Not everyone knows about anime, but everyone knows Sailor Moon. It is one of the most popular manga series of all time and is recognized worldwide. The character Sailor Moon (Usagi Tsukino) herself isamong the world's most popular female superheroes.
Besides being so identifiable, Sailor Moonhas created a legacy in media. Tons of other shows and magical girl anime were made with Sailor Moon astheir inspiration, including the likes ofWedding Peach, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, andPretty Cure.
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So if you like Sailor Moon, you are in luck! There are tons of other shows that have been inspired by Sailor Moon's legacy.
10 Princess Tutu
This anime is a hidden gem. Similar toSailor Moon, it is a magical girl based story. However, instead of a girl turning into a superhero, it is a duck turning into a girl and then the girl turning into a mythical ballet dancer.
Even if you do not love dance and music, this show has a ton to offer in terms of interesting characters, twists, and stories. The protagonist, Ahiru, is trying to collect the pieces of a prince's heart that were shattered by an evil crow. However, she finds out that there are some people who want the prince to be left without a heart.
9 Cardcaptor Sakura
This series came out right after Sailor Moon ended and was at first viewed as a knock off by anime fans. However, it surprised them with its own unique identity. The main character, Sakura, does not transform but wears a different outfit for every fight. Also, she is much younger than Usagi, being 10-years-old.
Like Sailor Moon though, the show delves into themes of friendship and love. Like Usagi and Mamoru, Sakura also has a rocky relationship with Li but they eventually start to support each other.
8 Magic Knight Rayearth
Lasting for 49 episodes, Magic Knight Rayearthstars three girls, Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu. They go on a field trip to Tokyo Tower but are summoned by a princess from another world who needs their help to save it. The three girls are given powers, armor, and weapons to combat evil forces and are called "Magic Knights."
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The three girls do not know each other at the beginning and have to learn to work together for the greater good. They do have similar personalities of being tomboyish but also shy and graceful.
7 Fushigi Yuugi
Two close friends, Miaka and Yui, go to a library and find a magical bookthattransports them to ancient China. They become bitter enemies in the new world as they settle into the roles of magical priestesses for warring kingdoms. They both are aided by seven different warriors and their goal is to summon a God from their kingdoms to grant a wish.
Miaka is a lot like Usagi in terms of being hungry all the time, lazy, and klutzy. She also falls in love with one of the seven warriors, Tamahome, and their relationship is one of the driving forces of the show.
6 Akazukin Chacha
This is a must-see for anime fans that love fairy-tales. The protagonist, Chacha, is raised to become a witch. She lives a peaceful life in the countryside; however, the kingdom is ruled by an evil king. The person who raised Chacha, Seravi, gives magical amulets to the protagonist and her friends, which turn theminto magical princesses capable of saving the kingdom.
Chacha is similar to Usagi, who are both somewhat silly and clumsy. She makes a lot of mistakes with her magical powers, mainly due to Japanese wordplay. For example, she accidentally summons a bunch of noses instead of flowers because they are both called "Hana" in Japanese.
5 Nurse Angel Ririka SOS
Ririka gets a present from a popular boy at school on her tenth birthday. Then the earth is invaded by evil forces. It turns out the boy's present is an "Angel Cap" that can be used to turn Ririka into a Nurse Angel that can "cure" (defeat) the evil invaders. However, she has to keep this a secret from her family, classmates, and close friends.
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Like Sailor Moon, Ririka's attacks have over the top names like “Angel Aide Bomb Beam.” The show also uses a lot of recycled animation for her transformation sequence. While a bit dated,Nurse Angel Ririka SOSis still worth checking out.
4 Wedding Peach
This show focuses on a trio of friends, Momoko, Yuri, and Hinagiku. They are chosen by a man from another world to become "Love Angels" to defeat an inter-dimensional force that is spreading hate. As you progress through the show, you will see a lot of similarities between the origins of Love Angels and the Sailor Guardians from Sailor Moon.
The design of the characters should look familiar to Sailor Moon fans since they were made by Kazuko Tadano. She was one of the designers from Sailor Moon. Also, Kotono Mitsuishi, Sailor Moon’s voice actress plays a villain in this show!
3 Revolutionary Girl Utena
Utena was saved by a prince when she was little.In turn, she decided to become a prince like him. Once in junior high, she meets a mysterious girl named Anthy and decides to protect her from other students who seek to abuse her powers.
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A lot of Sailor Moon's production team worked on this anime, which can be seen in the art style and pacing. However, Utenais way more psychological, dark, and symbolic than Sailor Moon. By the end of the show, things get very confusing and you will likely have to look up what you just witnessed in order to get an understanding ofeverything.
2 Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Sailor Moon fans are likely to either love or hate this show. It takes everything you know about the magical girl genre and subverts it in a unique and compelling way. It is also a very short series that can be completed in 12 episodes or through a three-part movie series. The animation is gorgeous and it alone is reason enough to see this series.
Like Revolutionary Girl Utena, Puella Magi Madoka Magicatellsa more mature and darker story than Sailor Moon. With Sailor Moon having defined the international magical girl genre though, there is little doubt that Puella Magi Madoka Magicais partly inspired by it.
1 Yuki Yuna Is A Hero
The story beings with Yūna, Mimori, Fū, and Itsuki, who are all part of a club called the Sanshu Middle School Hero Club. The club is dedicated to helping anyone with a request. Their normal lives end when they are all transported to a forest where monsters are attacking a magical tree. Through a special phone app, the club members turn into magical heroes who defeat the monsters.
While this show is slightly darker than Sailor Moon, at least the latter's English dubbed version, it isn't as dark as Puella Magi Madoka Magica.The way the characters develop and their relationships with each other is very similar to Sailor Moon.
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