The Sailor Moon Crystal English dub will premier at Anime Expo on July 3rd in Los Angeles

Anime Expo Logo

The first two episodes of the English dub of Sailor Moon Crystal will be premiered at the Anime Expo convention in Los Angeles on Friday July 3rd at 6pm, as part of Sailor Moon Day. The anime convention’s schedule is now online, where the event was listed. This will be Act 1, Usagi – Sailor Moon, and Act 2, Ami – Sailor Mercury. The English dub, by Viz Media, will keep the same cast that their new English dub of the original anime used. Some of those actors will be present at the convention. Since this convention takes place in California all times will be in Pacific Time.

Anime Expo will take place the weekend of July 2nd to the 5th in Los Angeles California. The convention will feature many guests from the English dub of the original Sailor Moon Anime and Sailor Moon Crystal. In attendance will be Stephanie Sheh, the voice of Sailor Moon, Cristina Vee, the voice of Sailor Mars, Amanda Miller, the voice of Sailor Jupiter, Cherami Leigh, the voice of Sailor Venus, Robbie Daymond, the voice of Tuxedo Mask and Sandy Fox, the voice of Chibiusa and Black Lady. Kyle Hebert, who played the Priest who turned into the monster Boxy in the new dub, will also be at the convention though he may not be involved in the dub of Sailor Moon Crystal or the Sailor Moon themed events.

KISS and Momoiro Clover Z

Also at the convention will be Momoiro Clover Z, the band which performs the Sailor Moon Crystal opening theme, Moon Pride, and ending theme, Gekkou or Moonbow. Momoiro Clover Z will be performing on Thursday July 2nd with KISS members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. The two bands recently collaborated on a single released as Momoiro Clover Z vs. KISS. Watch the video below.

Friday is Sailor Moon Day at Anime Expo. This starts with the Official Sailor Moon Panel by Viz Media and the cast of Sailor Moon from 10am to noon. Following this from 1pm to 2:30pm will be a screening of Sailor Moon’s best episodes, though we don’t know what those will be at this time. From 4:30pm to 5:30pm will be a Sailor Moon Cosplay gathering. Then from 6pm to 7:30pm is the English dub premiere of Act 1 and 2 of Sailor Moon Crystal. Other events listed in their schedule that will likely be relevant to Sailor Moon fans are the Viz Media panel on Thursday July 2nd at 1:15pm and the Viz Animation Panel featuring Neon Alley on Saturday July 4th at 4pm.

Viz Media

Source: Anime Expo schedule via Moonkitty.net

Pre-order the first Sailor Moon Crystal visual book

Sailor Moon Crystal visual book

This Friday, August 22nd 2014, a Sailor Moon Crystal visual book will be released in Japan by Kodansha. This book will include information and images from the new Sailor Moon anime, Sailor Moon Crystal, including voice actor and staff information as well as a number of bonuses. Included will be a sleeve for the previously released Moon Pride single by Momoiro Clover Z and a DVD featuring the TV sized version of Moon Pride and a trailer for Sailor Moon Crystal. This DVD will be region 2, viewable only on Japanese DVD players or for those who have a region free DVD player or drive.

The art book, likely the first of many of it’s kind, can be preordered from Amazon Japan or CD Japan. Once I receive my copy I’ll post more information and images.

Source: Moonkitty, Sailor Moon: The Moonieverse and the Sailor Moon official site

Momoiro Clover Z’s Moon Pride CD single is out now

Momoiro Clover Z - Moon Pride CD Single

The CD single for Momoiro Clover Z’s Moon Pride was released on July 30th. The single is also available for digital download on iTunes. The Japanese physical release comes in two versions. The CD only version includes a bonus track of Moon Revenge covered by Momoiro Clover Z which is also available in the iTunes release. The Blu-Ray combo pack includes a Blu-Ray of the music video. All versions contain the theme song to Sailor Moon Crystal, Moon Pride, and the ending theme, Gekkou. It was recently revealed that the lyrics to the Sailor Moon Crystal ending theme Gekkou were actually written by Sailor Moon creator Naoko Takeuchi. It is credited to Sumire Shirobara which is actually Naoko Takeuchi’s pseudonym. I guess Surikurume was taken.

