Why Sailor Moon Is One of the Most Influential Anime Series Ever (2024)

If you grew up in the 90s, you most likely watched a blonde, meatball-headed teenage girl named Usagi Tsukino on your television screens. Usagi Tsukino is just a student by day, but at night, she transforms into the heroine, Sailor Moon, fighting against the forces of evil to protect her home.

Sailor Moon (1992 – 1997) is a magical girl series created by Naoko Takeuchi. The manga is a huge success, selling over 46 million copies worldwide and becoming one of the best-selling manga in the industry. The manga's success also led to two anime adaptations: Sailor Moon (1992-1997) and Sailor Moon Crystal (2014-2016). At the time, Sailor Moon’s unique art style and compelling storytelling could be seen as foreign to many audiences who grew up watching Disney princesses. The series gave a fresh perspective to storytelling and redefined the female heroine for viewers. Sailor Moon inspired generations and left an impressionable legacy in the anime and manga industry.

Sailor Moon is the 'Golden Standard' for the Magical Girl Genre

The world of magical girls started with Osamu Tezuka’s Princess Knight (1953). Princess Knight introduces a female protagonist, Sapphire, who has a secret identity and performs duties that are beyond the capabilities of an average girl. However, it was the anime studio, Toei Animation, that dominated the magical girl genre from the 1960s to 1990s. Toei Animation produced several series, like Sally the Witch (1966), which presented the compact as a transformation tool for young girls, and Majokko Megu-chan (1974), which showcased the significance of female friendships and their bond as magical girls.

Although these early magical girl series created the foundation for the genre, the magical girl genre wasn’t popular until the Sailor Moon series. Sailor Moon brought unique features that became the golden standard for the magical girl genre.

From a Young Girl to a Mature, Magical Woman: The Impact of Magical Girl Transformations

For example, one of the key aspects of a magical girl series is that the female protagonist lives a double life. These female characters have their ordinary, everyday identity, where they go to school, have part-time jobs, and hang out with friends. Yet, their lives change, and they encounter a mystical being that grants them special powers. As a result, they undergo a physical transformation which allows them to have alter egos. These alter egos include being superheroes or magical girls with special abilities.

Sailor Moon continues this trend of having dual identities for her female heroines. However, Naoko Takeuchi accentuates her heroines' alter egos by introducing visually aesthetic transformation sequences. These transformation sequences drew inspiration from popular tokusatsu series such as Super Sentai and Kamen Rider.

Usagi and her friends transform from their ordinary and youthful physical appearances into the guardians of the Solar System, the Sailor Senshi, with glamorous costumes and magical powers. These transformation sequences are filled with bright colors, ribbons, and sparkles, attracting the gaze of female viewers. Like Majokko Megu-chan, the female characters in Sailor Moon use cute stationery like a pen and cosmetic products as tools to transform into magical girls and conceal their current identities. These cute products and aesthetically pleasing transformation sequences allow female audiences to embrace their femininity and beauty and be the best version of themselves.

Balancing Feminine & Masculine Traits in the Sailor Senshi

Usagi and her friends showcase their femininity through dazzling transformation sequences, fashion, and make-up, but also in their personality traits. For example, Ami Mizuno, also known as Sailor Mercury, has a soft-spoken voice and a timid aura. Ami mirrors the traditional Japanese woman’s identity where women are seen as submissive and people-pleasers. As for Usagi Tsukino, she is a crybaby whenever she encounters an enemy. Even though she becomes the powerful Sailor Moon, Usagi feels helpless when facing a scary monster or enemy. Ami's docile nature and Usagi's vulnerability feed into the narrative that women are weak.

However, Sailor Moon acknowledges and embraces these traits from a positive perspective. Even though these are gender stereotypes, Naoko Takeuchi takes these weaknesses and turns them into strengths and balances these feminine qualities with more masculine traits.

For example, Sailor Moon and her fellow Sailor Senshi showcase their strength and power when fighting Queen Beryl and the Dark Kingdom. Sailor Moon openly expresses her cowardliness when fighting against Queen Beryl. However, Sailor Moon puts her fear aside and expresses her bravery because she needs to protect her loved ones. In addition, the Sailor Senshi show their assertiveness and outspoken nature whenever they experience injustice. For example, when Fiore and Princess Snow Kaguya want to cause a cosmic catastrophe on Earth, Sailor Moon uses her love for her home and family as a motivation to stop them. Sailor Moon would use these strong emotions as a form of persuasion and force her enemies to reflect on their wrongdoings. Rather than complying with social expectations and negativity, the Sailor Senshi express their core values and reshape the world to how they envision it. Sailor Moon is the epitome of the idea that "love conquers all."

In previous magical girl series, female protagonists are presented with issues and problems that do not involve fighting crime or evil entities. Instead, these magical girls resolve simple everyday issues through problem-solving, diplomacy, or other peacemaking measures. It wasn’t until Sailor Moon that there was a different outlook on the female heroine. Sailor Moon recognizes and acknowledges feelings of vulnerability and weakness, and the show normalizes that it is okay to embrace and express those feelings, while also trying to act strong and brave during tough situations.

The Sailor Senshi’s masculine and feminine personas create a progressive outlook on the female identity; as a result, the Sailor Senshi can be seen as role models to their viewers, especially young female girls. Young women do not have to settle into society’s expectations of women, but instead, these young women can aspire to be courageous, intelligent, and powerful.

