Sailor Uranus
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| Sailor Uranus | |
|---|---|
| Sailor Moon character | |
 Haruka in her Super Sailor Uranus form, as seen in the anime. |
|
| First appearance | (See below) |
| Created by | Naoko Takeuchi |
| Played by | (See below) |
| Profile | |
| Aliases | Haruka Tenoh Princess Uranus |
| Age | 16-17[1] |
| Date of birth | January 27[2] |
| Affiliations | Sailor Team Shadow Galactica |
| Abilities | Can control and manipulate the forces of the air.[1] |
| English adaptation | |
| Name | Amara Tenoh (anime only) |
Sailor Uranus (セーラーウラヌス Sērā Uranusu?) is one of the central characters in the Sailor Moon metaseries. Her real name is Haruka Tenoh (天王 はるか Ten'ō Haruka?, or Amara in the English anime), a masculine schoolgirl who can transform into one of the series' specialized heroines, the Sailor Senshi.
Haruka is one of the most famous "out" characters in anime fandom. Her masculine persona (by shōjo standards) is one of the standard archetypes in yuri.
Contents |
[edit] Profile
Haruka is a stubborn, protective individual, but is also strong-willed, capable, charming, and occasionally even doting. She is formally introduced in the third story arc, although she appears in silhouette alongside Sailor Neptune in the final episode of Sailor Moon R.
Haruka is a racecar driver, even though she is barely sixteen years old when she appears. However, the timing of her birthday to the Japanese school year means she is one grade ahead of the Guardian Senshi.
Among fans in North America, Haruka and Michiru are among the most famous out lesbian characters in anime. Haruka is also extremely flirtatious and loves to tease pretty girls who sometimes mistake her gender due to Haruka's tomboyish behavior. In the manga, she even kisses Usagi.[3]
Although her relationship with Michiru is not implicitly sexual until later in the series, their romantic situation is referred to early on and generally understood by most of the metaseries' characters fairly quickly. The creator of the manga, Naoko Takeuchi, also explicitly mentioned this at San Diego Comic Con 1998.[4] It is sometimes a source of good natured humor, particularly because few of the other Senshi have serious romantic prospects in comparison and because the otherwise flirtatious Haruka finds it impolite to discuss romantic matters in public. All fan rumors about Haruka being a man, the reincarnation of one, or a hermaphrodite, are untrue. Naoko Takeuchi has explicitly stated that "Haruka has always been a girl. Always will be."[5]
Besides her relationship with Michiru, Haruka is also close friends with Setsuna, because the three of them work closely together as Outer Senshi. Following the destruction of the Death Busters and the rebirth of Sailor Saturn as an infant, they vow to be her family and care for her. Later story arcs show that the four live together happily for some time. Nothing about Haruka's family life is ever discussed, although she and Michiru Kaioh appear noticeably wealthy by unknown means. In the manga, Haruka says that she and Michiru have "wealthy patrons." Haruka is the target of sexism in episode 98 of the anime, but never of homophobia.
The anime and manga versions of the character are reasonably interchangeable, although her standoffishness is more pronounced in the anime. Like the other Outer Senshi, Haruka is sometimes considered colder and almost unfeeling. Aside from a brief vignette in a special, Haruka and the others do not return after the third season until the final fifth season, generally retaining the same personalities.
In the Sailor Moon musicals (Seramyu), Haruka and Michiru's relationship remains largely unchanged; they are always shown together, which is consistent with both manga and anime, and while their romance in the musicals is usually kept low-key, the actresses for the two do kiss on stage in the omake of Kaguya Shima Densetsu Kaiteiban. They are also the only two Senshi to engage in physical combat with Galaxia.[6] The other Senshi only use their powers to combat her.[7] As in the anime, however, neither Uranus or Neptune are capable of harming Galaxia in combat. It is seen that Uranus could sense Neptune's death when Galaxia gravely injures Neptune, who had been weakened while protecting Sailor Mars.[8]
Haruka's greatest dream, prior to becoming a Sailor Senshi, was to be a professional racer. Thereafter it is still a well-loved hobby, and driving is listed in the manga as her best skill.[2] She is also a skilled runner, belonging to the track-and-field club at school.[9] While Physical Education is her best class, Modern Japanese is her worst. Haruka is highly private, able to tease others while becoming flustered if teased herself, and has difficulty with confessions. Her favorite food is salad, and her least favorite is natto (fermented soybeans); she also likes the color gold. According to Michiru, Haruka has had trouble with popular men on more than one occasion. Haruka denies this, but it clearly annoys her.[10]
Haruka and the other Outer Senshi appear in the SuperS movie, although this conflicts with the general timeline of the series in several ways. Notably, they are more overtly friendly and helpful than they had been when they last met and Sailor Pluto is present (in contradiction of certain events in the third series).