Moon Pride CD Single - Blu-Ray CD Combo

I picked up both physical copies on Amazon Japan (CD only version, Blu-Ray combo pack). It’s unfortunate that buying both was necessary to get the Blu-Ray and bonus track! The Blu-Ray is pretty simple. It has no menu and plays the music video for Moon Pride by Momoiro Clover Z. This includes some scenes from the intro to Sailor Moon Crystal, a bit of footage from transformation scenes and the first episode and other footage of Silver Millennium which may or may not be from future episodes of the series. You can watch the full video in the embedded clip below or download a subbed version from Sailor Moon Center.

The Blu-Ray version does not include the overlaid text and CD box art. This combo version includes only the opening and ending themes on the CD, with bonus karaoke versions of each song. The art on the cover features the Sailor Guardians from Sailor Moon Crystal. This is the art that is included for the iTunes release, though the contents are the same as the CD only version.

Moon Pride CD Single - CD Version

Though the CD only version does not include the Blu-Ray it does have the bonus track of Moon Revenge by Momoiro Clover Z. Moon Revenge was originally the theme song for the Sailor Moon R movie and was at the time sung by Peach Hips, which means the vocals were comprised of the voice actors who played the Sailor Guardians in the original Sailor Moon anime. While it’s nice to see a cover of this song it is certainly much more fitting to hear the version as sung by our favourite voice actors. As it is played in the Sailor Moon R film the voices of certain characters are heard when they appear on screen, which complements the film perfectly. The CD only version features Momoiro Clover Z in Sailor Moon style uniforms on the box art.

So what is a North American fan to do? Well you can certainly import them from Amazon Japan (CD only version, Blu-Ray combo pack) or CD Japan (CD only version, Blu-ray combo pack). Both versions are relatively inexpensive but the shipping costs will be high. CDs are not region coded so fans throughout the world will have no problem listening to them. Japanese Blu-Ray discs are region A so they are viewable in North America, but not all over the world. Alternatively you can just buy the individual track or all three plus karaoke versions from iTunes. Brad at Moonkitty compiled a list of iTunes links for many countries so you can buy them if you’re in the US, Canada, Mexico, UK, Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan or Peru. Certainly, there are web sites where you can download rips of the CDs for free, but as Sailor Moon fans it would only be right to support the show by purchasing this CD if you plan on listening to it.

Keep reading to see photos of both CDs and their inserts.

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Sailor Moon La Reconquista DVD Review

Sailor Moon La Reconquista Musical DVD

The Sailor Moon La Reconquista musical was released on DVD July 9th. What’s that? DVD and not Blu-Ray? Indeed, this is a DVD only release for a musical which was recorded in 2013. The quality of the release is not great. It’s 480i interlaced video though it is in a 16×9 wide screen aspect ratio. It appear to either have been shot on low quality video cameras or simply converted to low quality standard definition video. If a higher quality source existed, there does not seem to be any reason to downgrade it to interlaced video. Whatever the reason for this may be, this seems like something that was released in the 90s and is not fit for release in 2014.

Sailor Moon La Reconquista Musical DVD - Sailor Moon and Endymion

The first disc is just the main feature, the Sailor Moon La Reconquista musical which played in Tokyo last fall. A number of screenshots are included at the end of the post to get an idea of the video quality. This is a Japanese only release so don’t expect to be seeing any subtitles. As it’s a region 2 release it will not play in a North American DVD player so be sure you have the proper equipment to play it if you are thinking of purchasing it.

Sailor Moon La Reconquista Musical DVD - Special features - Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask

The second disk includes all of the special features. We begin with an interview with Satomi Ookubo, the actress who plays Sailor Moon, and Yuga Yamato, the actress who plays Tuxedo Mask. This is followed by some behind the scenes footage of rehearsals. There are some Q&As including a press event and some questions following one of the performances of the musical. Footage of the girls at Karaoke gives us a look at them singing Moonlight Densetsu, the theme song from the original Sailor Moon anime. We see footage from a live promotional performance. A few clips featuring Momoiro Clover Z are included. They are first seen performing Moonlight Densetsu following one of the musical performances and then there’s this weird skit where they are characters in a cell phone game which is just all around bizarre.

