[Part 1: Japanese Episodes 1-46]
Episode 1: "Graceful Change of Cry Baby
Usagi"
Series 1 Episode 1 "A Moon Star Is Born"
Changed in all episodes of the English version are the music, opening titles, and scene transitions. The Japanese episodes have less background music and no funky scene transition graphics. The opening titles for the first 26 episodes in Japanese don't show Sailor Jupiter or Sailor Venus.
A major plot change in the first season episodes is that everytime Beryl is talking to the "Negaforce", in Japanese she is actually talking to the "sleeping" Empress Metallia. Beryl's mission is to gather enough energy to reincarnate the Empress. The scenes are mostly the same, except there is no mention of the "Negaforce". In the original series, the villains are from the "Dark Kingdom" rather than the "Negaverse".
In the first English episode, Sailor V is only referred to as a fictional character in a video game or TV series. In the Japanese version, Sailor V is an actual person. In Japanese episode 1, Umino (Melvin) and Naru (Molly) tell Usagi (Serena) that Sailor V has been catching robbers and stopping crimes. Sailor V is the talk of the town and they are even making TV shows and video games about her. In real life, Sailor V was a manga (comic book) by the same author as Sailor Moon. The Crown Arcade and Sailor V video game are actually part of the tie-in between the two series (see Sailor V translations).
Episode 2: "I'll punish
you! The fortune house is a youma's mansion"
[No English Episode Aired]
This episode was dropped from the English version. Supposedly, the English producers skipped episodes which did not contribute to the main storyline. It is true that the episodes skipped are all side-stories. However, the skipped episodes all have scenes which might not go over well with North American parents. Coincidence?
In episode 2, Umino ("Melvin") is in love with Usagi ("Serena"), but doesn't know what to do about it. Naru ("Molly") suggests that he visit a fortune-teller. However, the new fortune-teller in the neighbourhood is actually one of Jadeite's youma (that's what those monsters are called; it roughly translates as "demon"). The youma is "hypnotizing" children to run wild, allowing Jadeite to gather the "energy of rebellious youth". Under this influence, Umino insults his school teacher and lifts up her dress. He also corners Usagi and tries to kiss her. Luckily, Usagi notices the connection between the misbehaviour and the children having visited the new fortune-teller, so she turns into Sailor Moon and defeats the youma.
Episode 4: "Usagi will teach you! The way to get
slim"
Series 1 Episode 3 "Slim City"
This is the episode where Serena is worried about her weight. At the start of the Japanese episode, Usagi's family says she is not overweight, but that she eats too much and is too lazy.
The English version skips a scene. It's lunch time but Usagi isn't eating anything. Umino thinks she has forgotten her lunch and offers her his leftovers. Usagi declines.
The next scene is of the four schoolgirls talking. In English they talk about their mothers not letting them diet, and about the freckled girl's boyfriend, Michael. The conversation is completely different in the original. In Japanese, Usagi explains that she skipped lunch because she is on a diet. The girls talk about different diets and exercises that they've tried. Then the freckled girl says the best diet is falling in love. The girls ask her if she found a boyfriend, and she says "not yet". The girls say they understand the situation. Then the freckled girl gets mad, asking if they mean that she's not pretty enough to get a boyfriend [having freckles is supposedly considered unattractive in Japan]. The chubby girl tells her not to get upset because appearance is something you're born with. The freckled girl says that the chubby girl is the last person she wants to hear something like that from, and the two start to argue.
In English, Melvin fails to mention that the pictures he shows Serena are "before" and "after" shots of Miss Haruna. The second shot shows a thinner Miss Haruna. Also, the pictures were taken only two days apart after Miss Haruna started going to the new health spa.
At the health spa Molly stops working on the excerise bike and talks to her friend. In English, Jadeite says "Hey, you on the bike - back to work" but in Japanese he says "You won't become beautiful if you stop". The English version tries to avoid any suggestion that the girls are going out of their way for the sake of their looks.
Serena gets bored with exercising and goes to the hot tub. Compare the scene from the English episode (left) to the scene from the Japanese episode (right)...
I'm not making this up! [The colour difference is due to different videotape quality.]
The part where Usagi ("Serena") faints outside the arcade is quite different between the two versions. In English, when Serena has fainted, she dreams that Andrew is telling her that she is hurting herself by not eating. He says that she should eat a big steak dinner. Notice that during this scene the two look as though they are about to kiss. In the Japanese version of Usagi's dream, Motoki ("Andrew") says he is going to make her healthy with his "love energy"! In the English version, when Serena wakes up, Andrew talks about how helping Serena has made him realize that he really wants to be a doctor. Then he asks if she has been dieting and if so that she should stop because she is the perfect weight. In the original Japanese, he asks if Usagi's mother is refusing to feed her as a punishment for her bad grades! Usagi replies that no, she is on a diet. Motoki ("Andrew") says "You don't have to go on a diet. In fact it would be better if you gained some weight. I think a girl who is a little chubby is cuter than someone who is very skinny." That's why Serena is so happy, not because Andrew is going to buy her lunch (as he says in the English version)!
In Japanese, Jedite says that a third treatment in the weight-loss pods will drain the last of Miss Haruna's energy and then she will die.
When Serena faces off against the fitness intstructors, she's frightened and Luna gives her a lecture about being brave. What Luna really says is that she must break the gold-coloured rings on the men's foreheads because they are mind-control devices. That's why the next shot is a close-up of these rings. But Serena, frightened, runs away. In the English version, Luna gets her to fight by saying "What about Miss Haruna?". In the Japanese version, she says "If you fight hard, you might lose some weight!". If you watch closely, you will notice that Luna smirks a little, which isn't appropriate for her line in English! Then Serena fights the instructors and breaks the mind-control rings with her tiara attack.
In the Japanese ending, Serena's Mom doesn't say that Shingo (Sammy) is waiting to use the bathroom and Shingo doesn't do anything to the bathroom scales. Instead, Usagi's Mom asks if Miss Haruna has recovered. Usagi says she has, and her Mom says that this is a lesson that you shouldn't try strange diet fads. Shingo says that Usagi will never learn to be sensible, and Usagi starts wailing that she has gained more weight.
