What Comes Next for Sailor Moon After Sailor Moon Cosmos?

Highlights

‘Sailor Moon Cosmos’ concludes ‘Sailor Moon Crystal’ series with epic final arc adaptation.
Fans waited over a year for American release, now set for August 22, 2024 on Netflix.
Future possibilities for the Sailor Moon franchise include live-action releases and new anime series.

As a long-time devotee of the magical world of Sailor Moon, I can say that the anticipation for the final installment of the Sailor Moon Crystal series has been a rollercoaster ride. Having grown up with Usagi Tsukino and her fellow Sailor Guardians in the ’90s, it’s hard to believe that we’re finally approaching the end of their epic saga.

Since her debut in 1992 (Japan) and 1995 (America), the character Sailor Moon has played a significant role in the world of animation. Over the years, she’s become synonymous with truth, justice, and fighting for what’s right. The recent conclusion of the Sailor Moon Crystal project, culminating in a two-part movie event on Netflix, marks the end of an era for this beloved anime series. As Sailor Moon Cosmos winds down, we can’t help but wonder: what lies ahead for our cherished heroine with the iconic pigtails?

What is Sailor Moon Cosmos?

What Comes Next for Sailor Moon After Sailor Moon Cosmos?

The animated films titled “Sailor Moon Cosmos” are a pair that originates from the comic book series “Sailor Moon,” focusing primarily on the last storyline known as “Sailor Stars.” These movies belong to the collection called “Sailor Moon Crystal,” which aimed to create a more accurate representation of Naoko Takeuchi’s original manga compared to the 1990s anime. The narrative of “Sailor Moon Cosmos” revolves around the protagonist, Usagi Tsukino (also known as Sailor Moon), and her fellow Sailor Guardians as they confront their toughest foe yet: Sailor Galaxia and her henchmen. The movies explore significant themes of self-sacrifice, love, and the epic struggle between good and evil on a cosmic level.

The Lengthy Road to America

In 2023, the anime film “Sailor Moon Cosmos” was launched in Japan, earning praise from fans for its top-notch animation and faithful representation of the original series. Many viewers felt it offered a satisfying conclusion to the Sailor Moon storyline. For over a year, there was no news about its release in the United States, with no announcements for quite some time. However, the wait finally came to an end when it was announced that the two films would premiere on Netflix in America on August 22, 2024. Both dubbed and subtitled versions of the movies will be available, allowing American fans to watch them legally for the first time!

The End of an Era

The “Sailor Moon Crystal” initiative sought to update the anime version of Naoko Takeuchi’s Sailor Moon comic books, celebrating 20 years since the original series and offering a more authentic representation of the manga’s narrative. This was announced during the 20th anniversary festivities of Sailor Moon in 2012, with the first episode airing on July 5, 2014. After a decade-long run, the project concluded with the release of “Sailor Moon Cosmos”.

The Manga Re-Releases Also Ends

Kodansha took advantage of the situation by bringing back the Sailor Moon comic books in America as ‘Eternal Editions,’ allowing fans to purchase the series in English for a long time. These versions were right-side up, had improved translations, and even debuted the Sailor V and Short Stories manga that English readers had been missing out on for years. Unfortunately, this release will soon be over, with the last copies of the pocket editions being released by the end of the year.

What Comes Next for the Franchise?

At present, it remains undecided what may transpire next regarding the live action series of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. Should Toei opt for further development, the most sensible move for many viewers worldwide (including Americans) would be to make the series available on streaming platforms and home media for the first time. The property’s license could potentially be acquired at a reasonable cost given its increased popularity in recent years due to services like Crunchyroll and Asian Crush.

On the anime front, Toei Animation in Japan could generate additional revenue by republishing the manga in hardcover format. They have several strategies to continue the franchise. One approach would be to extend the TV series with more seasons, possibly animating new scenes for specific episodes, as seen with “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train” becoming the second season. Another option could be adapting the “Sailor V” prequel manga, even though it’s relatively short, there’s enough material to produce a single season of 13 to 26 episodes after taking a year-long break for fans to catch their breath.

In summary, it’s possible for Toei Animation to employ Sailor Moon as an unofficial symbol for adaptations of other works by Naoko Takeuchi, such as “The Cherry Project,” “Miss Rain,” and “Maria.” Furthermore, it is likely that there will be a new Sailor Moon series in the future, whether it’s another reboot or a condensed version of the original series like “Dragon Ball Z Kai.” I hope that these other projects materialize first to give fans something genuinely fresh and exciting to anticipate. And who knows, perhaps one day a Broadway producer will see the potential of bringing Sailor Moon to the New York stage, just as she is on Japanese stages.

2024-07-31 21:34