Bandai’s Proplica Moon Stick first impressions

Proplica Moon Stick in stand with crystal

Bandai’s Proplica Moon Stick is now available in North America! I received mine a few days ago and I think it looks great. This is by far the most accurate looking Moon Stick to date. It comes with a stand, a swappable Silver Crystal and even a cradle to put the Silver Crystal in when not in use.

Irwin Cosmic Crescent Wand (left) Live Action Sailor Moon Moon Stick (center) Bandai Proplica Moon Stick (right)

Irwin Cosmic Crescent Wand (left) Live Action Sailor Moon Moon Stick (center) Bandai Proplica Moon Stick (right)

Above is a size comparison of this toy to a few others I had. The toy lights up and plays a variety of sound clips, given you get the three LR44 batteries it takes. I was able to find some at the dollar store. The sounds it makes are different depending on how long you hold the button, what the switch at the base of the toy is set to and whether or not the Silver Crystal is in the toy. Voice clips are from the anime, mostly being that of Kotono Mitsuishi though Mika Doi can also be heard as the voice of Queen Serenity. The manual coming with the toy describes all of these, given you can read Japanese, and also gives an overview of the Moon Stick in the anime and other toys that came before it.

Proplica Moon Stick Crystal

Support this site by ordering the item from the Amazon link below. It’s not cheap but I think it’s worth the price.

Keep reading for a ton more photos of the Moon Stick and it’s packaging.

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Sailor Moon episodes 11 and 12 are now available on Hulu

Sailor Moon episode 11 - Rei, Usagi and Ami at Yume Land

This morning, June 16th, episodes 11 and 12 of Sailor Moon became available to view streaming for free, with ads, on Hulu. These episodes are subbed by Viz and will be released at a rate of two episodes per week. Dubbed episodes as well as a DVD and Blu-Ray release will be coming later this summer.

Sailor Moon Episode 11 - Dream Princess

In episode 11, Usagi vs. Rei: Nightmare in Dream Land, we get our first look at Rei and Usagi’s unique relationship. They turn out to be the best of friends but they fight through the best and worst of times. Usagi, Rei and Ami go to Dream Land to investigate a Dark Kingdom plot! While there they see Mamoru on a child’s train, hang out with some robot animals, assault a small child and fight the Dream Princess who’s actually a creepy looking doll monster.

Sailor Moon Episode 12 - Rei and Ami on the cruise ship

In episode 12, I Want a Boyfriend: The Luxury Cruise Ship Is a Trap, Rei wins a contest for a trip on a cruise ship and brings Ami, much to Usagi’s disappointment. Usagi abuses of her disguise pen to turn into a photographer to sneak aboard and gets a crush on the ship’s captain who’s actually Jadeite!

Sailor Moon episode 12 - Usagi crushing on Jadeite

I’m shipping these two

Pre-order Sailor Moon Reflections, Roland Parliament’s book about the dubbing of Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon Reflections cover

Last year at Unplugged Expo 2 Roland Parliament, voice director for the first 65 episodes of Sailor Moon and the voice of Melvin, announced that he would be releasing a book about the dubbing of the show. Sailor Moon Relections, the inside story of the original recordings of the English version of Sailor Moon, is nearing completion. In order to be published it needs pre-orders, which you can put in now by mail or through Pay Pal. Information about this pre-order can be found at Moon Chase. A hard copy of the book will be $20 for softcover and $30 for hardcover. There is also a $4.99 ebook option which does not require a pre-order.

Roland Parliament, the voice of Melvin

You can also check out Moon Chase to see excerpts of the book which include a foreword by Terri Hawkes, the voice of Sailor Moon.

Check out the Sailor Moon 20th Anniversary voice actor panel at Unplugged Expo to see the original announcement of this book.

Source: Moon Chase!

Sailor Moon episodes 9 and 10 are now available on Hulu

Sailor Moon episode 9 - Sailor Mercury and her computer

On June 9th Hulu has started streaming episodes 9 and 10 of the original Sailor Moon anime in Japanese with English subtitles. These episodes will be released at a rate of 2 per week every Monday by Viz. There are plans for a new dub and DVD/Blu-Ray release coming later this year.

