting totally redone for this summer anime season (It’s been re-scheduled to 2014, I have shed many tears over this). This time around the anime is supposed to follow the manga more closely, and if you are anything like myself, growing up you did not know how different the manga truly is when compared to the anime (especially the North American dub). The manga has a more serious tone, and even alludes to sex and the like. I would really recommend this manga to young adults over children. That’s what made the anime so different in contrast to the manga I’ve been reading. They’re two different experiences entirely (and the manga is far more enjoyable in comparison). The anime also stretched a 12 volume series into 200 episodes along with 3 movies, making it a huge franchise. The anime had a lot of formulaic episodes whereas the manga gets to the point; there isn’t that repetitious plot of Monster appears-oh no!-transform-destroy monster-repeat. The main villains are defeated within at least a volume and a half, with the end of each volume ending of a cliffhanger. Intermixed is the main story about the Moon Princess, the clash of future and past, and ultimately the survival of the Sailor Guardians and the Moon Kingdom. Even if you feel like you know the anime well the manga offers something fresh and more appropriate for those who grew up watching the show. There is a boxset of 1-6 already, so save yourself some money and pick it that up, as well as the 7-12 boxset scheduled for October of this year. Or if you’re like myself and can’t wait, all the manga is out and purchasable at Chapters or Amazon.



The artwork is gorgeous throughout each book, even with a lack of colour you will find yourself stopping to enjoy the scenery every few pages. Characters like Haruka and Michiru really stand out, and each character’s design rivals the next. The relationship between Usagi and Mamorou feels more real than ever before, and their struggles in the first few volumes is a real treat. One aspect that the anime has over the manga however is the development of the villains. Seasons 1 and 2 of the anime are truly memorable for the development of the minion characters whereas the manga does not make them very memorable at all. I’m excited to see where the new anime will draw the line, although it’s supposed to stay true to the manga and follow it more closely, I’m hoping there is a little deviation to make moments like when Zoycite impersonates Sailor Moon, but I’m sure whatever choices they make will make for a great show. Other contributions the anime made were villains like the aliens Ann and Alan. They had a great dynamic with their two sided personalities and their intense love for one another, along with their struggle to survive on Earth. This story is not in the manga, and it’s disappointing to know that they probably won’t make an appearance in the upcoming anime. For that reason I think both the manga and old anime have great elements that make them both worthwhile to check out. If you’re not afraid of subtitles I would highly recommend the Japanese version of the show over its dubbed counterpart. Like I said earlier, the manga as well as the anime weren’t really appropriate for children in my opinion, so dumbing it down for children makes it lose a lot of its strengths. If you like taking your reading with you however, purchase the manga and read it on the bus, in a park, or at bedtime. It’s very enjoyable and will make you all the more excited for the upcoming remake of the show.

Christina