Sailor Moon S Explained

Season Number:3
Bgcolour:
  1. FFF200
Num Episodes:38
Network:TV Asahi
Prev Season:Sailor Moon R
Next Season:Sailor Moon SuperS
Episode List:List of Sailor Moon episodes

The third season of the Sailor Moon anime series, Sailor Moon S (originally released in Japan as, and later as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon S),[1] was produced by Toei Animation and directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara. It began broadcasting on TV Asahi on March 19, 1994, and ended on February 25, 1995. It adapts the "Infinity" arc of the Sailor Moon manga series by Naoko Takeuchi, and follows the adventures of Usagi Tsukino and her fellow Sailor Guardians. In this season, they must fight against the Death Busters, who are planning to take over Earth. In 2000, Cloverway Inc. licensed the season for an English-language broadcast in North America. Optimum Productions dubbed the season, continuing over from the first two seasons that were licensed by DIC Entertainment and General Mills' The Program Exchange. The series aired on YTV in Canada, who adjusted the episode numbers to match those of the original Japanese version,[2] from June 12, 2000, to August 1, 2000. The season later aired on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block in the United States. Edited and unedited VHS tapes and uncut bilingual DVDs of their adaptation were released by Pioneer Entertainment. In contrast to DIC's handling of the first two seasons, Cloverway retained the background music and sound effects from the original Japanese version. Eventually, the season was re-licensed by Viz Media in 2014 for an updated English-language release, produced by Studiopolis. The first 19 episodes of the season were released as Part 1 on November 15, 2016, and the remaining 19 episodes were released as Part 2 on June 20, 2017. While Sailor Moon S began very similarly to the first two seasons, it eventually took a darker, more emotional turn.

One of the controversies surrounding Sailor Moon S is in the romantic-lesbian relationship of Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune, who are subtly depicted as romantic lovers, although this is never mentioned directly. Takeuchi has openly admitted they are a romantic couple,[3] and their voice actresses were instructed to play the characters "as if they are a married romantic couple."[4] However, because of differing cultural standards, most countries outside Japan, excluding Greece, Germany, Spain, and Mexico, have censored the relationship. In the Cloverway/Optimum English version, this subtext was altered, and Neptune and Uranus were portrayed as biological cousins instead of being in a romantic relationship with each other.[5] The Viz/Studiopolis English version preserves the subtext of the original material.

In the 1995 favorite episode polls for Animage, "The Death of Uranus and Neptune: The Talismans Appear" came in first place, "The Bond of Destiny: Uranus' Distant Past" came in eighth place, and "The Labyrinth of Water: Ami Targeted" came in ninth place.[6] The following year, "A Bright Shooting Star! Saturn, and the Messiah" came in fifteenth place.[7]

Three pieces of theme music used: one opening theme and two ending themes. The opening theme, an updated version of "Moonlight Densetsu" is performed by Moon Lips. The first ending theme, used for the first two episodes, is "Otome no Policy" performed by Yoko Ishida. The second ending theme, used for the remainder of the season, is "Tuxedo Mirage" performed by Peach Hips, a group consisting of voice actresses Kotono Mitsuishi, Michie Tomizawa, Aya Hisakawa, Emi Shinohara and Rika Fukami. Cloverway used the English-language version of "Moonlight Densetsu" first commissioned for DiC Entertainment's dub of the first season and R for their adaptation.

Episodes

Home video releases

Japanese

DVD

Toei Video (Japan, Region 2 DVD)
VolumeEpisodesRelease dateRef.
美少女戦士セーラームーン Sスーパー190–95January 2005
296–101January 2005
3102–107February 2005
4108–112February 2005
5113–117March 2005
6118–122March 2005
7123–127April 2005
美少女戦士セーラームーン Sスーパー DVD COLLECTION190–107April 21, 2010
2108–127July 21, 2010

Blu-ray

Toei Video (Japan, Region 2)
VolumeEpisodesRelease dateRef.
美少女戦士セーラームーンS BLU-RAY COLLECTION190–111November 14, 2018
2112–127January 9, 2019

