Watching Crystal for the first time

[Mathiwn]

There was an interview with Takeuchi for Da Vinci Magazine on February 2021 where she was asked a fluff question about which parts of Sailor Moon were particularly memorable to her.

I know your comment's days old, but do you know somewhere I could read that interview?
I remember not being able of finding it ANYWHERE translated beyond the japanese magazine scanned, and I really wanted to read it, as I understand it was the first time Naoko was interviewd in years, and one of the rare occasions in which she actually comments on aspects of the manga.

The only thing I remember someone mentioning about it was she being asked why she made Haruka and Michiru lesbians and her answer was something like "because my mother taught me not to be prejudiced"

 

[CodeName_Eklyps]

wait till ya get to the masquerade episode...
hint - NO DRUNK USAGI

 

[Hadibou]

Act 17

• This is the same AD as S1 Jupiter episode (and Serenity awakening), I like this style better than all other we got. Some weird lines in the hair that are a bit too much though
• I remember when it was aired, people theorized that from this episode, they started to include more funny faces so it would look like more like the OG series because everyone knew this reboot was a trainwreck at this point and they somewhat tried to "sauver les meubles" as we say in french
• Some people here dislike S3 because it’s supposedly « MOE ». Meanwhile, in Crystal S2…

• They made the weird Chibiusa's attraction for her father WORST than it was already in the manga, with such as the previous screencap. I don't remember which episode it was, but the one with Mamoru silhouette in black in frond of Chibiusa is totally weird and unsettling, giving this scene a p*do vibe.
• Makoto telling Asanuma that her parents died in car crash and winking to him just after… Again while I get the idea that it’s supposedly to mean « it’s okay you asked, no harm », it gives a really weird vibe to the scene
• Petz and her gigantic boobs. Even being gay, I always enjoy these
• Ooh this is the episode with the wrong scepter in the "stock footage" ! How could this not be corrected for the BRD version ?? I suppose the whole Sakou / Sakai drama was happening offscreen and nobody was there to maintain quality

Act 18

• Luna remembering Petz using her earpieces while she wasn’t there because she just arrived with Tuxedo… Continuity and coherence is nowhere to be found in this show
• Finally they agree to pressure Chibiusa for informations. This should have happened from Mars abduction really
• I like Diamand’s glass design and his stained glass window. Basic yes but at this point this gives some personality to the series
• Saphir has same face syndrome, looking like Mamoru… Motoki… and so many more !
• I don’t really like Rubeus hair, it’s hard to convey animated, it was better in the manga and in R
• I always felt that Carabelas design was the weakest of the 4. Her hair are hard to draw prettily I suppose
• Once again, I enjoy these paranormal thematics, very reminiscent of that period. UFO, spontaneous consumption, channeling… What would we get if the show was produced now ? Anti-vaccines and MAGA people getting weird in the town, I guess ?
• Rolling Heart Vibration… a new time attack that does not even work . Once again, people complained that inners in OG series got powers that would one episode after become weaker but this is worst there, where one new attack doesn't work the very same episode it's introduced

 

[Talentless Fool]

Act 17

• They made the weird Chibiusa's attraction for her father WORST than it was already in the manga, with such as the previous screencap. I don't remember which episode it was, but the one with Mamoru silhouette in black in frond of Chibiusa is totally weird and unsettling, giving this scene a p*do vibe.
• Petz and her gigantic boobs.

More like Sailor Moon Crystal Act HENTAI
That Chibi-Usa face looks right out of a low-budget hentai and I remember there were some weird Jupi shots with her face red...

 

[Memelord_Yoshi]

Act 17

• This is the same AD as S1 Jupiter episode (and Serenity awakening), I like this style better than all other we got. Some weird lines in the hair that are a bit too much though
• I remember when it was aired, people theorized that from this episode, they started to include more funny faces so it would look like more like the OG series because everyone knew this reboot was a trainwreck at this point and they somewhat tried to "sauver les meubles" as we say in french
• Some people here dislike S3 because it’s supposedly « MOE ». Meanwhile, in Crystal S2…

Wasn't episode 21 had the worst frames in Season 2?

Can't wait for you to review that.

