Title: Sailor Moon

Genre: Superhero/Romance

Creator: Naoko Takeuchi/Toei

DVD Info: 186 episodes. ADV has boxed sets for each of the four US seasons.

Distributor: ADV(original)/Geneon (censored)

Summary: A group of super-powered female teens protects Earth from supernatural forces. They are helped by a man known as Tuxedo Mask. Each teen is destined to lead a utopia in the future known as Crystal Tokyo, with their leader, Sailor Moon, reigning as queen. Each teen represents a different planet in the solar system.

The Good: Lots of action and admirable heroines. A very funny show.

The Bad: The plot can get predictable, and there are numerous filler episodes in each season.

Offensive Material: Depends on which version you get. If you get the censored version, you’ll only see the violence and magical powers. In the uncut version, the violence is still there, and more graphic. I should also mention that in the original version, two members’ homosexual lifestyle is revealed, albeit lightly. In the censored US version, they were cousins.

Overall: I would recommend the original version over the censored translation. Yes, the Geneon version is less offensive, but the ADV version is more true to the original, and you need to see it unedited to really appreciate the show. Other than that, it’s a pretty good show.

My Rating: Censored: 2.5-3.0 (Cloverway’s dub was more faithful than the abysmal version DIC gave us for the first two seasons.) Original: 3.0 Cayegory: Censored: A (All Ages) Original: C (Caution—Teens Only)

Note: Sailor Moon is based on the manga of the same name, which is published by Tokyopop. The series was originally aired in syndication for the first season (dubbed by DIC), and was picked up by Cartoon Network during the second season. Beginning in the third season, Cloverway took over the dubbing and did a better job than DIC. Cartoon Network didn’t air the final season. Toei Animation's credits include the Dragonball franchise, Ultimate Muscle, and One Piece.