Episode 5: "Youma no
kaori! Shaneera ha aiwo nusumu"
[No English Episode Aired]
This episode does advance the story a bit since it explains how Luna gets accepted into the Tsukino household. However, it also has a scene where Sammy kicks Luna, and a scene where Serena hits Sammy. Also, Luna attacks a cute fuzzy animal and throws it over a fence (it's actually an evil cute fuzzy animal!). All this might have something to do with why it was skipped in English. An illustrated summary of this episode has been prepared (see main page).
Episode 6: "Mamore koino
melody! Usagi ha cupid"
[No English Episode Aired]
I guess this episodes doesn't really advance the main storyline too much. But I'm sure that's not why they decided to skip it. In one part of this episode, Usagi (Serena) uses the disguise power to turn into an adult and go into a bar. She also gets into the car of a man she has just met. Our heroine isn't exactly setting a good example is she? And just wait until you see the outfit she wears into the bar! An illustrated summary of this episode has been prepared (see main page).
Episode 7: "Usagi's Hard Lesson! The Way of Stardom is
Tough"
Series 1 Episode 4 "So You Want To Be A Star"
In both English and Japanese, Serena and Molly (Usagi and Naru) try singing the Sailor Moon theme song, although this really makes more sense in Japanese, where the theme song is a regular song rather than a song about Sailor Moon.
After Molly dresses him up, she gets Melvin enthusiastic about the competition by saying he could win an award and then Melvin starts giving a mock acceptance speech. I've seen two translations of the Japanese scene. In one, Naru tells Umino not to worry about studying because he's going to have a real-world job and that Usagi said Umino would be more attractive if he "knew something about the real world." In another translation, Naru says that Usagi said Umino would be attractive if he were a celebrity. Either way, Umino is happy and starts dancing around.
Remember the two girls who tell jokes? Their audition joke in Japanese is actually easily translated since it is a joke about English words that are sometimes used in Japanese. The first girl says "I went to the store to buy a skillet and some tea and they gave me these..." (she holds up a pair of panties). "Why did they give you panties?" asks the second girl. "Because 'pan' and 'tea' makes 'pan-ties'!".
Watch "Sailor Moon Says" for a cut scene of Melvin getting clobbered by a roll of streamer thrown by Serena. [from Bobby Tribble and D. Ricci]
Episode 8: "Is the genius girl a youma? The scary
brain washing cram school."
Series 1 Episode 5 "Computer School Blues"
Some things they couldn't translate literally because it wouldn't make sense unless you had a knowledge of Japanese culture.
When Luna goes to the arcade to check in with "headquarters":
JAPANESE VERSION ENGLISH VERSION Luna This is Luna. Code name 0091. This is Luna. I'm checking The password is the rabbit of in for my new instructions. the moon has some mochi. game The mochi of the moon is What is your password? sticky. Luna It expanded when I I love tunafish and cooked it. fieldmouse pudding.
In Japan, the face of the full moon is said to resemble the outline of a rabbit, so instead of "the man in the moon", they have "the rabbit on the moon". The rabbit is said to be making mochi. Mochi is a sticky rice concoction traditionally eaten at New Years, and made by pounding rice in a tub.
Did you notice that one of the frames is paused briefly when Serena is walking home from school? The English version omits a quick scene where Serena imagines her mother strangling her for getting such a bad test mark.
Just after, when Amy and Serena meet walking home
after school, the English version omits a voice over in which
Serena thinks to herself that she should make friends with Amy so
she can get help with homework and tests. You can tell where the
voice over should have been because Serena makes a mischievous expression.
A flub you may have noticed is that when Amy realizes that she is late for computer school and abandons the Sailor V video game someone yells "She had over 100,000 points!" but the shot of the game screen shows a score of only 6850.
When Amy leaves, she tells Serena that Computer school is only twice a week. In the original Japanese, Ami's "cram school" is every day!
When Amy gets to the school, the instructor asks her to lead the class today. Amy realizes that she has lost the disk and thinks to herself that she will have to redo her homework quickly before class begins. In the Japanese version, the instructor doesn't ask her to lead the class, she just reminds Ami to study hard using the "crystal disk". Ami says that she will, but then thinks to herself that she gets a headache whenever she uses the disk.
When Serena gets to the computer school, she stands in front of the sign by the front door. In the English version she just complains about how much she hates school. In the Japanese version, she actually reads the sign. It says that "you too can be a genius if you study with the special crystal disk".
In the English version, Luna says that they can take the disk to a computer store and look at it. Do you know any computer stores that will let a little girl and a cat play with the computer, unattended? In the Japanese version they go back to school and use the school's computer.
Did you find something odd about Serena's "school superintendent" outfit when she uses disguise power and goes into the school?
JAPANESE VERSION ENGLISH VERSION Usagi: Moon power, become a Disguise power, turn me into nurse! a school superintendent! Usagi: I heard that there was an Who's in charge of this bogus emergency. class? Usagi: Everyone get away from the [frame is paused] computer! student:Huh.. [students groan] Usagi: What. Oh. Ami: Who are you? Don't interfere May I help you Ma'am? Is with everyone's studies. there an emergency of some kind - tell me? Usagi: So you were a youma. More like a total meltdown crisis Ami! Ami: What are you talking about? Have we met? Usagi: Don't pretend. No time to act dumb now! Moon prism power, make up! Moon prism power!
Sailor Mercury's transformation is slightly changed in the American version. A few lines which give the impression of nudity are erased. The left image is from the Japanese TV show, the image on the right is from the North American version.
Sailor Moon's transformation doesn't have these body lines, even in Japanese.
Episode 9 "Usagi's misfortune! Beware of the
rushing clock"
Series 1 Episode 6 "Time Bomb"
In Japan they drive on the left side of the road. Some, but not all, of the bus scenes were flipped in this episode to make it look like a North American bus.
