The Perfect Netflix Anime To Binge Before Upcoming Finale Movie
The original Sailor Moon cartoon had a profound effect on an entire generation of fans, introducing many of them to the wider world of Japanese animation. One of the only enduring criticisms of that show is that, like many other animes, it often veered away from the manga that it was based on. If you want a more comic-accurate adaptation or just want to gear up for the upcoming movie finale, then it’s time to stream Sailor Moon Crystal on Netflix.
Sailor Moon Crystal
As I touched on above, the goal of Sailor Moon Crystal is to be more faithful to the original manga while rebooting this venerable anime franchise for a new generation of fans. That description may make you think of Dragon Ball Z Kai, a show that edited down the original cartoon and provided a new dub (including a few new voice actors) to create a show that’s more faithful to its original manga.
However, unlike Kai, Crystal features entirely new animation, but the return of most of the original voice cast for a new dub is likely to appeal to old-school fans.
The Quest
If you’re not one of these fans, though, you may need a primer on what Sailor Moon Crystal is all about. It all starts with a klutzy girl named Usagi who meets a talking cat with a shocking message: that this young girl is actually Sailor Moon, a kind of soldier against agents of the Dark Kingdom.
She has to find and recruit more of her fellow Sailor Guardians in a quest to save the world, and along the way, she’ll learn more about the mysterious past life that links her with the even more mysterious character Tuxedo Mask.
The Dub
For nostalgic fans, your enjoyment of the Sailor Moon Crystal voice cast may hinge on which dub of the show (assuming you’re not too cool for dubs, of course) that you originally watched. Crystal mostly brings back the Viz dub cast, including Stephanie Sheh as Usagi, Johnny Yong Bosch as Artemis, and Robbie Draymond as Tuxedo Mask.
I really enjoyed this cast then and now, but for fans who listened to the earlier dub back in the ‘90s, it might feel like blasphemy hearing other actors voice these iconic characters.
The Reception
Fortunately, critics didn’t find Sailor Moon Crystal blasphemous at all. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has a critical rating of 78 percent, with critics praising the show for its ambitious attempt to adapt the original manga with such efficiency.
And while not everyone loved it, the majority of professional critics felt this reboot could effectively appeal to original fans and new ones alike.
As a fan of the original Sailor Moon who watched the old show on Toonami back in the day (and am currently enjoying the Viz dub on Toonami Rewind), I was pleasantly surprised by Crystal.
The similarity between this and the Viz voice cast made this newer series almost feel like a streamlined AU of the original show, allowing me to just vibe with the very talented voice cast. Plus, the busier my days get, the more I enjoy these 13-episode seasons that feel substantial but can be binge-watched over a lazy weekend.
Stream It Now
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Speaking of binge-watching, this is arguably the perfect time for anime fans to catch up on Sailor Moon Crystal. The show currently has three seasons, and you will be able to stream the two movies finishing this show on Netflix later this month.
Ending a show with a major film is arguably the new hotness (just ask Demon Slayer fans), and I’m personally excited to see how this series ends, especially after season 3 improved on the show’s already-solid animation.
Will you enjoy Sailor Moon Crystal even more than you’d enjoy a talking cat, or will you want to punish me (in the name of the moon, of course) for recommending it? You won’t know until you stream this slick reboot on Netflix. If you dig it, I hope you’ll join me in streaming the two-part Sailor Moon Cosmos film on August 22nd.
