Good ol' Funi. They've really listened to the customers. I would love a re-dubbing. I mean, it's not the fact that DiC censored violence or profanity that bothered me. It's the fact that they changed the characters' personalities.

Behold, an early FAQ which addresses some of the major concerns of Kodansha NA's forthcoming release of the Sailor Moon manga.

Deb Aoki wrote:

New Editions of Sailor Moon Manga Will "Stay True to Original"

By Deb Aoki, About.com Guide  April 18, 2011

When Kodansha Comics, the U.S.-based division of Japanese manga publishing giant Kodansha announced that they would be releasing new English editions of Sailor Moon and Codename: Sailor V by Naoko Takeuchi in Fall 2011, fans were elated. But while it was great news to hear that these new editions of Sailor Moon would have new translations and would follow the format of the Japanese deluxe editions, a few questions lingered.

Would the names of the characters remain Anglicized? (e.g. "Bunny" instead of "Usagi" and "Darien Shields" instead of "Mamoru Chiba") Would Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune remain "cousins" instead of lovers? And why did it take so long for Sailor Moon to return?

I asked some of these questions to the folks at Kodansha Comics and while it took a while, I got a few replies back that might satisfy the curiosity of Sailor Moon fans in North America.

Q: I guess the first question that comes to mind is: What took so long? Was there a particular reason why it was out of print for almost six years?

Kodansha: We were informed that Ms. Takeuchi felt that the time was right to reintroduce Sailor Moon, not just in the U.S., but in other countries as well. For example, the new edition of manga started being published in Italy last year.

Q: It's great to hear that the new editions of Sailor Moon will be similar to the deluxe editions that were issued in Japan. Will the new Kodansha Comics English editions will have the color pages and stickers as in the Japanese edition?

Kodansha: The Kodansha Comics editions of Sailor Moon will include all of the color pages, but not the stickers.

Q: Will this edition of Sailor Moon be released in a larger trim size or will they be presented in the standard smaller paperback editions?

Kodansha: They will be in our standard 7.5" x 5" format.

Q: Will Codename: Sailor V be released in September the same time as Sailor Moon Vol. 1?

Kodansha: Yes, it will. The second volumes of both series will release in November 2011, and Sailor Moon will continue every two months after that. (NOTE: There will be 12 volumes of the regular storyline and two volumes of side stories, for a total of 14 volumes)

Q: One complaint that fans have about the prior TokyoPop editions is how much the characters' names were Anglicized (e.g. "Bunny" and "Darien"). Will the Japanese names, cultural quirks be retained in this new edition of Sailor Moon?

Kodansha: The Japanese names and cultural references will remain intact, and there will be our standard "translation notes" section in the back of the books.

Q: Another concern is that the TokyoPop editions (and to be fair, in editions published in other countries too) downplayed, if not outright changed the lesbian relationship between Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus. Will this aspect of the original Sailor Moon story be retained in this new edition?

Kodansha: The Kodansha Comics translation will stay true to Takeuchi's original storytelling vision and characterization.

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It still remains to be seen if Kodansha will be releasing Sailor Moon as a digital edition, or if Takeuchi-sensei will be making any appearances in North America to celebrate Sailor Moon's return. So far, no word on any re-release of the Sailor Moon animated series yet either, but it may be too early to say either way.

In any case, it's pretty exciting to see Sailor Moon returning to print after several years absence. Amazon and Right Stuf are already offering both titles for pre-order, if you're eager for your fix of magical girl fun, you'll only need to wait a few more months.

Source

Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z were the first animes I watched as a kid and so I'm happy about the Sailor Moon manga being re-released. I don't think we've ever gotten the Sailor V manga in the US, so that's a bonus. Since they both come out in September, I think I know what my parents can get me for my birthday. I never read the American version of the manga when it came out. And even though there are scans of it floating around online, when I noticed the Americanitis I was all, "No, Just No!" and I didn't read it.

So, I am very pleased with Kodansha's answers. It seems like Americans will finally be able to get the real, non-watered-down version of Sailor Moon. I'm also happy that Kodansha doesn't think that gay people have cooties and won't be changing Sailor Uranus' and Sailor Neptune's relationship. Keeping all the Japanese cultural references in is great too because it is a Japanese series, not an American series. I can find works that have American culture in them every day since that's were I live. So, why bother to change the cultural references?