Fipped scene; note backwards letters on sign and driver sitting in the North American position.
They forgot to flip this scene; the bus door is now on the
correct side for Japan, but wrong for North America.
These images are both from the North American TV version. [based on a tip from Jason Huhn]
Episode 10: "The cursed bus! The fighter of
flames Mars appears"
Series 1 Episode 7 "An Uncharmed Life"
In the English episode, Rei's grandfather makes suggestive faces as he offers to take the girls on a tour of the temple. In Japanese, he tells the girls that they are cute and asks if they would like to work at the temple. I don't think that would go over well in sexual-harassment conscious North America!
The ravens are named Phobos and Deimos, which just happen to be the names of the two moons of the planet Mars, but their names aren't mentioned in the English version. [Tip from Michal Bobran]
Sailor Mars' transformation also gets the airbrush treatment...
Left Panel: Japan. Right Panel: North America.
Episode 11: "Usagi and Rei face off? The
nightmare of Dream Land"
Series 1 Episode 8 "Nightmare in Dreamland"
When Rei attacks the Dream Princess with her anti-evil sign, she attacks by leaping down on her. As she does so, her skirt flaps upwards. This shot is removed from the English version, which seems a little prudish since she's wearing the same sort of bodysuit that female gymnasts and figure skaters wear.
Episode 12: I Want a Boyfriend, Too. Cruise Ship Trap!
Series 1 Episode 9 "Cruise Blues"
When Melvin sees Serena and Molly looking at the ad for the cruise he says "I can tell you in detail how this liner was built." to which Serena replies "I'd rather take a math test, Melvin". In Japanese, Umino says that if a boy and girl stayed on the ship all night then they would become a couple for sure. The scene shows Umino's imagination: he and Usagi are side-by-side on the deck of the cruise ship. Then Usagi elbows him hard and Umino goes flying off the screen, but his glasses remain behind and sort of wobble in the air before falling (like when the Coyote in Bugs Bunny cartoons runs off the edge of a cliff and pedals in the air for a few seconds before he falls). Then the scene switches back to the classroom and Usagi saying that nothing would happen if the boy were Umino.
In English, on the ship, Raye says she has a great idea: "let's flirt with some of these cute crew guys and then get our picture taken." When Amy asks why, Raye says so that they can make Serena jealous and Amy replies that she wishes they'd stop feuding. In Japanese Raye has a slightly different plan. She figures that although the guests are all couples some are bound to have fights and break-up leaving free guys for them to pick up! Ami replies that she should have stayed home and studied.
Notice that Raye scowls after Sailor Moon gives her little "for love and justice" speech? That's because in Japanese, Sailor Moon says "For love and justice, the sailor suit beautiful fighter Sailor Moon. Going after only the energy of couples, those two girls there without boyfriends are very pitiful. I'll punish you for the moon!" Naturally, Rei isn't too happy about that comment.
In the English version, Jadeite intentionally escapes back to the Negaverse at the end of the episode, but in the Japanese, he is forcefully recalled by Queen Beryl who is most displeased with the lost of youma Tetis.
Episode 13: "The girls are in unison! The end of
Jadeite"
Series 1 Episode 10 "The Final Fight"
This episode appears to have been translated quite closely. But near the end, when Jadeite appears to have killed Tuxedo Mask, the Japanese dialouge is as follows (based on Steven Clark's translation):
Jadeite: Your trusty Tuxedo Mask is dead. Cry! Scream!
That's all shallow-minded women like you can do without a man's
help!
Sailor Mars: These days, only old men talk about men being better
than women.
Sailor Mercury: That's right! To discriminate against women is a
vestige of the feudal age.
Sailor Moon: I'm opposed to sex discrimination!
All Three Girls: We'll show you what women can do Jadeite!
Episode 14:A new formidable enemy, the evil coat of
arms Nephrite
Series 1 Episode 11 "Match Point For Sailor Moon"]
This is the first episode in which Zoisite speaks. In the Japanese version, Zoisite is a man. Yes you read that right! In the English (and Spanish) versions of the show they rewrite Zoisite as a woman.
One scene starts with a shot of the outside of Serena's house, but immediately after, the dialouge implies that they are at Molly's house. In the original Japanese episode, the OSAP store owned by Molly's mother is shown.
Episode 15: Usagi Upset! Ray-chan's First Date
Series 1 Episode 12 "An Unnatural Cause"
After Darien saves Luna, Serena finds out that Andrew and Darien know each other. In Japanese, this is when she finds out that Mamoru (Darien) is a college student.
In English, Raye talks to Andrew about how much Darien likes martial arts, then thinks to herself that she can use it as an excuse to approach him. In Japanese, she grills Motoki (Andrew) for details on Mamoru (Darien), such as where he lives and whether he goes to a good school. She finds out that he's from a wealthy background, lives on his own, and goes to a very prestigious college. As in English she decides to go for it, and in both versions Andrew/Motoki is amazed at Raye's forwardness.
Episode 16: "Pure White Dress Dream! Usagi
Becomes A Bride"
Series 1 Episode 13 "Wedding Day Blues"
The sewing teacher's fiancée's proposal in Japanese: "Higure-san, I'm just a salaryman with no money to burn, and no height. I can't afford a big reception, but will you marry me?"
Umino (Melvin) retelling the story to Usagi and Naru (Serena and Molly), comments "It wasn't all perfect, but so long as there's love..." to which Usagi replies "Not a chance in my case. Aim for the highest ideal as I can! A handsome guy! The goal, before 25 years old!
When the teachers meet outside the fabric store, Miss Haruna says (in English), "You didn't tell me you were getting married." In Japanese, she thanks Miss Higure for inviting her to the wedding and says that she hopes to find a man at the reception!
In the original, the wedding dress contest prize is a grand wedding reception free of charge. In English, it's a trip to Hawaii.
In English Raye asks Serena if her mother has a sewing machine. In Japanese she says "Your mom is a full-time housewife, isn't she?".
