Sailor Moon S
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Sailor Moon S is the shortened title of Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon S (美少女戦士セーラームーン S Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn Sūpā?), which is the third major story arc in the anime Sailor Moon. The S stands for "Super," and is pronounced as such in the series' eyecatches. The original manga version, created by Naoko Takeuchi, is called Infinity.
"SMS," as it is sometimes called, is considered one of the darkest storylines in the series, partly due to the villains' ultimate goal of destroying, rather than conquering, all life in the world, as well as ethical themes of sacrifice. The arc is characterized by the appearance of three new Sailor Senshi: Sailors Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn. It also reintroduces the character of Sailor Pluto and gives her a civilian identiy, Setsuna Meioh. In the anime, Chibiusa is seen for the first time in her capacity as Sailor Chibi Moon. The series antagonists are the Death Busters, led by mad scientist Professor Tomoe and the Witches 5.
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[edit] Story
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The beginning of the story varies in both the manga and the anime, for the manga begins with the departure of Chibiusa, and the anime begins with a vision. The story begins when it is revealed that the end of the world is approaching, and the Death Busters are trying to create it. Through the extraction of “Hoste” (manga), or “Pure Hearts” (anime), they slowly attempt to move their master, Pharaoh 90, to come to Earth and take over/destroy it.
The Sailor Senshi meet a boyish woman named Haruka Tenoh who is an expert racer, as well as Michiru, who is an expert violin player. However, the two of them are also the Outer Senshi, Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune respectively. They warn of the world’s end approaching, and a catastrophic result if Sailor Moon interferes.
As the storyline progresses, three objects called Talismans are brought to light, and are eventually gathered in the same place. Sailor Moon received the Holy Grail from these talismans, and through its power she transforms into Super Sailor Moon.
The Sailor Senshi are opposed by Kaolinite, the Witches 5, and the mad scientist Professor Tomoe. They eventually manage to overcome all of them, but not without difficulty.
One character of note is Hotaru Tomoe. She is a frail girl from a lab accident when she was younger, and has a strange ability to heal people. Due to this, she does not have many friends, and is continually having attacks from something inside of her. Chibiusa befriends Hotaru, to the point where Hotaru trusts Chibiusa with her life. However, a demonic entity inside Hotaru attacks Chibiusa (Taking her pure heart in the anime, taking the silver crystal in the manga), and she turns into Mistress 9, an alien creature.
The plot diverges greatly between manga and anime at this point. However, in both versions a creature named Pharaoh 90 comes to earth and kills many people. Sailor Saturn appears on the scene, the true form of Hotaru. She manages to destroy Pharaoh 90, although in both versions, she is said to never return. Sailor Moon heals everyone with her power, and a baby Hotaru appears, ready to start a new life.
[edit] Manga
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The manga version begins with Chibiusa bidding farewell to her friends as she returns home to the future. Usagi is very sad to see her go, yet Chibiusa is fairly excited at the prospect of being home with her mother. After Chibiusa’s departure, Usagi and Mamoru share an intimate moment, which is again disturbed by Chibiusa falling out of the sky onto Usagi. She reveals a letter from Neo-Queen Serenity asking Usagi and her friends to train Chibiusa.
News reports begin to circulate about students from “Infinity Academy” who suddenly transform into a type of genetic regression (later explained as a de-evolution) and attack others. The Sailor Senshi decide to investigate the situation. At the arcade, Usagi meets Haruka and is defeated by her in a racing game. Just outside, Mamoru meets Michiru for the first time, who quietly compliments him.
Usagi and her friends were heading home when a young girl in front of them changed suddenly into a genetic regression. Usagi heals her with her Spiral Moon Rod, and they all go to Infinity Academy.
A young Magus, Kaolinite, is shown speaking to her slaves, the Witches 5. She offers the position of Magus to anyone who can capture Sailor Moon and her friends. Eudial quickly agrees to be the first to attack.
While investigating the academy, Chibiusa is in the park with her class. She loses her hat, which causes her to run out of the park. She runs into the Tomoe Research Laboratory, where she sees a young girl in a state of attack. Chibiusa goes to help her, but a Genetic Regression attacks first. Chibiusa and Usagi transform to destroy the monster. Two mysterious Senshi appear and leave during the course of these events. Chibiusa introduces herself to the girl who she learns is Hotaru Tomoe, daughter of Professor Tomoe of Infinity Academy.
