The poster for the Sailor Moon Prism On Ice show gives us a look at Evgenia Medvedeva as Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon - Prism on Ice - Poster

The Sailor Moon official site has been updated with the poster for the upcoming Sailor Moon Prism On Ice show. This poster gives us a look at Russian figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva as Sailor Moon. She had previously worn what appears to be the same costume at a press event last month.

We didn’t get much in the way of new details. We had previously learned of the cast and schedule for the ice show, which will take place in Tokyo the weekend of June 5th to the 7th. These dates are still listed on the official site. Though June is still a few months away, it’s certainly possible that this schedule will be impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis which is affecting not only Japan but countries worldwide This event includes talent from around the globe including Russia, the United States of America, Canada and of course Japan. Fans who were planning on attending may want to reconsider any international travel plans they would have had for the next few months.

It’s worth noting that this event is scheduled to occur nearly two months before the original planned dates for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which would have taken place from July 4th to August 9th of this year, but have been delayed until 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic.

Stay safe and stay healthy!

A teaser trailer for Sailor Moon Eternal has leaked but some fans question its authenticity

Sailor Moon Eternal leaked teaser trailer - Sailor Mars

A clip which appears to show a teaser trailer for upcoming Sailor Moon Eternal movie has been making the rounds online. This is unfinished footage with some placeholder animation but it does appear to be new animation in the style of Sailor Moon Crystal. Toei has been taking down the clip from YouTube as others have uploaded copies. While some fans think this could suggest that it is authentic it is also possible that the takedowns are to avoid confusion once a real clip is released. I’ve embedded a copy of the video which was brought to my attention below. Note that it is very likely that this clip will be removed at some point soon.

I make no specific claims about the authenticity of this clip. I know as much as any other fan in this case. The footage looks convincing enough though I can’t help but feel that some of these clips looks suspiciously like footage from Sailor Moon SuperS.

Sailor Moon Eternal leaked teaser trailer - Title

The clip starts out with a title image which mentions Gal Enterprise at the bottom. A quick search confirms that this is in fact a company which makes anime trailers. Next we see an insertion of footage from the Sailor Moon S opening which is obviously not part of the Sailor Moon Eternal movie. The letters “CG” in the top left corner of this clip suggest that this may be where some computer graphics would need to be inserted at a later time.

Sailor Moon Eternal leaked teaser trailer - Usagi

We then see a clip of Usagi and then of Super Sailor Moon. Next is a quick look at all of the Sailor Guardians in the usual order, Sailor Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Venus.

Sailor Moon Eternal leaked teaser trailer - Sailor Moon and Mamoru

We then see Super Sailor Moon hugging Mamoru. Next it’s all five girls and Chibiusa in their high school uniforms, a scene right out of the manga and original anime. We then see Usagi and Chibiusa seeing Pegasus. Then it’s Sailor Moon transforming and then Super Sailor Chibi Moon and Super Sailor Moon attacking.

Sailor Moon Eternal leaked teaser trailer - Usagi, Chibiusa and Pegasus

What do you think? Does this look like legitimate footage to you? One way or another we will know once an actual trailer is released! Check out more screenshots below.

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Could Toei’s new Tokusatsu YouTube Channel include the Live Action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon series?

Live Action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Act 6 - Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars

Toei, the company which created both Sailor Moon anime series as well as the live action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon series, will be launching Toei Tokusatsu World Official, a YouTube Channel dedicated to Toei’s Tokusatsu series. It will launch with episodes from 70 different Tokusatsu series. While the Tokusatsu series most familiar to worldwide audiences are Super Sentai shows like the ones which are adapted into various Power Rangers series, one Tokusatsu series created by Toei is the 2003 live action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon series. The live action Sailor Moon series was not mentioned as one that will be part of the first batch of shows. As this would be a fairly high profile show, this likely means that we will not be seeing it on April 6th when the channel launches but it could be coming at a later date.

Live Action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Act 37 - Sailor Guardians fighting Putty type monsters Zyrangers Episode 1 - Golems or Putties

While one may not think of the live action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon series as Tokusatsu, it most certainly is! Look at the intro paragraph on the Wikipedia page for the show:

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (美少女戦士セーラームーン, Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn) is a Japanese tokusatsu television series based on the Sailor Moon manga created by Naoko Takeuchi. It was produced by Toei Company.

The term tokusatsu refers to a live action series which uses special effects. This dates back to monster movies like Godzilla and includes superhero series such as the Super Sentai series. The Sailor Moon manga was originally inspired by Super Sentai series in which there were teams of superheroes of various colours. This came full circle as the live action series was a tokusatsu version of the manga and anime series. The show often had similar costumes and effects to other tokusatsu series. Some costumes were also reused between series, such as the Zyurangers Golems, known as Putties in the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers adaptation, being reused in Act 37 of the live action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon series.

Live Action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Act 7 - Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Moon in front of a mural

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Act 7

Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger episode 5 - Pink Ranger in front of mural

Zyuranger episode 5

There have also been locations which were used between series, such as the location used in Act 7 of Sailor Moon which was seen in episode 5 of Zyurangers which was adapted in the first season of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. There have also been scenes which were completely recycled such as one clip of the ground opening up which was used both in Zyurangers and Sailor Moon. The images below are from the televised version of the live action Sailor Moon series and from an old Power Rangers tape.

Live Action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon - Serenity Destroys the World

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers - Fissure in the ground

Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers

What do you think? Would you like to see the live action series on this platform? Do you think this is feasible?

Source: Toei Press Release

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Keiko Kitagawa to star in a live action adaptation of The Promised Neverland manga

Keiko Kitagawa as Mama Isabella in The Promised Neverland

Keiko Kitagawa, best known to Sailor Moon fans as Sailor Mars from the live action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon series, will be in yet another live action adaptation of a popular manga and anime series. She will be in the upcoming The Promised Neverland movie as the character Isabella, also known as Mama. The series is about a group of children in a mysterious orphanage where Isabella is their caregiver. This takes place in the distant future where the orphanage, the only world they know, is part of some nefarious plot. I guess that means they’re not actually going to Neverland. Would it be rude to suggest this is similar to the plot of The Island? I haven’t read or seen the series but it seems like Keiko Kitagawa’s character is potentially a villain in this.

The Promised Neverland - Isabella

The casting for the film has already caused some controversy as the character or Krone will be portrayed by a Japanese actress, Naomi Watanabe, though the character in the manga and anime is black. This is an interesting controversy given the recurring backlash when white actors are cast in Hollywood adaptations of Japanese franchises such as Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in the Shell.

The Promised Neverland - Live Action

The movie will be released in Japan on December 18th. There are no details about a North American release at this time. Fans looking to check out the anime can watch the first season on Crunchyroll, FunimationNow, Hulu or Hidive. Are any of you fans of the manga and anime series? Will you be checking out this movie when it’s released?

The Promised Neverland

Source: Sports Hochi via Anime News Network