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‘Sailor Moon R: The Movie:’ VIZ Media Plans Limited North American Theater Release Of Film

By Jonathan Brown
Published on: 10:41 PST, Nov 13, 2016

As part of their official restoration project of anime classic Sailor Moon, entertainment company VIZ Media are allowing American fans to experience something that initially took place 23 years ago in Japan.

According to Crunchyroll, during Saturday night’s “Moonlight Party” fan event to celebrate the release of the Sailor Moon S re-dub, it was announced that an HD, fully-restored version of the first of three films connected to the franchise, Sailor Moon R: The Movie, would receive a limited theater engagement in North America early next year.

A previous edit, renamed Sailor Moon R: The Movie — The Promise of the Rose, was initially released on DVD back in 2000 through Pioneer Entertainment with the first wave of voice actors that most American fans grew up with. However, as with all previous VIZ offerings, this will be the first time that many non-Japanese fans will witness the story completely uncensored (the updated VIZ English dubs stick closely to the scripts that were used during the original 1992-1996 Toei Animation run), as well as on the big-screen.

Additionally, just as it was with the 1993 Japanese debut of Sailor Moon R: The Movie, filmgoers will also be treated to the well-regarded, yet rarely viewed mini-movie before the feature attraction, Make Up! Sailor Guardians, which centers on Usagi (Sailor Moon) and Chibi-Usa (Sailor Chibi Moon) overhearing diners’ thoughts on who they feel is the most useful out of all the Sailor Guardians.

“Usagi and Chibi-Usa are at the cafe when they overhear two girls debating which of the Sailor Guardians is the best,” the summary for Make Up! Sailor Guardians reads. “Will Usagi’s alter-ego, Sailor Moon, end up being their favorite?”

Sailor Moon R: The Movie focuses, in part, on a section of Mamoru’s (Tuxedo Mask) life before he discovered the truth regarding his destiny alongside Sailor Moon/Princess Serenity.

As a small boy, he was the sole survivor of a car crash that sadly claimed the lives of both of his parents. While recovering, another young boy named Fiore — whom the audience eventually discovers is an alien –becomes his greatest confidante and closest friend. As a way to repay him for his kindness, Mamoru offers Fiore a flower; a small token of affection for most, but one that Fiore swears to repay one day with the most beautiful flower he can find.

Many years later, the outer-space creature follows through on his promise and finds a plant that he deems worthy of gifting to a now-adult Mamoru. Unfortunately for him, however, it turns out that his offering is equal parts beautiful and dangerous.

“The mysterious flower he finds has a dark side,” a summary for the film reads.

“It has the power to take over planets. To make matters worse, the strange plant is tied to an ominous new asteroid near Earth! Faced with an enemy blooming out of control, It’s up to Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians to band together, stop the impending destruction and save Mamoru!”

The current batch of voice actors attached to the VIZ redub of Sailor Moon, as well as the concurrent reboot of the series, Sailor Moon Crystal, will be loaning their talents to the film. Voice performer Ben Diskin, who portrays the geeky Umino Gurio on both series, will be tackling Fiore for Sailor Moon R: The Movie. Along with a teaser trailer, the media company released a small introductory message with Diskin, actress Stephanie Sheh, who voices the main Pretty Guardian herself, Usagi Tsukino (the alter ego Sailor Moon), and Robbie Daymond, the man behind Mamoru.

Sailor Moon R: The Movie and Make-Up! Sailor Guardians will make their American film screen debuts on January 17, 2017. The first part of Sailor Moon S is rumored to be rolling on streaming sites Hulu and Crunchyroll beginning November 15. Dates for the DVD release of both the movie and Sailor Moon S have yet to be announced. Check out the film’s teaser trailer below.

[Featured Image by Sailor Moon Universe/Facebook]

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