Sailor Moon episode 9 - Young Usagi

Episode 9, Usagi’s Disaster: Beware of the Clock of Confusion, has the Dark Kingdom invading a clock store which causes everyone to rush! Ami finally gets her computer and uses it to investigate as the enemy manipulates time! Sailor Moon is turned into a baby and then an old lady in the course of the fight. This episode’s dub name was “Time Bomb” which meant that it was not always replayed in sindication, such as on Cartoon Network, so be sure to check it out if you haven’t already.

Sailor Moon episode 10 - Rei Hino

Episode 10, The Cursed Bus: Enter Mars, the Guardian of Fire, introduces us to Rei Hino, a priestess from the Hikawa Shrine and the greatest character in the series! Busses have been dissapearing near the Shrine prompting Usagi to come in and investigate. Rei is revealed to have special powers and is ultimately shown to be the third Sailor Guardian, Sailor Mars!

Sailor Moon episode 10 - Sailor Mars

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Kirsten Bishop, the voice of Zoisite, passes away at age 50

Kirsten Bishop

It is with great sadness that I share the news that Kirsten Bishop, best known to Sailor Moon fans as the voice of Zoisite, died of lung cancer on April 15th in Toronto. Aside from playing Zoisite she voiced many other characters such as Emerald from Sailor Moon R, Kaorinite and Telulu from Sailor Moon S and Badiyanu from the SuperS movie. In additoin to this she also lent her voice to a number of single episode villains including Techniclon, the monster that Andrew’s boyfriend Rita turned into after having her Rainbow Crystal extracted, Polite Society, the monster version of Countess Rose from the Crystal Seminar and many Daimon and Lemures from the S and SuperS seasons which are listed on Wikimoon.

Zoisite, voice by Kirsten Bishop

Kirten Bishop’s portrayal of Zoisite was a bit controversial as the character, who was a gay man in the Japanese version of the show, was a woman in the English dub. She did such a convincing job of this that many fans had no idea this character was anything but the woman she presented.

In additional to her work on Sailor Moon and many other animated series Kirsten Bishop was also an accomplished film and TV actress. She will be remembered with fondness by fans everywhere.

Source: The Globe and Mail

Sabrina Grdevich, the voice of Anne and Sailor Pluto, to appear at Unplugged Expo in Toronto September 27th and 28th

Anne Granger voiced by Sabrina Grdevich

Sabrina Grdevich joins the guest list at Unplugged Expo 3 to be held at the Chestnut Conference Centre September 27th and 28th in Toronto. Sabrina Grdevich has done a great number of voices in Sailor Moon! She provided the voice of Anne Granger, the alien, during the Doom Tree Saga. Later in Sailor Moon R she provided the voice of Sailor Pluto as heard through the Luna Sphere and during her appearances later in that season and in the S and SuperS movies. Susan Aceron took on the role of Sailor Pluto during Sailor Moon S. Sabrina Grdevich also supplied the voices of many monsters such as the Jumo the evil doll, Ninjana and Nancy Vargas, the photographer turned monster, Mistrust, a monster who creates illusions in Ami’s mind, as well as Andrew’s younger sister Lizzie.

Luna P - Sailor Pluto - Pu

Outside of Sailor Moon she has also done some live action work including a recurring role in the Canadian drama traders and the android whose face opens up in A.I..

Sailor Pluto

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Sailor Moon episodes 7 and 8 are now available on Hulu

Sailor Moon episode 7 - Cross dressing Umino with Naru

This Monday, June 2nd, Hulu has added two new episodes of Sailor Moon. These episodes are subbed only by Viz and are being released at a rate of two episodes a week every Monday for the foreseeable future. This week we have episodes 7 and 8.

Episode 7, Usagi Learns Her Lesson: Becoming a Star Is Hard Work, has Usagi and her classmates going wild preparing for the Cinderella Caravan, a local talent show promoted by teen idol Mikan, or rather a monster who is posing as Mikan. The talent show is nothing but a plot by Jadeite and the Dark Kingdom to steal energy. Along the way we have Usagi and Naru breaking the 4th wall by performing the show’s theme song and Umino cross dressing in an attempt to do anything to win the contest!