Sailor Moon La Reconquista Musical DVD - Special features - Karaoke

The packaging is fairly standard and also includes a program which I’ve included photos of below. This has a number of images of the cast of the musical, bios and other information.

Sailor Moon La Reconquista Musical DVD - Booklet - Cover

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend picking up this release since the quality is fairly low, but it is the best legal way you may have to support this musical and watch it legally. I am happy to have paid money for this after having resorted to watching a free fansubbed version of the musical when it was first released. You can order the DVD from Amazon Japan or CD Japan. Keep reading for screenshots of the main feature, behind the scenes featurettes, DVD menus and photos of the packaging, insert and program.

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Watch the music video for Momoiro Clover Z’s Moon Pride

Moon Pride music video - Endymion and Serenity

Check out this music video for Moon Pride, the theme song to Sailor Moon Crystal by Momoiro Clover Z. The music video shows a decent look at Silver Millennium, the ancient kingdom on the Moon where Princess Serenity and Endymion fell in love. We also have a good look at the Sailor Guardians, including transformation footage of Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus which we hadn’t seen yet.

This video is an advertisement for the CD and Blu-Ray release of Moon Pride to be released on June 30th. Both the CD and Blu-Ray release include Moon Pride, the opening theme, and Gekkou, the ending theme. Both are performed by Momoiro Clover Z. The CD and Blu-Ray combo pack version includes this music video. The CD only version includes a cover of Moon Revenge, the theme song from the Sailor Moon R movie, as performed by Momoiro Clover Z. Check out the cover art for both releases:

Moon Pride by Momoiro Clover Z - CD and Blu-Ray box art Moon Pride by Momoiro Clover Z - CD box art

Pre-order the CD only version (CD Japan, Amazon Japan) or the CD and Blu-Ray combo pack (CD Japan, Amazon Japan).

Keep reading for more screen shots from the music video.

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Sailor Moon Crystal to be released on Japanese DVD and Blu-Ray starting October 15th

Sailor Moon Crystal DVD and Blu-Ray Charm Bracelet

Although Sailor Moon Crystal just started airing this past weekend plans for a DVD and Blu-Ray release are already in the works! The first two episodes will be released on October 15th by Evil Line records, who can’t spell Crystal. There will be three versions released. A more expensive limited deluxe edition Blu-Ray, a regular edition Blu-Ray and a DVD. These are Japanese releases, likely only including Japanese language audio and no subtitles. The Blu-Ray discs are region A and will play in North America but the DVDs are region 2 and will not play in a North American region 1 DVD player. Check out this ad for the release.

The first DVD and Blu-Ray will include a whopping two whole episodes collected on one disk! A total of 13 disks will be released to contain the 26 episodes of the series. Owning all of these won’t be cheap! The limited edition Blu-Ray of the first disk is 7500 yen (about $75 US), will include a full colour booklet. The limited edition will also include a different charm with each disk, starting with a Moon Stick charm and bracelet with volume 1. By sending in a voucher included with volumes 1 and 13 Japanese residents you will be able to get a special box to store all 13 disks in. This will be a music box which will play Moon Pride, the theme song by Momoiro Clover Z.

Sailor Moon Crystal DVD and Blu-Ray box

There are plans for an audio commentary as well as textless opening and closing special features. Future limited edition Blu-Ray volumes will cost 6500 yen (about $65). Not wanting to spend that much? The regular edition Blu-Ray releases will be 4500 yen (about $45) a disk and the DVDs will cost only 3500 yen (about $35) per disk. So much to say you should decide whether having a nice Moon Stick charm, bracelet and a voucher for a box which might be hard to get outside of Japane is worth and extra $30 or $20 for just the charm in later volumes. You’d be looking at an extra $270 for a fully equipped charm bracelet with 13 charms and a box to store it and the disks in. You could buy a high priced Sailor Moon Pullip doll and Proplica Moon Stick for that much!

