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Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon
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Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

Japanese: 美少女戦士セーラームーン

Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 18

Chapters: 61

Status: Finished

Published: Dec 28, 1991 to Feb 3, 1997

Genres: Award Winning, Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Theme: Mahou Shoujo

Demographic: Shoujo

Serialization: Nakayoshi

Authors: Takeuchi, Naoko (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 8.21¹ (scored by 24,308 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #439²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #297

Members: 54,665

Favorites: 4,555

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Reviews

Filtered Results: 20 / 20

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Apr 28, 2008

bitsypookums24

Recommended

This is where the whole phenomenon started, and it won't disappoint. More direct than the anime (okay 90% of the anime is filler/ bad guy of the week) and more serious, the story line is still the same, with some new characters and transformations thrown in. Some of the main characters (specifically Mars) are very different from their anime counterparts (I actually liked Usagi more than I wanted to strangle her!). A little less childish than the anime (but not that that's a bad thing), for any Moonie, it's a treat.

Jan 29, 2008

coop52

Recommended

Story: The Sailor Moon series (dubbed) is what got me into anime and manga. Fans of the anime or of shoujo in general would love this series. The story spans over 17 of the 18 volumes in 5 arcs (one of the volumes is filler). The manga story often deviates from its anime counterpart, often taking a darker turn. However, the manga still has plenty of comedy, especially in the Exam Battle Chapters. Fans of romance would enjoy the story as well. I gave the story a 10 because I found it epic, classic shoujo.

Art: The artwork is great. I really love the trademark ...

Oct 24, 2009

Galactic_Kitten

Recommended

As with many others, Sailor Moon was the first anime I watched. At first, there was the horrible, horrible dubbed version. The real version is MUCH better, but nothing compared to the manga.

Unlike the anime, the manga arcs all flow into each other amazingly well. For example, Sailor Moon and the others get their power ups at the end of each arc, through much better means than in the anime. The manga is darker, but not without humour, and tells a much deeper and better story. Most notably is SuperS. The anime turned this into a cheesy, fluffy story, where in the manga it ... is very dark. Neherenia is a much more notorious villain, the amazoness quartet holds a far greater fate. Also, the golden crystal (and the silver crystal, for that matter) are much more important.
The anime also ignores the manga specials, save one. They animated "Ami Chan's first love", but not the stories focused around Jupiter, or Venus & Mars.
The main characters are much more developed individually in the manga, whereas most of their growths (save Usagi) are ignored or forgotten about in the anime. (For example, the Starlights in the anime each interact with other senshi, and have experiences that change them, but this is later forgotten about. Most notably, Ami's words to Taiki, and Minako's to Yaten)

The anime also changed many of the characters, most notably the outer senshi, Venus and Mars. Sailor Venus is a much more important character in the manga, where she was sold short in the anime. She is the leader of the inner senshi, and participates much more than in the anime. Especially in the Dark Kingdom and Black Moon arcs. Mars in the manga is a much more elegant and serious character. She and Venus are both portrayed well in the live action, but not the anime. The anime also ignores the relationship between Venus and Mars, which is very powerful, whether you regard it as romantic or not.
Sailor Saturn is also sold short in the anime. She is in S, SuperS and Stars arcs, as a major character. She interacts with the other senshi a lot more, and has a much bigger purpose. The outer senshi are much more important to the story, and never vanish like they do in the anime.
Uranus is also somewhat different, mostly in that she shows her more feminine side much more in the way she dresses. Pluto also has a bigger role, especially during the Black Moon arc.
Chibiusa is also much less annoying, mostly because you can't hear her talk, and she doesn't try and steal the spotlight so much. And, Tuxedo Kamen is actually useful! Instead of waving a cane around and throwing flowers, he actually is granted real powers by his four generals! The four generals also change a lot from the manga to the anime, and not in a good way.