In an effort to avoid the controversy that a lesbian character in a cartoon aimed towards a younger audience would cause, given the contemporary social mores in the United States, the dub also states that Amara (Haruka) and Michelle (Michiru Kaioh) are cousins — even going so far as to occasionally state this through characters who should not know such information. However, whether in an attempt to be more faithful to the original Japanese or through sheer failure to edit consistently, several episodes of the English dub retain a noticeable amount of their casual flirting. It has even been implied that the difficulties in dubbing Haruka and Michiru's relationship are part of the reason why there was a gap of several years between the dubbing of the earlier series and the dubbing of Sailor Moon S.[11] However, it should be noted that in Japan, there were also some controversies around the character.[12]
[edit] Aspects and forms
| Form | Manga | Anime |
|---|---|---|
| Sailor Uranus | Act 24 | Ep. 90 |
| Haruka Tenoh | Act 24 | Ep. 92 |
| Second (Super) form | Act 39 | Ep. 167 |
| Princess Uranus | Act 41 | -- |
| Third Senshi form | Act 42 | -- |
As a character with different incarnations, special powers, transformations and a long lifetime virtually spanned between the Silver Millennium era and the 30th century, Haruka gains multiple aspects and aliases as the series progresses.
[edit] Sailor Uranus
Haruka's Senshi identity. She wears a uniform colored in yellow and deep blue, and unlike most of the other Senshi, her gloves extend only to mid-forearm. She is given specific titles throughout the various series, including Soldier of Sky[13] (or "the Skies" in the English manga) and Soldier of Flight.[14] Sailor Uranus is one of the more aggressive Senshi, and carries the Space Sword, which is one of three talismans carried by the Outer Senshi. Her personality is no different from when she is a civilian, although certain powers are unavailable to her in that form. Sailor Neptune is her constant companion, and they are rarely separated.
As she grows stronger, Sailor Uranus gains additional powers, and at key points her uniform changes to reflect this. The first change takes place in Act 39 of the manga, when she obtains the Uranus Crystal and her outfit becomes similar to that of Super Sailor Moon. She is not given a new title. A similar event takes place in Episode 167 of the anime, and she is given the name Super Sailor Uranus. A third, manga-only form appears in Act 42, also unnamed but analogous to Eternal Sailor Moon (sans wings).[15]
[edit] Princess Uranus
During the Silver Millennium, Sailor Uranus was also the Princess of her home planet. She was among those given the duty of protecting the solar system from outside invasion. As Princess Uranus, she dwelt in Miranda Castle and wore a deep blue gown--she appears in this form in the original manga Act 41, as well as in supplementary art. It is unknown whether she had a relationship with Princess Neptune at that time.
[edit] Special powers and items
Although Haruka is extremely strong and has some psychic sensitivity (mostly in the form of dreams, shared by Michiru and Setsuna, or by 'hearing' ill omens in the wind), she is not shown using any special powers in her civilian form. She must first transform into a Sailor Senshi by raising her hand or a special device into the air and shouting a special phrase, originally "Uranus Planet Power, Make-up!"[16] In the manga she eventually gains her Uranus Crystal and this phrase changes to evoke Uranus Crystal Power.[17] In the anime, although she does upgrade to Super Sailor Uranus, the Crystal is never mentioned and her transformation is not shown on screen. When it is used, her transformation sequence involves a golden energy circle which encloses around her, forming her outfit. She is shown de-transforming in episode 115--her outfit becomes flower petals as she walks away, leaving her nude for a moment before her normal clothes reappear.
Sailor Uranus' powers are inspired by Roman mythology, where Uranus is the god of the sky. She is often mistaken as having earth-based powers, but this is because of the appearance of her first attack, World Shaking,[18] in the anime; she gathers energy from the sky and hurls this at the ground, breaking it up, but does not manipulate the earth itself with her will. She is given three major attacks in the series, and although they all have English names (like those of the other Sailor Senshi), each is also given kanji in the manga to denote the meaning to Japanese readers. For example, World Shaking is given kanji which translate to "sky" (天?), "world" (界?), and "shake" (震?).[19] The intended English pronunciation is given in furigana. This is Sailor Uranus's primary attack for most of the anime series.
