There’s that quote going around tumblr - “She’s like the moon, part of her is always hidden away” - and I guess Usagi would be the first to think of here, but QUEEN SERENITY. She was so damn interesting and seedy. If we’re trusting Nehelenia here, they both came to the moon after leaving the galaxy they were originally from. Why? How did she go from that to empress of her new world? You don’t build the strongest alliance in the stars with your bare hands and not have them dirtied at some point. And what was it about her that allowed for the most powerful item in the universe to pick her, to merge itself with her soul (the ginzoushou is sentient, no questions).  

Do we buy that she cloned her daughter in her image (because I do). Magic, science, whatever. The technicalities aren’t terribly important to me. I have this idea that Queen Serenity was almost terrifying in her chase of these utopian ideals of love and justice. Because wherever she came from must have been just about the hellish worst if she had to leave, and if it inspired this in her. She wanted so badly to feel a sincere selflessness, but in the back of her head she knew it was alway about her and satisfying a vision she built of herself. This was the vibe the people who didn’t like her picked up on, and why her enemies hated her. They saw through the lie. So when the Silver Millenium caved in on itself, I think Serenity was relieved in a sense because it confirmed the suspicions about herself that were always back there clawing. On top of that there was a relief in the trust that her daughter (her project, her ideals embodied) could do it all over and do it right. Act over, curtains drawn. 

In other words, Queen Serenity was in obsessed with the idea of being good. Princess Serenity actually was good. And the ginzounshou chose them both because yes, they were cut from the same cloth, but more so because the ginzoushou responds to feelings, not necessarily goodness. It recognized both Serenity’s because both felt what they felt stronger than anybody else ever could.

adventuresofcomicbookgirl:

Let’s talk about Michiru Kaioh.

For some reason, I see a lot of weird accusations leveled towards this character. She’s a snob! She’s a perfect Japanese housewife and therefore not empowered! She’s obsessed with sex (and that’s terrible!) She’s a satellite character that exists only to complement Haruka! It’s also naturally assumed she’s the weaker of the duo because she’s the more feminine.

Another day of being a female character (and especially a queer one) but hey, it still bothers me. Because I adore Michiru and think she’s a very complex character who brings a lot to the story. So I’m going to talk about that.

First of all, there’s the fact that in the anime she was a Senshi before Haruka. We don’t know for how long, but there’s an implication that she fought alone and it was very hard for her. It changed her. She seems to indicate in her episode that she started off trying not to kill, but something bad happened as a result of that (like Haruka almost dying in that episode because of the hesitation), hence her resolve.

We don’t know what happened to Michiru’s family, but she appears to be wealthy and upper class and yet she’s not with her family anymore. She may have been isolated and very sheltered. In fact, that’s what Haruka accuses her of being when they first talk- a “sheltered rich girl”. This indicates a class difference between the two of them (as suggested in the Drama CD) (also in the manga Haruka acts rather hyperactive and braggy about the amount of money they have while Michiru is embarrassed by the behavior, which indicated to me Haruka is new to having lots of money). Michiru seems to be attracted to Haruka for the bold, down to earth attitude she has, which is probably very different from the circles Michiru is used to. She specifically tells Haruka that she wants to be with someone who is “honest to their own feelings and doesn’t depend on anyone” and she admires Haruka for that. She apparently thinks that she lacks such traits, though Haruka thinks the opposite.

I think probably one of the most interesting things about her is that she was ultimately the person responsible for Haruka becoming a Senshi. It always seems to be her greatest source of conflict. She gave off the impression of having been incredibly lonely and lost and when she finds this connection, it’s like a lifeline to her. But at the same time she doesn’t want to pull this one connection into the same kind of danger she’s in. If she puts Haruka in that kind of situation, there’s not only a chance Haruka will die, but that she’ll change, the same way Michiru seems to feel she’s changed. But she can’t keep it inside, and even though she tries to prevent Haruka, she breaks down in tears in front of her admitting that she’s in love with her and she’s selfish because she was so happy that someone would be with her on this really stressful and terrifying journey she has to take. Michiru is the kind of person who keeps things bottled up- “goes into her own world” as Haruka puts it- and then it tends to build to a bursting point.

I don’t think Michiru ever forgot she was the reason Haruka became a Senshi- it sort of informs all of her actions.In S, it started out with Haruka emotionally questioning what they were doing and Michiru being cold, but then became the other way. I think that was because it scared Michiru when Haruka got colder and more used to it- it meant what was happening had changed her. So she began to question as well.

 She informed Haruka to leave her behind if things got rough, but never intended to keep her end of that promise. I don’t think it’s just the pureness of love though. If Haruka dies being a Senshi, it’s her fault in her head, so she’s almost eager to take that bullet, especially since Haruka is so important to her. she really does save Haruka a lot, it’s like her job. Also this isn’t just limited to Haruka. In the Stars Nehelenia arc she instantly tells Rei to shoot through her to get to Nehelenia, without even considering another solution. I think again, that’s a product of guilt and her early isolation. She’s always carrying this “I have to take care of everyone alone, and if I’m in a position where I have to throw my life away it’s my fault for being weak and cowardly, I should be glad to give it up to the greater good” thing with her. 