The art in the manga is very elegant, and the artbooks are beautiful.
I promise that if you are a Sailor Moon anime fan, you'll love the manga. I think it is far greater, and I wish the anime had stuck to it more. The live action stayed closer, but created it's own story, but even that was better than the anime. I still appreciate the anime, but the manga is by far the better story. (I wish they would do what Fullmetal Alchemist did, and release a new version that's true to the manga!)

May 25, 2008

RICEA42991

Recommended

Whoever loved the Sailor Moon anime, would love reading it's manga. So much detail and backstories were left out in the original anime that it's shocking for anyone that is only familiar with the anime storyline.

The Classic first season plot in the manga had none of the yaoi present, and there was much more to enemies backgrounds.

S Season- Haruka is shown as more then just being the manly girl she was seen as in the original anime. The manga's plot in S was also much darker and traumatic.

SuperS Arc- Probably a favorite of mine in the manga. While still centering on Chibi-Usa(Rini), it has ...

Mar 19, 2013

Nibel

Mixed Feelings

Just like many people,I have a special bond with Sailor Moon considering it was the very first anime I was exposed to at the tender age of 3.I might not have many clear memories of that time but it did make an impact on me.Of course after than time it has been broadcasted on TV here again and again,though not always making it to the last episode.I've always loved this,I'd wake up at 6 in the morning just to watch it every time.
So for my love about Sailor Moon I feel it is my duty to write a review for the anime or the manga.I ... picked the manga cause it is more straightforward and direct than the anime,which spans 200 episodes or something he majority of which are uninspired enemies that don't even exist in the manga.

Upon reading the manga a sort of nostalgia overwhelmed me,I'm sure it's the same case for most people.I was enjoying my time reading and the first arc was pretty nice but it's after that when this manga exposes its true weaknesses.Which is...Tsukino Usagi is a Mary Sue character.I can already imagine everyone of you staring at me with horror as if uttered something unthinkable,but it's the truth no matter what.That's this manga's drawback and it's a serious one one.I know Usagi is the main character...but she could always share some of her spotlight and important role with the rest of the characters.They're her soldiers but honestly what's the point if she overpowers them all EVERY SINGLE TIME?
I like the character designs and abilities,but unfortunately,if we don't take into account the first arc where they are introduced they end up being pretty much useless.Usagi is another important person so she saves the day while the rest have fallen.I'm very bothered by this cause.I can't even believe it took by surprise when she defeated another antagonist,I was thinking..."This cannot be happening,is this what I loved so much?"
See,because the manga is a lot shorter than the anime this weakness is pretty apparent,whilst in the anime it is covered by the fillers that make the rest of the characters have more story and be useful.
After touching on this very important drawback that takes away so much I'd like to proceed to the following:

As far as the art is concerned I cannot say much since I hardly have much experience with manga of that year.I've rated it a 6 cause...it's Sailor Moon...and it's not that bad...and you can tell what is going on.

Moving on...Sure the story has been done many times considering the popularity of Sailor Moon and how successful it's being.I'm sure at the time it was pretty much ahead of its time.Heck I still enjoy watching unfold(on the anime).That should be a 7.

I already touched on the topic about the characters,really big mistake to put the focus on Usagi the whole time even if she is the main character.Gets a 3 from me.

Enjoynment...would have been more but like I mentioned earlier what was done with the characters really bothered me and took away from the experience.Perhaps I had other characters I liked besides Usagi who didn't act on their full potential or on a role that suited them way better than Tsukino.
Above average,6.

Overall,I feel it deserves a 6.It offered many things to the anime/manga world and it has establish itself as the representative of the genre(magical girl).We should not be blinded by the fact of how much we loved it when the truth is it has not aged well at all from many aspects(1.characters,2.art,3.story)
I was a tiny bit influenced by my own childhood memories though I feel the anime is superior to the manga despite its never-ending fillers for reasons mentioned above.

Thank you for taking the time to read my review.

May 16, 2008

Nayoko-Kihara

Recommended

I first watched the dubbed anime when I was little, and it along with Speed Racer is what got me into anime in the first place. Sailor Moon holds a special little spot in my heart because of that, it was the first anime show I couldn't get enough of.