Rolling Heart Vibration… a new time attack that does not even work . Once again, people complained that inners in OG series got powers that would one episode after become weaker but this is worst there, where one new attack doesn't work the very same episode it's introduced

I am hoping these new Outers spells in Cosmos will actually do some damage to Galaxia.

 

[Hadibou]

Act 19

• Mamoru protecting Chibiusa at all cost while 3 inners got abducted: I totally understand Usagi's reaction. Maybe her jealousy is a bit too much but she is founded to be p*issed that Mamoru doesn’t care at all about Ami Rei and Makoto
• The scene with Mamoru bedding Chibiusa is absolutely weird, how could they not see the possible subtext / interpretation of what they did ??

• Mamoru laying on Usagi is so weird, and that whole scene doesn’t seem either sexy and / or romantic to me

• What is the point to see Chibiusa’s naked body silhouette under Mamoru’s shirt ?? This episode has some seriously weird undertone that can 't be an accident or misinterpretation...

• I like Pluto’s voice better than the original one.
• I don’t like the pinkish atmosphere around the Time Door, I always pictured it to be dark. Here it's just some sort of pink
• Continuity error: Chibiusa is talking, explaining why all people are dead, then one shot later she seems to have fainted, then she seems to be awake ??
• Chiral and Achiral are really a weird concept but okay. I enjoyed Esmeraude making fun of Chibiusa for talking of her MAMAAAAA though.

Act 20

• Lost some of my notes from this episode so it’s going to be short
• Never noticed the following inconsistency: King Endymion explaining how NQS got crystallized, supposedly he was present with the inners and saw that scene... Fine, but we will see later that NQS exited from her palace alone, then she found Diamand killing some little girls, and his attack triggered NQS crystallization, without any other character around...
• Long explanations by King Endy. This whole arc idea was interesting on the paper but lot of ideas are thrown off to the viewer face without any deeper meaning or subsequent usage. The whole time travel concept is tricky to handle so Takeuchi had to remain vague but it creates much inconsistencies in the whole story.
• I liked some ideas like Black Moon refusing eternal life, Pluto unrequited love, but all is still shallow. Indeed it’s a manga problem but it should have been the staff work to simplify or even eliminate some ideas that would lead to absolutely nowhere (like Tuxedo Uranus that would come later).

 

[Talentless Fool]

• Mamoru laying on Usagi is so weird, and that whole scene doesn’t seem either sexy and / or romantic to me

It's like from a panel of a very bad R-18 Doujinshi...
Was Sakai so frustrated during that period that he wanted to show the middle finger and turn Crystal into a parodied wannabe hentai show?

 

[YuYu Yuichiro]

When I first watched Crystal II I couldn't understand why Usagi was so frustrated with Chibiusa. I never took any of the points you're bringing up into consideration. I'm happy you're pointing those out.

• Honestly I can understand Usagi for being upset in this arc: Mamoru and Luna absolutely don’t care about what just happened (Mars abduction) and just care about Chibiusa, which just want to steal her silver Crystal (aka her soul btw) and kill her during the process

Also, I didn't know Usagi not having the Silver Crystal meant she died. Holy s**t .

 

[Tsundereshipper]

Mamoru protecting Chibiusa at all cost while 3 inners got abducted: I totally understand Usagi's reaction. Maybe her jealousy is a bit too much but she is founded to be p*issed that Mamoru doesn’t care at all about Ami Rei and Makoto

I mean, why should he? He doesn’t have a relationship with any of the Inners at all unlike in the 90’s anime. (And yet they still blindly worship him as “the Prince” despite barely even knowing him)

The scene with Mamoru bedding Chibiusa is absolutely weird, how could they not see the possible subtext / interpretation of what they did ??

There are a lot of weird/awkward angles in Crystal like that, remember during episode 6 when it looked Mamoru was straight up staring at Usagi’s boobs when she collapsed in his arms?

 

[Memelord_Yoshi]

Act 19

• Chiral and Achiral are really a weird concept but okay.

Did they ever fix anything here? Cause this was one of the most underwhelming and lazy fight scenes. Even Season 1 was better. Like it only took them 20 frames to draw this battle scene.