In Japanese, when they go to Usagi's house, Rei compliments Usagi's Mom on her baking but Usagi points out it is store-bought cake. Usagi's Mom smacks Usagi on the head with the tea-tray.
In English, Grandpa yells at Raye for stealing his good linen. In Japanese, Grandpa is upset because he caught Rei taking the shrine's rental wedding robe and thinks she is going to run away with a man! Rei complains that she can't wear the shrine robe to the contest and Grandpa says that a shrine robe shouldn't be used for commercialism anyway. Then Grandpa asks Ami, " Lady, would you like to have a wedding at our shrine? It's way cheaper than a place like Juban Hall." (where the contest is). Ami says no, she has no groom. Grandpa says that he is single.
When the yoma starts using her power to drain everyone's energy, Luna pops out from under Serena's skirts and tells her not to look in the demon's eyes. In Japanese, Usagi says "Hey, you were looking up my skirt. You pervert!"
When the sewing teacher/yoma appears, in English she says "You won't be wasting energy on moronic weddings! From now on, all of you are investing your energy in a new cause! You can't resist, your energy is mine!" In Japanese she says that she has become the most beautiful woman in the world whom no man will be able to resist and even women will kneel before her!
Episode 17: Usagi is a Model? Focus of the Yoma's Camera!
Series 1 Episode 14 "Shutter Bugged"
In English Serena says that Peter goes to Raye's school. In fact, Raye goes to an all-girls school. In Japanese, Usagi says that Kijin (Peter) goes to school near Rei.
In Japanese, Nephrite says that Kijin's energy will build up more if he takes pictures of young women!
When Serena and Darien meet in the arcade, Darien tells Serena that he used to model and that modelling is hard work. In this case the English version is more shallow than the Japanese. In Japanese, he says that Usagi will fail at modeling because true beauty in a woman isn't her outward looks, but what's inside. Mamoru says true beauty in a woman is a generous heart, a love of justice, and the guts to fight for what's right. He says that if Kijin just wants to take pictures of lots of girls, then he must be a third-rate photographer with no understanding of true beauty. Later, Sailor Moon copies Mamoru's speech when she confronts the demon-possessed Kijin, and tells him that true beauty is on the inside. At the end of the episode, Peter/Kijin is interviewed on TV. In English he says that he is going to concentrate entirely on Moon photographs. In Japanese he says he is going to give up photography until he understands what beauty really is, and quotes what Sailor Moon told him. The interviewer asks "who said that?" and Kijin replies "a wonderful girl". Usagi's Mom is impressed and comments to her husband, "I wish Usagi was a wonderful girl like that."...
Episode 18
Series 1 Episode 15 "Dangerous Dollies"
Serena comes into Sammy's room to talk to him about what he did to Mika. In Japanese, she starts the conversation by hitting him on the head!
Mika says "Sailor Venus is cool but I like Sailor Moon". But, the background image shows Sailor V, not Sailor Venus. Sailor V hasn't become Sailor Venus yet! [credit: Jean-Michel Brunet]
Episode 19: Usagi Touched! Tuxedo Mask's Love Letter
Series 1 Episode 16 "Who is that Masked Man?"
In Japanese, Miss Haruna tells the girls that they shouldn't go to the shopping centre (as instructed in the "love letters"), because the letters were obviously sent by a suspicious person. Incredibly, this sensible advice is changed in the English version in which Miss Haruna says she was invited as a chaperone.
In the part where Serena is giving instructions on how to prepare for a date, "wear my coolest socks" was originally "wear clean underwear". Those funny looking socks in her drawer are actually supposed to be panties.
Episode 20:
"Summer, Sea, Holiday! And Ghosts, Too"
[No English episode aired]
This episode was completely skipped in English. Usagi, Ami and Rei take a holiday and go to the beach. On their vacation they stay at a "haunted" house where a girl with strange powers lives.
Episode 21: "Protect Children's Dream! Friendship
Tied by Anime"
Series 1 Episode 17 "An Animated Mess"
At the opening of the episode Serena is watching an ad for the Sailor V movie and says she can't wait for it to come out. In Japanese, she is watching the Sailor V TV show and says she wishes someone would make an anime [cartoon] of her, to which Luna replies that no one would be willing to make such a ridiculous story.
When Laurie and Cassie are walking down the street, Laurie complains about Mr. Masterson picking apart her work, for instance he says that the width of Sailor V's leg is one millimeter off. In Japanese, she says that Director Asato is so abstract and she has trouble understanding him. In the flashback, the director says that her Sailor V isn't quite right; he says he can't feel any love or passion in the way the leg is drawn. Hiromi says "You mean you want me to make it erotic?". Director Asato is shocked and says that he's a father and would never say such things [notice the shocked expression on his face, even in English].
When Ami looks at the envelope that Hiromi drops, it says "Studio Dive." "Studio Dive" is also written on the sign outside the studio. "Studio Live" is the name of a real animation studio in Japan. Director Asato is almost certainly a caricature of Sailor Moon director Junichi Sato (see the Inside Joke List).
As you may know, linking pinky fingers is how Japanese kids make a promise. Some kids do this in the West too ("a pinky promise").
Sailor Mercury confronts Nephrite as he comes out from the animation studio. In English he says "I don't know which one of you is wimpier, you or that cry-baby Sailor Moon." In Japanese he brags to Ami that he has a special youma for them this time.
When Serena tells Raye about going to the animation studio she says "This isn't some bogus scheme ... to meet Sailor V?". In Japanese Rei says that animation is for kids and she's not interested!
The area where they put the Crossroad's Jr High sign on the school building in English is actually just a design in Japanese. You can see part of it when Serena and Amy are walking out of the school. The Japanese school name (Juuban) appears on a sign on the wall in front of the school, but in English, it is covered up by a black box (you can see this when they are talking to Raye). As for the exchange between Amy and Raye after Raye drops her autograph cards, Ami says (in Japanese), "Rei-chan, we're in grade 9 next year", then Rei says "So?" and Ami says "Nothing. That's all." and Rei (remember how her eyebrow is wobbling), thinks to herself "Is she trying to start up a fight?..."