Eudial goes to the mountains with a large amount of Infinity Academy students, and hold a ceremony to capture their souls (Their “Hoste”). While celebrating Rei's 15th birthday, they meet Haruka practicing judo in the camp. When Eudial initiates the ceremony, Makoto and Rei sees this during the night and go to investigate. Usagi and the others wake up and run to rescue Makoto and Rei who are fighting Eudial, who has turned into a monster. Usagi quickly attacks and kills it, but Minako exclaims that someone is watching, the person turning out to be Sailor Uranus. She runs off and Usagi follows, only to be kissed by Uranus.
Usagi meets up with Haruka accidentally while examining a poster advertising Michiru’s next performance. She offers her tickets, and then leaves casually. At the same time, an idol Mimi is planning to perform. Usagi's friends agree to go to Michiru’s concert, but Minako sneaks out. She sees everyone hypnotised by Mimete, and tries to save them to no avail. Suddenly Sailor Uranus appears and kills Mimete. The Sailor Senshi come and beg for the alliance of Sailor Uranus and Neptune, but they outright refuse and eventually attack them. Sailor Moon quickly discovers Sailor Uranus’s identity as Haruka, and asks whether Haruka is a guy or a girl. Haruka does not answer and instead kisses Usagi. Mamoru comes in immediately.
Ami, curious about the Infinity Academy, decides she would like to try a test period there. Yui Bidoh greets her and takes her to an upstairs room. There, Yui shows Ami a model of the Tau Nebula. Yui leaves to go to class as Ami begins to investigate. Yui changes into Viluy, the third of the Witches 5, and attacks quickly. Sailor Mercury fights her until Sailor Uranus comes in and cuts her in half with her space sword.
Tellu, the fourth of the Witches 5, comes in relatively quickly when she introduces a new plant, Tellum. She gives them out for free, and Hoste are stolen from many people. Yet, the plant’s powers are quickly discovered, and Sailor Moon attacks. Tellu deflects the attack, and is turned into a monster when attacked by Chibiusa’s “Pink Sugar Attack”. Meanwhile, a transfer student, Setsuna Meioh, is dying from the plant. She reawakens very quickly when Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune are fighting, and in the form of Sailor Pluto kills Tellu. The Outer Senshi are again offered partnership but they refuse.
Cyprine, the fifth of the Witches 5 appears and uses powers of sorcery to cause all the students to fight each other. The Senshi appear to fight her but she uses her power to make the Guardian and Outer Senshi fight each other. Sailor Moon begs them to stop, and through her efforts, the three talismans begin to resonate. Sailor Moon is turned into Super Sailor Moon and destroys Cyprine as well as her twin sister, Ptilol.
Sailor Moon and the united Senshi go into Infinity Academy where they are confronted by Kaolinite. Sailor Moon destroys her with little effort.
Meanwhile, Chibiusa enters Hotaru’s house because Hotaru was late for a movie. She sees Hotaru without her long sleeves and tights, and notices mechanical parts to her. She runs away, slightly scared. She realizes that she might have offended Hotaru, and goes back to apologize. However, Hotaru is possessed by a strange spirit, and when she sees Chibiusa she throws her against the wall. She grabs the Silver Crystal in her brooch, and turns into Mistress 9. Usagi and her friends take Chibiusa and run away quickly, where Mamoru links his life force to hers.
Mistress 9 meets Pharaoh 90 and offers to him power from the Silver Crystal. He quickly becomes more alive, and more powerful than before. Yet, Mistress 9 has lapses where she is struggling for control, for Hotaru is still alive. She then swallows the Silver Crystal, making the energy travel to Pharaoh 90.
The Sailor Senshi attack Infinity academy, and are split up. The Guardian Senshi head upstairs, while the Outer Senshi and Usagi go to the basement. After a spell in the elevator, the latter group find professor Tomoe in his lounge. He changes into a monster and attacks, only to be quickly destroyed. The Infinity Academy is changing rapidly as the Guardian Senshi are thrown outside, and the Outer Senshi and Usagi narrowly escape to see a gigantic form of Pharaoh 90 and Mistress 9. The skies open, and master Pharaoh 90 comes to earth.