Haruka carries a special blade, the Space Sword, which turns out to be one of three powerful Talismans, the other two of which are carried by Sailor Neptune and Sailor Pluto. In the manga, she seems to already know it is a Talisman; in the anime, she does not gain the sword until it is revealed as such.[20] In either case, it is used in her second attack, Space Sword Blaster[21] (宇宙剣乱風? "space sword chaos wind"),[19] as well as in physical strikes.
Her third and final attack, appearing only in the manga, is called Space Turbulence (宇宙乱気流?),[22] which uses no item at all. The Uranus Crystal is perhaps her most important possession, as it is her Sailor Crystal and the source of all her power, which becomes especially important in the fifth story arc. It is given to her by Sailor Saturn.[19]
[edit] Development
The character of Sailor Uranus was not developed until partway through the Sailor Moon series, after the Guardian Senshi were well-established. She was created in tandem with Sailor Neptune, as "complementary but opposite characters,"[23] and meant from the beginning to work alongside Sailor Pluto. Creator Naoko Takeuchi has said that she was shocked by the changes made to Haruka's personality in the anime series, but that she was glad fans still liked the character.[24]
Initial drawings of Haruka are softer and more feminine than they would later become; she was originally intended to be involved in the all-female Takarazuka Revue, playing male roles on stage.[1] Although this was not included in the series itself, Takeuchi stated in an interview that she feels Takarazuka is "the maximum level of feminine emancipation. These actress cover all roles of the plays, even the male ones. I was inspired by them to create Haruka."[25] She also described such a figure as "the female best friend and the fairy tale prince in one," stating that she had wanted for a long time to include a character like this in one of her works. Haruka is intended as an older sister figure for the younger girls populating the series, and as a counterpoint to Mamoru, Takeuchi's ideal man.[26]
Haruka is relatively androgynous in the manga, wearing both feminine and masculine outfits, in tune with the traditional depiction of a beautiful androgynous woman in shōjo comics. Takeuchi drew Haruka as physically different when she crossdresses, with a more masculine figure than otherwise.[27] She even refers to Haruka as being "in male form" at these times, and stated that she wanted this to continue in the anime—which it did.[24] In the anime, Haruka's sometimes-feminine appearance is downplayed, and she almost always dresses as a man.
Haruka's fascination with racing draws at least some of its details from Takeuchi herself; in the manga, they even share a favorite car, the Ferrari 512M.[24] In the anime, she is seen driving a yellow or white Toyota 2000GT (1968) convertible, and once Mazda Mx-5 Miata in montego blue (1990).[citation needed]
Certain background details of Haruka's character were chosen symbolically—for instance, her Western astrological sign is given as Aquarius,[2] which in astrology corresponds to the planet Uranus. In reference to a popular Japanese belief, her blood type is given as B,[2] supposedly indicating cheerful wildness and selfishness.
The kanji of Haruka's surname translate as "sky" (天 ten?) and "king" (王 ō?). Together, they constitute most of the name of the planet Uranus in Japanese, Ten'ōsei. Her given name is in hiragana (はるか haruka?) and so its meaning is not inherent, but the word itself means "distant". Her family name is sometimes incorrectly romanized as Tennō, which is in fact a more common writing of the planet's name,[28] but the manga invariably glosses Haruka's surname as Ten'ō where furigana are used, and it is pronounced this way in the anime.
Her name in the English-language anime, Amara, is derived from the Greek word αμαραντος amarantos, meaning "eternal" or "unfading".[29] In 1998, the packaging of dolls released in Canada by Irwin Toys gave Haruka the name Corinn. In the Mixx (now Tokyopop) manga, she was once named Alex; Mixx later admitted this was a mistake, and changed her name back.
[edit] Actresses
In the Japanese anime and movies, Haruka Tenoh is voiced by veteran voice actress Megumi Ogata, who had previously portrayed a monster-of-the-day, Petz, and young Mamoru in the series.[30] Ogata was instructed by the director to portray Haruka as if she and Michiru were a married couple.[31]
In the English adaptations, the voice of "Amara Tenoh" is provided by Sarah Lafleur.[32]
In the stage musicals, Haruka has been played by 4 actresses: Sanae Kimura, Nao Takagi, Asako Uchida, and Akiko Nakayama.[33] Sanae Kimura regarded the betrayal of Uranus and Neptune in her last musical, Eien Densetsu kaiteiban, to be a very difficult scene for her and cried during it.[34]
Nao Takagi, the longest-running of the musical actresses, decided that she wanted to play the role of the "Sailor Senshi with the blonde hair" when she saw one of the earlier musicals, despite having never performed before.[35] Takagi said she was "really happy to be able to play Uranus" and regarded Uranus as "a completely cool, handsome senshi".[36] She has stated that certain scenes involving herself and Yuhka Asami (as Sailor Neptune) were specially created just for the two of them.[37]
Haruka does not appear in the live-action series.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Takeuchi, Naoko (October 1999). Materials Collection. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-324521-7.
