Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie Review: How the power of dreams can overcome any crisis
Only a life lived for others is worth living. The two-part Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal (Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn Etānaru) premiered in Netflix this month after its initial release in theaters early this year, making it the first film of the franchise since 1995. Unlike those who waited for the one-month gap in the cinematic premiere, Netflix released both films at the same time. A dream come true for those who grew up with the Sailor Guardians as Sailor Moon’s popularity persisted to this day. While well received by many, especially from those coming off from the series remake Sailor Moon Crystal (2014), Eternal actually ranked statistically as among the lowest in review ratings across the Sailor Moon movies so far, although its ratings would be quite decent when one placed into the equation the anime series as well. Then again, what could explain this discrepancy in the general reception? Had Eternal immortalized the memory of Sailor Moon, or had the movie dimmed its shining Holy Grail? Warning: spoilers ahead!
Dreams: What they really mean
For starters, even casual viewers may feel the need of a learning curve to fully immerse in the flow of the narrative. The film adapted, quite faithfully from the manga in fact, the Dream Arc which took off from where Crystal ended. Those who followed the original series though may be reminded that the arc was already animated in Sailor Moon SuperS (1995), so long-time fans would have an ample point of comparison between adaptations 26 years apart. Although put into perspective, SuperS was not the most loved in the original series, giving Eternal a pretty low bar to hurdle. The story followed a solar eclipse which heralded the arrival of the dreaded Dead Moon Circus, with their revived leader Queen Nehelenia gaining her power from the dreams of people. Their ultimate aim would be to legitimize her claim to the throne of the Moon, and in extension the Solar System. This, however, meant challenging the legitimate claimant, Princess Serenity, or Sailor Moon (Tsukino Usagi). In the midst of the chaos, the Pegasus Helios turned out to be a prisoner of the circus. Utilizing what was left of his powers, he reached out to Sailor Chibi Moon (Chibiusa) to seek her assistance. For those who discovered Sailor Moon for the first time, Chibiusa was Usagi’s future child who came from the 30th century. Indeed, time travel was also a thing in this series. As they battle the forces of the so-called Dark Moon, the Sailor Guardians rekindled their powers and realized how their dreams were not only for their own good, but was aligned with their devotion to serve and defend Princess Serenity. To recall, the Sailor Guardians, who would later become Sailor Princesses in the film, were as follows: Sailor Mercury (Ami Mizuno), Sailor Mars (Rei Hino), Sailor Jupiter (Makoto Kino), Sailor Venus (Minako Aino), Sailor Uranus (Haruka Tenō), Sailor Neptune (Michiru Kaiō), Sailor Pluto (Setsuna Meiō), and Sailor Saturn (Hotaru Tomoe). Later on, Chibiusa would be revealed to have her own sailor guardians, too. They would turn out to be captives of the Dead Moon Circus as well, and upon their attaining freedom, the once belligerent Amazon Quartet became the loyal Sailor Quartet. And how could one forget Sailor Mask (Tuxedo Mask)? Anyway, it would perhaps take a lot more than a single review article to discuss in detail the intricacies of this world.
The struggles of the Sailor Guardians prior to reawakening their powers highlighted the importance of dreams. Sailor Moon, despite her clumsy attitude, already had a pretty clear picture of where she would end up at this point. The same could not be said about the rest of the Sailor Guardians, especially the original four (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter) who were tormented by the Dead Moon Circus in their attempt to trim down the forces of Princess Serenity. The woes of Sailor Venus, in particular, voiced the most doubts as she strived to stand up as the Guardians' leader. Despite their portrayal as strong and independent women, it was not to say they were immune to the prevailing issues in life. However, Sailor Saturn gave quite a clear statement to steer the Sailor Guardians back to their purpose, and to think she was supposed to be the youngest of the Sailor Guardians (except Chibiusa at least). While it could not be exactly said that their hopes and dreams were quite selfish in a way, they seemingly forgot for a while that they were Sailor Guardians as well. They allowed insecurities and uncertainties to creep into their systems, causing them to doubt their existence. This provides a lesson on how people could frame their plans and perspectives of the future. What good would it be to gain the world yet lose your very soul? What satisfaction would it bring if success would be achieved without anyone else to share the victory with? Even as each person’s dreams would be distinct, their lives do not occur in a vacuum. Purpose would always be founded on an even larger meaning.