As for a re-dub, I'm not that interested in it. I've been a fan of subtitles ever since I was thirteen and learned about all the editing that was done to Sailor Moon, DBZ, and other animes in order to make them "appropriate" for US television. I am curious to see if American society has evolved enough to handle a lesbian couple on Sailor Moon or if they will make Haruka and Michiru into cousins again. But otherwise, if Funimation picks up Sailor Moon, the main thing I'm interested in is the eventual uncut DVD releases. I do have all five seasons of Sailor Moon on DVD but these are sets I bought from random people on amazon.com and I doubt that they are official releases, especially my Sailor Stars DVD. The subtitles on these sets are pretty good, but occasionally they miss a line or two. I think an official release would be nice to own. Plus, they might also release the movies and the SuperS specials that weren't aired in the US.

I have the uncut DVDs of the first four seasons of Dragon Ball (the series before Goku finds out he's an alien) and I think Funimation did a pretty good job on the DVDs.  While there aren't that many extras, the subtitles are really well-done and they don't miss lines. They also include the Japanese honorifics in the subtitles (instead of trying to translate them).

So, go Sailor Moon!

Last edited by CausalityStar (05-02-2011 09:16:46 PM)

I'm so excited
SO thrilled to hear that they're going to keep Uranus and Neptune lesbian, as they should be

I waited for years before I finally watched Stars. It was such a sense of finality. I cried and cried at the end, in part because it was wonderful, but more because Sailor Moon is just so damn important to me. I met my Paradox through it, after all.

Then I watched the live action version, which was deliciously bad. However, now whenever I hear a certain part of its opening song, I get all choked up.  Somehow, it just piled on that sense of finality.  I'll admit, I'd definitely watch a remake--as long as they kept the seiyuu. Mitsuishi Kotono is the only Usagi (well, except for those handful of episodes when she was out on maternity leave), no one but Han Keiko can be my Luna, yada yada.  Hisakawa Aya is quite probably my favorite seiyuu ever at this point (although Ami isn't my favorite BSSM character--I'm a Mako girl, through and through).

I need to get the second volume preordered soon as it's up.

Trench Kamen wrote:

But if there's a redub, we won't get to hear about "mall trawling" or be told to "cool your jets!". :(

Mylene wrote:

Vic Mignona as Tuxedo Mask?! :confused:

NO. Christ, no. I hope not.

Seriously, though, I am stoked about this. I don't give a shit about the redub, but I am so happy the manga is getting a re-release. I love this series. And if it introduces more people to the original Sailor Moon, that's even better.

Yeah I love all the ridiculous slang in the English dub :rofl:

Last edited by artemis88 (06-10-2011 09:26:57 PM)

Rewatching the last boxsets again after the weirdly delightful celebrity-cast Sailor Moon dream of the other night. How can so many eps follow exactly the same order & barely move forward, but captivate me so much!?!

So if the re-release doesn't happen, what's the best way to watch the show?

Are you new to the Internet?

I freaked out when I read this!!! Sailormoon being rereleased? SO COOL! Sailormoon was my first love and I'm glad it's finally getting the release it deserves...and, uh, Sailor V? I haven't bought a new manga title in three years, but I am so pre-ordering Sailor V! As for a re-dubbing, it would be cool, especially because it would give the show a chance to re-air on American television, but that would be the only reason I'd like a re-dub. Over the years I've grown to prefer the Japanese voice actors.

I really do wish they'd release on TV again, then I could be eight years old again and watch Sailormoon on TV everyday

PrettyPeopleWithSwords wrote:

Overlord Morgus wrote:

So if the re-release doesn't happen, what's the best way to watch the show?

Are you new to the Internet?

I guess I meant the best way to legally watch it. I googled around a little and it wasn't clear to me how many releases there had been and which ones were the best. I can try the Youtube link too I suppose, haha.

Picking up the previously released series can be pretty tough.  ADV released sub-only boxsets for the first season and R. Then Geneon released unedited DVDs for S and SuperS, as well as all of the movies.  All of these releases are out of print, and some can be extremely pricey.  You can find the singles from Geneon at used bookstores and the like for reasonable prices though. But that can be pretty hit or miss.

Last edited by Mylene (07-14-2011 06:21:59 PM)

Thank you, that's just the sort of thing I wanted to know!

Mylene wrote:

According to a Funi rep on ANNCast, everyone wants the anime license, which is in part contributing to what's taking so damn long to get it announced.

If true, this will be the best news since Nozomi rescued Utena.

+5000 if they get Stars and the specials.

And even better if the release isn't messed up somehow, whether by the US licensor or Toei crippling it for whatever reason.

Last edited by Imaginary Bad Bug (07-21-2011 12:18:04 PM)