A new Sailormoon anime?
 As Sailormoon fans the world over get ever more anxious about a new anime, Sailormoon creator Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha and Toei Animation work even harder, to make the new show as memorable as the original 1992-1997 anime. But with news of a new series comes many questions, especially as the proposed time frame for the new show seems to be elapsing..



Rumors about a new Sailormoon anime date back as early as 1997. When episode 200 of Sailormoon StarS/Sailor StarS had finally gone to VHS and Laserdisc, and it seemed like the series had really met it's end, many fans took it as a sign to start posting rumors of it's return online. (Rather bright group of Moonies, right?) Bootleggers, then versed in the purchase of cameras, VCR's, Adobe Photoshop/Photo Deluxe and at-home editing machines, starting selling on eBay fake videos, made from re-drawn and rehashed episodes of the original anime, sold under such titles as Sailor Moon X, Sailor Moon F, and a long list of other titles to entice people to buy. Many of these tapes are now available on eBay on DVD.
Adding to the rumor mill was a note, hidden in the fifth Sailor Moon art book, promising a new book, known as the Materials Collection. Art book #5 came out in 1997, and was followed by the special, Comiket book "Infinity Art Book", but the Materials Collection was delayed until 1999.

Why the delay? Well apparently Naoko wanted to add more content. At first, it was just a matter of early sketches and liner notes for a five year span of characters, but in July of 1999, a certain story about a certain Kousagi Tsukino was completed, and added to the near-back of the book. That September, the book went to print, and while some people dismissed Kousagi's story as just a parody, or a tale celebrating the year of the rabbit, many more took it as a sign that she was the little maiden, signaling a new series.

From 1999 until 2004, Naoko Takeuchi would release a little new art here or there. But despite a few musical plays and a Sentai-rip-off live action show, no new anime surfaced.

Then........... There was a change.
Starting in 2010, the manga started being re-released worldwide. New artwork started cropping up in Italy on all kinds of products, and soon, America had gotten all of Codename Sailor V. By 2011, Sailor Moon and her team were all over the place. Moonies could feel it, a change was coming.

And Kodansha, official publisher of Sailormoon and Sailor V, brought the happy news to the English speaking masses.

Happy 20th Anniversary Sailor Moon! A Live Event from Tokyo and Paris: A Special Report

July 10, 2012 Last Friday, a special event was held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Sailor Moon. As the U.S. publisher of Sailor Moon, Kodansha Comics is pleased to provide a complete report of the event and the special announcements made there.

On July 6, 2012, at 7:30pm in Nicofarre in Roppongi, a district in Tokyo, the Sailor Moon 20th Anniversary Special Event welcomed back the voices of Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon, Kotono Mitsuishi, and Mamoru Chiba/Tuxedo Mask's Toru Furuya in conversation with Fumio Osano, the editor for Naoko Takeuchi's magical girl classic hit.

After 20 years, their reunion revealed a few secrets behind the anime, such as a never-before-mentioned trip to a hot springs resort, and why the anime and manga began so close together. Mitsuishi also confessed that she worked very hard as Sailor Moon because she was her first main character role.

Simultaneously in at Japan Expo in Paris, Momoiro Clover Z took the J.E. Live stage. They appeared in Sailor Moon costumes and performed the anime's opening song "Moonlight Legend" to original choreography. It was live-streamed worldwide.

After the performance, Shiori Tamai, a member of Momoiro Clover Z, announced the production of a new Sailor Moon anime series. A storm of applause rose from the audience. Kanako Momota, the leader of Momoiro Clover Z, also announced that they would sing the new theme song. Momota commented that they would do their best in order to deliver their voices to everyone around the world. As they wrapped up, Momota asked if she could strike Sailor Moon's famous pose with Mitsuishi quoting Sailor Moon's battle cry, and ended the sensational evening with Sailor Moon's famous line, "In the name of the moon, I shall punish you!"

In Nicofarre, praise and cheers for the renowned voice actors and Momoiro Clover Z, as well as astonishment at the new announcement, lit the live monitor before Takeuchi-sensei herself gave her thoughts about the new Sailor Moon anime to end Sailor Moon's 20th Anniversary Event.

