Sailor Moon is approaching thirty years as part of pop culture. The manga exploded onto the scene in the 1990s and truly began the pop culture love affair with stories of Magical Girls. We’ve only seen the anime, movies, and live musicals add to the popularity. Decades later and Japanese restaurants still host Sailor Moon themed events while Sailor Moon Crystal provides audiences with a new adaptation of the heroine’s story.
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Fans know Sailor Moon is only the most recent reincarnation of Princess Serenity, the woman destined to lead the Moon Kingdom. She’s also known as Usagi Tsukino in her new life as a teenage girl on Earth. Though Usagi is the Moon Princess, she’s her own person that some fans still have questions about.
Did Usagi First Appear In Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon
Though Usagi is the protagonist in the Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon manga, that wasn’t actually her first appearance on the page. Her first appearance came as a result of Sailor V.
Sailor V was creator Naoko Takeuchi’s first take on her Sailor Senshi. When her editor discussed a spinoff with more characters, Sailor Moon was born and Sailor V became Sailor Venus. Fans will notice that Usagi gets a cameo in Sailor V’s fifth volume before her own manga was published. She simply appeared looking at a poster for a Sailor V game. In the sixth volume, she appeared with her friend Naru outside of the arcade. Clearly, Takeuchi was already hard at work on their character designs and story by then.
What Is Her Blood Type
There are a lot of pop culture methods of analyzing personality. One of those is Hogwarts houses for the Harry Potter fans, another might be figuring out what color Power Ranger you would be. In Japan, there’s an older method of personality analysis involving blood types.
In the early twentieth century, the theory became popular that blood type affects personality traits. As a result, many a fictional character and cultural icon has their blood type listed in profiles. Usagi Tsukino’s blood type is listed as Type O. According to the theories, that makes her friendly and optimistic, but also a little careless. Her daughter has the same blood type.
What Inspired Usagi’s Signature Hairstyle
In all of Usagi’s past, present, and future lives, she sports the same hairstyle even if her hair color changes. Her two pigtails with buns at the top (known as odango) have become forever associated with Sailor Moon. That hairstyle is actually used in the manga because it is Takeuchi’s good luck charm.
According to behind the scenes information included in the manga, Takeuchi used to wear her hair in the same style. Specifically, she sported the odango when she had to take exams in college. It was a small superstition to help ease her mind.
Is Sailor Moon Usagi’s Only Turn As A Hero
In the manga and anime, becoming Sailor Moon is the first time Usagi Tsukino becomes a hero. That’s not the case in the live-action series.
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In the live-action series Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Usagi actually tries to help people long before she finds out about her past as Princess Serenity or harnesses the power of Sailor Moon. Usagi creates her own Sailor Guardian costume and calls herself Sailor Rabbit. As a vigilante, she goes up against jewelry thieves. She’s a superhero even without the power of the Moon Kingdom.
What Is Her Star Sign
Western Astrology is worked into the mythology of each of the main characters in the Sailor Moon franchise. Usagi, born on June 30, is a Cancer. She likely falls under this specific star sign because Takeuchi paid attention to ruling planets and celestial bodies when giving birth dates to her characters. Cancers are ruled by the moon.
Those who follow astrology will know that cancers are emotional and insecure at times, but also creative and loyal. Usagi and her future daughter Chibiusa actually share the same star sign - and the exact same birth date.
What Does Her Name Mean
In Sailor Moon, many of the names of the characters have special meanings. In some cases, their names provide a clue about their personality or their planetary affiliation. For Usagi Tsukino, her name is a pun that reminds people that she is Sailor Moon.
The phrase “tsuki no usagi” translates to “rabbit of the moon.” While some cultures reference a man on the moon, visualized by the surface seen from Earth, in Japan, they reference a rabbit instead. Usagi, as the reincarnation of the Moon Kingdom’s princess, is essentially that rabbit on the moon.
Why Do Usagi AndChibiusa Have Similar Voices In The '90s
Kotono Mitsuishi voiced Sailor Moon in the ‘90s animated series. While it’s relatively common in the world of anime for schedules to conflict for voice-over artists and new casting to happen during production, Mitsuishi never had to be recast in the series. Instead, she missed a handful of episodes due to illness.
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Those episodes were recorded by Kae Araki. Araki went on to voice Chibiusa in later episodes of the anime, which is why she sounds like a younger version of her mother.
What Is Significant About Her Sailor Moon Crystal Voice
When Sailor Moon Crystal began casting voice artists, the team didn’t have to look far. Instead of casting a new Sailor Moon, the creative team brought back Kotono Mitsuishi. She’s the only actress from the ‘90s anime to return to voice her character full time.
Fans who watch the English dubbed version of the series will also recognize Sailor Moon’s voice. Stephanie Sheh, who voiced the character when Viz did a new English dubbing of the ‘90s series years later, returned for Sailor Moon Crystal. She also dubs Hinata Hyuga in the Naruto franchise.
What Food Does Usagi Hate
When her name means “bunny,” some fans might have expected the writer to play around with the comparison and have her love carrots as much as Bugs Bunny. That’s not the case.
Usagi actually hates carrots. She references that fact in the manga and the anime. So does Chibiusa. Interestingly, though they both say that, they are also both still shown eating curry with carrots in it they prepared for Mamoru Chiba in the ‘90s anime.
What Other Names Did Usagi Have In English Translations
When Sailor Moon first made her way into English speaking media, companies didn’t want to keep a lot of the Japanese names intact. The first English speaking anime for Sailor Moon ultimately named the title character Serena, but there were other options.
When DiC first began promoting their English dubs of the anime, their videos called the character by the regal English name “Victoria.” Kodansha had a different name for her, choosing “Celeste” for their website. Ultimately, none of the names stuck. When Viz Media redubbed the anime years later, they kept the Japanese names, just as Sailor Moon Crystal has today.
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