Sailor Moon episode 8 - Ami and a Youma

Episode 8, The Girl Genius Is a Monster: The Brainwashing Cram School of Horror, introduces us to Ami Mizuno, a quiet genius at Usagi’s school with an IQ of 300 (IQs over around 160 are generally thought to be beyond our ability to properly measure). The Dark Kingdom has infiltrated a cram school and Usagi suspects Ami might be in league with the enemy. As it turns out she’s the latest Sailor Guardian Sailor Mercury!

Next week we’ll be seeing episode 9, Usagi’s Misfortune! Watch Out for the Rushing Clocks, which although dubbed in English was sometimes not aired in syndication due to the unfortunate English title “Time Bomb”. Also released next Monday will be “Cursed Buses! Fire Warrior Mars Appears” which is the first appearance of the greatest character in the series!

Sailor Moon episodes 5 and 6 are now available on Hulu

Sailor Moon episode 5 - Mika and Shingo hypnotized by the Chanela

The 5th and 6th episodes of Sailor Moon are now available subbed and streaming on Hulu. As was mentioned previously by Viz, who has acquired the rights to the series, two new episodes will be released every Monday! This week includes two new episodes which were previously not dubbed into English. For many nostalgic fans this is a great chance to check out these episodes for the first time!

Sailor Moon episode 5 - Evil Shingo and Mika

Episode 5, Scent of a Monster: Chanela Will Steal Your Love has tensions grow between Shingo and Luna, who is integrating herself into the Tsukino family as a pet, as the Chanela appear in town. Shingo and his friend Mika, along with many other children, are hypnotized by the Chanela who are actually a plot by the Dark Kingdom. One has to wonder if the Chanela themselves were actually innocent creatures with autonomy created as part of this plot and discarded afterwards or if they were just mindless tools. This episode features an interesting twist as Usagi, disguised as Sailor Moon, hides her face from Shingo fearing he might recognize her. Later in the series Usagi’s transformed self is never recognized by anyone. Perhaps Usagi, new to her powers, simply didn’t realize this was the case so early in the show.

Sailor Moon episode 6 - Yusuke Amade playing the piano

Episode 6, Protect the Melody of Love: Usagi Plays Cupid, has Usagi befriending a jazz musician Yusuke Amade, whose music is being used by the Dark Kingdom in order to collect energy. Usagi plays cupid in that she gives him advise on how to win over Akiko who he’s interested in. Usagi uses her transformation pen to get into a club and in doing so sports a punky looking green hair style.

Sailor Moon episode 6 - Usagi with green hair

Fan Fiction The Show Sailor Moon returns to Toronto with Linda Ballantyne and Toby Proctor June 19th

Fan Fiction The Show Sailor Moon

Fan Fiction is returning to Toronto and this time Linda Ballantyne, the voice of Sailor Moon, will be joining Toby Proctor, the voice of Tuxedo Mask, at this comedy special. The show takes place Thursday June 19th at 9:30pm at the Comedy Bar at 945 Bloor St. West in downtown Toronto.

Toby Proctor dressed as Tuxedo Mask for Fan Fiction The Show Sailor Moon

Fan Fiction The Show is a recurring comedy special that consists of a live comedic reading of Fan Fiction of one franchise or another with various comedians playing the parts of characters from these franchises. Fan Fiction The Show Sailor Moon was a great success when it first took place last July and had Toby Proctor dressed up as Tuxedo Mask for his performance. For thoughts on that check out our interview with Toby Proctor at Fan Expo 2013.

Get your tickets through NXNE. Follow Fan Fiction The Show on Facebook or Twitter to keep up with their other shows.

Barbara Radecki, the voice of Sailor Neptune, to appear at Unplugged Expo in Toronto September 27th and 28th

Barbara Radecki, the voice of Sailor Neptune, at Unplugged Expo

Barbara Radecki, who voiced Sailor Neptune in the Cloverway dub of Sailor Moon S, will be making an appearance at Unplugged Expo 3 this September 27th and 28th at the Chestnut Conference Centre in downtown Toronto. Barbara Radecki also provided the voice of Serena’s mother in both the DiC dubbed first two seasons and the Cloverway dubbed S and SuperS seasons and one of the Doom and Gloom Girls in the episode Day of Destiny.

Ikuko Mama - Serena's Mom

Last year’s Unplugged Expo had a huge gathering of Sailor Moon voice actors to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show. I had a fantastic time at Unplugged Expo 2. For more on that check out the first and second panels that were recorded at that convention.

Sailor Neptune

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