Why Kazuko Tadano and not Ikuko Itou?

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sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
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#1
We all assume they want to make people like Crystal, so they decided on an old iconic designer, but why not Itou-sensei. Yes, Kazuko Tadano is the original designer and anything that followed was based on her work, but Ikuko Itou worked on the show the longest of all three character designers and her designs are probably the most iconic 90s look. Then her artwork was used on a lot of merch, including a 2019 calendar. Kazuko Tadano is not a bad choice, but why her? I know the obvious answer is availability, but I want to see other possible explanations, albeit speculation on that matter. Also just out of curiousity which one do you prefer personally based on their work on Sailor Moon alone?
 

SailorSugababe

Aurorae Lunares
Sep 8, 2011
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#2
I think availability is the most likely option though. I can imagine they tried to bring back someone from the old crew and possibly did some research who would (and could) say yes and who wouldnt. Kazuko Tadano is definitelly one of the more popular animators among the fanbase too.

If i had to choose it would be either Tadano, Ikuko Itoh, Hisashi Kagawa, Katsumi Tamegai or Miho Shimogasa
 
Jul 31, 2012
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Outer Space
#3
Yeah, Katsume had some good ones too. Even though things have been Rocky, the fact that they brought back original shows they do have some care to see the show prevail. I mean imagine how much money they can release from 90s and Crystal. If Crystal was on point, they'd make a killing of merchandise.

Hope everything turns out well for the SuperS movie. Perhaps, the long wait is needed to make sure the project is refined.
 

sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
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#4
Miho Shimogasa is my favourite after Ikuko Itou, but then she was the Ikuko Itou in Stars, as she used similar aesthetics. I hope they use some of the older animators as well, not just an old anime designer. While I like Tamegai as wel her noses are a bit too pointy.
 

sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
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#9
I think you mean the guy behind S I and II eps 9 and 17. Even Ando wasnt as bad

Yeah, this one - I was about to search for shots as I don't know his/ her name.He/she was still in, drawing the Mistress Night crazy episode.... I can't believe they still used him/her.. He/ She is pretty easy easy to spot. At least act 17 was mostly redrawn. I still cannot believe they let him do act 9 which if I was a director would have given to the best possible animator and put extra effort as it is a pivotal episode. The first 2 sseason of Crystal sadly used their worst animation directors for finales and key episodes,... I hope he/she won't be in the movies...
 
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Jul 31, 2012
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#11
Yes Keiko is good. She did a picture of Artemis and Usagi and it was real cute. I also think she did one of Dark Lady and Serenity too. Wasn't she also the director for episodes 21 and 25 too. 21 was a real pretty episode.

One thing I liked about Crystal is that even though the Senshi usually ended on their butts on S1&2 I liked when they came together to combine powers it showed the Senshi lending a good burst of their own attacks.

Only thing Crystal was missing outside of the animation and sometimes story issues we're each Senshi killing a respective for on their own. Would have been great.
 

Nadia

Aurorae Lunares
Jun 30, 2010
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www.smcx.me
#12
We all assume they want to make people like Crystal, so they decided on an old iconic designer, but why not Itou-sensei. Yes, Kazuko Tadano is the original designer and anything that followed was based on her work, but Ikuko Itou worked on the show the longest of all three character designers and her designs are probably the most iconic 90s look. Then her artwork was used on a lot of merch, including a 2019 calendar. Kazuko Tadano is not a bad choice, but why her? I know the obvious answer is availability, but I want to see other possible explanations, albeit speculation on that matter. Also just out of curiousity which one do you prefer personally based on their work on Sailor Moon alone?
I'd argue because Kazuko Tadano is just slightly more iconic when it comes to "nostalgia" Sailor Moon. When you think of "Sailor Moon" most people think of Classic and R first, then the later seasons.

Ikuko Itoh's art is great and iconic, too, but in later seasons, she started making characters' ears stick out more and bigger. It was excessive in S (one of the reasons why I don't like that season), although she did dial this trait back in the Super S Finale. Thus when you think of Itoh, your mind snaps forward somewhat, because as critical as she was to the two-part finale of Classic, her influence on the series went forward for several more seasons.

I'm biased, though, because I prefer Tadano. Even in earlier episodes, when both worked on the series, I prefer the way Tadano drew the characters. I will admit, the colorists who work with Itoh (I assume she's not coloring her work herself) do a better job.
 
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Jul 11, 2013
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#13
Never said it was a bad choice. Ando is the worst thing ever, and they have already hired his equivalent for Season III...
I have to disagree. The outcome of Season III was bad because they chose bad animators. Akira, the character designers, did a good job as you can see in the key visual... But the animators just couldn't draw it.
 

sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
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#14
I have to disagree. The outcome of Season III was bad because they chose bad animators. Akira, the character designers, did a good job as you can see in the key visual... But the animators just couldn't draw it.
Sorry it was misunderstanding, I wasn't talking about the designs, I was talking about an animation director that reminds me of Ando.The one for act 9 and 17 - 17 was almost frame by frame redrawn for the dvd and they still didn't fire the guy.
 
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Jul 11, 2013
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#15
Sorry it was misunderstanding, I wasn't talking about the designs, I was talking about an animation director that reminds me of Ando.The one for act 9 and 17 - 17 was almost frame by frame redrawn for the dvd and they still didn't fire the guy.
I just re-watched episode 17. They colored Usagi's brooch with the wrong color.
 

sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
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#16
I just re-watched episode 17. They colored Usagi's brooch with the wrong color.
They are also using wrong stock footage for her attacks, but the tv version was simply hideous... Or act 9 when Usagi suddenly turned into Pinocchio - this was even kept for the dvd/ blu ray version....
 
Nov 16, 2016
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#17
Tadano is probably the best choice after Itoh, although the latter was without a doubt the master of facial expressions. Why do you think they got her to do some of the funniest and saddest episodes? Not to mention she and/or Hisashi Kagawa have a good chance of working on the movies as they both still do work with Toei, provided they have an open schedule and are interested.

They could've hired Ando, :twistedevil: so I'm pretty content w/ their current choice. :)
Ando really isn't all that bad. His animation was really smooth (he's responsible for Crescent Beam and Burning Mandala with Tadano correcting his art) and his characters were always expressive. Taichi Nakamura was without a doubt the worst.
 
#18
Ando really isn't all that bad. His animation was really smooth (he's responsible for Crescent Beam and Burning Mandala with Tadano correcting his art) and his characters were always expressive. Taichi Nakamura was without a doubt the worst.
Taichi Nakamura?