How Sailor Moon Has Maintained Cultural Relevance
Image Courtesy: Strike Magazine Tallahassee
Sailor Moon is a character that has been around since 1991. Originating from a manga, the story continues to be adapted and transformed, even to this day! What is it about this magical girl’s story that has kept it in the public eye for so long, and how has it continued to stay relevant?
Image Courtesy: Toei Animation
Sailor Moon is something that has drawn people’s attention for decades. The large cast of characters with their own personalities and looks has made it easy for viewers to find someone they can identify with. The striking sailor scout outfits are easily recognizable, even to people who are unfamiliar with the details of the franchise.
With an almost entirely female cast, Sailor Moon tells the story of girls saving the day and being heroes while still being everyday students and friends. Sailor Moon was one of the first major franchises to promote this kind of female empowerment, specifically in the cartoon scene. Keeping this message alive for young girls growing up is incredibly important, and it’s great to see people continue to support Sailor Moon to spread the positivity this franchise is filled with.
Image Courtesy: Pedestrian
Sailor Moon has been able to stay as popular as it is because of the active community that has surrounded it all these years. Cosplayers and artists have taken this franchise and put their own unique twist on it through their costume design and artwork. Maintaining healthy conversation about the show, its characters, aesthetics, and themes have kept it culturally relevant as it continues to grow in popularity. If it wasn’t for the adults that grew up with the franchise during its infancy sharing how the show has impacted them, we wouldn’t be able to keep the show around for a new generation of kids.
Image Courtesy: Instagram (@shellsnroses)
While there have been plenty of film and TV spin-offs of Sailor Moon, the franchise has also been able to insert itself into several other forms to maintain its relevancy. The franchise has its own ColourPop makeup palette, an ice skating show, a theme park attraction, board games, an idol group with original music, and much more! Each new interpretation of this franchise reaches a new audience and expands the popularity of the show even further. Each of these new presentations of Sailor Moon are a testament to how accessible and enjoyable the original story is.
Image Courtesy: Sailor Moon Fan Network
Very few franchises are as easily recognizable as Sailor Moon. You don’t have to be an enjoyer of anime or manga to know these characters and what they represent. If you’ve never looked deeply into the franchise before, I encourage you to check it out, in any of the unique ways you can experience it. It’s exciting to see how the Sailor Scouts will continue to be shared for years to come, in all sorts of new ways!
Strike Out,
Writer: Dana Liberto
Editor: Noelle Knowlton
Graphic Designer: Lauren Wakeman
Tallahassee