Sailor Moon Crystal episode 1 [First Impression]

I need to take a deep breath right now before I begin. Let me tell you how much Sailor Moon influenced my life. My earliest memories are of my mother and I living alone in a river house. I was four years old and it was just my mommy and I. I didn’t have many friends and everyone thought I was weird- but there was one thing in the whole world I loved. It was called Sailor Moon and it came on 4 o clock EST and 3 o clock central. I learned to draw so I could draw Sailor Moon. When I felt alone and sad, the thought of seeing an episode made me feel better. When the new series was announced I knew that as long as they did the message justice, I would never be able to hate this new anime. Nothing in any media has made me more who I am today than Sailor Moon. I am crying.

I have to say I never fully read the manga, however I read most of this arc and I can tell it’s already doing a lot of justice to the entire content in comparison to the original. The opening of the show has been shown in previews everywhere but that doesn’t stop the new cuter version of Usagi from being completely lovable and a nice contrast from the original anime.

 

The way she lovingly kisses Luna after stepping on her and the adorable way she is late. . .this feels much more like the accidental hero of the planet than the previous incarnation. Already the artwork more suits the characters of her mother, her teacher, and even Naru and Umino. Forgive me, but I always want to call Umino Melvin since he was one of the few characters I never memorized in Japanese.

The first episode has the same premise of the original anime, with Naru’s mother being affected by the Negaverse adversely and the jewelry store being the target. Can I just say. . .wow. . . Naru’s mom. Yowza.

Usagi’s test scores are too bad for her to ask for any jewelry, so she leaves, but not before throwing her old score directly in a sunglasses and tuxedo wearing guys face. He teases her, but once they look at each other they both. . .stop, for a moment. Can I just say that this moment is perfect? Already I feel the representation of Mamoru and Usagi’s relationship is more genuine, the anime shows them fated to be together.

They say nothing to each other after making eye contact: the moment distinctly affects both of them. Already in Crystal you can see the genuine affection between the two of them comparatively, and Usagi walks away with her heart pounding and a blush on her cheeks.

Usagi then hangs out at the arcade and sees the same mysterious cat she stepped on before, but not before talking about how hot Motoki is and how she’s interested in him. Kind of don’t blame you kid. Kind of don’t blame you. She goes home to her mother of course wanting to know her test scores and this is Sailor Moon so of course, Usagi did terribly. After begging to get back in the house Luna appears to her and explains that she is needed for something important- Usagi is reluctant to listen until she gives her a ‘gift’, her Sailor badge, and she transforms into Sailor Moon. I’m not a fan of using CG, but I love the new angles so much I don’t mind.

Okay so it’s already a huge difference- Usagi doesn’t have to be forced as much to do things, and even says that despite not knowing what’s going on she must help Naru. hgghghg I can’t get over how instead of being freaked out she’s like, hey get away from her! And declares she’s actually going to do something. This Usagi is fifteen times more likable than her original incarnation and I just want to give her a cutesy hug.

Of course she does turn around and get scared and cry, but hey, the girls being shoved into a life or death situation. Besides, sonic waves. She then uses the tiara at the encouragement of TUXEDO KAMEN and Luna, and it’s perfection. She runs after Tuxedo Kamen as he leaves the building and you see yet again, the chemistry between the two of them that was never in the original. I can’t! I want to cry just seeing the actual love story unfold in front of me. It’s so very cute to see the way she blushes just at the sight of him, when Motoki she gives not even a fraction of the response. You can easily believe in this anime that they are fated lovers destined to be together.

So my impression. . .what do I think? I think if the entirety of Crystal stays to this level it will be a perfect show to express the true spirit of ‘Sailor Moon’. So far Usagi is as likable as she was always meant to be- still a crybaby, still gets bad grades, still lazy- but always true and caring. She’s beautiful and shown the way she should be. The style is absolutely perfect and I’m glad they went with this, it’s a perfect combination between the manga and the old anime. It feels absolutely genuine to watch this show. I always liked Usagi and Mamoru but had little to go off in the anime without people arguing with me that they had no real chemistry: this is not a problem in the new anime. Episode one alone can show you these two are fated to be together.

I also love the pace, the end of the episode even gave a foreshadowing glance to Mercury who was running home in the rain. Thankfully this means they will move more to the pace of the manga, which while fast was never quite as dull as the random negaverse villains in the original anime. The score is BEAUTIFUL and makes me want to cry each and every time I hear a new song. The transformations, while I was they were in 2-d, are so vivid and full of life it’s hard to hate them.

So far, Sailor Moon Crystal is perfect. I can express nothing but sheer excitement for the next episode. I’m so excited to see this new episode, and I hope all my fellow Sailor Moon fans will join me as Angry Anime Bitches covers Sailor Moon Crystal!

Oki