Sailor Moon FAQ

The Sailor Moon FAQ!

Written by: Ken Arromdee

karromde@nyx.nyx.net

http://www.inetnow.net/~arromdee

This version modified 2/09/98

1) Introduction

Sailor Moon is a cartoon about teenage sailor-suited superheroines, aimed at young girls, which began broadcast in North America on September 11, 1995 (August 28 on YTV in Canada). In Japan it was produced by Bandai. The English language version was produced by DIC Entertainment and aired in syndication (not Fox, though one episode was shown on Fox as a special). The series is a dub of a Japanese cartoon (anime) whose name (Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon) is usually translated as "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon"; this cartoon is based on a manga (Japanese comic book) created by Takeuchi Naoko. (Note: All Japanese names in this FAQ are listed Japanese style, with family name first.)
The last TV episode aired in Japan on February 8, 1997; the last manga was the March 1997 Nakayoshi. The replacement for the TV series is a shojo-style Cutey Honey remake (named Cutey Honey Flash) worked on by many of the same people working on the Sailor Moon series. Cutey Honey Flash lasted one year. The manga was replaced with "Mizuiro no Tamago", a completely unrelated manga.
In North America, DIC made 65 episodes available in 1995-1996. There was apparently a big falling-out between Bandai and DIC, and a lot of rumors abound. The series was shown in Canada in 1996-1997, and it is now syndicated through Program Exchange, appearing on USA Network (cable) in the US, with further cuts (for more commercials), and on some TV stations.
It is not a Fox show, although Fox did show the first Alan/Ann story as a special.
17 new episodes have been dubbed. There are no current plans to show these in the US, though they are appearing in Canada and might appear in Australia. The voice actors for Darien and Sailor Mars have left (or been fired).
The 65th North American episode corresponds to Japanese episode 72, which is a minor breaking point (defeat of the four Black Moon sisters) but doesn't finish the story. The first time around, the episodes were shown out of order (the Alan/Ann story was supposed to go between the Beryl and the Black Moon story), but the reruns mostly show them in the proper order.
Adding the 17 newer episodes takes the series up to Japanese episode 89, and the end of the R storyline. It was reported that DIC planned to delete the references to Sailor Uranus and Neptune and the S storyline, but they didn't.
Distributors and toy producers are as follows:

Country     Distributor                 Toys
USA         Program Exchange (was       Bandai USA
            Seagull Entertainment)
Canada      Kaleidoscope Entertainment  Irwin Toys
Australia   ?                           Croner-Tyco
New Zealand ?                           ?

Note: There are lots of spoilers here. Read at your own risk. [Web Note: instead of ROT-13, all spoilers are in Green]
Thanks to everyone on the Internet (far too many names to list, even if I had kept the list) for helping me produce this FAQ.

* Requests for un-rot13ed copies of this FAQ will be deleted with no reply. I don't keep an un-rot13ed version and have no easy way to make one. *
* Requests that I send you a new version of this FAQ "when it comes out" will be deleted with no reply. *
* Requests for the current version will be deleted with no reply. Especially "I missed part 2; please send me another". This is recursive; messages that say "I asked you for part 2 and didn't get a reply" won't get replies. *
* Requests for Sailor Moon files or merchandise will be deleted with no reply. *
* Requests to put up HTML versions of this FAQ will be deleted with no reply. If you want to put one up, go ahead, but please update it often. I don't like to see errors perpetuated forever. (I'm also not a fan of rewriting files in html and making them impossible to print out, repost, or otherwise handle outside the Web.) *
* An unformatted version of the FAQ can be found here*

There are millions of people on the net. I can't respond to everyone's requests, especially not to a request that takes just a minute or two--per person.

* If you want to print the FAQ in a fanzine or newsletter (not a large commercial magazine!), go ahead, but please send me a copy of your newsletter if you can. My address is on my web page. *

2) Air Times/Channels/versions.
(This is not as accurate as the rest of this FAQ, because I've collected these from the net.)

