Sailor Moon is not the first magical girl series ever, but it's a classic that set the standard for magical girl anime to follow. The original anime series from the 1990s is five seasons long, with one season for every big story arc in the manga, plus three movies. Sailor Moon was many people's intro to anime, and it has great cross-genre appeal that lasts beyond nostalgic feeling.

Naoko Takeuchi, the mangaka behind the series, put a lot of thought into her series. It's based on a mix of Japanese and Greek folklore, with a high fashion aesthetic that's like a love letter to '90s runway looks. Sailor Moon has an enduring fanbase, and many hope that the series never stops producing content.

A Brief History of Sailor Moon & Its Adaptations

Sailor Moon Content Ranges from Animated to Live Action to Stage Adaptations

Most people are familiar with the 1992 original Sailor Moon series produced by Toei Animation. Naoko Takeuchi worked closely with the studio, and it's just as successful and critically acclaimed as other classic anime series, like Dragon Ball. Toei also produced Sailor Moon Crystal, which is far shorter than the original 200-episode anime, adapting only manga content and eschewing any filler arcs or episodes.

There is a series of Sailor Moon live action musicals, with forty total episodes. They're commonly referred to as Sera Myu. The musical performances ran from 1992 to 2005, and then from 2013-present. The story-lines got pretty creative with plot and character.

Sera Myu really leans into the side characters' romances. It's known for exploring the love stories between the Inner Senshi (Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Venus) and the Shitennou (Zoisite, Jadeite, Nephrite, and Kunzite). The costumes are high-quality and thoroughly consistent with Naoko Takeuchi's original character designs. The Sera Myu musicals also have two original plot lines.

Toei Company also produced a live action Sailor Moon television series titled Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon in 2003. The television series covers most of the Dark Kingdom arc, which is the first season of the anime. The Dark Kingdom arc introduces the Inner Sailor Guardians, but the live action series left the canon events of the manga after introducing the penultimate Inner Guardian, Sailor Jupiter.

Why Sailor Moon Has So Many Iterations

And Why Sailor Moon Will Never Get Old

Between the past and current success of Sailor Moon Crystal and the Sera Myu musicals, it's plain to see that old fans and new audiences alike aren't getting tired of Sailor Moon any time soon. The series has a rich lore and a large cast of complex characters, which keeps the franchise from feeling like a money grab or a content mill. Fans still cite places in the original Sailor Moon manga series and prequel that they think should have been explored and unpacked more.

Naoko Takeuchi spends most of her career working with teams adapting Sailor Moon content, so there's a lot of cohesion. The production companies have also done a great job of finding creative minds who complement Takeuchi's work well. Anime directors who worked on the original Sailor Moon anime series went on to work on other magical girl series, and their style still has many Sailor Moon-style hallmarks.

Nostalgia is a strong motivation for keeping a series relevant. Sailor Moon fans who've followed the series since the 1990s still keep the original voice actors in work with fan interviews and Sailor Moon convention panels. When nostalgic feeling is combined with quality artwork and storytelling, the result produces an enduring classic.

Each Sailor Moon reboot has something different to offer, as well. There are pros and cons to every iteration of Usagi Tsukino's story. Fans and new viewers would still enjoy different combinations of story arc interpretations with evolving animation styles.

The Differences Between the Original Sailor Moon Anime & Sailor Moon Crystal

Both Anime Adaptations Stand On Their Own

Anime looked very different in the early '90s. Not only was the art style different, production had different expectations and schedules. Season One of the original anime series is the longest season because production companies prioritized turning out new series content every single week. That means there are far more filler episodes in Season One and Two, which fans still enjoy today.

Filler episodes and arcs aren't as commonplace in anime today. Series are more streamlined and seasons are far shorter. Sailor Moon Crystal tells a much leaner version of Sailor Moon's story. It's extremely manga-loyal, including only canon manga characters and plots. Most people who have even a vague knowledge of anime know about Sailor Moon, and if they start the series, they often start with Sailor Moon Crystal over the original series because there are fewer episodes, and the last few manga arcs are covered in feature-length films.

Sailor Moon Crystal works very well for an audience who only wants the leanest parts of the story, but there are plenty of anime watchers who enjoy longer series and the slice-of-life feel to filler episodes. Fans of the original anime series also missed some of the original arcs in the 1990s series which didn't make it into Sailor Moon Crystal, like Fiore and the Kissenian Flower's story and the Makai Tree Arc.

What a Whole New Reboot Could Look Like

The Balance Between Hand-Drawn & CGI Animation

There are many elements to love in Sailor Moon Crystal. The voice actors fit well, and the characterization is cohesive and recognizable. There are some slight character personality changes from the original anime, but they make sense. For instance, Rei Hino (Sailor Mars) is far more stoic in Crystal than in the original series, which is far closer to her personality in the manga.

The art style is modern, but it keeps beautifully to Naoko Takeuchi's art style in the manga. One downside to Sailor Moon Crystal animation is how clunky the CGI is. This is a fair criticism, especially in the first couple Crystal seasons.

Fans got used to gorgeous hand-drawn transformation scenes, and the CGI-animated Crystal transformations just don't hold up in comparison. The CGI does get a bit better in the series, but fans and new audiences alike would go wild for a fully hand-drawn cel animation reboot of Sailor Moon. CGI can be used seamlessly, but for an iconic magical girl series like Sailor Moon, perhaps CGI would be best avoided for the transformation sequences and used sparingly to enhance background and battle scenes.

What Stories a New Sailor Moon Reboot Could Tell

A New Reboot Could Combine the Best Elements of Each Adaptation & More

The Sailor Moon franchise has so many story lines to choose from. The five story arcs in Naoko Takeuchi's original manga series would be essential for any Sailor Moon adaptation, and those arcs are: Dark Kingdom, Black Moon, Death Busters, Dead Moon, and Sailor Stars. A new reboot would be a stellar opportunity to incorporate all the story arcs from all Sailor Moon content.

The Sera Myu musicals' original story arcs, Last Dracul and The Legend of Kaguya Island. The Last Dracul arc would be particularly fun for a hand-drawn anime adaptation, because of all the romantic vampire imagery. Dracula makes a great antagonist, and his Transylvanian lair would fit right in with the rest of the Sailor Moon villain worlds.

The original Sailor Moon anime had some truly entertaining and beautiful filler arcs. A reboot would be a great opportunity to delve into the original anime's romance between the Shitennou Kunzite and Zoisite, without any of the 1990s censorship. The Makai Tree arc from Season Two isn't from the manga, but the themes and plant imagery are gorgeous and deserve a revisit.

Usagi Embodies Heroism, Love, & Friendship

Usagi Tsukino has one of the best character arcs in all anime. She goes from being a flighty student to a budding superhero with celestial powers to a wise and benevolent ruler who ushers in a renaissance of peace. Her story has a little bit of everything, especially for shojo and fantasy fans. Naoko Takeuchi created a series full of elegant fashion, enigmatic folklore, and an otherwordly art style. Usagi and the Sailor Guardians have a poignant bond and exemplify the power of friendship. Fans old and new will surely not get tired of revisiting Usagi's enduring love and hard-earned bravery.