Zoicite makes a cute remark about Nephrite poisoning Sailor Moon's lemonade (looks more like a brandy bottle to me). In Japanese, he just says that Nephrite seems very relaxed.
Episode 22: Romance Under the Moon! Usagi's First Kiss
Series 1 Episode 18 "Worth a Princess' Ransom"
In Japanese, the Imperium Silver Crystal is called the ginzuishou. When the villains appear before Queen Beryl, Zoisite says "Send me. Nephrite is a loser!" In Japanese, Zoisite complains that finding the ginzuishou was supposed to be his (yes, his) task.
When Serena's Dad is taking pictures he sees the disguised Serena and says "She looks just like a princess. I'll have to get a picture of her for Serena. She just loves playing princess." In Japanese he sees the disguised Usagi and thinks "That girl looks like Usagi. I wonder if Usagi will be that beautiful when she grows up."
When Naru (Molly) and Nephrite (as Maxfield Stanton/Sanjouin Masato) are on the balcony, the English Molly thinks "Reality check...me and Maxfield Stanton, no way", but in Japanese she thinks "Sanjouin-sama really is a wonderful man after all".
When we first see Princess Dia (Princess Diamond) she says to herself that she's miserable because she's afraid of talking in front of people. In Japanese, she says to herself that people are only interested in the family treasure and no one ever pays any attention to her. The thing about the Princess thinking that Molly is her stand-in is only in the English version.
In the original version, Usagi slips from Tuxedo Kamen's grasp and falls from the balcony. Tuxedo Kamen dives after her and Luna throws them a parasol which Tuxedo Kamen uses as a parachute. Apparently the translators didn't like this scene so they reused the first scene of Serena being knocked off the balcony, but played it backwards so it looks like she's being pulled up! Then they reused the scene of Serena walking down the hall (notice the stain on her dress re-appears), to fill out the extra time. The English version seems especially odd because when they get out in front of the embassy, Serena is suddenly holding a pink parasol. You can see part of the cut scene in "Day of Destiny" when Serena is trying to get Darien to remember her.
After the princess unveils the diamond, Serena says she needs a few minutes to enjoy herself. Notice that she has an empty cocktail glass in her hand and she's blushing a bit. In the original, she decides to drink one of the cocktails (she thinks it's juice) and becomes slightly drunk!
In the English version, the kiss at the end is supposed to be a dream. In the Japanese version, the kiss actually happens.
Episode 23 Wishing to a Shooting Star! Naru-chan's
Pure Love
Series 1 Episode 19 "Molly's Folly"
Molly refers to Maxfield as Nephlyte, but she doesn't know yet that Maxfield is Nephlyte. In Japanese, she calls him by his 'disguise name' (Sanjouin Masato).
This episode includes a scene where Zoicite caresses Malachite's hand; probably one reason they decided to make Zoicite a woman for the English version.
Episode 24: Naru-chan's Tears! Death of Nephrite for
Love
Series 1 Episode 20 "A Friend in Wolf's Clothing"
Zoisite is spying on Nephrite. He boasts to himself that he is going to find out who Sailor Moon is through Molly. Then Zoisite says "So, Nephrite thinks he's close to finding the Imperium Silver Crystal." but Nephrite never said anything about the Silver Crystal. [Robert Uebele]
Nephrite uses his detection crystal to check if the silver crystal is under Molly's bed sheets (remember you get kind of an "x-ray vision" view through the bed sheets). In the original, he also checks if it is under her pajamas, or inside her body. Molly is lying on her side, with her arms strategically folded across the front of her body.
When Nephlyte is about to die he says to Molly that she will be "in his heart". Interestingly although the sentiment is the same the Japanese dialog is much more indirect; Nephrite apologizes that he won't be able to keep his appointment to eat chocolate parfait.
Episode 25: Power Girl in Love, Jupiter-chan
Series 1 Episode 21 "Jupiter Comes Thundering In"
Did you think the "muffin" in Lita's lunch looked a little odd? It's actually a rice ball.
The Japanese dialogue is a little different on one aspect of the story. When Lita sees Andrew she says "Wow he looks like my old boyfriend Freddy", but in Japanese she cryptically says that he looks like someone she knew. Later, when Joe tries to flee from the coffee shop, Usagi yells at him; "Are you going to leave the girl and run away!" and Joe answers "A big girl isn't my type." Then Joe runs off. Mako (Lita) sadly says, "He said the same thing to me.."
Sailor Jupiter's transformation gets retouched...
Left panels show the Japanese transformation, right panels are from the North American show.
Episode 26: Smile, Naru-chan! Usagi's Friendship
Series 1 Episode 22 "The Power of Friendship"
In Japanese, during Darien's dream at the beginning the Princess urged Tuxedo Mask to find the Silver Crystal but in English the Silver Crystal isn't mentioned.
The sign outside Serena's school is edited to say "Crossroads Junior High" in English.
At Molly's house Melvin comments that Maxfield Stanton has gone missing and Serena squashes him. In Japanese Serena first punches him in the head (!) when he wonders if Naru's (Molly's) depression might be due to a lost love, and then squashes him for suggesting that they go out and get chocolate parfaits. In both versions Naru/Molly suddenly agrees to go out- for a movie in English and for food in Japanese.
When Luna is talking to Amy, Lita and Raye she mentions Queen Serenity but actually she is not supposed to remember about Serenity yet (in Japanese her description of how the Shadow Warriors came about is much more vague). When Lita is talking about how she and Sailor Moon beat the game machine monster, Raye says "With a little help from tuxedo Mask", but Tuxedo Mask wasn't actually there. In Japanese Mako (Lita) says coolly that she'll take care of any monsters and Rei gets annoyed that Mako said it before she could. Then the girls and Luna argue about who should be leader. Lita gives a confident vote for Serena but in Japanese she just says that she doesn't know Usagi well enough yet but is willing to give her a chance.
After Serena's wand starts beeping, Luna tells Serena to remember her earlier explanation about the crystals but Serena wasn't actually there. In Japanese Luna says there is no time to explain.