Cantonese version (TV):
Episodes released: Up to Sailor Moon SuperS, plus the R movie.
Censorship:
Violence: None.
Lechery: There may have been a small cut in episode 2.
Nudity: None.
Homosexuality: None.
Misc: The 'elephant' routine in episode 104 was cut.
Cuts for time:
Pink Sugar Heart Attack was cut from episode 107.
Music:
First season: new opening and ending.
R: Original opening and ending.
S: First half, new opening and ending. Second half, original opening and ending with new music. Changed at episode 100. (?)
Original music used during the show. Most Japanese songs stay as the originals too.
Names:
The names are the original ones translated into Chinese.
Air times and channels:
Hong Kong: TVB at 5:05PM on Fridays starting July 11, 1997 (for SuperS)

Cantonese version (video):
Episodes released: Up to Sailor Moon SS. Most movies and specials not done.
Censorship:
Violence: None.
Lechery: None.
Nudity: None.
Homosexuality: None.
In the Snow White episode, Mako-chan says "I am tall, big and elegant on stage." instead of referring to her breast size.
Cuts for time:
Music:
All the music is the original, including songs. When characters sing, they suddenly go to Japanese....
Names:
The names are the original ones translated into Chinese. Both Cantonese versions use the same names except for the translation of "Michiru".
Air times and channels:
This is a video release on LD (Japanese/Cantonese bilingual) by Aiko Animation for Edko Video, not a broadcast version. It is widely pirated.
The SMS movie was done by Edko Video.

English version by DIC
Episodes released: 65 (up to the middle of Sailor Moon R). Several episodes were skipped. 82 total in Canada and possibly Australia. Censorship:
Violence: characters are not even allowed to slap each other, and episodes 45-46 are combined into one episodes where nobody dies.
Lechery: Episode 2 does not appear at all. References to Rei's grandfather being a dirty old man are rewritten.
Nudity: lines are covered up or removed, scenes sometimes changed.
Homosexuality: Zoisite has been changed to a woman. The show never reached Haruka, Michiru, or Fish Eye (not counting the cameos in #82).
Cuts:
Often cut for time. Further cut for time in Australia, and on USA network. CGI scene transitions are added.
Misc: The scenes where the Senshi were hung on crosses by Rubeus were cut.
Music:
Does not use the original music for the most part. The theme song uses new words for a version of the Japanese theme song; the end theme just repeats the start theme. Episodes with songs usually use random songs (once Japanese, usually not) with new words.
Names:
Some names are similar to the original, some are not. Air times and channels:
Australia: airs on Seven Network, 7am-8:30am. Will be returning, eventually to have the new 17 episodes.
Canada: (All times are Eastern.)
YTV: 12 PM
Canwest Global: 10:30 AM Sunday
CHUM-owned stations: 5:30 AM or 7:30 AM weekdays, possibly 4:30 PM
New Zealand: airs on TVNZ (TV2) repeating
USA: Primarily shown on USA network with cuts. A full listing of local stations which show it can be found on various fan pages about the show.

Filipino (Tagalog) version:
Episodes released: Continuing, probably doing the whole series.
Censorship:
Violence: No censorship?
Lechery: No censorship?
Nudity: No censorship?
Homosexuality: No censorship.
Cuts for time: A few.
Music: The opening theme song was kept in Japanese but in newer episodes is translated; the ending is still in Japanese.
Names: Usagi is named Bunny. Other names were kept
Air times and channels:
Philippines: ABC 5 (6 PM Saturday)

French version:
Episodes released: Up to the start of SuperS in France. Canada is strange; they released 9 episodes and stopped, then started again in 1997 with the Earl/Ann episodes. Some episodes have been completely removed (different ones than in English, so it still may be worth it for Canadians to try to see the series).
Censorship:
Violence: No or very little censorship.
Lechery: Episode 2 has the scene with Umino looking up Ms. Haruna's skirt, cut, but the episode itself was kept.
Nudity: In episode 7, a scene with the monster attacking Mikan in the shower was cut.
Homosexuality: Zoisite and Kunzite are brothers. Sailor Uranus started out with a female voice actor, but got a male one for her civilian form after a while. It was explained that she was disguised as a man to protect her identity and that Neptune was helping by pretending to be "his" girlfriend.
Cuts for time:Yes. Some episodes have been completely removed (different ones than in English)
Music: Attack and transformation use same music. The theme song music and words are both changed. In episode 7, with a song, the Japanese music was used with new words. The song was removed from SMR episode 3 (49?)
Names: Most names are different. Usagi is named "Bunny"
Air times and channels:
Quebec: TVA, 11 AM Saturday.
France: Not any more.
Special note: The French manga is much better.

