Season 4 movies update: Sailor Moon Eternal - Delayed to 2021 (Part 1 on January 8th & Part 2 on February 11th)

Except the Apple's logo head, I think Akira can draw male characters better.

It is down to personal preference. For me he was the worst that happened to Crystal.

Let’s hope they’ll ask Ikuko Itoh to modify Sakou’s style for the stars project directed by Junichi Sato ^^

Seems like Toei asked Tadano to simplify A LOT, so even the worst animator can’t mess up with it.

I guess the fans who have a problem with age gaps of 4 years are pleased with chibi Mamo-chan

My guess is that they are intentionally blending the classic designs with the Precure style.

Still this might be v.01 of th design, the trailer showed that they are not that simplified nor looking that young. We still need to see animation of him. At least the precurish bubbles, mouths etc are gone.

What about it. Been around for over a year. I didn't spot any changes.

in the “trailer” they look even younger!

Not really. At least they look significantly better. I also find the Venus close up and Moon's as well way older looking than the concept art. Usagi at least a lot older compared to the first key visual. Also with the blush gone they do not like babies anymore to me. And the latest designs revealed in animedia as well as the second key visual show she did a more mature final version of the girls. But it is a whole different thing what tge animators and the animation director had in mind. Movie or not I bet will have once again several different design in the film... They cannot be consistent anymore, even for a film.

Compare to OP, I really think someone else should replaced Kotono Mitsuishi. She is great and I love her Misato Katsuragi in EVA. But it's easy to observe the fact that she was trying so hard to fit Usagi in current age.

Why do these characters' face(the nose and its connection with the mouth) look so weird in side view? It also exists in many of the recent anime.

Ask Takahashi, he was such a good designer... Really the best. Especially the dog profiles and the frog mouths. Anything in my opino is improvment compared to what he did....

I think she could perfectly portray a more mature Usagi. It’s just that the chara design looks so childlike, her voice doesn’t fit.

he did a very good job showing the difference in the designs here. Thhe problem is not the design, Kotono is getting old and she is struggling it shows during her speech in the special video.

btw:

Yeah, I was sure it is the neck. I mentioned it earlier. It is usually some small detail that changes the whole look
That is why the animation director is important as well, as they usually add their spin on each design.
I hope Sailor Crisis do their version of Mamoru and the outers. If you are hiding among us, we will love to see them, Sailor Crisis.

There is no "Precure style" at play here. The fact is that anime nowadays uses smaller and rounder features. Mouths are lower, noses are smaller, hair is less detailed, it's just the look of the 2010s. Precure's one of the only franchises that does unique art styles for each season.

Tadano said in some official statement a while back that she was trying to blend elements of the manga with the 90's anime whiling giving it modern touch.

Overall I like late 80-90s style the best.

I think that Tux design was done in rush, like any other character designs, so there will be some rooms to improve inevitably.

This is what I was telling kyself, but then when I looked at it, the design is pretty cleaned up in comparison to the girls concept art that looks a bit rough. Still we need a bit more of him to judge.