Along with the announcement of a new anime, the Sailor Moon Project stated that a new 10-volume collector's edition of the manga will be released monthly in Japan beginning in October. These new volumes will be faithful reproductions of the stories, including color pages and special pages in celebration of the 20th anniversary. A collector's version Codename: Sailor V will be released as well.

A memorial DVD collection of the original Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon anime will also be released. Each volume will highlight on a different character in the series which aired from 1992 to 1997. One volume per guardian will be released monthly beginning in October 2012 in Japan.

The new anime series is stated to debut in Japan in the summer of 2013.

About Kodansha USA Publishing LLC

Established in New York in 2008, Kodansha USA Publishing (KUP) is a subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan's largest publisher. KUP's first works under the Kodansha Comics imprint were Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira and Masamune Shirow's The Ghost in the Shell. KUP has expanded their catalog to include such titles as Fairy Tail by Hiro Mashima, Shugo Chara by PEACH-PIT, and Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi, the highest selling manga in the U.S. in 2012. Kodansha Comics is distributed by Random House Publisher Services.

http://www.kodanshacomics.com

But as the months went by, less and less was said about the new series. And the fans became more anxious.

Finally, Osabu, Naoko's faithful editor and friend, answered a fan's question about the rumors that were starting to swirl.

And as of June 30th, 2013. That is exactly where we stand. No timetable. No further updates. Just fan-made rumor and speculation.

The new merchandise is coming in steady and gorgeous, the manga is about to wrap up it's US run this November, but still we keep searching for answers.

Oh... Holy crap.

After a year of speculation, Toei finally made the annoucnement on April 27th, 2014, that Sailor Moon Crystal would debut on Nico Nico Douga on July 5th, 2014. The 26 episode first season is set during the Dark Kingdom arc of the manga, and would air every first and third Saturday in a primetime slot. (6 a.m. US Eastern time.) While Kotono Mitsuishi will reprise her role as Usagi Tsukino, the other initial Sailor Senshi have been recast. Toei did not follow up with a trailer, but did showcase concept art, which is manga inspired, but has the first five girls with dark eyes, much like ADV's 1999-2001 box art for the DiC years, and like most doujinshi.

On May 17th, Viz Media annoucned that they had secretly redubbed and resubbed the entire original series, all 200 episodes, specials and movies, UNCENSORED, and had gotten the greenlight from Toei to also sub and dub Sailor Moon Crystal. The original series debuts on Hulu May 19th.



While we wait for official word from Toei, Naoko and Kodansha, have a look at the below Galleries, to see what else has been going on.

Only OFFICIAL news is posted in this section.

To legally purchase the new Sailormoon merchandise, click here.

Codename Sailor Earth getting the TRUTH:
Updated on May 18, 2014
Sailor Moon Crystal Concept Art:
Usagi Ami Rei Makoto Minako
Moon Mercury Mars Jupiter Venus
12 on July 16th and about that artbook
No word on Kousagi in the art book
Kodansha wants stickers for box #2

Official photos:
Updated on June 30th, 2013
Clover Z dressed as Sailor Senshi 1 2

Products Naoko Takeuchi approved of:
Note: This only includes what is on the official Sailormoon page.
Updated on June 30th, 2013
Chibi Sailor Senshi charms
Rings in the form of Super Sailor Moon's locket
Sailormoon Nail Polish 1 2 3
Sailor Moon face powder 1 2
Wallscroll
Metal stickers
iPhone cases 1 2
iPhone 5 skins
Daily Planners
Sailor Moon and Luna figures
Sailor Mercury figure
Usagi and Chibiusa on the cover of Tokyo VIVI magazine

actual Sailormoon news reports:
Updated on June 30th, 2013
Osabu suggests that 2014 might not be when it debuts.
Osabu says it will NOT debut October, 2013
Anime News Network's post on the anime delay
Kodansha confirms the Short Stories (including Kousagi) will arrive in the US
Anime News Network announces the anime
Anime News Network mentioning the 20th Anniversary

Credit goes to Anime News Network, Kodansha and the Sailormoon Channel for all the news.

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