- ^ a b c d Takeuchi, Naoko (June 6, 1995). "Back of volume", Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon Volume 10. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-178806-X.
- ^ Takeuchi, Naoko. "Act 26", Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon Volume 8. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-178790-X.
- ^ www.theblackmoon.com/Naoko/take.html. Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
- ^ Interview with Naoko Takeuchi, Comic Con International '97. SailorSenshi~4~Ever. Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
- ^ 1998 Sailor Moon musical, Eien Densetsu kaiteiban, after Sorezore no Elegy
- ^ 1998 Sailor Moon musical, Eien Densetsu kaiteiban, before Sorezore no Elegy
- ^ Sailor Moon Musical 1997 Sailor Stars Kaiteiban, before Sorezore no Elegy - While Uranus is searching a hall of mirrors with Sailor Mercury, she feels Neptune's death, shouting, "I would know!" to a shocked Mercury.
- ^ Takeuchi, Naoko (September 6, 1996). "Act 43", Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon Volume 16. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-178841-8.
- ^ Episodes 181 and 184.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Johnson, Dany. "Q & A Rocking the Boat", Akadot, 2001-04-21. Retrieved on 2007-02-21. "Their appearance on TV was sensational, something unheard of in TV cartoons."
- ^ Takeuchi, Naoko (February 6, 1995). "Act 29", Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon Volume 9. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-178797-7.
- ^ Takeuchi, Naoko (March 6, 1996). "Act 39", Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon Volume 14. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-178826-4.
- ^ Takeuchi, Naoko (July 5, 1996). "Act 42", Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon Volume 15. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-178835-3.
- ^ First used in Act 27 of the manga (she raises her hand) and Episode 106 of the anime (she raises the Lip Rod). In the English version, "Amara" does not say 'Make up' when transforming, and the phrase "Uranus Star Power" is usually used instead.
- ^ "Crystal Power" starting in Act 39, when she acquires her second uniform. No new phrase is used for her third uniform.
- ^ First appears in Act 26 of the manga and Episode 92 of the anime. In the English anime, the word Uranus is sometimes added at the beginning.
- ^ a b c Takeuchi, Naoko (March 6, 1996). "Act 39", Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon Volume 14. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-178826-4.
- ^ Episode 110.
- ^ First appears in Act 31 and the SuperS movie.
- ^ Act 43. This attack is also used by the evil Sailor Uranus in Act 50, where it is renamed Galactica Space Turbulence.
- ^ Takeuchi, Naoko (February 6, 1995). "Act 29", Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon Volume 9. Kodansha, p.31. ISBN 4-06-178797-7.
- ^ a b c Takeuchi, Naoko (September 1996). Bishōjo Senshi Sailormoon Volume III Original Picture Collection. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-324518-7.
- ^ Kappa magazine, September 1996. http://www.kicie.net/realm/naoko.htm
- ^ Holzer, Stefanie; Mrs. Okishita from Kodansha (translator) (July / August 1999). "Interview mit Naoko Takeuchi" (in German). AnimaniA (30).
- ^ Takeuchi, Naoko (February 6, 1995). "Act 30", Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon Volume 9. Kodansha. ISBN 4-06-178797-7.
- ^ dictionary.goo.ne.jp. Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
- ^ As seen at Name Meanings and particularly at Behind the Name, which tracks the name as a short form of Amarantha.
- ^ Takeuchi, Naoko (June 1997). Bishōjo Senshi Sailormoon Original Picture Collection Volume Infinity. Available at MangaStyle.net.
- ^ 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."
- ^ Chiang, Jackie. The Sailor Senshi Page: North American Dub. Retrieved on 2006-10-31.
- ^ eternal.legend. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
- ^ Sailor Moon Musical 10th Anniversary Memorial Talk and Live Show - March 30th, Sanae Kimura commenting on the 1998 Eien Densetsu kaiteiban footage showing Orleans no Sei Senshi ~ Uranus to Neptune Uragiri~
- ^ Hyper Hobby Interview. Retrieved on 2008-04-01. Nao: "When I was watching the last show of the first stage "Eternal Legend", I was telling myself that is I ever have the chance to perform this play, I want to play the Sailor senshi with the blonde hair"
- ^ Sailor Moon Musical, 1998 Shin Densetsu Kourin Fan Guide - Fan message
- ^ Hyper Hobby Interview. Retrieved on 2007-12-09. Nao: "Some of the scenes were created for the two of us"
[edit] See also
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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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