Let's do a community Crystal rewatch

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Seira Hazuki

Solaris Luna
Jan 17, 2007
2,899
4,270
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#81
Getting a character design right while cutting all corners is such a low bar for the series that I find it hilarious.

Rather than focusing on just being pretty like the shot mentioned above, I hope there’s more focus on having a more dynamic direction and better storyboarding. I feel like you can pull a ton of shots from all of the seasons like the one above where it’s just a close up of a character emotionlessly gaping at something. In a series they can sort of get away with it, but in a movie where the runtime is incredibly limited, I feel like every shot counts more.

There are moments in Crystal that feel like there was a more creative mind at the helm. Neo Queen Serenity running in slow motion and Sailor Pluto’s awakening in Season 3 are such examples. But there’s so many scenes that have no sense of atmosphere or visual direction.
 

sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
6,668
9,485
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#82
I was talking about the designs and the artstyle. Of course they didn't manage to translate it well on animation. I cannot way to see the new designs for the upcoming films. In a way I am more impatient to see the designs than the films themselves.
 

JunoDX

Solaris Luna
Nov 8, 2018
2,220
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#83
here are my thoughts on act 4 - masquerade

- It's one of the best episodes of season 1. a lot of stuff is going on and the pacing is fine.

- while watching sailor moon crystal, i realize that i’m uber critical and at the same time forgiving...because it’s sailor moon. if it wasn't sailor moon, i wouldn't waste my time with it.

- there still of the silver crystal was very cheap

- i thought it was a pity to not have Usagi drunk. She got drunk by accident anyway. It could have been a funny moment. I also don't get the whole "creep" kiss discussion. after all, SMC was supposed the be targeted at the grown up fans.

- the dance scene…. the animation is stiff and the music doesn’t help either. there's no atmosphere.

- the whole princess d personality could have been more elaborated. she complains that everybody just wants to see the crystal and nobody cares for her. poor princess!

- i liked how neflite was in disguise as a woman

- i was never a fan of the 3d henshins, but i realized that they are more dynamic then then the 2d ones

- in general about the animation: it’s like as if the SMC team has forgotten about the tricks and effects of anime of low budget, trying to be different from the 90s anime. in the 90s anime you have a lot of static, limited animated but well composed frames. seems like SMC aimed to be more like miyazaki, but there was no money at all for it.

Most underwhelming screenshots: The silver crystal. wow...it's just so...uninspired/uninspiring.



Why is the tiara so asymmetrical? c'mon! I think they fixed it for the Bluray, but I really believe all those mistakes have been made on purpose for people to buy the bluray version.

 
Sep 10, 2012
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The Void
#84
Speaking of lazy or uninspiring animation, anyone else have a higher expectation with how they pictured "Moon Twilight Flash"? The whole tiara laser beam animation just felt underwhelming to me when it destroyed the shadow (this will not be the only attack that I pictured differently).
 
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Likes: knowall7
Jul 11, 2013
3,433
3,211
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#85
here are my thoughts on act 4 - masquerade

- It's one of the best episodes of season 1. a lot of stuff is going on and the pacing is fine.

- while watching sailor moon crystal, i realize that i’m uber critical and at the same time forgiving...because it’s sailor moon. if it wasn't sailor moon, i wouldn't waste my time with it.

- there still of the silver crystal was very cheap

- i thought it was a pity to not have Usagi drunk. She got drunk by accident anyway. It could have been a funny moment. I also don't get the whole "creep" kiss discussion. after all, SMC was supposed the be targeted at the grown up fans.

- the dance scene…. the animation is stiff and the music doesn’t help either. there's no atmosphere.

- the whole princess d personality could have been more elaborated. she complains that everybody just wants to see the crystal and nobody cares for her. poor princess!

- i liked how neflite was in disguise as a woman

- i was never a fan of the 3d henshins, but i realized that they are more dynamic then then the 2d ones

- in general about the animation: it’s like as if the SMC team has forgotten about the tricks and effects of anime of low budget, trying to be different from the 90s anime. in the 90s anime you have a lot of static, limited animated but well composed frames. seems like SMC aimed to be more like miyazaki, but there was no money at all for it.

Most underwhelming screenshots: The silver crystal. wow...it's just so...uninspired/uninspiring.



Why is the tiara so asymmetrical? c'mon! I think they fixed it for the Bluray, but I really believe all those mistakes have been made on purpose for people to buy the bluray version.

Yes, they fixed it.



I think the Japanese will have to buy DVD ANYWAY because illegal downloads are strictly banned in the country.
 

sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
6,668
9,485
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#86
I doubt they did it to boost sells. From the previews for next episode and the lack of new footage for some of them is clear they were way ot of schedule and were rushing it. I think paying someobe fixing the mess cost them a lot more than wathever a few extra copies sold brought back.
 