The Guardian Senshi are devoured by Mistress 9 to take in energy so she may escape Hotaru’s body. Hotaru, however, will not let her leave. Hotaru is trying to protect Chibiusa, the Silver Crystal, and the Guardian Senshi's’ Hoste at the same time. Finally, Hotaru rips her body to shreds as she leaves, returning the Hostes of the Guardian Senshi and Chibiusa, along with the Silver Crystal. Mistress 9, unopposed, leaves the body to reveal an indiscriminate body along with a ghoulish head.
Master Pharaoh 90 begins to assimilate into the earth, and spreads black lava throughout. Mistress 9 also assimilates into it, and the world’s people begin to die with the impending destruction. The nine Senshi and Tuxedo Mask attempt to unite for its destruction, but fail.
The three talismans react again, and Sailor Saturn is summoned forth. She drops her weapon, the Silence Glaive, killing everyone on the planet except for the Senshi, and forces Pharaoh 90 and Mistress 9 back through their portal. She follows after them, commanding Pluto to shut the door, as she does. Sailor Moon rises up from the ashes, and through her Moon Rod she reverses all the destruction and death in the world. The story arc ends with the Outer Senshi discovering a baby Hotaru and agreeing to take care of her.
[edit] Anime
The series opens with Rei having a vision of the end of the world while she and her friends (Ami, Minako, Usagi, and Makoto) are studying for the upcoming entrance exams for high school.
Soon, the monsters of the week, Daimons, appear. Usagi is not powerful enough to defeat them, and her transformation brooch is damaged. By the power of the love between her and Mamoru, Sailor Moon becomes stronger with a new attack.
Two mysterious Sailor Senshi soon appear, Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. They, as well as the Daimons, are searching for talismans, which would bring about the appearance of the Holy Grail. Usagi begs the mysterious Senshi to join her, but they refuse. At a later time, they also meet high school students Haruka Tenoh and Michiru Kaioh.
With time, the conflicting ideals of the Outer and Guardian Senshi clash. Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune are often thrown into situations where they must choose between the life of an innocent person or the continued safety of the world. Uranus and Neptune always fight for the greater good, whereas Sailor Moon tries to prevent the death of the innocent. It is eventually discovered that Haruka and Michiru are Uranus and Neptune, respectively.
On the side of evil, a mad scientist, Professor Tomoe, antagonizes the series. Initially Kaolinite serves under him, and she is the main villain for almost half the series. She directs the daimons to find "Pure Hearts" where a talisman could be hiding. Kaolinite is killed by Sailor Uranus in episode 102, and Eudial, the first of the Witches 5, takes her place. Sailor Chibi Moon (Chibiusa) later appears and works with the Guardian Senshi and Sailor Moon for the rest of the series.
Eudial eventually discovers through her computer that Haruka and Michiru are the owners of the Talismans. When their pure hearts are extracted, the talismans appear and Eudial takes them, but then Sailor Pluto appears and reveals her Garnet Orb as the third talisman. Neptune and Uranus are revived and the Holy Grail appears, turning Usagi into Super Sailor Moon. As Eudial escapes, she dies in a car crash caused by Mimete, the second of the Witches 5.
Soon after, Chibiusa befriends a young girl named Hotaru. Hotaru's father is actually Professor Tomoe, who is still seeking Pure Hearts to power the Messiah of Silence.
It is soon discovered that Hotaru is the reincarnation of Sailor Saturn, the Senshi of Destruction. Sailor Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto attack Hotaru simultaneously, but Sailor Moon bears the brunt of the attack, making it clear that she does not want Hotaru to die. Kaolinite appears, and takes Hotaru away.
The Sailor Team discovers that Hotaru's father, Professor Tomoe, is a shady figure who founded Mugen Academy. While they investigate the academy, the remaining Witches 5 - Mimete, Tellu, Viluy and Cyprine - attempt to collect Pure Hearts, but one by one they are stopped by the Senshi and killed.
Kaolinite captures Chibiusa and allows Hotaru, in her possessed state, to take Chibiusa's pure heart, turning her into Mistress 9, the messiah of silence. She kills Kaolinite, as she has no purpose left. With Mamoru linking his life with Chibiusa's so she will not die, the Senshi go to end the approaching Silence.