 

[Lady Pen]

Act 20

• Lost some of my notes from this episode so it’s going to be short
• Never noticed the following inconsistency: King Endymion explaining how NQS got crystallized, supposedly he was present with the inners and saw that scene... Fine, but we will see later that NQS exited from her palace alone, then she found Diamand killing some little girls, and his attack triggered NQS crystallization, without any other character around...
• Long explanations by King Endy. This whole arc idea was interesting on the paper but lot of ideas are thrown off to the viewer face without any deeper meaning or subsequent usage. The whole time travel concept is tricky to handle so Takeuchi had to remain vague but it creates much inconsistencies in the whole story.
• I liked some ideas like Black Moon refusing eternal life, Pluto unrequited love, but all is still shallow. Indeed it’s a manga problem but it should have been the staff work to simplify or even eliminate some ideas that would lead to absolutely nowhere (like Tuxedo Uranus that would come later).

You're forgetting something........................

NQS was wrapped by the Silver Crystal, she has a piece of the Silver Crystal on the crown, then Chibiusa has the Silver Crystal........................ the Silver Crystal is everywhere.

 

[Hadibou]

It's like from a panel of a very bad R-18 Doujinshi...
Was Sakai so frustrated during that period that he wanted to show the middle finger and turn Crystal into a parodied wannabe hentai show?

Yes it seems the person who drew this didn't really know how sex is supposed to happen. I'm not knowledgeable in straight sex but I thought both partners were supposed to be naked ?
(by the way, Mamoru's position in this screencap is absolutely what we call "faire l'étoile de mer" in french, which should remind you a certain scene with Brenda in le coeur a ses raisons ^^)

When I first watched Crystal II I couldn't understand why Usagi was so frustrated with Chibiusa. I never took any of the points you're bringing up into consideration. I'm happy you're pointing those out.
Also, I didn't know Usagi not having the Silver Crystal meant she died. Holy s**t .

I didn't notice this till this day, I always thought that Usagi's reaction was a bit too much but looking at Crystal now, I believe she is the one making sense while Luna and Mamoru are really no help to her.

You're forgetting something........................

NQS was wrapped by the Silver Crystal, she has a piece of the Silver Crystal on the crown, then Chibiusa has the Silver Crystal........................ the Silver Crystal is everywhere.

Oooh yes ! Seems like the Silver Crystal became some sort of ubiquitous slime that can be both with Chibiusa, Usagi's star seed, or even the Palace itself (I think it's said at some point that the whole town is an emanation of the Silver Crystal ?).

By the way, since the Silver Crystal was passed from Queen Serenity to her daughter, that means the Crystal we see from season 1 is her mother's one ? Why wasn't Serenity able to produce her own one, as would Chibi Moon would later ?

 

[Star Angel Haruki]

ChibiMoon is probably going to be way more powerful than even Sailor Moon is one day. Also a better fighter too.

 

[Talentless Fool]

Yes it seems the person who drew this didn't really know how sex is supposed to happen. I'm not knowledgeable in straight sex but I thought both partners were supposed to be naked ?
(by the way, Mamoru's position in this screencap is absolutely what we call "faire l'étoile de mer" in french, which should remind you a certain scene with Brenda in le coeur a ses raisons ^^)

This shot is so awkward - it looks like it's done by someone who has no idea how to draw an erotic scene.
Since there were already a lot of censorship, they couldn't show nakedness (even though they could have covered them in bed sheets) and absolutely not a bed scene but then just... don't do it?
In SMC3 too, it's very awkward.
Since here we are dealing with a shoujo, the scene shouldn't be much differently portrayed than from a Boy's Love manga, which in this case is what we call Teen's Love - the focus being on the male participant and showing all of his 'awesomeness' compared to a adult scene oriented towards a male audience where it's the female's 'assets' that are given the spotlight.

I didn't know of that French expression! Guess my French erotism vocabulary is not up to date

Brenda is our spirit animal
'Faites l'étoile...'
...
'... Faites l'étoile sur le clavier.'
'Ben, fallait le dire ça, l'étoile-là - BECKKKKKKKYYYYY!!!!!'

Oooh yes ! Seems like the Silver Crystal became some sort of ubiquitous slime that can be both with Chibiusa, Usagi's star seed, or even the Palace itself (I think it's said at some point that the whole town is an emanation of the Silver Crystal ?).

By the way, since the Silver Crystal was passed from Queen Serenity to her daughter, that means the Crystal we see from season 1 is her mother's one ? Why wasn't Serenity able to produce her own one, as would Chibi Moon would later ?

