Sailor Moon Is Darker Than It Looks

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Sailor Moon.

summation

• The Sailor Moon manga sets itself apart from typical magical girl series by exploring dark topics such as suicide and abuse.
• Sailor Moon's characters face tragic deaths, make complex choices, and reveal their flaws and complexities.
• The series pushes boundaries with disturbing scenes of abuse and non-consent, adding depth and realism to its characters.

On the surface Sailor Moon It may seem like your average magical girl series, but it's actually so much more than that. Anime touches on dark topics at some points, but comics go much further. Naoko Takeuchi's masterpiece Sailor Moon It is full of scenes involving loss, sacrifice, and tragedy.

In addition to defeating the forces of evil, Sailor Scouts are often faced with extremely difficult situations and must make impossible choices. While every version and adaptation of the series has its own comedic and cute moments, it also has many gruesome and dark elements that are often overlooked.

Really Scary Comic Moments

Original Source Will Shock You

In the Sailor Moon comics, we see many arcs that explore dark themes, such as Dark Kingdom, Black Moon, and Infinity. Magical girl animation, full of flashy transformations and cute poses, takes a dark turn as it progresses. Sailor Moon is much different from other titles in the genre in that it's not afraid to show off its characters' flaws.

None of the main characters we see are portrayed as typical heroes. Sailor Guardians make mistakes and face complex choices, and this is what sets Sailor Moon apart. This is especially evident in the manga where Naoko Takeuchi does not shy away from exploring topics such as suicide, incest, and abuse.

Theme of death and suicide

at Sailor Moon Death is always present, especially in comics. Perhaps the most heartbreaking moment was during the Kingdom of Darkness arc where Sailor Moon's past self, Princess Serenity, and Mamoru's past self, Prince Endymion, die in tragic fashion. Prince Endymion is stabbed to death after Queen Metalia influences Queen Beryl. The Moon Kingdom is destroyed due to an invasion by Earthlings, and Princess Serenity, who witnesses this, is heartbroken and eventually commits suicide by stabbing herself with a sword.

I will punish you in the name of the moon – Sailor Moon

In the Black Moon arc, we see more death and destruction. The Black Moon Clan is a rebel group that fights against the White Moon Kingdom and Neo Queen Serenity, led by Prince Demande. With the help and influence of another villain named Wise Man, this clan is causing irreversible chaos and destruction in both the past and the future. One of the most notable members of this clan were the four Ayakashi sisters.

They arrive in the present timeline from the future to ensure Black Moon's dominance through destruction. The youngest Koan has the ability to spread fire and attacks the nuns, burning them alive. This was just one of the Blackmoon tribe's atrocities that claimed thousands of lives.

The anime also featured tragic deaths, including Sailor Saturn's sacrifice. Tomoe Hotaru, Sailor Saturn, is considered one of the strongest Sailor Guardians, and in the Sailor Moon S anime, she is revealed to be the vessel of Mistress 9, who collaborates with Pharaoh 90 to destroy Earth. Later, she sacrifices herself to stop Pharaoh 90, using all the power provided by her weapon, the Silence Glaive. Hotaru is reborn as a baby after Sailor Moon uses the Silver Crystal, but her sacrifice remains one of Sailor Moon's most painful moments.

Next to the head is a meatball to eat with spaghetti! – Sailor Mercury

We also see the tragic deaths of the Inner Sailor Senshi Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus, who are killed one by one by the Doom And Gloom Girls during the Kingdom of Darkness arc. Each of their deaths was painful as they willingly accepted a tragic fate to protect Sailor Moon. Fortunately, they were resurrected after Beryl was defeated.

Abuse and Incest

Takeuchi is not afraid to push the limits

Infinity Arc introduces Tomoe Souichi, the father of Sailor Saturn, Tomoe Hotaru. The respected scientist excelled at his profession but failed as a father. His cruel experiments on his daughter were extremely disturbing to watch. Hotaru was treated by her father as more than just Mistress 9's companion, which caused even more emotional turmoil for Sailor Saturn.

My father hurts me… but I can't escape from him. He says it's for myself – Sailor Saturn

Next, Chibi-Usa and her Electra complex were featured throughout the show, but were toned down to a joke in the anime. But in the comics it's actually much more intense. The scene where the villainized Chibiusa and the brainwashed Mamoru share a kiss caused a lot of controversy. This is what happened when the Sage corrupted Chibi Usa and turned her into a black woman. Keeping in mind that Mamoru is her future father, this scene is probably the most shocking part of the entire series. The actions of the black lady who kissed Mamoru to tease Usagi are truly questionable. This is proof that Sailor Moon is pushing the boundaries of the magical girl genre unlike any other 90s anime.

Description of non-consensual scenes

Things get much worse, as in the Black Moon Arc, where the clan's leader, Prince Demande, becomes obsessed with Neo Queen Serenity. Neo-Queen's infatuation with Serenity and her resemblance to Usagi leads Prince Dimande to kidnap her and force him to kiss her without her consent. This was clearly a very provocative scene for audiences, and the show was criticized for romanticizing sexual assault.

You are the one I want. You are my future, my queen. I will make you mine – Prince Dimande

Another scene can be seen in Season 3 of Sailor Moon Crystal in Episode 3. This is the scene where Sailor Uranus kisses Sailor Moon without her consent at the end of the episode. Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune are considered LGBT icons, but this scene didn't sit well with audiences.

A dark theme deep inside Sailor Moon What makes it stand out is that it's not afraid to give us characters that feel more human than ever, given their complex personalities and the decisions they make. With its grim tone, you may also find inspiration and hope in the battles the Sailor Guardians go through and how they hold out against the forces of evil, even if it means sacrificing themselves.