Sera Myu Week

@sera-myu-week 2022 | Day 7: Free Day

Sailor Moon in classic, Super and Eternal forms on stage

Sera Myu Ending Songs through the years

→ SERA MYU WEEK 2022 ~ DAY 7 I Free Day

Yuuta Mochizuki through his Sera Myu years

@sera-myu-week 2022 | Day 6: Other Stories

While most Sailor Moon musicals are based on the series’ main 5 arcs, the shows have also presented different stories - sometimes derivative of other arcs, sometimes completely new (and one time based on a manga side story!). 

Not counting the times Bandai mixed different arcs into one, we could count 5 other stories on stage:

The Legend of Kaguya Island (1999(x2), 2004, 2005)

Dracul Arc (2000-01)

Sanctuary of Love (2002)

Kaguya Hime’s Beloved (2021)

Chronicle (2022)

@sera-myu-week 2022 |  Day 5: Stars Arc

The fifth and final Sailor Moon story arc has been adapted several times on stage, as Bandai produced it repeatedly. Some of its shows didn’t feature Princess Kakyuu, and many had the addition of villains from other arcs (one of said musicals didn’t even include the Sailor Starlights!). The first time the whole arc was covered was in 1997. As usual, the Bandai musicals favored the 90s anime version of the story, while Nelke’s opted for the manga (though references to the first anime and to the early musicals can also been seen).

Kaguya Shima Densetsu Kaiteiban (1999) ~ Natsuyasumi! Houseki Tankentai 

→ SERA MYU WEEK 2022 ~ DAY 6 I Original Stories

Minako & Kunzite in STARLIGHTS RYUUSEI DENSETSU (2003)

→ SERA MYU WEEK 2022 ~ DAY 5 I Stars Arc

So, I happened to forget to make posts for the past few days… Sorry. x’D BUT, I couldn’t ignore this prompt. Stars is my favorite arc, so I had to join in on this! @sera-myu-week​

9. Shin Densetsu Kourin (1998)

Scan by https://www.shiningmoon.com.pl/

I want to make this clear, even though this is in last place, I still have a soft spot for Shin Densetsu Kourin. It’s Fumina and Nao’s first musical and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Yuki-Pluto. That being said, a lot of the casting choices for this musical weren’t my favorite. Maybe with more time to shine, I would’ve liked them better. But unfortunately, a lot of the cast was forgettable. And the story was just Eien Densetsu, but with the Amazon Trio for some reason. Normally I wouldn’t mind some fun Sailor Moon Mashups, but this one just doesn’t hit all the way. The soundtrack is AMAZING, though. The musical is just kinda boring. Not bad, but I’d much rather watch Eien Densetsu. x’D

8. Sailor Stars (1996)

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You either love or hate this musical. I enjoy it for what it is. This musical came out probably way earlier than it should. Since neither the anime or manga had finished Sailor Stars, they created their own story. And it’s not bad, but it’s not canon Sailor Stars at ALL. There’s no Kakyuu whatsoever, no Chibi Chibi, it’s just kinda it’s own thing. And for what it is, it’s pretty good! But I can’t say I’d prefer it over the other ones above it. It’s got some good songs, though!

7. Sailor Stars Kaiteiban (1997)

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Pretty much, everything I said about Sailor Stars applies here, but I remember liking this one more. If you ask me for a reason, I really can’t give it to you. x’D

6. Starlights Ryuusei Densetsu (2003)

Scan by eternalruth, hosted by https://missdream.org/

Another Eien Densetsu clone? Yes. But this one is more like Sailor Stars since it still doesn’t include Kakyuu for some strange reason. But, I like this cast way more than SDK. This cast has some personal loves like Yuko-Pluto, Momoko-Venus, Manami-Mercury, and Yui-Saturn. The Three Lights cast are pretty weak here, honestly. Chinatsu was much better as Mistress 9, Mikako… I’m staying positive so I’ll just say not a huge fan. Akiko I actually really liked. x’D Also a musical with a bunch of throwback songs, it’s a fun watch!

