The Kodansha TV Picture Books

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Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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#22
One thing I also found interesting that might be a minor detail but I found it interesting at how Queen Beryl's throne room was depicted in said scene. It is a far cry from how it was depicted in either the 90s anime, manga or Crystal with a large almost seashell like throne with the purplish background, the almost coral orange throne and purple floor. It honestly looked like it could have been a good throne room or villain base for maybe an aquatic themed set of villains under the sea or atleast to me.
Good catch! I hadn't even noticed that until you pointed it out. Since aquamarine is a variety of beryl, perhaps the seashell throne was an intentional allusion to that? (Honestly, given that this series is called Sailor Moon, I'm surprised we never got an aquatic-themed set of villains, unless you count the ones from the Kaguya Island musicals.)
 
Jun 6, 2006
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#23
The first season books are kinda weird because they randomly introduce villains, and don't disclose whatever happens to them. If I remember correctly, Jadeite and Nephrite don't really die. They just are never heard from again.

They got better with this with the later seasons, though Tellu, Viluy, Cyprine, and Ptilol are all excluded from S.
 
Likes: Memento
Jun 6, 2006
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#25
Yup, Jadeite and Nephrite just disappear. Mamoru never even appears, and Tuxedo Mask only appears like three times. In the R books, the Moonlight Knight also vanishes without explanation.
I didn't even catch no Mamoru! Also, I believe Kunzite's fate was also left up in the air. Meaning Zoisite was the only general who was axed off...
 
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Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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#26
The picture books are incredibly colorful and cute IMO, but there was clearly no editorial oversight. The episodes they decided to adapt were so random, they leave a bunch of dangling plot threads, and they skip over so many characters and plot points that I think most fans love / would consider iconic. A very strange piece of the franchise, but that's why I'm super into it :lol:
 

Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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#27
(I know it's been two months ^_^' but I swear I will continue translating these books soon!)

Just wanted to mention that I've added the illustrations to the first four Stars books I translated on the first page, so check those out.

Also, I just found out there were Sailor Moon pop-up books! The art style makes me think they were illustrated by the same people who did these books. Unfortunately I can't seem to find out much info about them (like how many there are) and they seem to be pretty rare since I could only find a few for sale on eBay and other auction sites (all out of my budget range, especially since each book seems to only be four pages long). If anyone has any info about them, please share!




 
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Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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#28
In addition to the TV Picture Books and the pop-up books, it looks like the same illustrator(s) worked on a series of short (4 page) comic adaptations of the anime for Tanoshii Youchien magazine. Seems they ran at least through SuperS, but I don't know how many issues/comics that is. Still, another fun discovery. Maybe MissDream or Three-Lights will find and scan them all one day? Though I wish they'd just compile them into one or two books for easy access (along with reprinting the picture and pop-up books).

Anyway, here's the first chapter:



1. Nice to meet you. I'm Usagi Tsukino. Up until now, I used to be a normal girl.
Usagi: "Bye-bye!"
Naru: "See you tomorrow!"

2. Usagi: "Welp, guess I'll head home."
?: "Usagi, Usagi!"
Usagi: "Huh? Who's there?"

3. SFX: Boing!
Luna: "I'm Luna. I've been searching for you."
Usagi: "ACK! A talking cat!"

4. SFX: Sparkle Sparkle
Luna: "Here, put on this brooch."

5. A mysterious cat had unexpectedly appeared. Light coming from the brooch engulfed me. What was happening!?
Usagi: "What the? This brooch!"
Luna: "It's proof that you're a soldier chosen to ward off evil."

6. SFX: Shimmer Shimmer
Usagi: "Oh! That's Naru's voice!"
Luna: "An enemy's appeared! As Sailor Moon, it's up to you to fight them!"
Naru: "AAAHHHH! HELP ME!"



7. Usagi: "MOON! PRISM POWER! MAKEUP!"
Sailor Moon: "I'm the pretty soldier, Sailor Moon!"
The villains' minion, Morga: "Who are you?"

Luna had taught me the magic words to transform! My mission is to defeat the bad guys who are after the Mystical Silver Crystal.

8. I used my shining tiara as a weapon to save Naru. Luckily, I landed a direct hit on Morga.
Sailor Moon: "MOON FRISBEE!"
Luna: "Way to go!"
Morga: "AAAAAAHH!"

9. Usagi: "I'll do my best from now. Wish me luck!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I love this so much. I love Naru with purple hair and Morga with green. Usagi's getting her hair protectors just by putting on the brooch is interesting, and the use of "Moon Frisbee!" + the design of the tiara is a nice nod to the manga. Really hope the rest of these resurface soon. There are photos of the full Jupiter intro story online, but the angles and size make them a little hard to read. Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed this!
 