I'm sure if you don't think about it, it makes sense

 

[Crystal Moon]

Why am I not feeling any excited with Cosmos, even though this movie marks the end of SM. I even don't care and don't feel like that it will be out next month. Before Eternal was released, I bought Anan magazine, Asahi newspaper, character songs and a lot.

 

[YuYu Yuichiro]

Also just saw your short mini-review/overview on Classic, hope you’ll do it for the rest of the seasons.

I guess I can do that.

[Sailor Moon R]

Original overview:

Spoiler: show

SAILOR MOON R

Ok so when I watched "Sailor Moon R" I liked Ail and En. I liked that they could normally interact with the Sailors at school and on the streets. I actually felt kind of concerned when Enn flew off the handle in their last few episodes.

As for the Black moon arc: I didn't mind ..... at all. It felt so weird why she was hated to this level. She always just seemed... ok to me. [Same with 'Human ' in PGSM, I don't even remember her taking that much time in PGSM either she was just kind of "sus" there]. As for her whole situation with Mamoru: I just took it as a "Oh, she's just a child who doesn't understand romance" and "I wanna marry big brother when I grow up" type of deal. I didn't think I was supposed to take it seriously in anyway. And after this season I thought she was just doing it to mess with . BUT she can be annoying, and that's enough for most ppl [plus there could be other reasons].

I liked the whole thing with Rubeus and the Spectre sisters [mostly Koan] Although I mostly liked their "Dic" selves. [will insert video here if I can] Its just when I got to "Crystal Tokyo." I kept having problems.

• I kept losing interest by the end somehow [there were a good few episodes I liked however, like "Saphir's death", "Nurse Venus", "Ami's Illusions", etc.] It does feel like this season would be really nice to watch week to week.
• I didn't care for the whole "Black Lady" plot.
• didn't catch anything between Demande and Saphir the first time.
• Didn't care for Wiseman at all.
• The visuals didn't always keep me engaged. [I kinda feel like it was the master's or/and my fault for that. It felt like SPECIFICALLY this season's colors were off]

However, I did like the action this season had, as well the the movie [which is my favorite of the original 3 movies]

For the Makai Tree arc

• I enjoyed Ail and En being aliens disguised as human siblings (not sure WHY they needed to be siblings, but they stick w/ it and I'll accept it for drama) I love when the villans go to the sailors school. [like Mio and Tin Naoko that one time] I especially like it here since They both seem somewhat interested in human customs.
  Spoiler: show

  
• Ail: It's interesting he's one of the two villans who had the hots for Usagi. For some reason my perspective of him was that he had fetishes [in fact Dic's episode where Lita tries to impress him w/ food was called "Food Fetish"] He .... really seemed to enjoy the girls running and screaming. In fact, I remember him smiling when those girls were screaming/chasing him through the school the point I'm getting at is he has a scream fetish.
• En: Having En hang out w/ the girls while also being a rlove rival for Usagi was also something I enjoyed seeing. I especially enjoyed Dic's take an En. If she's going to be a b*tch mean girl I'm happy they went all out w/ it. Really loved her
  
• I THUROUGHLY enjoyed Usagi in this part of the season. a decent chunk of my favorite moments w/ her come from this portion of the season
• I also thought it was interesting the season had Usagi question her relationship w/ Mamoru. The cheating relationship w/ En and Ail had me anxious as I get uncomfortable w/ really bad breakups. I never really notice the birthed from the same tree incestuous implication they had
  
• but I'm just going to go with them not being siblings.
• The Cherry Blossom episode was one of my favorites, especially since for me at least it had some of the most memorable visuals of the season.
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I wonder what would happen if the manga handled this anime only section. My mind jumps to Little Shop of Horrors but Seymor [Ail and En] is a LOT more of a psychopath [I hear he basically is one in the books]. NOW I WANT A SERA MYU MUSICAL WITH THIS CONCEPT! I hope they do/did one.
  
• Spoiler: show
• Too bad I see this portion just written off because its "filler". I'll do the BMC another time

 

[YuYu Yuichiro]

For the Black Moon Clan
a little backstory
Yuichiro/Chad was my introduction to wanting to watch the series. He looked like one of my OCs then I searched for every episode he was in. Koan was also one of my first introductions so when I finished the Makai Tree arc I was excited to get here. Her introduction along w/ Chibiusa's were one of my favorites.