JunoDX

Solaris Luna
Nov 8, 2018
2,220
3,841
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#89
Episode Archive | Crystal Comparisons You can see all the chances done in every episode in case you are not able to watch the blu-ray version.
Thanks, I know that website. Fortunately I am able to watch the "fixed" version. Unfortunately, it's english dub only. But actually, for an english dub it's kinda OK. I already watched act 5 and Makoto's voice is quite nice.
 
Aug 16, 2014
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USA
#90
It depends, not all of Toei's films are done equally. I hope they do it justice, but I keep in mind these will be movies on the longer side so they will most likely cut corners. But hopefully they work hard and they will bring a finished and beautiful product. I just wanted to point out that the artstyle for season 1 and 2 in its high points was really beautiful.
I hope they mix both styles for the movie.
 

sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
6,668
9,485
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#92
Act 5 Makoto - Sailor Jupiter
This episode is probably one of the best Crystal episodes. Everything is done with a lot of care, the manga story is perfectly adapted and paced, so they managed to fit in some original material. From the begining to the end, there were no glaring animation problems. My favourite part of it was the youma design. Chilling. While I prefer the 90s introduction of Makoto over the one in the manga, Crystal managed to expand it and actually rival the 90s. The action was top notch, Evil Spirit Begone looked badass. Makoto's backstory was exapnded in a beautidully drawn sequence with stunning backgrounds and nice composition. Honestly there is nothing bad to say about this episode, except the generic transformation, but it is redeemed by the best looking introduction speach animation of the bunch. My other issue is with the blu ray version. Near the end they decided to fix perfectly on model frames and switched them with some odd looking and off model ones. So far most fixes were for the best, but here they decided to fix perfectly beautiful frames. God knows why.
 

Zyvik

Lumen Cinererum
Oct 26, 2014
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#93
They cut the scene with Rei's grandpa. 0/10, worst episode ever!!!

Seriously though, this is one of best episodes of Crystal. The animation is good, the action is good, and wow, everyone has a personality!
 

Seira Hazuki

Solaris Luna
Jan 17, 2007
2,899
4,270
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#95
The debut episodes of the senshi (well the blu-ray versions of Act 2 and 3) are truly the best Season 1 has to offer. This episode (Act 5) in particular stands head and shoulders above the rest because it felt like the direction and story boarding was sharp. Animation wise, it’s a shame the animation director didn’t do more work in the series or was chosen as character designer as her episode looked the best out of the entire Dark Kingdom arc.

Out of all of Inners, I think Crystal gets the closest thing to a character study with Makoto. It helps that out of all of the Inners’ new VA’s, Ami Koishimizu displays the most range and intensity. She was and still is perfect for the role.

That’s not to say it wasn’t completely devoid of anything bad. I get what they were trying to do with Usagi’s speech, but it felt like a hollow attempt at trying to capture ‘90s anime where Usagi always gave these heroic motivational speeches. “Believe in love. Believe in my words” my first response is: Why? And knowing the selfishness of her character in later episodes made me resent that speech and find it a little phony. But we’ll get there when we’re on Episode 11.

Overall an incredibly solid episode. I remember feeling hopeful after watching this, so it’s kinda depressing know what lies ahead. :unsure:
 

sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
6,668
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#96
Act 6. Tuxedo Mask
I am sorry for posting this adwy earlier, but I hadto wat h the episode today and I want yo post it while still fresh on my mind. So withoit further ado... Gosh I really don't like this episode. It was so weird and they made so much bad decisions with it really ruining this manga act. Let's start with the first thing I hate about it. The composition is terrible. So many weird cuts, so much close ups that make no sense. What stuck with me was Luna yelling Usagi, baring her teeth. It was just so bizzare. Moon healing escalation looked so amateurish, and it is used asstock footage... They had such a beautiful take on it in the music video, why couldn't they use it instead. While there were some beautiful moents here and there, a lot of shots were redrawn just as sloppy as in the broadcast version. There was a shot where they fixed Usagi at the begining but for some reason slapped a perfectly oe model mako for a very sloppily drawn one. Rei's attack was sougly marring otherwise vrry solid fight scene. At least Ami had a split secod to shine in this one. And now my biggest grain with thos eposode... The changes from the mangs. Here we had Usagi abandoing her friends, collapsing for no reason and making no sense with her interactions with Tuxedo Mask. First she talks about all the pressure of being a leader, seemingly aware of the fact Mamoru knows her identity. Then when he calls her Sailor Moon she is shocked by that, despite she said it so jerself two seconds earlier. And despite he went in her room just in the previous episode. He was in her room, he led her to Makoto as Usagi and now she is shocked he knows... Absolute mess. Who apptoved this and how. What I loved in the episode was the speech he gave to Usagi and her power yo make everyone to feel accepted and to make everyone smile. But this open another plothole - how does he know.... And then Beryl showing up just to menace and once again leaving in team rocket style. The first time Iwatched the episode I thought the idea was for Isagi to hit Zoisite with HEALING escalation so he can start remembering and being healed. But no HEALING escalation hurt him... Whoever wrote this eposode did every possible mistake. Whoever cleaned up the episode did a terrible on few frames, let a lot of wonky kry frames untouched and once again slapled on model shot for a wrong one. Best part of the episode - Tuxedo Mask Theme. It was weird, but for me in a good way, brimging a lot of emotoons for me, but I guess some might find it too cheesy. A friend of mine said along time ago it sounds like retro porn track, and although I disagree, I can see why some might share his opinion. One only thing Queen Beryl Jaoanese voice - she had such a psycho delivery it gave me chills. Too badthey never used her potential, but in this episode she had horrifying note in her voice. This episode is one of the weakest for me and each time I see it I find more and more problems that were not part of the manga.
 