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Jun 6, 2006
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#29
Lol Morga says “Who are you?” nothing about her being dead meat...

I came across these last night while looking for Honey comics. They ran concurrently with the series, though only Takeuchi’s manga in Nakayoshi is mentioned in the TV credits.
 

snowgeisha

Lumen Cinererum
Jun 9, 2009
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#31
I have a few of these. They ran past the end of the anime actually into the early 2000s. They covered a few of the Sera Myu storylines and then occasionally it was a picture book game spread instead of a comic.
 

Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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#32
I have a few of these. They ran past the end of the anime actually into the early 2000s. They covered a few of the Sera Myu storylines and then occasionally it was a picture book game spread instead of a comic.
Wow, any chance you could share some pictures?

Looks like they did an adaptation of the pet shop episode, featuring a much more literal Iguara:lol:

There's also this (original?) story of the girls going skiing with Chibiusa (the monster of the day appears to be Giwaku)
 
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snowgeisha

Lumen Cinererum
Jun 9, 2009
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#34
Wow, any chance you could share some pictures?
Sure! Sorry for the quality.. they’re phone pics since I don’t have a scanner at the moment.

This first one is from Feb 1998. It’s a recap of Eien Densetsu. I don’t know if they finished it in the following issues or not. Feb 1998 issue

Sometimes it was games instead of manga chapters. This one is from Jan 1998. I guess they didn’t have much Sailor Moon stuff going on that month to warrant a longer spread. Jan 1998

The magazines also had a lot of mashups between various anime series... all mostly as kids activities. They came with a lot of bonus paper craft gifts to make.. one had a Sailor Moon sushi utensils set.. stuff like that.

Here’s a few more examples. A mashup and a picture from one of their mangas during the SuperS era. Interesting that the Kodansha picture book of the same episode is totally different.
 

Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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#35
Thanks so much! I feel like there probably wasn't a continuation to the Eien Densetsu recap. I wonder if they did a recap of any of the Dracul arc musicals. I know there's that anime style official artwork of Bloody Dracul Vampir, so I suspect there probably is.
 
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Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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#37
Decided to try translating the Jupiter story from Tanoshii Youchien. The "Sailormoon World" logo suggests this issue was from the early 2000s. Like the TV Picture Book version, and unlike the actual episode, Mars and Mercury are present.



Jupiter, A Young Girl in Love

Usagi: Let's walk home together, okay?

Usagi: Oh no!
Zoisite: You have one of the Rainbow Crystals I'm after!

1. Makoto is a transfer student who's been making friends with Usagi and the girls. On the way home from school, they saw someone being tormented by an enemy.



2. Usagi and the girls transformed into the Sailor Soldiers!

Rei: Leave him alone!
Usagi: MOON PRISM POWER MAKE UP!

Girls: Eh!?

3. Unfortunately, by then Zoisite had already escaped with Joe's Rainbow Crystal, and Joe had become the monster Gamecen.

Zoisite: Gamecen, get rid of them!

Makoto: What are you doing to Sailor Moon!
Luna: That mark on her forehead...



Luna: You're a Soldier. Here, use this to transform!
Makoto: Huh?
Makoto: JUPITER POWER MAKE UP!

4. Makoto was Sailor Jupiter, the fourth member of the team!

Makoto: SUPREME THUNDER!
Ami: What an amazing attack!
Usagi: Wait! That monster still has the heart of a human.



Luna: Here, use this Moon Stick!
Usagi: Roger!

Usagi: MOON HEALING ESCALATION!
Luna: Good job!
Gamecen: REFRESH!

5. With her new special move, Sailor Moon was able to return Joe to normal. Another trusted ally has joined the Sailor Soldiers. Even when things get scary, don't give up!

<The End>

ETA: I have no idea why they titled this "Jupiter, A Young Girl in Love" when they didn't include her crush on Joe (or give any kind of context for who he is) at all. But what are you gonna do? :lol:
 
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May 18, 2016
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#40
Sure! Sorry for the quality.. they’re phone pics since I don’t have a scanner at the moment.

This first one is from Feb 1998. It’s a recap of Eien Densetsu. I don’t know if they finished it in the following issues or not. Feb 1998 issue

Sometimes it was games instead of manga chapters. This one is from Jan 1998. I guess they didn’t have much Sailor Moon stuff going on that month to warrant a longer spread. Jan 1998

The magazines also had a lot of mashups between various anime series... all mostly as kids activities. They came with a lot of bonus paper craft gifts to make.. one had a Sailor Moon sushi utensils set.. stuff like that.

Here’s a few more examples. A mashup and a picture from one of their mangas during the SuperS era. Interesting that the Kodansha picture book of the same episode is totally different.
Ah, the second picture has adorable chibi Ohrangers (very underrated Sentai) with the Sailor Soldiers, that's awesome! ::love::
 
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