Sailor Moon

This article is about the media franchise. For the title character, see Sailor Moon (character). For other uses, see Sailor Moon (disambiguation).
"Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" redirects here. For the live action series, see Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (2003 TV series).

Sailor Moon
Cover of the first volume of Sailor Moon, featuring the titular character
美少女戦士セーラームーン
(Bishōjo Senshi Sērāmūn)
GenreMagical girl
Manga
Written byNaoko Takeuchi
Published byKodansha
English publisher
MagazineNakayoshi
English magazine
DemographicShōjo
Original runDecember 28, 1991 – February 3, 1997
Volumes18 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
Other media
icon Anime and manga portal

Sailor Moon (Japanese: 美少女戦士セーラームーン, Hepburn: Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn, originally translated as Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon[1] and later as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon[2][3]) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Naoko Takeuchi. It was originally serialized in Kodansha's shōjo manga magazine Nakayoshi from 1991 to 1997; the 60 individual chapters (later reorganized into 52), along with several side stories, were compiled in 18 volumes. The series follows the adventures of a schoolgirl named Usagi Tsukino as she transforms into the eponymous character to search for a magical artifact, the "Legendary Silver Crystal" (「幻の銀水晶」, Maboroshi no Ginsuishō, lit. "Phantom Silver Crystal"). She leads a group of comrades, the Sailor Soldiers, called Sailor Guardians in later editions, as they battle against villains to prevent the theft of the Silver Crystal and the destruction of the Solar System.

The manga was adapted into an anime series produced by Toei Animation and broadcast in Japan from 1992 to 1997.[4][5] Toei also developed three animated feature films, a television special, and three short films based on the anime. A live-action television adaptation, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, aired from 2003 to 2004, and a second anime series, Sailor Moon Crystal, began simulcasting in 2014. The manga series was licensed for an English language release by Kodansha Comics in North America, and in Australia and New Zealand by Random House Australia. The entire anime series has been licensed by Viz Media for an English language release in North America and by Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand.

Since its release, Sailor Moon has received universal acclaim, with praise for its art, characterization, and humor. The manga has sold over 46 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling manga series, as well as one of the best-selling shōjo manga series of all time.[6] The franchise has also generated $2.5 billion in worldwide merchandise sales.

  1. ^ Takeuchi, Naoko (1994). Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Original Picture Collection vol. I (1st ed.). Japan: Kodansha. ISBN 4063245071.
  2. ^ 美少女戦士セーラームーン新装版（１）. kc.kodansha.co.jp (in Japanese). Kodansha Comics. Archived from the original on September 3, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  3. ^ 美少女戦士セーラームーン 完全版（１）. kc.kodansha.co.jp (in Japanese). Kodansha Comics. Archived from the original on February 10, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  4. ^ "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon DVD-COLLECTION Vol.1" 美少女戦士セーラームーン DVD-COLLECTION Vol.1. toei-video.co.jp (in Japanese). Toei Video. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  5. ^ "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon DVD-COLLECTION Vol.2 (End)" 美少女戦士セーラームーン DVD-COLLECTION Vol.2(完). toei-video.co.jp (in Japanese). Toei Video. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  6. ^ "「美少女戦士セーラームーン」30周年へ！ セーラームーンがこの10年で開けてきた、6つの新たな"扉"を振り返る". Archived from the original on January 18, 2022.