How to watch Sailor Moon in order

How to watch Sailor Moon in order

As someone who grew up with Sailor Moon blasting through my television every Saturday morning, I can confidently say that the release of Sailor Moon Cosmos marks a significant milestone for me and countless other fans worldwide. This final installment in the rebooted adaptation of Sailor Moon Crystal is, as of now, the end of an era – but fear not, dear readers! The world of Sailor Moon may yet spin on its axis once more, should our beloved creator Naoko Takeuchi decide to bestow us with another tale from the stars.


Some anime have become so universally recognized that they’re familiar to people who haven’t watched a single second of anime before.

There’s Naruto, Pokémon, Digimon, Attack on Titan and, of course, Sailor Moon.

The lead character, Usagi Tsukino, along with her magical feline companion Luna, and their teammates – Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Venus – became the beloved heroes of many when they first transformed into their distinctive sailor outfits on-screen, bravely battling wicked adversaries.

In the early 90’s, Naoko Takeuchi introduced the Sailor Moon franchise as a manga series, which has since expanded to include anime, films, spin-offs, video games, and even fashion lines – essentially, if you can imagine it, Sailor Moon probably covers it.

It’s so popular that the franchise has made over $2.5 billion in merch sales since its inception.

Due to the frequent revivals and updates of Sailor Moon, choosing a suitable starting point might prove challenging.

There might be some debate among long-time fans about which part of the Sailor Moon series, first aired in 1992, or Codename: Sailor V, which premiered in 1991, serves as the optimal starting point for newcomers to the franchise.

To discover all there is to know about the Sailor Moon series and learn the proper viewing sequence, be sure to delve deeper into the details.

How to watch Sailor Moon in release order

How to watch the Sailor Moon franchise in chronological order, according to its original release:

  • Sailor Moon (Season 1)
  • Sailor Moon R (Season 2)
  • Sailor Moon R: The Movie – Promise of the Rose
  • Sailor Moon S (Season 3)
  • Sailor Moon S: The Movie
  • Sailor Moon Super S (Season 4)
  • Sailor Moon Super S: The Movie
  • Sailor Moon Sailor Stars (Season 5)
  • Sailor Moon Crystal (Reboot)
  • Sailor Moon Eternal Part 1
  • Sailor Moon Eternal Part 2
  • Sailor Moon Cosmos Part 1
  • Sailor Moon Cosmos Part 2 

How to watch Sailor Moon in order

Should I start watching Sailor Moon or Sailor Moon Crystal?

Indeed, some may find that the original Sailor Moon series from the 1990s contains a lot of unnecessary content (although, if you’re fond of their outfits and magical transformations, it could be quite enjoyable). If you’re seeking an entry point into the franchise that’s most straightforward, I’d recommend Sailor Moon Crystal.

The current series is a loyal representation of the original manga, making it highly improbable for it to retell any plotlines from previous versions of the franchise that weren’t initially conceived by Takeuchi.

How many series are there in the Sailor Moon franchise?

How to watch Sailor Moon in order

In 1992, the animated adaptation of Sailor Moon started airing, running for a span of 46 episodes before concluding in 1993. This series introduced characters like Usagi, the Sailor Guardians, and their adversaries from the Dark Kingdom to the world.

After the initial series, I found myself diving into the sequel known as “Sailor Moon R.” This season essentially served as a continuation of the original, with the Sailor Guardians battling against the Black Moon Clan. It was an entirely fresh narrative, not drawing heavily from the ideas of Takeuchi, and it paved the way for a subsequent movie (which I’ll delve into later).

Between 1994 and 1995, a new installment of the franchise called “Sailor Moon S” was released, marking its third season and consisting of 38 episodes in all.

In the animated series, Usagi and her friends encountered the ominous group known as Death Busters. Although the tone of the show might have been more somber compared to previous installments, it was its delving into deeper, darker topics that resonated deeply with viewers, making it a beloved choice among fans.

Following that, we got to “Sailor Moon Super S,” which served as season 4. Unlike its predecessors, this spin-off was intended for a younger audience, resulting in a more playful and less intense narrative. In all, it comprised of 39 episodes.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but reminisce about the captivating finale of the original Sailor Moon franchise – Sailor Moon Sailor Stars. This extraordinary series marked the end of an era, stretching our beloved storyline to a magnificent five seasons! Spanning across 34 episodes, it gripped us from 1996 to 1997. The narrative took a somber turn, revisiting the ominous Sailor Wars, making every episode a thrilling journey.

