When I came across a video on Topless Robot showing a Hong Kong commercial for the Japanese anime Sailor Moon, I felt compelled to write something. Follow the link to see it, but the point of the video (that shows moms putting their kids on the schoolbus and then pulling out their transformation brooches for a henshin sequence) is that MOMS are Sailor Moon fans. Or were. (But I suspect that once a fan, always a fan).
See, Sailor Moon aired in the US approximately fifteen years ago. So even a girl at the age of twelve then would be 27 now. Definitely Mom-age.
Seeing my beloved Sailor Moon put in terms of age is pretty scary. I remember I used to buy the dolls and the CDs. I watched Irasshai on public broadcasting to learn Japanese. And, not sure how the court of public opinion will view this, but my current keychain is a Chibi-Usa, Sailor Moon’s pink-haired daughter from the futuristic Crystal Tokyo.
So, Sailor Moon is still a part of my daily life. I loved the show and used to spend hours reading fanfiction about Usagi and Mamo-chan (Serena & Darien, for those who only watched the dubbed version).
One of my greatest wishes is that the entire series that aired in the US will be released on DVD or Blu-Ray, as well as the original uncut Japanese versions. I want BOTH. A Japanese boxed set came out years ago, but it retailed for about $100, and now is no longer available. I missed my chance at buying it.
I’ve always compared the protagonist Usagi to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Both are less-than-stellar students who discover they have magical abilities and must keep their powerful alter egos secret. A mysterious man aids their quest, and they have mentors and friends who are with them every step of the way. They fight end-of-the-world scenarios, and both die at least once.
It would take forever to explain the plot of Sailor Moon, but the basic premise is that Usagi was once the Princess of the Moon, but a devastating battle destroyed everything she held dear. However, her mother used the power of the Ginzuishou (a crystal) to have the princess, her beloved Prince Mamoru, and her guardians (Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter) reborn on Earth. And Tokyo, like the Hellmouth, seems to be a focal point of malicious activity.
The series, also like Buffy, often followed a Monster-of-the-Week format, with a larger story arc involving a more powerful villain. And the romance . . .
Have I mentioned the romance? Tuxedo Mask. The Moonlight Knight. Prince Mamoru.
The US dubs were pretty cheesy, but one of my favorite lines is, “Our love is like a rose. Beautiful when in bloom, but it can’t last forever.” So sad, so true.
Even though I’m technically Mom-age now (*sigh*) I can still appreciate the magic, romance, and adventure of a klutzy schoolgirl turned Sailor Scout superhero named Usagi. And I think that’s just the point the Hong Kong commercial wanted to get across.
