Reviews

This final season of Sailor Moon is a great improvement compared to the previous season, SuperS. The first part of this series continues with the Nehelenia storyline (though I really think I have seen enough of this story), but this arc is essential for the second part and provides a good transition between the SuperS season and the introduction of the evil god-like Sailor Senshi of the galaxy, Galaxia.

Many fans of the Outer Senshi would be glad to hear that Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and even Saturn make their appearances, and this time, they help the Inner Senshi and Sailor Moon in their battles.

The latter half of the season introduces the new Sailor Senshi: the Sailor Starlights. In search for their Princess to help revitalize their planet, the Starlights are disguised as "teen idols" and attempt to contact their Princess through a variety of songs. Ultimately, Seiya, the leader of the group, "Three Lights," develops a crush on Usagi, which complicates matters between Sailor Moon, the Senshi and the Sailor Starlights.

Also, a mysterious young girl arrives arrives in Usagi's home and assumes the identity of Chibi Chibi. But who is she exactly? With Chibiusa and Diana gone back to the future, and the departure of Mamoru who's studying abroad in America, Usagi must remain strong for her biggest battle yet.

This season has absolutely improved in comparision of SuperS in terms of storyline, artwork, and maturity (at times. Some of the main topics, however, are especially repetitive and used in previous seasons: the arrival of new Sailor Senshi and whether Sailor Moon can trust them, the search for true Star Seeds is similar to previous years when enemies searched for Talismans, or the Golden dream mirror.

I suggest that everyone who hasn't seen this series should start watching the first episode of Sailor Stars, and not the final episode (as most people did). If you really want to understand what's going on, start from the beginning, and you'll see the connection between Galaxia and her reasons for reviving Nehelenia.

A rather disappointing storyline focusing on Chibiusa is really the main factor that caused this series to be the worst of the five Sailor Moon seasons. Her relationship with Sailor Moon as well as Pegasus/Helios is developed however, and it's also a treat to see Usagi and Chibiusa bickering, but it really really does get tiring to the point that it's annoying.

The animation seems to have worsen quite a bit probably due to the horribly bright pastel colors, compared to the previous S season except for the improvements of the senshi's transformation and attack sequences (always eye-candy for many to watch).

The whole dream motif lacks any serious drama but rather focuses on maturity, which at times fails to improve with such an uninteresting plot. The storyline isn't too appealing to many fans and the annoyance of the many ugly and uncreative enemies doesn't help either which leads to many unmemorable episodes.

The music at times is heart-felt to listen to, but it only focuses on the fantasy side and lacking any seriousness or drama. A rather bad season for Sailor Moon and her senshi, but if you're able to endure this season up to the end, then I really do applaud you.

4/10

An excellent series of Sailor Moon, with the introduction of new Sailor Senshi: Neptune and Uranus. The storyline is rather a good vs evil kinda thing, but doesn't involve the whole Moon Princess epic in this season. Uranus and Neptune are looking for the mysterious talismans which will form the Holy Grail to seal away the Silence that will destroy the planet. They also are in search for the Messiah who is also believed to stop this oncoming Silence.

However, what makes this season especially memorable is the difference in fighting style and ideas the new senshi have compared to Sailor Moon's. The reappearance of Chibiusa as a Sailor Senshi, as well as Sailor Pluto also help keep the season worth watching. The climactic episodes with the Holy Grail and the transformation of SuperSailorMoon are definitely high-points displaying Sailor Moon's maturity.

The second half of this season focuses on the relationship between Chibiusa and a mysterious girl, Hotaru. The relationship may get a bit overly dramatic it times, but necessary in the storyline.

The filler episodes are also especially fun to watch since they revolve around the in-depth characterizations of the Inner Senshi including their interactions of the Outer Senshi; therefore, the filler episodes aren't as useless as you may think. The music is always a treat to listen to, esp the Uranus and Neptune's transformation music. The improvement in animation is also evident to many viewers and necessary to make this season one of the favorites of the five Sailor Moon seasons.

Highly recommended 10/10

A very worthy continuation of the Sailor Moon storyline introducing the daughter of the Future Queen of Crystal Tokyo, Chibiusa. The first arc with Ann and Ail is a good transition from the first season to the original storyline which involves the future of Tokyo, though the story with Ann and Ail may be a bit repetitive at times with the use of the same plot: the search for precious energy.

The second part of the Sailor Moon R story introduces a small pink-haired girl closely resembling Usagi. This part of the story shows the many obstacles that Usagi and Mamoru encounter as well as the deepening relationship between Usagi and Chibiusa. Sailor Pluto also appears in this series.

Though visuals yet again haven't improved all that much, except for the new transformations and attack sequences of each senshi, the season has less filler episodes and more climactic episodes than its previous season.

The music is wonderful to listen to, displaying the closeness of Chibiusa and Usagi. Their relationship is the high point of the series as well as the maturity Chibiusa goes through from being a crybaby (worse than Usagi) to a mature future Princess.

-Highly recommended- 9/10

The first season of Sailor Moon starts with the crybaby Usagi meeting a mysterious talking cat, Luna. Luna senses that the 14 year-old girl is the soldier of love and justice and offers Usagi a special broach that allows her to transform into Sailor Moon! The storyline may seem a bit repetitive at times (with the Dark Kingdom's main goal is to steal energy at first, then get their hands on the elusive Ginzuishou), but get rid of the filler episodes, and you get an amazing epic of the moon princess and her soldiers being reborn on Earth after a disaster had befallen on the Moon Kingdom over a millenium ago.

Besides Sailor Moon, the other four sailor senshi make their grand entrances as well as Tuxedo Kamen, a rather two-dimensional character who saves Sailor Moon in times of crises by throwing his trademark rose at his enemies.

The music is certainly worth listening to as it captures the clumsiness of Usagi at first to its seriousness and beauty of her becoming a soldier of love.

The animation may seem a bit subpar at times but that has improved in later seasons. One of the many trademarks of this series is its impressive attack and transformation sequences that are really just pleasureable to watch and admire.

If you have only seen the dubbed version of this series, I suggest you find a way of getting the original episodes, subtitled. You get the sense of the deeper romance, emotion, as well as the great battles and a more mature dialogue of these young girls who attempt to balance their own wacky teenage lives with their duties as soldiers. The final two episodes of the first season of Sailor Moon are by far the best episodes of all the five seasons.

-Highly recommended- 8/10

A rather wacky and fun-filled series about a boy named Ranma who falls into a "spring of drowned-girl" and ends up turning into a girl with the slightest contact of cold water! The series really doesn't have a concrete storyline, (probably the search of turning Ranma into a male permanently, or the whole fiancee thing), nevertheless, each episode is hilarious with the help of brilliant original characters and great adaptations of martial arts (figure-skating martial arts, gymnastics martial arts, etc.).

Also another high point in the series are the love triangles and even quadrangles, the characters are involved in!

The music is pretty good, highlighting the action as well as the romance in this series. The first season of Ranma 1/2 up to the fourth season are great since it introduces the funniest characters like Shampoo, Ryoga, Kodachi, Happosai, Mousse and many others.

The later seasons seem to be rather dull and at times really drag on, which lead to some unmemorable episodes. Nevertheless, I recommend you seeing the early episodes of Ranma and OAV's if you want to enjoy some fun and slapstick anime.

This is a great and powerful tale about two young kids searching for the mysterious and elusive "castle in the sky." A certainly thrilling adventure for many people of any age. The storyline is very-well thought out, and there's never a dull moment in this two-hour feature movie.

What captured my attention was the beautiful music that certainly depicts the quest, action, and heart-felt moments in this adventure from the haunting music of the robot's attack, to the great symphonic and orchestrated melody of the search for Laputa.

The animation may seem a bit subpar in the eyes of recent anime-lovers, but it's still marvelous to watch compared to many other animated series/movies of the 80's. If you enjoy excitement and aerial adventure, then I really do recommend that you see Laputa: Castle in the Sky.