English

VHS

United States
Pioneer Entertainment
VolumeEpisodesRelease dateRef.
Pure Hearts90–93 (83–86 edited)February 6, 2001[8]
The Love War94–96 (87–89 edited)February 6, 2001[9]
Labyrinth97–99 (90–92 edited)April 10, 2001[10]
Birthday Blues100–102 (93–95 edited)April 10, 2001[11]
Back from the Future103–105 (96–98 edited)June 12, 2001
Secret Destiny106–108 (99–101 edited)June 12, 2001
The Secret Revealed109–111 (102–104 edited)August 14, 2001
The Search for the Savior112–114 (105–107 edited)August 14, 2001
Hotaru's Secret115–117 (108–110 edited)October 9, 2001
The Mysterious Sailor118–120 (111–113 edited)October 9, 2001
Small Hearts121–123 (114–116 edited)November 27, 2001
The Awakening!124–127 (117–120 edited)November 27, 2001

DVD

United States
Pioneer Entertainment (Region 1)
VolumeEpisodesRelease dateRef.
Heart Collection I90–96 (83–89 edited)February 6, 2001[12]
Heart Collection II97–102 (90–95 edited)April 10, 2001[13]
Heart Collection III103–108 (96–101 edited)June 12, 2001[14]
Heart Collection IV109–114 (102–107 edited)August 14, 2001[15]
Heart Collection V115–120 (108–113 edited)October 9, 2001[16]
Heart Collection VI121–127 (114–120 edited)November 27, 2001[17]
Sailor Moon S - The Complete Uncut TV Set90–127 (83–120 edited)July 6, 2004[18]
Viz Media (Region 1)
VolumeEpisodesRelease dateRef.
Season 3 Part 190–108November 15, 2016[19]
Season 3 Part 2109–127June 20, 2017[20]
Australia and New Zealand
Madman Entertainment (Region 4)
VolumeEpisodesRelease date
Season 3 Part 190–108February 8, 2017[21]
Season 3 Part 2109–127August 16, 2017[22]
Complete Series90–127May 9, 2018[23]

Blu-ray

The third season, as the previous 2 seasons, has been remastered twice through software upscaling processes and re-released by Viz as 1080p Blu-Ray disc sets with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

United States
Viz Media (Region A)
VolumeEpisodesRelease dateRef.
Season 3 Part 190–108November 15, 2016
Season 3 Part 2109–127June 20, 2017
The Complete Third Season90-127July 25, 2023[24]
Australia and New Zealand

Film

See main article: Sailor Moon S: The Movie. Sailor Moon S: The Movie, originally released Japan as and later as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon S, while released in the U.S. as Sailor Moon S the Movie: Hearts in Ice in the Pioneer Entertainment dub, and simply as Sailor Moon S: The Movie in Viz media's re-dub, is an anime film directed by Hiroki Shibata and written by Sukehiro Tomita. The film is adapted from a side story of the original manga series created by Naoko Takeuchi, The Lover of Princess Kaguya. The film was released on December 4, 1994, in Japan as part of the Winter '94 Toei Anime Fair.

