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Kind of misleading title. Disney didn’t try to buy anything regarding Sailor Moon nor did they attempt to license anything. They had the North American rights to the first two seasons via their acquisition of DiC circa 1996. That’s why they released selected episodes on VHS via their Buena Vista label. Complete with advertisements for their Disney Princess Home Video releases preceding the episodes!
It seems the content creator was aware so I guess “When Disney tried to buy Sailor Moon” is more click baity
It seems the content creator was aware so I guess “When Disney tried to buy Sailor Moon” is more click baity
I would have preferred for Disney to not do a live action but put some more money into the animation of the show. Some of the American movies can be spectacular with their animation and the United States has one of the best animation industries in the entire world. I do have fear they would screw it up but just remember that Disney owns a lot of things and not everything they do is "kid friendly." Though I'm sure they would have done something strange for Sailor Moon, usually any show with Disney attached to it draws in huge numbers and potential for profitable merchandising.
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kasumigenx
I was just reading an article in ANN about what did the first editor had to say about Dragon Ball Evolution.
Basically back then, it was common for licensors to try to sell maga rights to movie makers as a way of earning “free money”. They had the rights but for whatever reason the product was never made (maybe too complex to adapt, not of interest for American audiences at the moment etc.)
What happen was that the rights expired and mangakas, earned money and that’s it.
What the editor says next, becomes interesting as Naomi herself has addressed the issue. He said that after seeing the disaster that was Evolution he consulted with lawyers and asked what he had to do in order to have veto power, (as basically if you sell the rights you have 0 say in what happens to the project after.)
The lawyers said that in order to have any say in the movie, the editorial would have to pay $45 million dollars (which seemed a lot for the editorial at the time) in order to be big enough to own a part of the movie and distribution rights. Therefore being able to decide what happen or not with the script.
Funnily enough, after this the deals of manga rights stopped for a year, as manganas were scared of what Hollywood might do to their works.
This might be why Naoko will never sell the rights, as in order to have the movie she wants, she would have to pay for it.
Basically back then, it was common for licensors to try to sell maga rights to movie makers as a way of earning “free money”. They had the rights but for whatever reason the product was never made (maybe too complex to adapt, not of interest for American audiences at the moment etc.)
What happen was that the rights expired and mangakas, earned money and that’s it.
What the editor says next, becomes interesting as Naomi herself has addressed the issue. He said that after seeing the disaster that was Evolution he consulted with lawyers and asked what he had to do in order to have veto power, (as basically if you sell the rights you have 0 say in what happens to the project after.)
The lawyers said that in order to have any say in the movie, the editorial would have to pay $45 million dollars (which seemed a lot for the editorial at the time) in order to be big enough to own a part of the movie and distribution rights. Therefore being able to decide what happen or not with the script.
Funnily enough, after this the deals of manga rights stopped for a year, as manganas were scared of what Hollywood might do to their works.
This might be why Naoko will never sell the rights, as in order to have the movie she wants, she would have to pay for it.
While I don't believe a live-action version of Sailor Moon would have ever worked, in a twisted way, I wish it had been made. Even if it were as forgotten as the Fox Generation X TV pilot, it would be a unique, American piece of Sailor Moon media that unlike Toonmakers Sailor Moon, survived to release. Dragon Ball Evolution was an awful, awful, film, but it was, at least, made. Maybe it wouldn't have been made if the Sailor Moon movie had been a stinker.
The issue here, though, is that Sailor Moon was not an in-house property, so there is no way they would have greenlit a Sailor Moon animated movie even if they had the permission and it was direct-to-video. The only way that would have happened is if Sailor Moon had been bought outright, and that wasn't going to happen.
Believe me, I wish it would have. Then much of it likely would have been based on the old dub. Who knows? It might have taken aspects from the Toonmakers' version as well (I can definitely see the girls simply being sent physically to Earth with fake memories rather than be reincarnated).
The issue here, though, is that Sailor Moon was not an in-house property, so there is no way they would have greenlit a Sailor Moon animated movie even if they had the permission and it was direct-to-video. The only way that would have happened is if Sailor Moon had been bought outright, and that wasn't going to happen.
Believe me, I wish it would have. Then much of it likely would have been based on the old dub. Who knows? It might have taken aspects from the Toonmakers' version as well (I can definitely see the girls simply being sent physically to Earth with fake memories rather than be reincarnated).
Wonder what equivalent movie could've been produced on their failed Sailor Moon project. 
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kasumigenx
Wonder what equivalent movie could've been produced on their failed Sailor Moon project.
Rumor Killer: Joss Whedon to direct Sailor Moon? – /Film
There is a rumor that Joss Whedon was supposed to be directing the Fox/Disney Sailor Moon movie and Lohan was said to be supposed to star in it.
The closest we can get to that Live-action SM is Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
I am in general against Western production of Japanese properties. I do not like cartoons at all, most animated tv shows done by Disney are terrible looking, compared to their movies. Some of these stuff about Disney Sailor Moon live actions were nothing but urban legends anyway.
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SILVER and kasumigenx
What little we do know is that Disney was indeed going to make the movie and it was in development in 1997. Stanley Tong was attached to direct. Geena Davis and her ex husband Renny Harlin were set to produce with Davis to also play Queen Beryl
Haven't you seen enough of each other?
'Magoo' goes stunt-crazy - Variety
Haven't you seen enough of each other?
'Magoo' goes stunt-crazy - Variety
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