At the school, Sailor Moon is dragged through a hole to Mistress 9 while millions of Daimon eggs attack the other Senshi. Uranus and Neptune, entering the dome through the top, are attacked by the daimons and their helicopter explodes, but Pluto stops time to save them. She is sent to a pocket dimension for breaking the taboo while Uranus and Neptune are sent to the top of the tower. They confront the professor and defeat the daimon within him.
Mistress 9, in the shape of Hotaru, begs Sailor Moon for the Grail. Michiru and Haruka urge Sailor Moon to kill Mistress 9, but Sailor Moon refuses, knowing Hotaru is alive, and gives Mistress 9 the grail, who uses it to summon her master Pharaoh 90. Hotaru then takes over, destroys Mistress 9 and summons Sailor Saturn.
Saturn returns Chibiusa'a pure heart, then arrives to stop Pharaoh 90, saying she will die herself. As she enters Pharaoh 90, Sailor Moon, with the help of all the other Senshi, transforms into Super Sailor Moon, enters Pharaoh 90 and stops the Silence. She appears with a baby Hotaru in her arms in the rubble of Mugen Academy.
Sailor Neptune and Uranus, angry that Sailor Moon risked the world for one child, attack her. They were winning until the Silver Crystal began to glow and threw them away. They bowed down to her, recognizing her as their leader, and left the city.
[edit] Talismans
The Talismans are three special weapons introduced in this story arc. Finding the Talismans is a major plot point during this arc, because bringing the three together causes an item called the Holy Grail to appear (or, in the English-dubbed anime, the Purity Chalice). In the hands of a powerful being called a Messiah, this item can bring about the destruction or the healing of the world.
The Talismans and Grail are sought by two groups. The Death Busters want it so that they can raise up their dark Messiah, who will bring about a cataclysmic event known as the Silence. Sailor Moon and her companions counter the Death Busters by defending the civilians they attack, but at first have limited understanding of the reason for the attacks. Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune, working independently, share vague premonitions of the future and the sense that they need to find the Talismans themselves even if it does mean the sacrifice of innocents. When joined by Sailor Pluto, they obtain some knowledge of the good Messiah and work to find and awaken her.
The Talismans themselves are known to be contained within the Pure Hearts of three individuals. They are the Deep Aqua Mirror, the Space Sword, and the Garnet Orb. They correspond to the three Sacred Treasures of Japan.
In the manga, they serve a different purpose and are already in the hands of their owners. When gathered they resonate and awaken Sailor Saturn. They were never meant to be gathered. In the time of the Silver Millennium, Sailors Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were stationed far apart and never left their posts until after the destruction of the moon Kingdom. When they gathered the Talismans awakened Sailor Saturn who destroyed the remnants of the Moon Kingdom and caused the Outer Senshi to be reborn on Earth. When they are reborn the Talismans tried to gather and end up doing so, awakening Saturn again.
- The Deep Aqua Mirror was the first talisman to appear, and it belongs to Michiru Kaioh. It's called the Submarine Mirror in the anime. It is the only talisman which has the planetary sign of its bearer. The Deep Aqua Mirror has the ability to see through lies and to find enemies' weaknesses; it can also blast a powerful beam. It enables Sailor Neptune to use her Submarine Reflection attack. Sailor Chibi Moon once used it to warp herself to Sailor Neptune's location. In the musicals, the Deep Aqua Mirror has a loop on its handle to provide the actress room for spinning and maneuvering.
- The Space Sword is the second talisman to appear in the series, and it belongs to Haruka Tenoh. In the manga the blade of itself appears to be transparent. In the anime it is normally depicted as white, but when used as a weapon it seems to be drawn from a sheath and the blade turns red, glowing white as it strikes. The Space Sword has the apparent power to cut through almost anything. It enables Sailor Uranus to use her Space Sword Blaster and Space Turbulence attacks. In the musicals, the Space Sword has a loop on its handle to provide the actress room for maneuvering.
- The Garnet Orb is first to appear, but the last to be revealed as a talisman. It belongs to Setsuna Meioh. The Garnet Orb has the apparent power to separate the heart crystal from the talisman, but it's very unlikely that it has a relationship with Pluto's time control powers, as she states that is the staff that allowed her to use that power. It enables Sailor Pluto to use her Chronos Typhoon attack as well as a defensive maneuver, Garnet Ball.