5. Eien Densetsu (1997)

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Eien Densetsu is a timeless musical. One that most people hold to a very high standard. This (to me) was the first musical to REALLY show what Myu was capable of. Going based on source material, but making it their own thing and it REALLY worked. This musical is nearly perfect. I just happen to like others more, but I have no complaints other than Jupiter and Venus (like most 1st stage musicals) really get shoved to the side in favor of Mercury and Mars. ;-;

4. Eien Densetsu Kaiteiban (1998)

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I personally enjoyed the revised version of the Eien Densetsu more. Personally. They brought back Keiko-Saturn (since Chihiro Imai played her in Eien Densetsu and NO DISRESPECT CAUSE SHE WAS FANTASTIC but it felt complete in a way, since they brought back an original cast member), the show flowed better, and I just overall enjoyed the revision JUST A SMIDGE better. But either way, Eien Densetsu is a solid musical, you really can’t go wrong which ever version you watch. That being said, this is the only ANZA musical I own physically, so it has a special place in my heart. <3

3. Kakyuu-Ouhi Kourin (2004)

Scan by eternalruth, hosted by https://missdream.org/

You know, in my earlier Myu days, I didn’t care for this musical that much. I don’t know why, because I REALLY enjoy it now! I think I was just a stupid Asako & Tomoko hater back then. x’D  Like its predecessor, it uses Eien Densetsu as a base. This one, closer to the original with the inclusion of Kakyuu. With a very similar cast line-up as well, but including some more personal faves like Risa-Mars and Moe-Chibi Moon! Some musical numbers were moved or replaced. While this musical removed Sailor War Supreme (or Supream as the home release said which I find hilarious) but gave us an AWESOME rendition of Koi no Senshi ja Irarenai. I personally prefer this over Starlights, but again, both are great!

2. Eien Densetsu Katieban (Senshuuraku) 1998

You may be asking yourself, “Jay, what the hell? You already put Eien Densetsu Kaiteiban on this list.” And to which I say yes, yes I did. xD But, the final performance was released separately on VHS and DVD, so I consider it a separate performance even though it is just the final performance. But when I tell you the final performance is just the CREAM of the CROP. It is the final first stage performance and everyone put their all into it. The raw emotions, the spectacular performances? To me, this is one of THE BEST Bandai Musicals, and one of the best Sailor Moon Musicals of all time. It’s an absolutely amazing musical. I much prefer this performance over the regular version.

1. Le Mouvement Final (2017)

Scan by Wildmushroom-Land (Website is down, don’t know if it’ll ever return)

@sera-myu-week 2022 |  Day 4: Dream Arc

The fourth Sailor Moon story arc has been adapted to stage a few times. As usual, Bandai also used elements of it in other productions: specifically, the Amazon Trio and Amazoness Quartet. In fact, to this day there’s never been a stage adaption of the Dream arc featuring the Quartet, for both Bandai and Nelke opted for the trio. The four girls were only seen twice, and in a different story!

Akihito Mimatsu, Hikari Ono and Midori Ichige as the Amazon Trio in Shin Densetsu Kourin (1998)

→ SERA MYU WEEK 2022 ~ DAY 4 I Dream Arc  

@sera-myu-week 2022 |  Day 3: Infinity Arc

The third Sailor Moon story arc was first adapted to stage very early - so early they didn’t even cover the entire story! But that was eventually corrected. 

This arc introduces the 3 remaining Sailor Senshi of the Solar System, thus properly introducing the Outer Senshi. The last one to show up, Sailor Saturn, didn’t make her first appearance on stage until the fourth arc! Elements of this arc were later seen in a musical which would spin on a different direction, starting an original story in “Last Dracul Jokyoku”. It was only in 2002 that Bandai produced another Infinity musical, this time with all the proper pieces in place. The Super Sailor Moon form was used as a power up of the heroine in several different shows (also replicated in a later form). Nelke eventually adapted the arc as well.

Go, and destroy each other!

→SERA MYU WEEK 2022 ~ DAY 3 I Infinity Arc

@sera-myu-week 2022 - Day 2: Black Moon Arc