2014 saw a modern revival of the original TV show, known as “Sailor Moon Crystal”. This anime adaptation lasted until 2016, comprising a grand total of 34 episodes.

The faithful adaptation of Takeuchi’s manga covered the Dark Kingdom, Black Moon and Infinity arcs again, and it is more closely tied to its source material.

How do the Sailor Moon films fit in the franchise?

I’ve come across several motion pictures that belong to the Sailor Moon universe, each one serving as a continuation of its corresponding anime series in chronological order.

1993 saw the release of Sailor Moon R: Promise of the Rose, which served as a follow-up to Sailor Moon R, and in 1994, Sailor Moon S: The Movie hit screens, continuing the story from where Sailor Moon S left off.

1995 saw the release of “Sailor Moon Super S: The Movie,” a continuation following the television series “Sailor Moon Super S.”

In addition to the TV series Sailor Moon Crystal, there have been several sequel movies that follow the storyline from Takeuchi’s manga known as the Dream arc. These films will amount to a total of four, with the first two being named “Sailor Moon Eternal Part 1” and “Sailor Moon Eternal Part 2”, while the remaining set is called “Sailor Moon Cosmos Part 1” and “Sailor Moon Cosmos Part 2”.

In Japan, the two Sailor Moon Cosmos movies made their debut on June 9th and June 30th of 2023. As of now, no joint international release dates have been set for these films.

Is Sailor Moon Cosmos the final Sailor Moon movie?

How to watch Sailor Moon in order

As a devoted fan, I’m excited to share that right now, we’re at the end of the reimagined journey with Sailor Moon Crystal, and that means Sailor Moon Cosmos serves as the concluding film in the Sailor Moon saga, for the time being.

Of course, it’s possible that we might see another restart or further episodes in the series down the line, given that this has happened on numerous occasions before.

Since Sailor Moon Cosmos incorporated the ‘Stars’ storyline, the last arc of the manga that was published in 1997, it’s possible that more content will be added to the manga before a new anime is revealed. We’ll just have to keep an eye on what Naoko Takeuchi plans next.

Does Naoko Takeuchi still make Sailor Moon?

Naoko Takeuchi, the creator of Sailor Moon, has consistently overseen all projects linked to Sailor Moon across various adaptations and reboots. This includes her role as chief supervisor for the latest movies, Sailor Moon Eternal and Sailor Moon Cosmos, which were based on the ‘Dream’ and ‘Stars’ story arcs from the original Sailor Moon manga series.

In the movie “Sailor Moon Eternal,” we saw the comeback of renowned Japanese animator Kazuko Tadano. She was instrumental in designing characters for the original 1990s Sailor Moon anime series, and Naoko Takeuchi, the creator of the project, had long hoped to collaborate with her from the very beginning.

As a movie reviewer, I’m here to share my thoughts on the latest developments in the Sailor Moon universe. While Kotono Mitsuishi, the cherished voice behind Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon, has decided to hang up her cosmic talismans after the unveiling of Sailor Moon Cosmos, fear not, fellow fans! The creative mind of Naoko Takeuchi, the series’ author and mangaka, continues to weave enchanting tales as she churns out new artwork. And if that isn’t enough to keep us dreaming, Takeuchi is also hinting at a secret project brewing within the Sailor Moon franchise. Stay tuned for more updates on this magical odyssey!

How to watch Sailor Moon in the UK

Unfortunately, neither the initial Sailor Moon series nor its remake, Sailor Moon Crystal, can be streamed online. But, good news! The first series has been made available by Viz Media on Blu-ray and DVD formats.

I’ve been thoroughly impressed by their dedication to preserving the magic of my beloved Sailor Moon series. They’ve painstakingly remastered not only Sailor Moon R, Sailor Moon S, Sailor Moon Super S, Sailor Moon Sailor Stars, and Sailor Moon Crystal, but have done so with a level of care that truly resonates with me as a fan.

As a devoted cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that you can own each of these marvelous movies on DVD and Blu-ray, all thanks to Viz Media.

Currently, you can stream both Sailor Moon Eternal movies on Netflix. Additionally, Sailor Moon Cosmos was released on Blu-Ray and DVD in December 2023. It is scheduled to launch globally on Netflix on August 22nd, 2024.

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2024-08-15 13:35