Because of stuff like this I'm pretty biased to any episode featuring Yuichiro or and Koan. It also COULD explain why I've never had a problem with Ando's style on the first watch through.
Another note: In one comment section I was given a warning about "Season 2 and 4 being weaker" [or something to that effect] That was my first warning about what SuperS had to come.

• I enjoyed the Spectre Sisters arc. I don't really have anything to add to that statement. I ESPECIALLY liked Dic's take on them.
• Koan was my favorite I got exited whenever she appeared.
• Rubeus: Same as Jadeite. Didn't have to care for him, I'm fine with that. I had a feeling he had some type of want to impress Demande for whatever reason. Like he had feelings for him. I think it's because of this image.
  Spoiler: show

  
• As for Crystal Tokyo. I enjoy watching certain things in it but after I'm finished, I don't remember much of what happened.
• I thought Emeraude was funny [I heard she was hated for whatever reason]
• Demande was ..... Demande. [That situation he put Usagi though terrifies me]
• Like I said at first, I couldn't pick up anything between Saphir and Demande. They're just normal brothers, doing normal brother stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary here.
• I wish I could hear more about Saphir and Petz [and Demande]
• It was hard for me to remember what happened for most of the end-strech but I do remember enjoying most of it while it happened anyways.
• This season also has many of my favorite battles along with the movie
• 
• Nurse Venus was the first Venus centric episode I really enjoyed. I largely didn't have a problem with her previous episodes, I just couldn't get a good grasp on what her "thing" was [besides miss pronouncing idioms] I hear she gets compared to Usagi [an Usagi 2.0 if you will] but I never felt that way. Even when the show mad direct comparisons between them she still felt different to me.
• I think if she was more like this I would have enjoyed her more in the Classic/early R.
• I think the original overview goes through most of everything else.

 

[Tsundereshipper]

I thought Emeraude was funny [I heard she was hated for whatever reason]

The people who hate her simply have bad taste lol. More seriously though, most of the hate mainly comes from those who find her laugh annoying/grating.

Like I said at first, I couldn't pick up anything between Saphir and Demande. They're just normal brothers, doing normal brother stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary here.

Just bros being bros! So “brotherly” DIC/Optimum had to censor two of their scenes, this just in, “brothers” is the new “cousins.”

• Nurse Venus was the first Venus centric episode I really enjoyed. I largely didn't have a problem with her previous episodes, I just couldn't get a good grasp on what her "thing" was [besides miss pronouncing idioms] I hear she gets compared to Usagi [an Usagi 2.0 if you will] but I never felt that way. Even when the show mad direct comparisons between them she still felt different to me.

• I think if she was more like this I would have enjoyed her more in the Classic/early R.

Glad I’m not the only one thought this, though I did like her backstory episode in Classic, Minako doesn’t start to really come into her own until late R/beginning of S. Before that she mostly fades into the background and seems to be just “there.” I suspect this is because Toei simply Disney know what to do with her as they had already decided on making Rei the unofficial “leader” of the Inners and not that many Sailor V chapters had come out so they didn’t currently have a good grasp on Minako’s personality yet.

However towards the end of R/start of S is when Naoko shifted gears to focus on Sailor V more and as more chapters came out that’s when they finally realized the direction Naoko had been planning on taking her. So while it was too late to restore her “leader of the Inners status” (not least of which because Rei was Ikuhara’s waifu and so he wouldn’t have it) they could at least revert her back to her off-the-walls zany and goofy personality Naoko always meant for her to have.

A lot of fans have the misconception that Minako was more mature in Classic and early R and that she downgraded, no in fact, quite the opposite! She was a wooden block back in her early anime days and struggled to maintain a presence, she actually gained a personality as the anime went on.

Also you forgot to talk about what you thought of Saphir. You already gave your personal opinion on all the other Clan members and Demande and Saphir’s relationship but what about Saphir himself? Especially since you admitted you actually sorta liked his creepy and deranged Crystal counterpart, what’d you think of Ikuhara’s Saphir in comparison?

