Sailor Moon Sailor Stars

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Stars; animated fantasy / drama / comedy series, Japan, 1996; D: Harume Kosaka, Junichi Sato, Takuya Igarashi, Hiroki Shibata, S: Kotono Mitsuishi, Shiho Niiyama, Narumi Tsunada, Chika Sakamoto, Michie Tomizawa, Rica Fukami, Aya Hisakawa, Emi Shinohara, Megumi Ogata

Galaxia, the most evil being that wants to conquer the whole Galaxy, awakens Nehelenia and tricks her into attacking Sailor Moon and the other senshi. After the senshi pacify her, they have to take on Galaxia's servants who attack people to steal their sailor seed. At the same time, Three Lights, a pop group consisting out of Seiya, Taiki and Yaten are transferred to Usagi's class. She starts falling for Seiya since Mamoru went to study abroad. In the end, they again save the world and Mamoru returns to Usagi.

"Save the best for last", the old saying goes. And the authors of "Sailor Moon" kept close to that motto when they made the final season "Stars" a worthy farewell to this hyped cult anime. After the previous season rather disappointed a part of the fans, the authors returned to the old glamour and presented all the virtues again in full light, evidently also returning the beloved outers Haruka and Michiru to the story. The "opening" six episodes make a retroactive jump back to finish the Nehelenia segment in a satisfying manner, yet it's by no means a way to buy time since it's crammed with brilliant visual style (in episode 167 Nehelenia's face is placed horizontally in space while a violet 'curtain' is seen in the background presenting Galaxia's voice; in 168 Hotaru is in her room observing a giant sphere that shows the whole history of the Universe; the moment where a hypnotised Usagi spots a rose earring, remembers all her passion and Mamoru and regains consciousness, while the fake dream world breaks into pieces behind her is virtuoso directed) while it also neatly sums up Nehelenia's arc: a person who shuts herself out from the rest of the world as to not confront her own insecurities and an inconvenient truth.

Yet the main segment is the real sensation: the pop group Three Lights—Seiya, Taiki, Yaten—is introduced into the story and proves to be a dream come true. They are such charismatic characters and even though there are only three of them, they irresistibly remind of the legendary Beatles. And their songs are also excellent: when they sing, they really sing ("Search For Your Love"). Their first episode, no. 173, features also one of the finest anime frames of the century—the endearing moment of Usagi, Rei, Minako, Makoto and even Ami jumping up and down over the crowd, again and again, in order to see the Three Lights filming, with the faces of the five girls randomly popping up to symbolize how their idols inspire them to rise above the other people and find a way to them. The authors also decided to improve a whole bunch of standard "Sailor Moon" flaws, since they got rid of the increasingly useless Tuxedo Mask character and inserted self-irony into the dry heroic speeches of the heroine, though it has to be said that there are still a couple of flaws here, like a few routine episodes, unconnected dramaturgy, Moon's weird wings and 'monster-of-the-day' cliche. But, the season is so filled with brilliant moments that it splashes us with them, destroying pillar after pillar of apathy, until it turns into a very satisfying experience. Through Three Lights and Galaxia, the authors tackle the themes of Xenophobia and imperialism, but also idol-fan attitude—the idea that Seiya, as a person, not as a celebrity, becomes Usagi's very own personal idol is miraculous. The relationship between the two of them is wonderfully aesthetic and exciting—she bashfully waits for Mamoru, but is attracted to Seiya who can sense that. Every second they interact is full of sparks, almost displaying "stolen flirting".

In episode 181, Minako unsuccessfully tries to persuade Taiki to go to the cinemas with her. Then Usagi shows up and asks her: "What was the title of the movie you wanted to see?" and Minako flat out says: "...Adult Love XX..." Whoever managed to insert that joke into the episode, is a genius. Episode 188 also has a wonderful 'slice-of-life' moment: Ami and Makoto are concealing from Usagi that they plan to go for a Three Lights film premiere on a plane, and when a clumsy Minako shows up, she tries to hide it as well: "Usagi, how come you woke up so early this morning?" - "I always wake up when I smell a secret". The moment in episode 194, where Seiya comforts Usagi on the rooftop during the rain, she loses herself and starts to cry, mourning after Mamoru, is one of the most magical moments of the 90s anime, whereas the quick scene where Sailor Galaxia shows her real self for a second in the throne room, with golden rays illuminating her long hair, until Sailor Tin Nyanko accidentally sees her, is so magical it sends shivers down the spine. The finale with the naked Sailor Moon fighting Galaxia is bravura directed and clearly shows why this season can't be that simply rejected as a children's show. The ending and the resolution of the plot tangle involving Galaxia is remarkably well written. The first and the third season were real highlights, but "Stars" is "Sailor Moon's" magnum opus. Even when nothing is going on, so much is going on in every scene, on so many levels, even if it is just the mood. How often did we watch a movie or an anime and say that it would have been a spectacular masterpiece hadn't it made these and these mistakes, sadly concluding how it missed such a big opportunity by so little. Yet this is one of those rare examples where it really is a spectacular masterpiece—even though it swims through the esoteric, humorous fantasy 'magical girl' anime "Sailor Moon Sailor Stars" is a shining achievement.

Grade:++++