After Serena transforms Sailor Moon appears standing on top of a cross-shaped gravestone. Of course in Western culture this is very disrespectful plus it actually looked unrealistic that she could be balanced on that spot so in the English version they show only a more close-up shot where you can't really see what Sailor Moon is standing on.
Near the end Serena and Molly mention Nephlyte by name and Melvin doesn't seem to notice. In Japanese they never used Nephrite's name in this scene.
Episode 27: Love to Ami-chan?! A Boy Who Sees the
Future
Series 1 Episode 23 "Mercury's Mental Match"
In the Japanese version, this episode introduced new opening and closing animations and a new closing theme song.
When the kids are looking at the marks, a close-up of the bulletin board flashes up. Can't read Japanese? The close up shows that Usagi ranked 203rd. Mako (Lita) didn't do much better, she was 201st.
When Greg is lying on the park bench he has a vision of himself as a youma shadow warrior monster attacking Sailor Mercury. The English scene cuts off as soon as he swings his blades. In the original the scene continues and is brief but surprisingly graphic- Sailor Mercury lies in a flung-back pose and her clothes are torn off in strips, leaving only the most vital areas covered by scraps of cloth.
In English, Zoicite tells Bunbou (the Shadow Warrior version of Greg) to get the Black Crystal from Sailor Mercury, but Zoicite has the black crystal, Sailor Mercury has a yellowish crystal. [Noticed by Gerard Deveaux]
Later, Sailor Moon tries to heal Greg with the Moon Healing Activation but it fails. Luna says they have to weaken his power before they can change him back. The next line is Amy's; she says "Sailor Moon, do it now!". But they haven't weakened him yet, right? Her original line was more like "We have to do it!".
Some things don't translate exactly between cultures. At the start of the episode, Ami and Ryo (Greg) are on a family-name basis. She calls him Urawa-kun and he calls her Mizuno-san. This is formal, but typical for classmates. At the end of the episode, at the train platform, Ami calls him Ryo-kun (Ryo is his given name) and says that he can call her Ami, so he calls her Ami-san. In Japanese culture, this signifies that they are more than just regular classmates or acquaintances but are friends, or more. In particular for Ami to call him Ryo without him asking is a pretty strong sign that she understands and accepts, at least to some degree, his feelings.
Episode 29: Daikonsen! Gucha gucha koi no shikaku kankei
Series 1 Episode 25 "Too Many Girlfriends"
The scene with Andrew and Darien in the coffee shop is totally different in Japanese [although I think the English version is great!]. They only talk briefly about Reika ("Rita") leaving for Africa. Then Motoki (Andrew) mentions to Mamoru (Darien) that Mako (Lita) is going to come and cook for him. Mamoru says "Don't you know how Usagi feels?" Motoki says "Yeah, they are both cute" and Mamoru thinks that Motoki is kind of missing his point. But Motoki says "Come on, they're only junior high school kids. They're like younger sisters." Then Mamoru thinks about Rei (she's the same age as the other girls); hence the expression on his face!
The scene when Usagi and Mako get close to Motoki's apartment is altered in the English version. In Japanese, Usagi imagines that Motoki is going to ask her to marry him. She imagines him going to kiss her. But Usagi has her eyes closed and is actually puckering up to Mako.
When Usagi whines about not wanting to peel the potatoes (carrots in the original) or slice the onions, Mako hits her! They cut this out of the English version, but you can still see the deformed caricature of Usagi's head being squashed flash across the scene. By the way, the dish they are cooking is Hayashi rice.
In Japanese, when Reika calls she says she has decided to leave.
At the airport, in both versions, Serena/Usagi cries that she will have to give up on Andrew. In English Lita says "I can still flirt with Andrew...as practice for getting a date with Tuxedo Mask". In Japanese she says "Now I'm the only one after Andrew!" but Usagi protests that she still wants him too!
Episode 30: Grandpa's Insanity, Ray-chan in Jeopardy
Series 1 Episode 26 "Grandpa's Follies"
Chad's Japanese name is Kumada Yuuichirou.
The dessert that Usagi brings to Rei is daifuku which is made from sweet bean paste. I'm told it tastes quite good.
The English ending is cute, but in Japanese, the girls try to convince Yuuichirou (not Grandpa) that there was no youma. When Usagi comments on Rei kissing Yuuichirou, Rei says that she's just trying to make him feel better because Grandpa scolds him so much. But Grandpa gets mad and starts yelling that he'll never let Rei marry Yuuichirou, and they all start chasing each other around again.
Episode 31: Loved and Chased! Luna's Worst Day
Series 1 Episode 27 "Kitty Chaos"
The Japanese version is full of "Gone with the Wind" jokes. The cat's name is "Red Battler" ("Rhett Butler"). The little girl's family name is Ohara, and she has a Scarlett O'Hara hairstyle. After Yuuichirou (Chad) says that a wonderful girl like Rei (Raye) probably has better things to do, and rushes off, Rei says "Uh... you left so quickly... 'Gone with the Wind' I guess".
Episode 32: Umino's Decision! I'll Protect Naru-chan
Series 1 Episode 28 "Tuxedo Melvin"
Near the beginning of the episode, Luna gathers the girls at the temple and tells them that there was once a kingdom on the moon and that they must find the Moon Princess. Usagi says "Is there really a rabbit on the moon that pounds the mochi?". This is like saying in English "Is the moon really made of green cheese?" or "Is there really a man in the moon?". The Japanese imagine that the image of the full moon resembles a rabbit making a pounding motion, as if it were making mochi. Nina Matsumoto offers the following explanation of what mochi is:
It's not a dessert or candy or anything like that, but the best way to explain it is that its sort of like mashing steamed rice together to make a sticky, gooey...thing. Hence, all the pounding with the "big wooden mallet" in a wooden "tub". You can make mochi in a machine, but pounding the special type of rice is the traditional way.
You roll the mashed up rice into a ball, cook it, and eat it with some soya sauce, steamed vegetables, red bean soup, almost anything.