I think oddly, out of all the Senshi (even including Usagi), Michiru values “normal life” the most. In both continuities, she expresses a desire to start a family with baby Hotaru right away. She was the first one to jump on that. She really desires a family connection.  and in the manga she’s absolutely thrilled about going to high school again. Haruka points out that they’ve like, traveled all over the world and raised a child, but Michiru goes into spasms of joy about how being in a normal high school is the best and they’ll get to pass love notes and omg. Haruka enjoys being flashy, but Michiru is someone who enjoys serenity. Hence her calm attitude, hence her connection to the sea, hence her interest in such traditionally serene endeavors as violin and oil painting. It also may account for her intensity about preserving peace-peace is her favorite thing. It also accounts for the fact she things Usagi and her friends are so cute and talks about it in an almost envious way (in fact she did say “I envy them” once). She really wants that level of normality and innocence. 

There’s a lot of parallels between Usagi and Mamoru and Michiru and Haruka- the fact is that Michiru and Mamoru are both the rational, intellectually driven ones while their respective girlfriends are more driven by passion and emotion. And again, they’re both wealthy and probably grew up isolated (we know this for a fact with Mamoru). 

Other interesting traits Michiru has: she’s really hypercompetitive (both anime and manga, when Yaten tried to challenge her in the manga IT WAS ON), and absolutely hates someone losing on purpose to her. Remember the episode with Ami? Her icy response reduced Ami to tears and Haruka had to tell her she was being mean and it confused and worried her. I just wanted her to respect me!!! but then Haruka’s like “no she just hates conflict come on”. So despite her intuition, Michiru can’t read people all that well- again, indicating isolation in her past. She’s of course, hugely snarky and she really enjoys pushing the buttons of those she loves and getting a rise out of them. She is the master of being passive agressive and she uses it in spades on Haruka. It’s a way of expressing frustration that’s both sneaky (which she enjoys) and allows her to maintain the cool exterior she tries so desperately to uphold. And she just finds it adorable to tease. But she’s incredibly generous, as shown by all the free concert tickets and meals she gives out and how nice she is to Usagi and her friends, and she appreciates kind people. She’s comfortable and open about her sexuality (and yes! Flirting! It goes with her love of pushing people’s buttons, and also she’s attracted to her gf! gasp!) because I think it is one of the things about herself she’s sure of and proud of- she could never see any need to be ashamed about loving Haruka.

Yeah, she’s feminine. But she kicks just as much ass as Haruka. Again, she tends to be the one to save her honey, and along with Mako and Haruka, she’s one of the Senshi who employs martial arts the most. She’s definitely not subservient to Haruka, she take the lead a lot and again, trolling her gf is her fave thing to do. She’s very much in charge of her own life and independent, she just loves Haruka. And she’s just as tough. I honestly never thought her being a badass was a question, but I’ve heard phrases like “even Michiru was badass!!!” Even? Her very first MEETING with Haruka as Sailor Neptune had her tackling Haruka away from a hellbeast at the cost getting back completely gashed open which was basically the biggest wound the anime ever showed, and then standing up and DeepSumberging the thing without missing a beat before collapsing. There would not even be a Sailor Uranus is if it wasn’t for her. That’s just the FIRST on the list. This girl’s default state is badass.

In conclusion- fuck you, she’s awesome. Also, happy belated, Michiru.

Yo, “Usagi and Mamoru are boring” peeps. Perhaps, yes. They like hanging out with babies and going to the park and buying groceries and stuff. Like, love it. But when you have thousands of years of death and rebirth of peoples and civilizations on your table, not to mention daily supernatural crime-fighting, you’d crave domesticity too. Serenity and Endymion are sweeping and theatric. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen even. Usagi and Mamoru? Domestic dorks and totally okay with it. Let them have boring, they’ve earned it. 

I ship anime!Usagi and anime!Mamoru more than any other version of those two.

idesofnovember:

I mean, in the manga especially they are so perfect - which I love, but there are no threads to pull in that metaphorical sweater ykwim? 

I find the idea of the anime couple more appealing in ‘shipping per se preciously because Mamoru seems so cold and withdrawn and Usagi seems so silly and flighty. And then you have these hints and moments of intimacy and affection between them (which all end up on this tumblr like woah believe you me) where you realize he opens up to her emotionally, and she steps up to be his family, and you find his vulnerability and her maturity that they show to each other and then it’s like OH YOU KNOW STUFF IS HAPPENING ‘OFF CAMERA’ headcanon headcanon wheee! And it’s FUN AS SHIT.

In the manga, Usagi and Mamoru have mega!super!chemistry no doubt about it, but they come with it already.

In the anime, it’s like you have to make  your own chemistry from like this kit you got in the mail and some stuff you found in your garage but then you make this massive explosion and burn down your living room extension.  Yeah. That’s what it’s like.

HMS OBSESSIVE FANGIRL SETTING SAIL FOR TUMBLR ISLAND!  COME ON ABOARD!

hi r u me

“How dare he! Nobody’s allowed to call me ‘odango’ except Mamo-chan!”