Eternal glory? What distinguishes the film in the franchise
Animation wise, the production seemed to have learned from the flaws of Crystal and discarded the CGI for a more nostalgic feel that reminded of the 90s aesthetic. Still, there were points of contention along the way. The highly anticipated transformations or makeup of the Sailor Guardians, for one, seemed to have not grasped the quality intended by the original series. At the least, they did not feel as powerful as they were supposed to be. This might be subject to interpretation though. Of course, there were elements which could not exactly be remade for 2021. For instance, Sailor Mercury would be seen carrying a tablet. Their casual wear, especially that of Sailor Mars and Sailor Jupiter, would likely be passed more as a contemporary look than something hailing from three decades back. Paired with the occasional comedy which somehow filled the lull of unraveling the mystery of the Dead Moon Circus, kawaii might be an understatement to describe them.
While the overall presentation was quite pleasing when placed in the standards of modern anime, it may not approach the level of, say Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020), which also dealt with the theme of dreams and nightmares. Then again, looks would not be everything in anime adaptation. As far as plot progression went, the film would probably feel like a series abridged. Would have it been better to have stitched the two parts together than to break them into an 81-minute format? It depends. If one wanted to delve more into the back stories of the Sailor Guardians, and for that matter sought to see more of their signature moves, then a film format would have not cut it. Sailor Mars, for instance, would probably have ten listed in her move set, but only Flame Sniper was portrayed in the film. Evidently, that was all she needed for this. Nonetheless, there were also advantages to the concise treatment of the film, which allowed the first part to build up for the second and provide a setup that would make them appear complementary. This also allowed the plot to focus more on the emotional internal battles of the Sailor Guardians instead of having to deal with physical enemies one at a time. Then again, the apparent incapacity of being stand-alone might hurt those who would be seeing the franchise for the first time through this film. The Dream Arc may perhaps be regarded as the culmination of Sailor Moon worldbuilding, with Princess Serenity’s history contextualized in the great struggle for the Solar System, the meaning of the Silver Millennium, and the justification of the Sailor Guardians' unwavering service for her majesty.
What the animation lacked, the voice acting might have compensated. Sailor Saturn, in particular, gave that seniority vibe (even though leadership was claimed by Sailor Venus) and the rationalization of how she was the Guardian of Silence. As much as one may have wanted to hear her deep and solemn voice, knowing the context when Sailor Saturn usually appears in the franchise would probably bring chills whenever she speaks. Helios also had a notable voice which provides that soothing feel. The dubbed version, meanwhile, no longer had the English names such as Serena for Usagi. Nevertheless, the voice actors in general did quite well in pronouncing the Japanese names. This helped facilitate the sentiments of the individual characters and the realization how relatable their lives were when seen from our lens.
Saibancho, the verdict
If anything, Eternal might be able sustain the bid of being one of the best in the Sailor Moon franchise. It was the kind of reboot that Crystal seemed to have failed to realize. While its shortcomings were also apparent along the way, the brilliant treatment of the film may just help solidify further Sailor Moon’s legacy in the years to come, and perhaps a fitting gift for the 30th anniversary of the franchise this year. Truly a source of moon pride. In addition, there remained much to adapt from the source material. The original anime series ended with the Stars Arc, which was adapted in Sailor Stars (1996). While it deviated from the iconic opening theme Moonlight Densetsu (Moonlight Legend) with its unique and inspiring Sailor Star Song, it remained as the best rated adaptation yet, generating reviews even more favorable than the first season which premiered in 1992. It would be interesting to see how the production would emerge to recreate the Stars Arc, especially as the 1996 anime concluded before the manga. Speaking of music, meanwhile, Eternal did not seem to have much of a standout score with the exception of Tsukiiro Chainon (Moon Color Chainon) by Momoiro Clover Z. They also performed the Crystal theme song MOON PRIDE.
Sailor Moon may also cause a rethinking in the new era of anime. Despite their beauty and grace, the franchise was largely lacking in terms of fan service, a characteristic which the film had also maintained. While regarded as a pioneer of the “super girl” genre, it might seem as alien when compared with more recent offerings in the same genre such as Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011), Kill la Kill (2013), or maybe even Keijo!!!!!!!! (2016) and Darling in the Franxx (2018). For a relatively large cast, Sailor Moon was able to wonderfully craft an overarching fantasy world which integrated all the characters' stories. While they were meant to be gorgeous, and the story was meant to be romantic, it was probably not the primary reason why one would be attached to the series, and the film was one succinct exposition of this. Eternal’s message was uncannily relevant and timely. When the world seemed bleak, what would be your hopes and dreams? Were they meant for vanity and conceit, or for humility and the welfare of the community?
(Photos from the film courtesy of Toei Animation and Studio Deen)
