Title: Sailor Moon Super S
Director: Hiroki Shibata
Writers: Yōji Enokido, Naoko Takeuchi, Lisa Lumby-Richards (English Version)
Starring: Kotono Mitsuishi, Aya Hisakawa, Michie Tomizawa, Tōru Furuya (Japanese Voice Actors), Terri Hawkes, Karen Bernstein, Katie Griffin, Vince Corazza (American Voice Actors)
Music: Takanori Arisawa
Studio: Toei Animation
Release Date: December 23, 1995 (Japan)
Since her first appearances on the page in 1991 Sailor Moon has made us believe in the power of love as a means of upholding justice. Sailor Moon was one of the first anime I saw and said hey this is different. Arriving on American air waves early in the morning in 1995 the exploits of Sailor Moon and her cohorts made getting through the day all the more easier. I just connected with the show at the time, even if it was a “girls” show but I liked it. Sailor Moon may have been fighting evil by moonlight, and winning love by daylight but had a hard time maintaining a presence on American air waves as the shows fan base wasn’t initially there, that tends to happen when you base airing shows on toy sales and time slots. Alas Sailor Moon was pulled from the air. Thankfully she wasn’t lost to the sands of time when the show was resurrected for a cable viewing audience by Cartoon Network.
However not all of the series was shown due to censorship as there were queer undertones…of full on girl love, ha. I mean we had girls dressing as men and having a relationship with her fellow Sailor scout’s among other things. How this long drawn out history ties to the screening of Sailor Moon Super S is the fandom. The over overwhelmingly queer fandom. I brought one of my former co-workers along to one of the screenings of the film. They would identify as a lesbian and is a huge fan of Sailor Moon. I identify as a queer guy and we both have shared experiences of growing up with Sailor Moon.
The theater was packed to the brim, I could honestly say they could of done a third screening and it would of sold just as well in New York. As we took our seats in the dark I could see couples and groups of friends in the dark settling for the short preceding the film Ami’s First Love.
This was the first time this short was screened in the US and was a joy to behold. It was everything that I remembered from the original show. The intense over the top characterizations the humor and the idea of love. In the case of Ami love is a challenge to her studies as a mysterious rival appears through the results of her test prep courses. The assorted fandom of queer folk and women is to be noted here as some of our first loves were the Sailor Scouts or the ever dashing yet ultimately useless Tuxedo Mask. He tries too hard really. We found our first crushes along with these characters growing up. Some may not have know it at the time and some just related to the hopeful zest of young love, by the by short was a fun romp and feature for everybody’s favorite brainy scout.
The feature presentation of Sailor Moon Super S revolves around missing children on the surface, but really is about the relationships and how we make space in our hearts for others. Whether it’s Usagi allowing Mamoru to have space in his heart for Chibiusa as well as for her, I mean she is their future child; or Chibiusa falling for a cute fairy boy, man. Sailor Moon is such a queer show, ha! The themes in this film and throughout the entire series keeps us coming back for more and I can’t wait till the next theatrical screen of a Sailor Moon anime film. She is an Icon, she is the one named Sailor Moon and if Dragon Ball can continue into this millennia why shouldn’t a shōjo series get the same love? Here’s to my youth and more Sailor Moon!
Kaos Blac
kaosblac@comicattack.com
Twitter: kaosblac