Sep 10, 2012
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The Void
#97
I was kinda saddened that another thing omitted that was in the manga was Usagi becoming victim to Zoisite's mass mind control and energy stealing. It's the first time we see her as another person in the masses and it it really worrisome that she is just as much human as civilians and if not careful could become a victim of the bad guys. And it was inspiring to see after she lost her energy, she could still heal the people, which goes to show how powerful she truly is.
 

Zyvik

Lumen Cinererum
Oct 26, 2014
336
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#98
I was kinda saddened that another thing omitted that was in the manga was Usagi becoming victim to Zoisite's mass mind control and energy stealing.
And by omitting it they also made it seem like Usagi collapsed in front of Tuxedo Mask for no reason.

A very, very bad episode. Terrible pacing, poor animation, and nonsensical changes from the manga. Usagi comes off like a really bad friend in this episode and this is unfortunately somewhat of a trend in Crystal, which makes everyone's absolute adoration of Usagi baffling.
 

Seira Hazuki

Solaris Luna
Jan 17, 2007
2,899
4,270
1,665
#99
Yeah Episode 6 was the beginning of the end for me in terms of how much I was able to put up with Crystal. Up until this episode aired, I was a staunch defender of Crystal’s merits despite the bad animation and more controversial changes because at least the storytelling seemed decent... But this episode felt like a slap in the face and as the storytelling got worse and worse each episode it became harder and harder to defend.

I think the worst outcome of Season 1’s poorly recieved changes is that I don’t think Crystal will ever try to improve on the manga over fear of more blacklash. Which is a shame as the course of action should have been to replace the writer with someone who has more experience.

Moreover, it felt like this episode was way too exposition heavy. I feel like every episode regurgitates the same information ad nauseum about the Silver Crystal’s power and it didn’t help that the girls speak like a hivemind with almost zero reaction aside from dull surprise over the fact that the Crystal can blow up a planet.

Oh and Crystal added another nonconsensual kiss.

The first time Iwatched the episode I thought the idea was for Isagi to hit Zoisite with HEALING escalation so he can start remembering and being healed. But no HEALING escalation hurt him... Whoever wrote this eposode did every possible mistake.
What makes it worse is that while Crystal treats Healing Escalation as almost a completely offensive attack in that instance, Sailor Planet Attack is somehow able to heal... The lack of sense that has.
 

Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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underwatersphinx.blogspot.com
To be fair, the original anime also used "Moon Healing Escalation" as an offensive attack, so that's nothing new unfortunately. But the Sailor Planet Attack thing...

The problem with Crystal (season 1 in particular) wasn't that they changed stuff, it's that they didn't think through any of the changes they made. There were changes that worked (Usagi's dream at the start of Act 1, the girls having a flash of memory upon their first meetings with Usagi, even keeping Jadeite alive so that we could get all Four Kings together in Act 4 I thought was neat), changes that were arbitrary/a bit of a letdown (leaving Moon Twilight Flash unnamed, not including Rei's grandfather), and changes that were a disaster because there was no room in a 1:1 adaptation to develop them (SenxShi pairings) or because they created plot holes (Usagi not being a victim of the mass brainwashing this episode, the Four Kings being destroyed by Metallia in Act...12? 13? I forget which - yet Mamoru was still spared from being killed because he had their stones in his pocket???) or because they were the absolute most embarrassing thing I have ever witnessed in all my days (Usagi has to stab Beryl's necklace to defeat her now? Really? Are you actually serious right now? How much crack are you doing?). It was all just so amateurish. They refused to think through how their changes would affect the story or if there was even time for their changes to be implemented. Like, I'd love to see a version of the Dark Kingdom arc that incorporates the Sailor V manga's story/characters, but it would make zero sense to try that in a 1:1 adaptation. The idea of SenxShi pairings can work (see: La Reconquista), but not in a 1:1 adaptation of a work that didn't include such an inherently major storyline in the first place.

Plotting... Rational thinking... These things aren't difficult, Toei, I promise.