 

[Memelord_Yoshi]

I guess I can do that.

[Sailor Moon R]

Original overview:

Spoiler: show

SAILOR MOON R

Ok so when I watched "Sailor Moon R" I liked Ail and En. I liked that they could normally interact with the Sailors at school and on the streets. I actually felt kind of concerned when Enn flew off the handle in their last few episodes.

As for the Black moon arc: I didn't mind ..... at all. It felt so weird why she was hated to this level. She always just seemed... ok to me. [Same with 'Human ' in PGSM, I don't even remember her taking that much time in PGSM either she was just kind of "sus" there]. As for her whole situation with Mamoru: I just took it as a "Oh, she's just a child who doesn't understand romance" and "I wanna marry big brother when I grow up" type of deal. I didn't think I was supposed to take it seriously in anyway. And after this season I thought she was just doing it to mess with . BUT she can be annoying, and that's enough for most ppl [plus there could be other reasons].

I liked the whole thing with Rubeus and the Spectre sisters [mostly Koan] Although I mostly liked their "Dic" selves. [will insert video here if I can] Its just when I got to "Crystal Tokyo." I kept having problems.

• I kept losing interest by the end somehow [there were a good few episodes I liked however, like "Saphir's death", "Nurse Venus", "Ami's Illusions", etc.] It does feel like this season would be really nice to watch week to week.
• I didn't care for the whole "Black Lady" plot.
• didn't catch anything between Demande and Saphir the first time.
• Didn't care for Wiseman at all.
• The visuals didn't always keep me engaged. [I kinda feel like it was the master's or/and my fault for that. It felt like SPECIFICALLY this season's colors were off]

However, I did like the action this season had, as well the the movie [which is my favorite of the original 3 movies]

For the Makai Tree arc

• I enjoyed Ail and En being aliens disguised as human siblings (not sure WHY they needed to be siblings, but they stick w/ it and I'll accept it for drama) I love when the villans go to the sailors school. [like Mio and Tin Naoko that one time] I especially like it here since They both seem somewhat interested in human customs.
  Spoiler: show

  
• Ail: It's interesting he's one of the two villans who had the hots for Usagi. For some reason my perspective of him was that he had fetishes [in fact Dic's episode where Lita tries to impress him w/ food was called "Food Fetish"] He .... really seemed to enjoy the girls running and screaming. In fact, I remember him smiling when those girls were screaming/chasing him through the school the point I'm getting at is he has a scream fetish.
• En: Having En hang out w/ the girls while also being a rlove rival for Usagi was also something I enjoyed seeing. I especially enjoyed Dic's take an En. If she's going to be a b*tch mean girl I'm happy they went all out w/ it. Really loved her
  
• I THUROUGHLY enjoyed Usagi in this part of the season. a decent chunk of my favorite moments w/ her come from this portion of the season
• I also thought it was interesting the season had Usagi question her relationship w/ Mamoru. The cheating relationship w/ En and Ail had me anxious as I get uncomfortable w/ really bad breakups. I never really notice the birthed from the same tree incestuous implication they had
  
• but I'm just going to go with them not being siblings.
• The Cherry Blossom episode was one of my favorites, especially since for me at least it had some of the most memorable visuals of the season.
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I wonder what would happen if the manga handled this anime only section. My mind jumps to Little Shop of Horrors but Seymor [Ail and En] is a LOT more of a psychopath [I hear he basically is one in the books]. NOW I WANT A SERA MYU MUSICAL WITH THIS CONCEPT! I hope they do/did one.
  
• Spoiler: show
• Too bad I see this portion just written off because its "filler". I'll do the BMC another time

A few years back (around 2017 or 2019) in Facebook I saw a comment of someone sharing an image of this arc in a Sailor Moon Facebook group stating 'It's not canon'.

I mean there's other reasons to not like it and it shows what type of person this was in real life.

 

[Lady Pen]

A few years back (around 2017 or 2019) in Facebook I saw a comment of someone sharing an image of this arc in a Sailor Moon Facebook group stating 'It's not canon'.

I mean there's other reasons to not like it and it shows what type of person this was in real life.

Yes. The other day I watched a video about a fan talking about the episode 45. This fan said that even though she liked it, all the events of the episode were non-canon. Dragon Ball Super fandom is ruining the world.