Starting a few days ago I decided that I would read the manga, and I just recently finished all of it, and it was wonderful, but it seemed rather rushed. Each villian went down so quickly, and each story arc ended rather fast. I prefer the anime to the manga because of this. When I watched ...

Jan 23, 2014

RisingRah

Recommended

I have to say, when I first think of Sailor Moon, I flashback to the anime episode where Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, and Sailor Mars are fighting Jedite at the airport. That was when I was 5 and saying "Moon Prism Power" like it was a mantra. Now, as a college graduate, I have the honor of re-reading the manga that inspired me to have a manga collection (300+ and counting!). So yes, I love this manga.

I think it's hard to describe Sailor Moon as the typical shojo manga because it is THE shojo manga. It's hard to find one nowadays that isn't inspired by ...

Jan 10, 2018

elchibi

Recommended

I knew Sailor Moon from the anime first as at the time I didn't know it was from a manga (in the 90's when I didn't have a computer and I was a kid).

I read through all of it after re-watching it and I still love it!
Story: Usagi discovers she is a Sailor guardian and from there, with the crew she gathered, she has to fight the evil organisations that try to take the Earth and ruin it with her magical powers!
I think the plot is good, there is hope, despair, love (all types!), peace and food and fashion, with some fights which is all ...

Jul 28, 2017

YdYdLmDn

Recommended

The world of Pretty Soldier: Sailor Moon is one to best delve into via the form of its original manga, in my opinion. There is something so special about the manga, a feeling I can't really replicate perfectly in words. When I started reading it, I really had to slow down because I felt that there was something here that needed to be deeply appreciated about the finished work I was holding. What I'm trying to get at here is that Sailor Moon feels like a work that its creator, Naoko Takeuchi, put her entire heart into. Each character feels so special, like she put ...

Jan 31, 2009

Eclipsa

Recommended

Sailor Moon was one of my first animes ever. When I was younger I loved the show so when I saw the manga when I was, I think 13 or so, I knew I had to get them. I love this series and I suggest it to anyone who remotely like the anime. The manga series is more like the original Sailor Moon series, NOT the dubbed version (which imo is pretty awful). Also, if you are like me and get emotional over books then be prepared for a fun emotional ride. The series spans from the beginnings of Sailor Moon to the end of ...

May 22, 2016

cakewizard_Chan

Recommended

This manga is filled with romance and adventure that you will love. I absolutley loved this series, it made me feel happiness, sadness and love. I especially enjoyed this manga because the art was just fantastic. The artist put in alot of detail and you can really tell what's happening. What confused me was the endings, the ending sometimes messed me up because the storyline changed a bit or they appeared somewhere that they weren't before. The love scenes were stunning and heart warming.

The storyline was very intresting and it pulled me in, with the adventure that Sailor Moon and her scouts went on ...

Feb 26, 2018

Haileyhaha9

Recommended

I LOVE sailor moon. I got interested in manga through tamadashi horoka (sorry can’t spell) there is amazing character development and no point in the series where you want to stop reading. Sailor moon has a full story from start to finish, and leaves you with the sense that there is much more to this universe. Sailor moon is heartfelt and wrenching with every second being an amazing experience. Sailor moon is an inspiration for everyone. Sailor moon is an ever expanding universe and will never age that is why I love it. Sailor Moon is my favorite manga for the reasons above. In conclusion ...

Apr 24, 2020

Jinjun

Not Recommended

Preliminary (6/61 chp)

If you're like me and absolutely loved 90's Sailor Moon anime, please, stay away from this manga. Everything interesting in the anime simply doesn't exist here.
Sailor Moon is the typical magical girl story you've seen before: a girl gets power and fights evil to save the world, but that's basically it. Every arc plot is almost the same, repeating the same formula for 61 chapters, making you sick and tired of the story very quickly. Also, the character development is non-existent. Appart from the annoying cry-baby Usagi Tsukino, we don't get to known the others characters personalities at all.
And last but not last, the art ...

