When the anime world collectively turns the page on 2020, one of the things they will find on the other side is a whole lot of Sailor Moon. The popular magical girl franchise gets a two-part movie called Sailor Moon Eternal in January and February, but December has brought a flurry of news including a teaser video and a musical collaboration for fans of the beloved anime.
The first half of Sailor Moon Eternal premieres in Japan on January 8, with the second hitting cinemas on February 11. Ahead of the premiere has been a pair of intriguing videos: one features the franchise power couple Mamarou and Usagi while the other a rendition of the theme song featuring the voice-over cast. While there is no word on a US release date, it's possible to catch up on Sailor Moon Crystal, the series this movie is a continuation of, on streaming services Crunchyroll and Funimation.
Sailor Moon Eternal is the continuation of a modern reboot for the original Sailor Moon that aired in Japan and out west in the 90s. It picks up where Sailor Moon Crystal, the 2014-2015 reboot of the franchise, left off with the story arc known to fans as “Dead Moon Circus.”
What carried over from both the original Sailor Moon and its modern reboot has been the love story between the main character Usagi and Mamarou (or better known by their alter egos Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon). They are one of the superhero couples in anime and the latest video promoting the movie is all about them.
The second video is one where popular music and anime intertwine with the Japanese Pop Idol group behind the Sailor Moon Eternal theme song collaborating with its voice-over cast on a music video. Idol group Momoiro Clover Z posted a short version of the theme song for Sailor Moon Eternal "Tsukiiro Chainon" with the five lead actresses for the Sailor Scouts lending their voices. Voice actresses Kotono Mitsuishi (Sailor Moon), Hisako Kanemoto (Sailor Mercury), Rina Sato (Sailor Mars), Ami Koshimizu (Sailor Jupiter), and Shizuka Ito (Sailor Venus) all get in on the act.
There is a kitschy charm to the 90's anime that gave the series its followers and is the first anime for a lot of fans who grew up at that time. Sailor Moon Eternal, as well as Crystal, are much more serious takes on the story with a sleek style that is much more in line with the manga written by Naoko Takeuchi.
Sailor Moon Eternal will release in Japan on January 8 and February 11.
Source: AnimeAnime, Momoiro Clover Z/YouTube