Sailor Moon Crystal DVD and Blu-Ray Charm Bracelet

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Watch more leaked Sailor Moon Crystal footage including the ending theme

Sailor Moon Crystal episode 1 - Ami Mizuno

This will likely be the last leaked clip we’ll be posting about since the premiere of Sailor Moon Crystal is just around the corner. In this new leaked footage we see a flashback of Serenity and Endymion in Silver Millennium, Usagi being late for school and talking with Ikuko Mama, Sailor Moon talking with Luna, a brief look at Ami and the ending theme, Gekkou, by Momoiro Clover Z. Watch the clip, which may be removed shortly, below.

Keep reading to see some screenshots of the clips.

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Video clips and screenshots of the intro and first episode of Sailor Moon Crystal

Sailor Moon Crystal episode 01 - Usagi and Mamoru

This coming Saturday, July 5th 2014, the first episode of Sailor Moon Crystal will finally be released! Earlier today, June 30th 2014, in Japan there was a premiere event where the first episode of the new Sailor Moon anime was played in celebration of Usagi’s birthday. A number of screenshots of the intro and first episode have been released. Some sketchy bootlegged video of some of the episode has been leaked as well. Check out the video below for the complete intro, with the theme song Moon Pride by Momoiro Clover Z, followed by Sailor Moon’s first transformation.

[The video has been set to private since this post was originally made. Check out many screenshots of the video at the bottom of this post to see images from the intro and scene from the episode]

The scene where Luna gives Usagi her broach seems to follow the same scene from the first episode of the original Sailor Moon anime very closely. It remains to be seen if the rest of the premiere episode is as similar.

Sailor Moon Crystal episode 01 - Sailor Moon and Luna

Keep reading for a ton more new images and screenshots from the leaked footage.

Source: natalie.mu

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The Sailor Moon Crystal opening theme “Moon Pride” and ending theme “Gekkou” by Momoiro Clover Z

Moon Pride single cover art - Momoiro Clover Z

Yesterday we saw the first footage from new Sailor Moon anime, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal, and with that we got a preview of the new theme song, “Moon Pride”. As was previously announced this theme song and the ending theme are performed by the group Momoiro Clover Z. The song will be out on a single CD July 30th which will include both the opening them “Moon Pride” and the ending theme “Gekkou”. Check out this ad for the new theme which includes a lot of footage of the group and of the trailer:

The opening theme, “Moon Pride” is composed by Revo of Sound Horizon while the ending theme, “Gekkou” is composed by Akiko Kosaka who composed many Sailor Moon songs from the original anime including Moon Revenge, from the Sailor Moon R Movie, Tuxedo Mirage, the ending theme for Sailor Moon S and many songs from the Sailor Moon musicals.

You can preorder the single on CD by either getting the CD version which will include a bonus track of a Momoiro Clover Z cover of Moon Revenge, including karaoke versions of all 3 tracks (CD Japan, Amazon Japan) or the CD and Blu-Ray combo pack which will have just the opening and ending themes in standard and karaoke versions plus a music video of Moon Pride on Blu-Ray (CD Japan, Amazon Japan)

A live concert to celebrate the Sailor Moon 20th Anniversary Memorial Tribute Album will be held February 27th

MTV Live Concert ticket for the Sailor Moon 20th Anniversary Memorial Tribute Album

This coming Thursday, February 27th 2014, a live concert will be held by MTV to celebrate the recent release of the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon 20th Anniversary Memorial Tribute Album. The concert is being called the “MTV LIVE 2014 supported by SHIDAX with LIVE DAM” and will feature some of the artists on the album. To date Shoko Nakagawa, Mitsuko Horie, Haruka Fukuhara and Momoiro Clover Z have been confirmed to be performing though more may be joining this list. The concert will be taking place at the Zepp Tokyo music hall.

MTV Live Concert for the Sailor Moon 20th Anniversary Memorial Tribute Album - T-Shirt A

A lot of exclusive merchadise will be sold at the show including t-shirts, towels and a flag. The Sailor Moon official site has images and details of these items. English information is available at the Sailor Moon Collectibles site.

MTV Live Concert for the Sailor Moon 20th Anniversary Memorial Tribute Album - T-Shirt B

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