High-pitched, relentlessly fast paced, and filmed in
eye-gouging gumball colors, this video series combines two previously released
dubbed episodes from the Japanese animated series, along with a couple of new
ones. The adventures of a group of schoolgirl superheroes, Sailor Moon is
a lighthearted kiddy variation on a ubiquitous Japanese subgenre, stories of
alienated adolescents granted paranormal powers and enlisted on the side of
virtue in apocalyptic struggles across space and time. Imported to the U.S. in
an attempt to create a post-Power Rangers franchise for girls, the show
never became a mainstream megahit in the states, although it still has
passionate fans (thanks to airings on the Cartoon Network). The chirpy, giggly
tone may be off-putting, but the level of visual imagination (and the
self-sufficient courage of the young heroines) can be exhilarating, especially
when kids and parents watch together.
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