Video games

See main article: List of Sailor Moon video games. Several video games were released to promote this season, most of them developed or published by Bandai. In 1994, the puzzle video game Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Kondo wa Puzzle de Oshiokiyo! was developed by Tom Create and published by Bandai for Super Nintendo Entertainment System.[26] A fighting game named Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Jōgai Rantō!? Shuyaku Sōdatsusen was developed by Arc System Works and published by Angel (a subsidiary company of Bandai) also in 1994 for Super NES.[27] In 1995, another puzzle game called Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S Kurukkurin was developed by Tom Create for Super NES. In the same year, Shimada Kikaku developed a fighting game for Game Gear called Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S.[28] In 1994, trivia game Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Quiz Taiketsu! Sailor Power Ketsushuu was developed and published for Playdia.[29] Also developed and published in 1994 was another trivia game called Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Kotaete Moon Call!, for Terebikko.[30] The following year, Tose developed Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon S, a fighting game for 3DO Interactive Multiplayer.[31]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 美少女戦士セーラームーンS BLU-RAY COLLECTION. 25 May 2018. Toei Video. ja. January 9, 2019.
  2. YTV at https://web.archive.org. Web site: YTV - Shows - Sailor Moon. 2006-10-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20020204073955/http://www.ytv.com/shows/sailor_moon/episodes.htm. 2002-02-04.
  3. Web site: Interview with Naoko Takeuchi. 2007-03-29.
  4. News: Johnson. Dany. Q & A Rocking the Boat. Akadot. Digital Manga, Inc.. 2001-04-21. When I was cast to play Haruka, I asked director Kunihiko Ikuhara, "Are they gay?" He answered, "Act as if they are a married couple." And I asked him again, "Married couple? You, mean, with two ladies?" He replied, "Yes." So they are husband and wife.. 2007-02-21. 2007-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20070928191454/http://www.akadot.com/article.php?a=31. dead.
  5. News: 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 . 2007-02-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080208132910/http://www.da.wvu.edu/archives/002806/news/002806%2C07%2C01.html . 2008-02-08 .
  6. Web site: http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1995.html . ja:第17回アニメグランプリ [1995年5月号] . Animage.jp . ja . 2009-07-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101019174215/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1995.html . 2010-10-19 .
  7. Web site: http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1996.html . ja:第18回アニメグランプリ [1996年5月号] . Animage.jp . ja . 2009-07-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101019175259/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1996.html . 2010-10-19 .
  8. Web site: Sailor Moon S 1: Pure Hearts. 6 February 2001 .
  9. Web site: Sailor Moon S 2: Love War. 6 February 2001 .
  10. Web site: Sailor Moon S 3: Labryinth. 10 April 2001 .
  11. Web site: Sailor Moon S 4: Birthday Blues. 10 April 2001 .
  12. Web site: Sailor Moon S - Heart Collection I: TV Series, Vols. 1 & 2. Amazon. 6 February 2001 .
  13. Web site: Sailor Moon S - Heart Collection II: TV Series . Amazon .
  14. Web site: Sailor Moon S - Heart Collection III: TV Series, Vols. 5 & 6. Amazon. 12 June 2001 .
  15. Web site: Sailor Moon S - Heart Collection IV: TV Series, Vols. 7 & 8. Amazon.
  16. Web site: Sailor Moon S - Heart Collection 5: TV Series, Vols. 9 & 10 . Amazon . 9 October 2001 .
  17. Web site: Sailor Moon S - Heart Collection VI: TV Series, Vols. 11 & 12 . Amazon .
  18. Web site: Sailor Moon S - the Complete Uncut TV Set . Amazon .
  19. Web site: Sailor Moon S: Season 3 Part 1 . Amazon .
  20. Web site: Sailor Moon S Part 2 Blu-ray/DVD + GWP . www.rightstufanime.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170415104609/http://www.rightstufanime.com/Sailor-Moon-S-Part-2-Blu-ray-DVD-GWP . 2017-04-15.
  21. Web site: Sailor Moon S (Season 3) Part 1 (Eps 90-108) (Limited Edition). Madman Entertainment. December 29, 2018. December 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181229171727/https://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/35187. dead.
  22. Web site: Sailor Moon S (Season 3) Part 2 (Eps 109-127). Madman Entertainment. December 29, 2018. December 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181229171725/https://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/39072. dead.
  23. Web site: Sailor Moon S (Season 3) Complete Series. Madman Entertainment. December 29, 2018. December 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181229171913/https://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/42545. dead.
  24. Web site: Sailor Moon S Complete 3rd Season is now available on Blu-ray!. 25 July 2023 . September 26, 2023.
  25. Web site: Sailor Moon S (Season 3) Complete Series (Blu-Ray). Madman Entertainment. December 29, 2018. December 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181229171843/https://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/42546. dead.
  26. Web site: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Kondo wa Puzzle de Oshioki yo!!. GameFAQs. October 21, 2019.
  27. Web site: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S (Super Nintendo). GameFAQs. October 21, 2019.
  28. Web site: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S (Game Gear). GameFAQs. October 21, 2019.
  29. Web site: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Quiz Taiketsu! Sailor Power Kesshuu. GameFAQs. October 21, 2019.
  30. Web site: Sailor Moon S: Kotaete Moon Call!. TheTVDB. October 25, 2019.
  31. Web site: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S (3DO). GameFAQs. October 21, 2019.