Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (Live-Action) (Updated!)

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (Live-Action)

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (美少女戦士セーラームーン, Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn) is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero TV series based on the Sailor Moon manga and anime series. It was produced by Toei Company and aired on the Japan News Network and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting (where it was first broadcasted) from October 4, 2003 to September 25, 2004.

Name: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon
Released: October 4, 2003
Genre: Magical Girl, Superhero
Episodes: 49 + 2 Specials
Opening Theme: “Kirari*Sailor Dream!” – Nanami Yumihara (Sae)

Plot:
In the Dark Kingdom, an organisation of evil, Queen Beryl, her generals and an amorphous evil power named Queen Metaria reside. They attempt to steal energy so Beryl can take over the world. Standing in their way are the Sailor Guardians, five middle-school girls; perky Usagi Tsukino, genius Ami Mizuno, paranormally gifted shrine maiden Rei Hino, tomboyish Makoto Kino and J-Pop idol Minako Aino. They are sworn to protect the Princess of the Moon and defeat the Dark Kingdom. Two beings that appear to be sentient, stuffed toy cats, Luna and Artemis, serve as the girls’ mentors. The Guardians also encounter Tuxedo Mask, a jewel thief in search of an immensely powerful, mystical Silver Crystal belonging to the Princess of the Moon. While searching for the princess and the Silver Crystal, the girls develop a strong bond of friendship.

Facts (CONTAINS SPOILERS):
– The show has many differences compared to the manga and anime: overall, the storylines were more character-based and character-driven. It focused more on the girls’ civilian lives and their connection to the past rather than action sequences.
– Also, unlike previous iterations where Minako Aino was presented as an ordinary girl, here she is presented as a famous pop idol.
– When Minako Aino was introduced, she is fighting crime under the name Sailor V and makes subtle references to her double life in her music. Her most popular song, “C’est La Vie (Watashi no Naka no Koisuru Bubun)”, is a Japanese pun: Sailor V, pronounced as Sērā Bui and “C’est La Vie”, pronounced as Se Ra Vi when written as セ・ラ・ヴィ. The two are pronounced nearly identically.
– Additionally, for this series, Minako was given a head condition causing her to experience headaches, blurry vision and fainting spells. This affects her throughout most of the series. She agrees to have an operation, but dies beforehand. However, she does later return for the final act.
– The show was also made to be more modern: in the manga/anime, some scenes involved Ami and a cassette tape. In the TV series, the tape is replaced by a MiniDisc. Instead of a transforming pen and communicators, each Guardian is given a bracelet and a magical camera phone. Their secret hideout is not in a video arcade, but instead a magic karaoke room.
– Some new characters were also introduced; Sailor Luna, Dark Sailor Mercury and Princess Sailor Moon, as well as a new antagonist Mio Kuroki.

Main Cast:
Miyuu Sawai

Plays: Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon