Review: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal - Episode 1

Nearly 23 years after her debut in the pages of Nakayoshi magazine, Sailor Moon returns to television for the first time since 2004 in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal. This series is a brand-new anime adapted from the original manga created by Naoko Takeuchi and promises to be more faithful to its source text.

In its first episode, the anime introduces its titular heroine Usagi Tsukino. She is an ordinary 8th grader whose life takes an extraordinary turn after meeting a mysterious black cat. Usagi subsequently transforms into the crime fighter Sailor Moon and rescues her best friend from the clutches of an as yet unseen evil organization.

The character designs for the series are based off of Naoko Takeuchi's art from the manga. It is incredibly gorgeous and detailed. The animation itself is crisp and modern, creating a beautifully colourful world for these iconic characters to inhabit. By and large, it is a vast improvement upon the original anime which was fairly dated and inconsistent with its art. Additionally, the music is ambient and does not distract from the action, yet it is whimsical at times as well. The voice acting thus far is passable. Kotono Mitsuishi returns to voice Usagi, which means we can expect to hear her childish and grating tone throughout. It's a slight misstep, as it would have been nice to hear a more mature voice used this time around. Beyond that, the voices are on point. Luna's casting in particular should be praised. Ryou Hirohashi provides the voice for the character and interprets her as being much younger than previous adaptations.

For fans of the manga, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal will be a welcome addition into the iconic franchise. Its first episode takes great care to stay close to its source text, providing a more whimsical and darker take than the first anime. For those who grew up with the first anime, this series will likely be an adjustment. Anyone with nostalgic hang-ups will likely find it harder to embrace this new style and tone. With just one episode in, the jury is out in terms of how successfully the producers will adapt Takeuchi's iconic series. Nevertheless, it's smooth sailing so far.