The Core Themes of Sailor Moon

Prioritizing Family & Friends Above Yourself

Sailor Moon presents thematic commentary on love, family, and sexuality that are progressive for its time. The commentary has a lasting impact on viewers and their outlook on life.

Sailor Moon values family and friendship. In every episode, Sailor Moon sacrifices herself to save her loved ones. When Chibiusa transforms into Black Lady or Wicked Lady during the "Black Moon Clan" arc, Sailor Moon and the Sailor Senshi save her by expressing their love and appreciation for her. Chibiusa is reminded of her friendship with Sailor Pluto and her love for her parents, Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion, which breaks brainwashing and control.

Whenever her family or friends are in danger, Sailor Moon always finds a way to protect and rescue them. Each episode shows Sailor Moon rescuing and protecting her friends and family from evil forces, even if she has to sacrifice her life. Protecting and prioritizing loved ones is still a woman’s role in society, and it is also a way to express love. Sailor Moon honors this social expectation of women, reemphasizing that selflessness is a positive attribute for women.

Promoting LGBTQ+ Relationships & Gender Fluidity

Sailor Moon also introduces LGBTQ+ relationships and gender fluidity, making it a progressive anime for its time. In the original Japanese version, Sailor Neptune, also known as Michiru Kaoiu, and Sailor Uranus, also known as Haruka Tenou, are lovers. They are truly devoted to their roles as Sailor Senshi, but this loyalty also translates to their love for each other. The two have an intimately close relationship. They are seen to always banter together and rely on each other whenever facing hardship.

Additionally, Sailor Moon displays gender-fluid positivity within some of its characters. For example, Sailor Uranus, also known as Haruka Tenou, has an androgynous persona. Haruka prefers to wear a male Mugen Academy school uniform rather than a female uniform. Haruka also shows the qualities of a gentleman. She’s charming toward pretty girls and overprotective towards individuals she cares about. Another example of gender fluidity is the representation of the Sailor Starlights. In the fifth season of Sailor Moon, the Sailor Starlights visit Earth in search of Princess Kakyuu after their home planet of Kinmoku is destroyed by Sailor Galaxia. While on Earth, the Sailor Starlights disguise themselves as men and take on androgynous personas like Sailor Uranus.

Sailor Uranus and Sailor Starlights are primary examples of gender fluidity and are role models for non-binary characters. At the time, LGTBQ+ individuals were marginalized and against social mores, but Sailor Moon broke the taboo by introducing LGTBQ+ characters. These Sailor Moon characters validate the LGTBQ+ community and provide a glimpse into their lives. Sailor Moon continues to have a positive impact on the LGBTQ+ community by promoting gender fluidity and embracing one’s sexuality and gender identity.

Sailor Moon's Global Impact

Sailor Moon influenced the anime and manga industry and Western cartoons. The series became the blueprint of other magical girl series such as Clamp’s Cardcaptor Sakura. Cardcaptor Sakura introduces its perspective on boys’ and girls’ love by introducing Sakura’s best friend, Tomoyo Daidouji who is secretly in love with Sakura, and the close friendship between Yukito Tsukishiro and Touya Kinomoto. In addition, the glamorous transformation sequences have been adapted to international magical girl cartoons like Winx Club and W.I.T.C.H. Yet, overall, these newer series continue to draw inspiration from Sailor Moon’s storylines. Sailor Moon transformed the magical girl genre by creating captivating storylines with progressive ideology. All these new series continue to tell stories about the power of friendship, the desire to protect loved ones, and the importance of being brave through adversity.

Naoko Takeuchi is a creative genius with these ingenious details in Sailor Moon. Her work, Sailor Moon, not only redefines the magical girl genre, but Naoko Takeuchi also inspired other manga artists to experiment and incorporate these features into their magical girl anime and manga.

Sailor Moon is a global phenomenon. The character, Sailor Moon, is as familiar to consumers as Pikachu from Pokémon and Hello Kitty. As a result, Sailor Moon became a cash cow for anime merchandise and collaborations among other companies. From an array of ColourPop cosmetic products to pop-up cafes, fans of the series are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on Sailor Moon products. Sailor Moon has become a hot commodity in the anime and manga industry and there are always new Sailor Moon products for fans, which keeps Sailor Moon relevant to die-hard fans and captures the interest of new fans.

Sailor Moon’s influence will continue to impact the anime and manga industry. The series inspired several generations of women and LGBTQ+ individuals and gave a voice to these marginalized groups. Without a doubt, the Sailor Moon franchise will continue to be successful with possibly more reboots and products in the future.

Sailor Moon (1992)

TV-PG

Action

Adventure

A group of schoolgirls discover they are incarnations of super-powered alien princesses, and use their abilities to defend the earth.

Release Date

September 11, 1995

Cast

Stephanie Sheh , Kotono Mitsuishi , Kate Higgins , Aya Hisakawa , Cristina Valenzuela , Michie Tomizawa , Emi Shinohara , Amanda Céline Miller , Cherami Leigh , Rica f*ckami

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

5

Creator

Naoko Takeuchi

Main Characters

Susan Roman, Jill Frappier, Katie Griffin

Production Company

Toei Agency, Toei Animation, Toei Company

Number of Episodes

200