Jun 16, 2022

iminkimomo

Mixed Feelings

I never grew up with Sailor Moon like most of my friends did, so I don't really have the nostalgia associated to it that most people seem to have. That being said, I was always curious about it as I've always heard how good it was from those around me.

There will be spoilers so read on at your own risk:

I think for what it is, it was a decently good series overall. However because I haven't grown up with the series I think my expectations were too high considering how much everyone around my hyped it up. It wasn't for me really, most of the ...

Nov 21, 2017

moonkingdomify

Recommended

The anime was a part of my childhood and the manga became serialized for a second time when I was in Highschool. This is one of the few manga series that I own in its entirety, though I still can't call it my favorite series, even if we're just taking the graphic novel medium into consideration. That's because there are many flaws with this series that become very relevant the more times you read it, which makes it so that it's not the best series to re-read, at least not for me. But I'm here to write a short review of the series and I ... did give it an 8 on my overall rating of it, so it still does hold a place in my favorites.

-----------

The Bad:

The biggest thing that's bugged me since I started reading this series in high school was the length of every female character's legs and the fact that every character looks vastly older than they are. In the first volume, Takeuchi introduces Usagi as a 14-year-old girl but I'd have trouble understanding that for a couple of reasons. I know what 14-year-old girls look like and that's not it. These designs make a lot more sense for characters like Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto or any of the other adult characters, but no for the bodies of these still-developing teenage girls.

Another aspect of the designs that I'm not too fond of is that you don't really have any differentiation between the designs of different characters when it comes to their physical builds. Even when we get the "guyish" senshi, they only end up being taller and maybe having larger breasts. We don't have a heavy set senshi, or an overly short senshi, or a really tall and lanky senshi. Some variance other than breast size would be nice.

Now onto my gripes with the story. Well, this is a bit of a comparison to the anime, which I know is wrong to do, but the villains pale in comparison to their anime counterparts. The four generals in the first arc didn't have their own individual personalities, nor did Beryl. The same can be said for pretty much every other villain in the franchise until we get to the fourth arc, which I'll talk about in the good section of this review. The supporting cast also tends to suffer in characterization until the fourth arc (when they're separated from Usagi and have to deal with their own inner demons).

But that's about it for the bad.

----------------

The Good:

The story for Sailor Moon is, for the most part, very good. It's hard to really talk about it without going into a full analysis of the series but you'll just have to take my word for it in this case.

Even though the rest of the series doesn't do characterization very well, I do honestly think that fourth and fifth arcs make up for the lost ground with the amount of character development that we get for each member of the supporting cast right before killing them all off in the final. Even though the series ends with each character dying twice and Usagi (arguably) choosing paradise over starting over with her life again, it's written in such a way that makes sense if you're capable of reading between the lines. A lot of revealed about the lore of the Sailor Moon in these arcs that isn't translated into the anime and Galaxia is a lot more ruthless in this version of the story.

Now onto the designs I actually really liked. Galaxia looks identical to her anime counterpart and the design really suits her. The same can be said for Princess Kakyuu, who, while still having a small role, has a much bigger role in manga as well. I also like how the Starlights masquerade as men during the day but are completely female during the night, they don't just change genders.

And I do actually really enjoy this series, it keeps me entertained from beginning to end, and even though I can see the many flaws in the series, I do still really love it.

Nov 21, 2019

mouthpiece

Recommended

ENJOYMENT SECTION: 8/10
Ah, good ol’ pretty sailor warriors! Despite being the series most other mahou shoujo copied thereafter, it remains in the tops because very few managed to have its variety and vividness. Plus, I like it too.

ART SECTION: 7/10 [Bishoujos in Sailor Suits.]

Following the trend, the artwork is extremely shoujo, that means very breezy sketches and loose borders between frames. It looks very amateurish in the first part but along the way it improves considerably and towards the end it now looks splendid. You just have to get used to the idea that the plot is driven by dialogue and mostly cinematics, rather motion ...