I love this. Why would she even say that unless Mamoru still calls her that?

So for anyone who was wondering where first season Mamoru de Sass disappeared to, the answer is BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. Which, dude. Cuuuuuuuuuuuute. 

Working my way through the Nehelenia arc in Stars

It’s so properly lush visually and emotionally, creepy, well-paced. Favorite. 

Re: Usagi and Resentment

This is something I’ve seen discussed or alluded to on and off in the Sailor Moon fandom for as long as I can remember. Is it fair that Usagi eclipses the others? Which usually goes hand in hand with - It’s not realistic that the others do not resent her.

There’s two way to address this I guess - narrative-wise and then on a basis of relationship dynamics.

For the former, it’s simple. Were there times I wished that we could have explored the supporting cast? Of course. Especially in the anime. Especially since we had over 200 episodes to do that. Especially in Stars, where all the screen time the Starlights got could have been focused on characters we still had so much left to learn about. And for what they could anime could do, their job was fair enough. The manga does a better job, but yes. Usagi is at the center of it all. Does that warrant UGH TOO MUCH USAGI WHYYYYY though? The series is called Sailor Moon for fuck’s sake. Stories with titular characters……tend to focus on them. It baffles me that this is even something that needs explaining. So there’s that.

As for the latter, also easy. They don’t resent her because they love her? A lot of the Usagi hate I’ve seen stems from some notion that she is robbing the other girls of their true, willful fate or happiness by acting as this burden they are tied to. Which, listen. They are soldiers. That burn to protect something bigger than themselves is in their blood. Denying them that service to their princess is denying them a remedy to the the fundamental ache of who they are. They know this. It’s in their bones. Her dreams, her mision, her will is their will. But even then, she is not their burden. Usagi is not an obstacle in the way of any dreams of theirs; she encourages them, supplements them, completes them. 

And furthermore, you cannot argue resentment without doing the girls a disservice by undermining what they’ve attested to repeatedly - how valuable she is to them above and beyond any sense of contractual obligation. She’s the reason they are who they are, no getting around it. You don’t resent the person that was the first one to see the potential and humanity in you beyond the scope of duty; that drew you into the family that you finally belong to. 

The silliest grievance I’ve seen perhaps is how are they not jealous of her? It’s not realistic for girls not to be jealous of each other. Why do they have to be jealous of her? What does Usagi have that they so desperately covet anyway? Power? Why would anyone in their right mind want the power she has, one that has the entire weight of humanity resting on it? If anthing, that is her lone, solitary, unspeakably heavy burden. Why would they want to have anything to do that burden besides the desire to lessen it for her?

Is it because she got the romance, the storybook family? There’s a few things here. Firstly, Usagi would NEVER allow herself to get in the way this for the others. And there’s no concrete evidence that they don’t eventually get to have that either, with the exception perhaps of Minako. Which brings me to my next point: romantic love is not always the most important love. Love for a friend, love for your work, love for a dream, love for oneself; these are all veritable faces of love that are just as strong and just as important. And I for one am grateful that this was one of the core themes of Sailor Moon. It’s pretty great fucking message.  

I resent the idea that this story is not realistic because the girls aren’t shown to be jealous of each other. Because guess what, it can be realistic. It is realistic. Especially when the stories you care about, care enough about you to show that. You can dislike Usagi as a character all you want, but to suggest that she is an antagonistic figure in the growth of the others is lazy and not befitting the love you claim to have for them.

Holy smokes

Okie doke. I was not nearly expecting OVER 1500 NOTES on a impromptu feelings bomb I wrote a couple hours ago so I could procrastinate on a paper. Wow wow wow. 

But since we’re on the topic, it’s nice to see people responding to it and I thought I’d address some of commentary. If Sailor Moon was not empowering to you personally, that’s fine and your experience and perfectly valid. It does have its issues with body-image and male gaze, especially in the anime. I don’t buy however that should cancel out or negate the experience of those who DID draw whatever inspiration they did from the series. I certainly did and it’s been valuable on such an intimate level, I can’t even tell you. 

It’s important to understand problematic aspects of anything presented to us in the media, but it’s also important to understand something as a product of its time and culture. One that did, at least on a mass scale, make strides for creating something females (not to mention those who are gay or female-identifying) could potentially relate to, especially relative to what was available at the time. Close to nothing that is packaged for mass consumption is perfect, especially a 20 year old show from homogenous country that has its own deeply embedded issues with body-image and femininity. 

As for the picture, it was an old one I grabbed from a folder, not remembering I had cut the Starlights out. Which is unfortunate because although I’m not particularly interested in them as characters, in retrospect I think having them there  would have added to the women-and-variety argument. But like I said. NOT EXPECTING THIS OVER THE COURSE OF LUNCH.

Sometimes I think about space and how small we are and how humbling it is and how I’m so so lucky Sailor Moon got me interested in it when I was a kid because damn. The first time I saw the scene in the S movie where Luna and Kakeru and Himeko see the earth from up there and just get breathy and teary-eyed? Yeah.