Sailor Moon Crystal, along with its concluding films, Sailor Moon Eternal and Sailor Moon Cosmos, has been a successful reboot largely because it stays true to Naoko Takeuchi’s original manga, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. While the ’90s Sailor Moon anime also followed the major story arcs of the manga, it introduced significant changes and added much more content that wasn’t part of the original storyline.
Some of these changes in the original anime were questionable, such as censoring the queer relationship between Kunzite and Zoisite or creating a romantic subplot between Naru and Nephrite. However, other additions were enjoyable. Characters like Yuichiro and Fiore contributed to the narrative, while extra mini-arcs, like Minako’s dating adventures, added a playful element and allowed for deeper exploration of the characters’ relationships.
1. Yuichiro and Rei’s Relationship – The original anime introduced Yuichiro as a romantic interest for Rei, adding nuance and emotional depth to Rei’s character, which was absent in Sailor Moon Crystal.
2. Fiore’s Story in Sailor Moon R: The Promise of the Rose – This movie provided more backstory for Mamoru’s character, deepening his connection to Fiore and enriching the emotional stakes.
3. Usagi & Mamoru’s Tsundere Dynamic – Their bickering, including Mamoru’s infamous “Bunhead” nickname for Usagi, created a fun and tension-filled dynamic that was largely absent in the reboot.
4. Sailor Moon Says Segment – The campy “Sailor Moon Says” feature at the end of episodes added a layer of humor and moral lessons, appealing to younger audiences.
5. Filler Episodes – The original series featured filler arcs that allowed deeper exploration of the Sailor Guardians, highlighting their quirks and character growth.
6. Iconic Pop Songs – The 90s anime had memorable music like “Rainy Day Man” and “Carry On,” which underscored emotional moments in the show and helped define its identity.
7. Dark Kingdom’s Youma Monsters – The monster-of-the-week formula featured creatively designed youma that expanded the world and challenges faced by the Sailor Guardians.
8. Ail and An’s Story in the Makai Tree Arc – Though not in the manga, this arc explored themes of nature and human relationships, offering a complex, symbolic narrative.
9. Usagi and Seiya’s Romance – The 90s anime gave more attention to the chemistry between Usagi and Sailor Star Fighter, a relationship that was less emphasized in Sailor Moon Crystal.
10. Zoisite & Kunzite’s Romance – Their tragic, yet deeply loving relationship was a standout in the original anime, offering a powerful and emotional storyline that didn’t make it into Sailor Moon Crystal.
Fans of the original series appreciated these elements for their humor, emotional depth, and character development, which many feel added more layers to the Sailor Moon universe than what Sailor Moon Crystal delivered.
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