Mar 5, 2021

UveVauliett

Recommended

Preliminary (8/61 chp)

Abajo está la review en inglés/below is the review in English

[Español]
el manga de sailor moon soluciona los dos principales problemas del anime (el 69.9% de la serie que correspondería al relleno, y algunas incoherencias provocadas por los mismos episodios). El manga de sailor moon me encanta, el dibujo de naoko takeuchi es muy llevadero, la historia (aunque simple) es atrapante, los personajes son carismáticos y los antagonistas están bien planteados.
Un plus extra: tiene a Tuxedo Mask, y con eso, ya es el mejor maho shoujo (Ok no)
[English]
The sailor moon manga solves the two main problems of the anime (69.9% of the series that would ...

Feb 14, 2021

Curiouswanderer

Not Recommended

Preliminary (9/61 chp)

Right so I decided to try out reading Sailor Moon after being dissatisfied with “Sailor V” in my mid 20s because basically, i didn’t grow up with it much from childhood nor have I ever attempted to watch the tv series (nor watch the new version) .I only read it in a GirlTalk magazine once and that was it.

Anyways as much as I hate to admit it but the story was rather off and cheesy. It’s pretty much exactly like Sailor V but it’s more detailed. I did like the scenes with Usagi and Tuexdo man, although it was rather odd that they straight ...

Jun 7, 2022

ProudElitist

Not Recommended

Funny

Preliminary (13/61 chp)

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, A.K.A. the manga you need to read in case you have ever wondered yourself how a piece of bad fanfiction would be written by an adult woman like the author was when she penned this thing. Let's make a summary of which the qualities of bad fanfiction are, shall we?
1) badly written story with several plotholes and inconsistencies that destroy the interest of the reader -> check;
2) unlikeable and not-relatable mary sues (Usagi Tsukino, Sailor Venus and Chibiusa) and gary stues (Mamoru Chiba) seen as protagonists adored and revered by ALL the other characters like they're goddesses and gods on earth ... -> check;
3) contrived backstories that not only don't make any sense whatsoever but they also bog down the storytelling even more thanks to useless infodumps that don't add nothing in terms of worldbuilding -> check;
4) non-existant characters characterized outside the main protagonists/author self-inserts (including the enemies, who appear and disappear in the blink of an eye) because they're simply meant to be plot devices/cardboard figurines useful to show the pretended awesomeness of the latters -> check;
5) unclear action scenes so poorly drawn that are totally impossible to understand, with powers appearing and disappearing after being used once because, like the point 4), they're employed as plot devices and nothing else -> check;
6) complete and utter misunderstanding of how superhero fiction (these are superheroines and superheroes doing superhero stuff) works from the get go, which is ridicolous considering the same author established a direct link to Superhero fiction in the Sailor V prequel.

Add to these six elements the usual rapey and killing childish (because there's nothing mature in it) stuff that the Japanese have put in shows aimed at children like Golion King of Beasts and a general childish tone overall and you have the perfect image of this manga, completely and utterly trumped by its 90's animated adaptation in all regards no matter how hard the manga elitists want you to convince you otherwise. Oh, you'll have also the reason why the Crystal series has not been well received (to be generous)...because this thing was not translatable into anything as it is with no major changes to its core, again no matter how the author tries to do with awful live actions that would make people like Noboru Iguchi blush for the shame or failed reboots. If you want the believable, relatable Icons who can give positive life-ispiring messages to everybody stick to the 90's animated masterpiece (movies and specials included) and forget alltoghether this thing was ever produced in the first place, you're not going to miss anything.

Dec 11, 2023

Kirida-San

Not Recommended

One of the WORST manga I have ever read.

Since I am NOT the target demographic of a little girl, which this manga's story is supposed to be consumed by, I am NOT going to critique the STORY ITSELF. However, I AM going to critique how the story is PRESENTED, as well as the art, structure and so on. As the story could be the best, most violent adult thing ever, but the if the presentation is as bad as Sailor Moon is, then I will still critique it in the same way. As this is a product, while the story may be fine for ...