German version:
Episodes released: up to #46 (10/13/95-9/7/96) on ZDF. RTL2 is apparently showing everything, though episode 89 was skipped.
Censorship:
Violence: Cuts were made in episodes 45-46, apparently on the ZDF version only, not on RTL2. RTL2 takes pains to avoid using the word "kill", though.
Lechery: No censorship.
Nudity: No censorship.
Homosexuality: Zoisite changed to a woman. No changes so far for Haruka and Michiru.
Cuts for time: None.
Music: Start and end themes and words not kept. The original background music was kept. Songs were removed in the first series, kept in Sailor Moon R.
Names: Usagi named "Bunny Tsukino", most other names kept.
Air times and channels: Germany: RTL2 (3:35 PM daily). Formerly shown (first 46 only) on ZDF.
Greek version:
Episodes released: Reached SMS as of 1996-1997, will do whole series.
Censorship:
Violence: No censorship.
Lechery: No censorship.
Nudity: No censorship.
Homosexuality: No censorship.
Cuts for time: None.
Music: There is a single start and end theme in Greek used for all the series.
Names: Usagi names "Bunny", most other names kept.
Air times and channels: Saturday and Sunday morning at 9:15 to 10:15.

Italian version:
Episodes released: The entire series. The movies and specials were aired, though out of order.
Censorship:
Violence: Some scenes with blood cut from Sailor Stars.
Lechery: No censorship.
Nudity: A few seconds were cut from episode 151. (Ami nude.) #200 was heavily modified.
Homosexuality: Any lines suggesting Haruka and Michiru were romantically interested were removed or changed.
Zoisite and Fisheye were changed to women. (Fish Eye's bare chest scene was cut, of course.) The Starlights were explained by saying that they're replaced by their identical twin sisters. (Bleccch.)
Cuts for time: The beginning of several episodes near the end of the first series, plus the beginning of 56-57, had cuts.
Music: Background music is the same as Japanese; opening/closing songs and songs within the series are changed to Italian ones.
Names: Most names are changed. The four generals have different names, and Alan and Ann have different school names. Cooan is "Kermesite" (!). Usagi is named Bunny, Ami is Amy, Rei is Rea, Makoto is Morea, Minako is Marta.
Air times and channels: Channel Rete4, Monday-Saturday, ~7:45 PM

Mandarin version:
Episodes released: ???
Censorship:
Violence: No known cuts.
Lechery: No known cuts. Umino still stares up Haruna's skirt.
Nudity: Transformation scenes have been cut.
Homosexuality: Zoisite is still male.
Cuts for time:
Music: The song from episode 6 has been removed.
Names: Most but not all names are changed. (I have no idea whether the original names are just translated.)
Air times and channels: Singapore: Saturday 1 PM, channel 8 TCS
Note: I got this information from someone in Singapore. I don't know if the cuts were made in Taiwan or not.

Portuguese version (Brazil):
Episodes released: First series (1-46)
Censorship:
Violence: No censorship.
Lechery: No censorship.
Nudity: No censorship.
Homosexuality: Zoisite is female.
Cuts for time:
Music: Theme song is in portuguese. Other music/songs are original?
Names: Mostly the DIC names are used. Non-DIC names include Nicholas for Yuuichiro, Lua for Luna, and Sanjouin Masato.
Air times and channels:Manchete, channel 9, 9:15 AM, 5:40 PM Monday-Friday. Last aired November 1996?
Note: The series uses Spanish episode titles and is probably a redub of the Latin America Spanish version.

Portuguese version (Portugal):
Episodes released: Entire Sailor Moon and Sailor Moon R and S series. Episode 89 was skipped.
Censorship:
Violence: No censorship.
Lechery: No censorship.
Nudity: No censorship.
Homosexuality: No censorship.
Cuts for time:
Music: Theme song and some other music is changed.
Names: A few names changed, Usagi is Bunny.
Air times and channels: SIC, 8:15 AM, Saturday and Sunday.
Misc: They got the cats' sex wrong.

