Sailor Moon Cosmos
Sailor Moon Cosmos[lower-alpha 1] is a 2023 Japanese two-part animated action fantasy film directed by Tomoya Takahashi and written by Kazuyuki Fudeyasu based on the Stars arc of the Sailor Moon manga by Naoko Takeuchi, who also serves as a chief supervisor. Co-produced by Toei Animation and Studio Deen and distributed by Toei Company, Cosmos is a direct sequel to Sailor Moon Eternal (2021) and serves as the "fifth and final season" in the Sailor Moon Crystal anime series.[3] The two-part film stars Kotono Mitsuishi as the voice of Sailor Moon and Chibi-Chibi alongside Kenji Nojima, Misato Fukuen, Hisako Kanemoto, Rina Satō, Ami Koshimizu, Shizuka Itō, Junko Minagawa, Sayaka Ohara, Ai Maeda, Yukiyo Fujii, Nana Mizuki, Marina Inoue, Saori Hayami, Ayane Sakura, and Megumi Hayashibara. Cosmos was released in Japan in June 2023, with the first film on the 9th, and the second film on the 30th.[4]
Sailor Moon Cosmos | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Kanji | 劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」 |
Literal meaning | Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie |
Revised Hepburn | Gekijōban Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn Kosumosu |
Directed by | Tomoya Takahashi |
Screenplay by | Kazuyuki Fudeyasu |
Based on | Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Takashi Yanagida |
Edited by | Keiko Onodera |
Music by | Yasuharu Takanashi |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Toei Company, Ltd. |
Release dates |
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Running time | 160 minutes (total, 80 minutes per film)[1][2] |
Country | Japan |
Language | Japanese |
Plot
Months after defeating the Dead Moon Circus,[lower-alpha 2] Usagi Tsukino and her friends continue to live peaceful lives as ordinary high school students in the Azabu-Jūban district of Minato, Tokyo. Mamoru Chiba, Usagi's boyfriend, plans to study abroad in the United States. However, at the local airport, Mamoru disappears shortly after he proposes to Usagi. Unable to accept Mamoru's disappearance, Usagi hides her memory of that event.
Meanwhile, Shadow Galactica, an organization devoting itself to stealing star seeds throughout the galaxy under Sailor Galaxia's leadership, and the Sailor Starlights, a trio of Sailor Guardians from another star system, arrive on Earth. To gain control of the Galaxy Cauldron for the villainous Chaos, Sailor Galaxia robs the eight Eternal Sailor Guardians of their Sailor Crystals and kills them. Desperate to save her friends, Usagi, as Eternal Sailor Moon, joins forces with the Sailor Starlights to challenge Sailor Galaxia in what may be her greatest - and perhaps final - battle.
Voice cast
Additional voice cast includes:
Character | Japanese voice cast |
---|---|
Ikuko Tsukino | Wakana Yamazaki |
Kenji Tsukino | Mitsuaki Madono |
Shingo Tsukino | Seira Ryū |
Ittō Asanuma | Daisuke Sakaguchi |
Phobos | Kanami Taguchi |
Deimos | Aya Yamane |
Saphir | Tsubasa Yonaga |
Wiseman | Hiroshi Iwasaki |
Sailor Ceres | Reina Ueda |
Sailor Pallas | Sumire Morohoshi |
Sailor Juno | Yūko Hara |
Sailor Vesta | Rie Takahashi |
Guardian Cosmos | Keiko Kitagawa[8] |
Production
Development
The sequel was first teased at the end of the second film of Sailor Moon Eternal.[9] In April 2022, it was announced that the sequel covering the Stars arc of the manga was to be produced as a two-part anime film project, titled Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie (劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」, Gekijōban Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn Kosumosu).[10] Majority of key staff members from Eternal two-part film returned, with Kazuyuki Fudeyasu writing the screenplay, Kazuko Tadano designing the characters, and original creator and mangaka Naoko Takeuchi chief supervising the films' production, while Tomoya Takahashi had taken over Chiaki Kon's position as a director. Studio Deen will also continue to co-animate and produce the films with Toei Animation.[11][12]
Casting
The main voice cast from Sailor Moon Crystal and Eternal reprised their respective roles, and had already recorded their lines for the first film prior to the announcement.[13] In January 2023, it was announced that Marina Inoue, Saori Hayami, and Ayane Sakura have been cast as Kō Seiya/Sailor Star Fighter, Kō Taiki/Sailor Star Maker, and Kō Yaten/Sailor Star Healer respectively.[4][14] That same month, it was announced that Megumi Hayashibara and Nana Mizuki were cast as Sailor Galaxia and Princess Kakyuu respectively, while Kotono Mitsuishi would reprise her role as Chibi-Chibi.[5][15] In May 2023, the rest of the Shadow Galactica cast was announced, with Yuka Komatsu and Fumie Mizusawa as Sailor Chi and Sailor Phi, Shiori Mikami and Kanae Itō as Sailor Lethe and Sailor Mnemosyne, and Sena Koizumi, Ayumu Murase, Yōko Hikasa, Mariya Ise, and Haruka Kudō as the Sailor Animamates: Sailor Iron Mouse, Sailor Aluminum Siren, Sailor Lead Crow, Sailor Tin Nyanko, and Sailor Heavy Metal Papillon respectively.[7] In June 2023, it was revealed that Japanese actress Keiko Kitagawa was cast as Sailor Cosmos.[6]
Music
Yasuharu Takanashi returned to compose the music for the two-part film.[12] The theme song for the two-part film is titled "Moon Flower" (月の花, Tsuki no Hana), sung by Daoko.[16][17] The five-track theme song collection album, titled Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie Theme Song Collection, was released on June 30, 2023, which included the opening songs, "Moonlight Legend" (ムーンライト伝説, Mūnraito Densetsu), sung by Eternal Sailor5Guardians[lower-alpha 3] (first film) and "Sailor Star Song" (セーラースターソング, Sērā Sutā Songu), sung by Nana Mizuki (as Sailor Kakyuu), Marina Inoue (as Sailor Star Fighter), Saori Hayami (as Sailor Star Maker) and Ayane Sakura (as Sailor Star Healer) (second film), an In-Universe song, "To the Shooting Star" (流れ星へ, Nagareboshi he), sung by voice actresses of Three Lights and the finale song, "Happy Marriage Song", sung by main voice cast of 10 Sailor Guardians and Mamoru Chiba (Kenji Nojima).[18][19]
