Happy Moon Day!

[heavenly_pearl]

Anybody catch the premiere of Sailor Moon Crystal this morning? Did you love it as much as I did (which would be A LOT)? The episode was pretty much exactly like the first chapter of the manga with just a few minor changes, so it does seem like it's going to be Sailor Moon: Sisterhood like most people suspected. I don't mind at all! Also, Mamoru and Motoki are GORGEOUS, especially Motoki. (I want to see Helios drawn in this animation style! Please, let the show be an overwhelming success so we can eventually get the Dream Arc.) Great opening song; the ending is quite good, too. I'm not sure about the transformation sequence, because I was watching it on NicoNico as a free member and thus had to watch a low-quality stream (at least I couldn't see a way to change the quality). The video kinda got blurry when Usagi transformed, so I couldn't really judge if it looked good or not. I could tell it was fairly similar in choreography to her first transformation sequence in the old anime, though. I may rewatch a higher quality version later on Hulu or Crunchyroll. I suspect I'd be more impressed with the animation with better video, although it's certainly pretty enough even with a crappy one!

I wish we didn't have to wait two whole weeks for the next episode...

EDIT: And now we have the English dub cast announcement. It's a mixture of new and familiar voices for me. I'm really happy to see Cherami Leigh as Minako. I think she'll make a fantastic Minako! Stephanie Sheh as Usagi and Cristina Vee as Rei are also great choices. Johnny Yong Bosch as Artemis is pretty close to perfection. Nothing I've seen Michelle Ruff in really reminds me of Luna, but I think she's talented enough to pull it off. I like Todd Haberkorn for Jadeite and Patrick Seitz for Kunzite. I'm very surprised about the casting for Mamoru, though -- Robbie Daymond, in only his second anime role ever. (His first was in a movie called Patema Inverted, which I've never even heard of before.) That's a pretty big role for a rookie... All in all, I'm fairly pleased with the casting and can't wait for the first boxset to come out in November! 

Comments

[sea_thoughts]

YES! IT WAS AMAZING!

The transformation sequence was balletic, there was a lot of focus on her arms, hand, legs and feet.

Mamoru and Motoki are amazing, I love that Mamoru was swanning around central Tokyo in a tuxedo in the middle of the day.

[heavenly-pearl.livejournal.com]

Heh, that happened in the manga, too, if I remember correctly, and I still don't understand it! But he does look rather spiffy in that tuxedo, I have to admit... Seriously, this Mamoru is hot! *fans self*

[sea_thoughts]

I know! That's why I found it so amusing! :D I think it's an Establishing Character Moment: this is a guy who doesn't give a crap if you think he's weird for wearing a tuxedo in broad daylight, he loves his clothes, which is why I hope this anime will give Mamoru some stylish outfits.

[heavenly-pearl.livejournal.com]

He look pretty nice in that green sweater (and GLASSES!) during the opening sequence, too. (At least it's not the infamous green jacket.)

[samuraiter.livejournal.com]

As weird as it sounds, I'm actually looking forward to the dub. Those are almost all names I know. (Liam O'Brien as Nephrite? Yes, please.) And Michelle Ruff was Katherine in Catherine (PS3); she can definitely do a scolding, long-suffering voice.

Got to see Crystal within an hour of its premiere. It looks amazing; what a difference twenty years and a budget makes! Fans of the manga are in for a treat, though fans of the first anime (like me) are going to be really sad to see the villains die in rapid-fire fashion (e.g. Jadeite will be done in Episode 3, we suspect).

[heavenly-pearl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it will be a bit disappointing if they don't do anything with the villains except treat them like cannon fodder. That's the one thing I don't like about a faithful-to-the-manga adaptation.

And I'm also really looking forward to the new dub!