If you watched Dragon Ball on Fox, you might have seen the episode where Goku defeats the rabbit monster and uses his power pole to carry the rabbit and his henchmen to the moon. He tells them they have to make "rabbit candies" for all the kids on earth as punishment for their crimes. In the final scene of the episode, you see the rabbit and his henchmen pounding ingredients in a large tub.
When Usagi and Naru go to the arcade, Motoki gives them tickets to the Redman show, explaining that he is too old for that sort of thing. Usagi is disappointed because she thought Motoki was going to ask her on a date and because she's also a little old for Redman. But, she persuades Naru to take Umino (who is crying).
The stuff that the youma throws is called marimo and is some sort of moss.
Episode 33: The Last Sailor Warrior, Venus Comes
Series 1 Episode 29 "Sailor Venus Makes The Scene"
After Serena wails that being Sailor Moon is her job (Zoicite is impersonating her), the scene changes with one of those flying tiara transitions. Partly hidden by the tiara graphic, you can see Mina and Artemis watching Serena from the crowd. [from Kathleen Geraghty] I guess this helps explain why Mina is not fooled by Malachite's trap later. The original Japanese show does not use the tiara graphic for scene transitions.
The Sailor Senshi find Kunzite ("Malachite") holding the fake Sailor Moon captive.
English:
Sailor Moon : "I'm the original champion of justice. Let that girl go!"
Japanese:
Sailor Moon: "That's a bad hobby to tie up girls like that!"
Near the end Artemis introduces Sailor Venus, but the scene shows her wearing her blue skirted Sailor V outfit. In Japanese, Artemis says "Sailor V is Sailor Venus". [from Bob W.]
Episode 34: Shining Crystal! Moon Princess Returns
Series 1 Episode 30 "A Crystal Clear Destiny"
When Mamoru/Darien and Usagi/Serena are trapped in the elevator, he explains to her why he is trying to find the Silver Crystal; how his parents died when he was six years old and he lost his memory, and about his dream in which a mysterious girl tells him that finding the crystal will solve all his problems. In English Serena says something like "That must be awful, not really knowing who you are." In Japanese she says that she had hated Mamoru more than anyone else in the world, but that she would put him second now. In both versions, Darien/Mamoru says thanks.
Episode 35: "Returning Memories! Usagi and
Mamoru's Past"
Series 1 Episode 31 "A Reluctant Princess"
When Serena is wailing that she doesn't want to be a princess and doesn't want to see any more fighting and people getting hurt, Sailor Mars slaps her. The actual slap is cut from the english show but [as Cristian Alvernaz points out] it is shown in the opening preview.
When the girls are trying to find a way out, Sailor Mercury says (in the Japanese version) that the space they are in is only connected to their real world in two of it's three dimensions.
Episode 36: "Usagi in Confusion! Evil Tuxedo Mask?"
Series Episode 32 "Bad Hair Day"
Sailor Venus transformation gets retouched to cover up body lines...
Left is Japanese episode, right is English episode.
Episode 37: "Aim for Princess? Usagi's Strange
Training"
Series 1 Episode 33 "Miss Manners"
I'm surprised they changed Serena's ending lines. In Japanese, she tells Luna that she's going to try to be her own type of princess! :-)
Episode 38: "Snow, Mountains, Friendship! Also a
youma too!"
Series 1 Episode 34 "Ski Bunny Blues"
When Serena and Raye are trapped, Serena gets out the locket from Tuxedo Mask and listens to its melody. Then she apologizes if she has hurt Raye's feelings by reminding her of Darien. In English, Raye says that its ok because Serena and Darien were destined to be together. In Japanese she says "I gave up on Tuxedo Kamen. But you better become happy with him. Otherwise I will punish you!"
At first, Serena ignores Raye's efforts to climb out of the trap. Then she says that they could get out if they transform. In Japanese, she suggests that Rei use her Fire Soul attack ("Mars Fire") to melt away all the snow!
At the end, when Chad recovers, Raye tells him that some crazed ski bunny attacked them and Serena tells him that he scared her off with his awesome karate moves. In Japanese, Rei tells Yuuichiro ("Chad") that the Sailor Senshi ("Sailor Scouts") came and saved the three of them! Yuuichiro is embarrased and apologizes but Usagi assures him that he was very cool. Then Usagi cries because she tells the other girls that she and Rei are closer friends now but Rei denies it.
Episode 40: "The Lake of Monster Legend. Usagi's
Family Ties"
Series 1 Episode 36 "Last Resort"
The scenes in the car are actually not flipped in this episode. Serena's dad's car is an imported German model and it has the steering wheel on the left side. Japanese cars built for the domestic Japanese market have the steering wheel on the right.
This episode contains at least one of the frames that are usually dropped from Raye's anti-evil sign animation. The image is of a dark armored figure surrounded by flames. [See Series 2, Episode 2].
When Serena's family is in the onsen (hot springs), Sammy protests that it smells funny and his father says "Don't worry, that's just the sulphur". In Japanese, he doesn't want to get in because it's a mixed onsen (men and women), but his father points out that only their family is there.
Did you wonder how the girls knew where Serena and her family were? At the start of the episode, Serena leaves a note for Luna saying where her family went and Luna tells the other girls. Presumably they eliminated this scene from the English version because the note was written in Japanese.
When Serena calls to Darien, he says that he doesn't recognize that name, although we have heard Beryl call him "Prince Darien" many times. His line only makes sense in the Japanese version in which his "former life" name, Endymion, is not the same as his regular name (Mamoru).
Episode 41: "I won't run away from love any more!
Ami and Mamoru face off"
Series 1 Episode 37 "Tuxedo Unmasked"
When Endymion (Prince Darien) has Sailor Jupiter cornered and throws his punch she closes her eyes and screams. In English, she doesn't scream. As he walks away, Endymion says "As I thought, it's no contest with you alone!" (i.e. she's useless by herself). [From Heidi Hough and episode synopsis by Tam Wing Sing]
Episode 42:"Sailor
Venus' past, Minako's blighted love"
[No English Episode Aired]
This episode was completely skipped in the English TV version. I have prepared an Illustrated Summary of this episode, or you can read a brief synopsis of the episode here (I've used the English character names for convenience)...