Russian version:
Episodes released: At least to Sailor Moon R.
Censorship:
Violence: No censorship.
Lechery: No censorship.
Nudity: No censorship.
Homosexuality: No censorship
Cuts for time:
Music: Opening and closing uses original Japanese music, but no words. Songs during the shows are still in Japanese, though in one episode the song was also explained in Russian.
As of SMS the opening and closing are in original Japanese.
Names: Usagi is renamed Bunny, other names are unchanged.
Air times and channels: Moscow, 2X2, weekends 9:35 AM, 12:10 PM
Spanish version (Latin America):
Episodes released: Eventually to do the whole series.
Censorship:
Violence: No censorship.
Lechery: No censorship.
Nudity: No censorship.
Homosexuality: Zoisite is made a woman. This was apparently because they were working from the US version, not due to censorship per se, and Haruka and Michiru are not changed. Zoisite does have a male voice in his first few episodes.
Cuts for time: Each station receives the episodes uncut, but sometimes cuts them locally.
Music: Keeps the original music and the start and end themes use the original tunes and are directly translated from the Japanese version. Songs are not translated and stay in Japanese. The S season uses the R opening.
Names: Mostly uses the same names as the DIC version, including Serena, Lita, Malachite, and Negaverse. "Metallia" is kept. One episode goofed and used the names "Bunny" and "Dark Kingdom".
Air times and channels:
Argentina: ETC TV (?), Magic Kids (1:30 am, 8:30 am, 12:00 pm, 6:00 pm), Cablin (1:00 am, 7:00 am, 1:00 pm, 7:00 pm), Big Channel (1:00 am, 7:00 am, 2:30 pm, 7:00 pm)
Chile: Chilevision, Monday to Friday 4:30 PM. ETC TV, Monday to Friday 8:45 AM, 1:30 PM, 7:30 PM (cable)
Costa Rica: Repretel-Canal 6, Mon/Wed/Fri 3:30 PM.
Mexico: Television Azteca: Monday to Friday 3:30 PM, Saturday 9 AM. ???, 1:30 PM. Sailor Moon R ended July 14, S started July 15.
Peru: Monday-Friday 6:30 PM, Saturday 12:30 PM.
Venezuela: previously released, not currently release

Spanish version (Spain):
Episodes released: At least reached Sailor Moon S.
Censorship:
Violence: ???
Lechery: ???
Nudity: ???
Homosexuality: ???
Cuts for time: ???
Music:
Names:
Air times and channels:

Swedish version:
Episodes released: Two episodes were not shown; apparently, they were damaged.
Censorship:
Violence: No censorship.
Lechery: No censorship. Rei's grandfather is still a dirty old man.
Nudity: No censorship.
Homosexuality: Zoisite changed to a woman. Allegedly because the station can't show gays who are evil, rather than because they can't show them at all. (Wonder what they'll do with Haruka and Michiru then?)
Cuts for time: None.
Music: Original music kept. Start and end tunes kept but lyrics not kept. No info about songs.
Names: Most, but not all, original names kept. Beryl is renamed Morga, Usagi is renamed Annie.
Air times and channels:
Sweden: TV4, Sundays, 8:30 AM. (Ended?)

Miscellaneous:
Air times and channels:
The European satellite channel JSTV was showing (as of the end of 1996) episodes in the original Japanese at 7:30 PM (English time).

3) Japanese television series

Japan does not have television seasons like the US does. However, Sailor Moon has been divided into several different series, each aired weekly and lasting a year:

Sailor Moon: 3/7/92-2/27/93 (episodes 1-46): The appearance of the five Sailor Scouts and their fight against the Dark Kingdom.
Sailor Moon R: 3/6/93-3/5/94 (episodes 47-88): Episodes 47-59 have as villains two space aliens Earl (Alan) and Ann. 60-88 are a fight against the Black Moon family, also introducing Chibi-Usa (Rini), a young girl from the future. Sailor Pluto first appears (but only briefly) here. Episode 89, 3/12/94, was a special (and a clips episode).
For anyone who wonders, the R was supposed to stand for Romance. Probably. (I got a message saying that the notes in the manga said "Returns", but I don't yet have a reference for it.)
Sailor Moon Super: 3/19/94-2/25/95 (episodes 90-127): Villains are Professor Tomoe and the Witches 5 (the Death Busters). Chibi-Usa first becomes Sailor Chibi-Moon, and Sailors Uranus and Neptune first show up (and later Saturn).
Sailor Moon Super S: 3/4/95-3/2/96 (episodes 128-166): Villains are the Dead Moon Circus and Nephrenia. Heavily based around Chibi-Usa. The Outer Senshi don't appear at all except in an (unnumbered) special.
Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: 3/16/96-2/8/97 (episodes 167-200): The first 6 episodes (167-172) finish off Nephrenia and are often considered the real ending of SuperS. After that, a new storyline begins with the villain Galaxia from Shadow Galactica, whose henchmen are Iron Mouse, Aluminum Siren, Lead Crow, and Tin Nyanko (the Sailor Anima-mates). Heavy Metal Papillon was another, appearing only in the manga. Introduction of the Sailor Stars, who are male in normal IDs and change to female as Sailor Senshi. Introduction of Chibi-Chibi, an even younger kid character. Chibi-Usa doesn't appear at all except for cameos, and Tuxedo Mask shows up in 173 leaving for Harvard, and then not until the end. The Outer Senshi appear sporadically.