[edit] Holy Grail
In the manga, the Guardian and Outer Senshi, sans Saturn, must be present and working together for the original Grail to appear. When Sailor Moon, Sailor Chibi Moon and Tuxedo Mask are together they can create the Grail of the future for Sailor Chibi Moon. They use the Grails to transform into Super Sailor Moon and Super Sailor Chibi Moon.
In the anime, when the three talismans are combined, they will form the Holy Grail (in the English version, "Purity Chalice"), which is used to power up Sailor Moon into Super Sailor Moon. However, at first this greatly weakened her, so the Outer Senshi did not believe she was the Messiah. Mistress 9 eventually obtained the Grail and used it to bring Pharaoh 90 to Earth. It was destroyed shortly thereafter.
The Holy Grail did not exist in the musicals, though it was mentioned in at least one song; Sailor Moon could transform into her Super form without it. Sailor Uranus, Neptune and Pluto already had their talismans, which could provide extra power to Sailor Moon if needed.
[edit] Trivia
- In the anime version, Haruka and Michiru are depicted subtly as lovers, but never admit to their sexuality.[1] In the manga, they are openly and obviously lesbian. In the American version, however, they were depicted as cousins.[2] Naoko Takeuchi has openly admitted they were a couple.[3]
- In the American version, the "Sailor Says" portion was not added on.
- Unlike any of the other seasons of Sailor Moon, the main villain is defeated 2 episodes before the end of the series. [4]
- The stuffed doll Chibiusa picks up in Episode 104 where she is trying to make friends is none other than Shin-chan of Crayon Shin-Chan. The boy who it belonged to, who appeared to be a fine young lad at first sight, ended up acting lewd---performing Shin-chan's elephant routine and copying Shin-chan's verbal behavior---and went from impressing Chibiusa to horrifying her.
[edit] Production
The manga was first published in book form by Kodansha in 1994-1995, encompassing Acts 24-33 (volumes 7-10 of the original manga, 5-7 of the re-released editions). In the late 1990s, the manga series was released in English by Mixx (now Tokyopop), though as of May 2005 it is out of print.[5]
Due to the well-established popularity of the Sailor Moon franchise, this story arc was immediately adapted into the third series of the anime by Toei Animation. It is 38 episodes long, covering episodes 90 through 127. It was not dubbed into English until 2000, three years after the last episodes of the previous series. By this time, the license had gone to Cloverway Inc., who did not cut any episodes.
[edit] Music
As with the two series before it, Sailor Moon S used "Moonlight Densetsu" as its opening song. For this series, the version by Moon Lips is used.
The first two episodes use Sailor Moon R's ending theme, "Otome no Policy" (A Maiden's Policy). After this (from episode 92 on), the rest of the series uses "Tuxedo Mirage," performed by the five main voice actresses (Peach Hips).
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Johnson, Dany. "Q & A Rocking the Boat", Akadot, Digital Manga, Inc., 2001-04-21. Retrieved on 2007-02-21. "When I was cast to play Haruka, I asked director Kunihiko Ikuhara, "Are they gay?" He answered, "Act as if they are married couple." And I asked him again, "Married couple? You, mean, with two ladies?" He replied, "Yes." So they are husband and wife."
- ^ Sebert, Paul. "Kissing cousins may bring controversy Cartoon Network juggles controversial topics contained in the “Sailor Moon S” series", The Daily Athenaeum Interactive, 2000-06-28. Retrieved on 2007-02-21.
- ^ Interview with Naoko Takeuchi. Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
- ^ Sailor Moon Episode 125, where the main villain was defeated. The season continued to 127.. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
- ^ Tokyopop Out of Print. Retrieved on 2006-10-18.
- Takeuchi, Naoko (June 6, 1994). Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Volume 7. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-178781-0.
- Takeuchi, Naoko (November 2, 1994). Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Volume 8. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-178790-X.
- Takeuchi, Naoko (February 6, 1995). Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Volume 9. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-178797-7.
- Takeuchi, Naoko (June 6, 1995). Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Volume 10. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-178806-X.
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| Codename: Sailor V | Manga (chapter list) | Anime (episode list) | Stage musicals | Video games | Live-action | English adaptations | Parallel | |||||||
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