Release
The two-part film was released in theaters in Japan in June 2023, with the first film on the 9th, and the second film on 30th.[4] The Japanese Blu-ray and DVD will be released on December 20, 2023.[20]
Reception
The first film failed to make it into top 10 in the Japanese box office in its opening weekend, but it ranked second on Filmmarks' first-day satisfaction ranking with an average rating of 3.85/5.0 based on 139 reviews.[21] The second film debuted at number 9 in the top 10 in its opening weekend.[22]
Notes
- Also known as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie (Japanese: 劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」, Hepburn: Gekijōban Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn Kosumosu)
- As depicted in Sailor Moon Eternal (2021).
- The main voice actresses for the Inner Sailor Guardians: Kotono Mitsuishi (as Eternal Sailor Moon), Hisako Kanemoto (as Eternal Sailor Mercury), Rina Satō (as Eternal Sailor Mars), Ami Koshimizu (as Eternal Sailor Jupiter) and Shizuka Itō (as Eternal Sailor Venus).
References
- 劇場版 美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos 前編 ["Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie -Part I-"]. eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- 劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」《後編》 ["Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie -Part II-"]. tohotheater.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved June 5, 2023.
- "劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」 PLAY BACK STORY" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- Pineda, Rafael (January 16, 2023). "Sailor Moon Cosmos Anime Films' Video Reveals Sailor Starlights Cast, June Openings". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- "Sailor Moon Cosmos Film Confirms Cast For Three Roles!". Tokyo Otaku Mode. January 24, 2023. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
- "「セーラームーンCosmos」セーラーコスモス役は北川景子「本当に特別な作品です」". Comic Natalie (in Japanese). June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- Pineda, Rafael (May 29, 2023). "Sailor Moon Cosmos Anime Films' New Video Reveals Shadow Galactica Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- 劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」 [@sailor_movie] (June 14, 2023). "Keiko Kitagawa confirms her voice role as Sailor Cosmos and Guardian Cosmos" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved June 14, 2023 – via Twitter.
- Pineda, Rafael Antonio (February 11, 2021). "Sailor Moon Eternal Anime's 2nd Film Ends with 'To Be Continued' Teaser". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
- "劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」 2023年初夏、2部作連続公開決定!" ["Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie" Coming Soon in 2023 in Two-Parts!]. Sailor Moon Official (in Japanese). April 28, 2022. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- "「美少女戦士セーラームーン」新作劇場版2023年初夏公開、セーラー戦士の最後の戦い". Natalie Comic (in Japanese). April 28, 2022. Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- Mateo, Alex (April 28, 2022). "Sailor Moon Manga's Final Arc Gets 2 Sailor Moon Cosmos Films in Early Summer 2023". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- "セーラームーンファンのヒャダイン、新作劇場版ビジュアル見て「この屋上は…」と考察始める". Natalie Comic (in Japanese). April 28, 2022. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- "劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーン Cosmos」 公開日決定!さらにセーラースターライツ特別映像&キャスト解禁". Sailor Moon Official (in Japanese). January 16, 2023. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- "美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos:林原めぐみが最終章"最強の敵"セーラーギャラクシアに 火球皇女は水樹奈々 三石琴乃がちびちびに". Mantan Web (in Japanese). January 23, 2023. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
- Komatsu, Mikakazu (January 30, 2023). "Fateful Final Battle Looms in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos Anime Films Full Trailer". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- "劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」 本予告・本ビジュアル解禁!". Sailor Moon Official (in Japanese). January 30, 2023. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- "劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」 テーマソング・コレクション". Sailor Moon Official (in Japanese). May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- Loo, Egan (March 26, 2023). "Sailor Moon Cosmos Anime Films' 2nd Trailer Teases Climactic Battle". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- 劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」Blu-ray・DVD ["Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie" Blu-ray and DVD]. Sailor Moon Official (in Japanese). August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
- Komatsu, Mikakazu (June 13, 2023). "Japan Box Office: Rohan at the Louvre Live-Action Stays in the Top 10 for Three Weeks". Crunchyroll. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- Hazra, Adriana (July 6, 2023). "2nd Tokyo Revengers 2 Live-Action Film Opens at #1 in Japan, 34th Anpanman Film Opens at #5". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
External links
- Official movie site (in Japanese)
- Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie (film) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie at IMDb