Malachite tells Beryl he has found someone who knows the identity of Sailor V, and that Sailor V probably knows how to find the Sailor Scouts.
Mina is talking with a woman named Katarina. Katarina asks Mina if she can help Sailor V once again, and if Sailor V knows the Sailor Scouts. Mina says she doesn't want to get Katarina involved. Meanwhile, Artemis asks Luna and Serena to help him find Mina, who disappeared after receiving an unexpected phone call. They find Mina by the seaside but are attacked by Katarina, who has been turned into a youma by Malachite. The youma is too strong for just the two of them and they escape in a boat (maybe they cut this episode because they thought Sailor Moon was setting a bad example by stealing someone's boat!).
As they travel, Mina explains. She used to live in London and once, as Sailor V, she saved a little girl who had been taken hostage. She became friends with Katarina, the police officer whom she had helped in that case. She considered Katarina her big sister. She introduced Katarina to Alan, an older boy that Mina was in love with.
One time, Sailor V was caught in an explosion and Katarina thought that she was killed. Mina had actually escaped, but then she saw Katarina and Alan embracing each other and decided to leave so that she wouldn't interfere with their relationship.
After hearing the story Sailor Moon gets very mad and decides to stop fleeing and destroy the youma. But Sailor Venus sees the youma has a locket she had given Katarina as a present, and tells Sailor Moon not to. "But she stole your boyfriend!" Sailor Moon protests. Sailor Venus breaks down in tears and says that Katarina is the one that Alan loves. So Sailor Moon uses her Crescent Wand to turn the youma back into Katarina. Katarina apologizes to Mina, saying that she didn't think of Mina's feelings because she thought Mina was just a child.
Katarina leaves (back to England?) and Mina says she hopes that Alan and her "big sister" will be happy.
Episode 43: "Usagi going alone? The Sailor
Senshi's big fight"
Series 1 Episode 38 "Fractious Friends"
In the Japanese version, Usagi intentionally leaves the Silver Crystal with Rei.
Episodes 44-46
[Series 1, Episodes 39 and 40]
N.B. There are many, many changes in these last two English episodes. Some other people have made web pages about these two episodes (see Sailor Moon links page).
The last three episodes were compressed into two episodes for the english version. The Japanese version is more violent. In the Japanese equivalent of "The Past Returns", the invading dark forces, led by Queen Metalia and her sorceress Beryl, kill the original Sailor Senshi ("Sailor Scouts"). Princess Serenity runs to Endymion ("Prince Darien") for help. They are lovers, but in secret, because Earth people are not allowed in the Moon Kingdom (that is why he wears a mask when he is inside the palace at the Princess's ball). Metallia strikes them apart, capturing Endymion (whom Beryl wants for herself) and slaying the Princess. Queen Serenity uses the ginzuishou ("Silver Crystal") to destroy the enemies and sends the crystal and the spirits of the slain girls to earth. She sends Artemis and Luna in time-suspension capsules to be their guardians. Then Queen Serenity dies. Most of this episode, especially the flashbacks to the Moon Kingdom was cut out in the English version.
In the next episode, the girls enter the dark kingdom, but all except Sailor Moon are killed. The changes in this episode are more in what you hear than in what you see. In English, you are not sure if they are dead or not, but in Japanese it is clear that each girl meets a violent end. At the end of the episode, Sailor Moon is devastated and can't go on, but she receives a vision of the other girls consoling her. [You can see part of this scene in the english "Sailor Says" segment after episode 40. Reported by Cristian Alvernaz].
In the next episode (same episode in the English version), Beryl forces Endymion to fight Sailor Moon. Some of the fight is cut from the English version. In both versions, Sailor Moon uses her tiara to almost kill Endymion, then uses the locket he gave her to restore his memory. Seeing his memory restored, Beryl casts a rock spear at them. Endymion throws his rose, shattering the spear and striking Beryl. What is cut from the English version is a fragment of the spear hitting him and Sailor Moon crying over his dead body.
[In English, they cut out the scene of Darien actually getting hit by Beryl's crystal spear, but they didn't cut it off early enough; if you play back a tape in slow-motion you can see it hit him. You can also see part of the spear protruding from his chest later [from Hannah].]
When Beryl goes to Queen Metallia, she does not give Beryl more power. Rather, she absorbs Beryl's body in order to reincarnate herself (thus she takes on Beryl's appearance except is ten times larger).
Metallia attacks Sailor Moon and forms a huge ice tower, but the top breaks open to reveal Princess Serenity and the Ginzuishou. We see Tokyo darkened with storms raging. Luna screams into the night begging Usagi-chan not to use the full power of the crystal because if she does she will die (Usagi/Serena knows this; that's why Queen Serenity died when she used the crystal to defeat the Dark Kingdom and save her daughter the first time).
Princess Serenity battles Queen Metallia, but the protective sphere around the Princess is shrinking. She can't do it on her own...but the spirits of the four Sailor Senshi appear and lend her their strength. A huge ball of energy expands out from the crystal, destroying Metallia utterly. Princess Serenity becomes Sailor Moon once again. She falls, but whispers her thanks up to the sky as she dies. The ball of energy continues to expand, engulfing her body and that of Mamoru (Darien) and the icy tombs where the bodies of the four Sailor Senshi lie. It covers the whole Dark Kingdom base (it is underground beneath the arctic) and can even be seen from space. Serena's voice-over says that all she wants is her old life back...
So, how do Serena and Darien meet again in the Japanese version? At the end of the episode, Usagi is walking down the street with Naru (Molly) and fretting about her poor test score. She crumples up the test and throws it over her shoulder, where it hits Mamoru (exactly the same as the first time she met him). He makes a comment about her poor score and walks away. Usagi gets mad, but Naru comments that he's pretty handsome and might be Usagi's ideal man...
END OF THE FIRST SERIES