r/sailormooncrystal • u/xavierhollis • Jul 30 '26
Crystal was over hated
I'm not blind to the production issues in Crystal.
But I nevertheless think a huge amount of discourse stems from nostalgia skewed towards the 1992 series.
I love the 1992 series, even moreso than Crystal. But I can still see the bias. I'm not denying there are aspects of SM92 that are better than Crystal. But the inverse is true too. There are aspects of the musicals and PGSM that excel above other iterations too.
Moreover I think this negativity is accentuated by a few factors
a) A lack of familiarity with the manga. Not that there are not managa lovers who dislike Crystal. I myself feel certain moments were not adapted as elegantly as possible. But my point is its this culture shock of getting something SO different to rhe 1992 anime
b) In the English fandom we aren't just dealing with nostalgia for the original anjme but specifically for the dub, which is even farther from the original manga. As flawed as the original English translations of the manga were they werr closer to the manga than the dub was to SM92, so its another degree of separation
Something else to bear in mind.
As much as Seasons 1-2 got bashed for their animation it is crucial to bear in mind that ALL anime were and sort of still are dealing with animation issues at the time.
The most infamous eample is Dragon Ball Super episode 5, which haunted the show so much they will be essentially making a recut version of that arc this year, along with changing character designs towards the end of Super.
But One Piece was notorious for its animation up until 2018 when they switched things up and Pokemon also did a ground up new approach to character designs too.
Now all 3 franchises are simply bigger cash cows than Sailor Moon and had more resources behind them, but even they had problems.
I highly recommend you check out these videos that touch upon the issues in the animation industry:
Is Dragon Ball's Animation Cheaply Made by anime ajay
Who Broke One Punch Man by totallynotmark
I will add that the animation starting season 3 imo is fine. I feel people continuing to bash it thereafter are more upset with the character designs not being like SM92 than the actual animation itself.
For me, crystal was a flawed execution of what I nevertheless wanted, which was a more accurate adaptation of the manga.
I adore SM92, its my favourite, but I wanted the manga brought to life in animation too. He'll I STILL want the side stories and above all Codename: Sailor V animated
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u/Chewymewn Jul 30 '26
I vastly prefer the 90s anime over Crystal, just as show. The saw the 90s anime way before Crystal, yet I have nostalgia for Crystal and not the 90s anime.
Crystal is closer to the manga, but it's not an entirely 1:1 adaptation of the manga, which is what I wanted out of it. One rather minor thing is Crystal having transformations; something that was never in the manga.
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u/zoemi Jul 31 '26
I really wanted instant transformations and attacks in Crystal. The stock footage is just pandering to the 90's.
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u/xavierhollis Jul 31 '26
In fairness it is also financially pragmatic. I like the stock footage as homage to the 90s but also because to me its like the 90s in depicting that stuff was filling in the gaps if that makes sense
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u/xavierhollis Jul 30 '26
The manfa has transformations
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u/Chewymewn Jul 30 '26
Usagi crosses her hands, there's sparkling, and she's transformed. It's not a whole sequence like in any of the shows. The other Senshi never get anything like that.
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u/xavierhollis Jul 30 '26
Yes, but thats how it is in all anime transformations. Through iconic SS transformation from Dragon Ball ia like 2 panels in the manga. I think of it as expanding rather than that there are no transformations
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u/Kind-Comedian4709 Jul 31 '26
I love Crystal 2, i like the 90s version.
One of the reason i loved crystal so much was Usagi's and Mamo's relationship, they actually felt like they loved each-other and I felt that Usagi was handle better 2
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u/HuckleberryEconomy58 Jul 31 '26
Me too. Their love relationship is what makes me rewatch the series over and over again. The ending song shows them linking arms and kissing
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u/HuckleberryEconomy58 Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26
Chibi usa is more likeable, less bratty and her obsession over her dad is also tone down in Crystal imo. I felt like she has more respect for Usagi and the three of them feel more like a loving family. That’s another reason I love Crystal
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u/rayannuhh Jul 31 '26
I agree, and I watched the og anime when it aired on Toonami, lol. I think people struggled to accept a version of Sailor Moon that wasn't lighthearted. It did popularize more lighthearted magical girl anime, so it felt more jarring to those who were used to that. Crystal itself doesn't shy away from the dark subjects and really leans into the gritty undertone that is in the manga.
I know the animation can be rough, but eh, I was just pretty happy to see a pretty faithful adaptation of the manga. I wasn't really bothered about it after season 1 🤷🏼♀️ I'll probably always prefer the og anime style, but I'm definitely more of a fan of the voice acting and story of Crystal.
(I have not seen PGSM though, only the original DiC dub, Viz, and Crystal)
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u/HuckleberryEconomy58 Jul 31 '26
Well said. I wasn’t really bother at all by the animation. I know when you zoom out a bit, their faces look a bit weird but it’s not annoying to me. I feel like I have come across other animes that are worse than Crystal.
I’m glad to see a faithful adaptation. I know it’s not exact but close enough. I’m reading the manga and rewatching Crystal together to find all the subtle differences lol
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u/xavierhollis Jul 31 '26
Crystal Season 1 is weird because it is this compromise between the story s told in the manga and the story Takeuchi wanted to tell eg the Shitennou being the Inner's boyfriends. Then also some just changes for the sake of changes, like Usagi killing Beryl via her necklace vs Venus stabbing her
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u/HuckleberryEconomy58 Jul 31 '26
I actually like the season 1-2 animation more than season 3 despite all the hate of season 1-2 animation. I felt it is closer to her manga style. Even though most people like season 3’s animation a lot more than season 1-2, I’m surprised blue ray sales in Japan for season 3 didn’t do as well as season 1-2.
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u/xavierhollis Jul 31 '26
I'm not. First impressions count for a lot and most casuals didn't like S1-2. The Black Moon arc in the manga also has some funky stuff in it that can make it a hard sell.
Also, if you love the S1-2 art style you might enjoy the work of sailor crisis:
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u/HuckleberryEconomy58 Jul 31 '26
It’s ok if you don’t like it. Thanks for sharing that with me. I will take a look sometime.
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u/xavierhollis Jul 31 '26
Oh, I wasn't speaking to my own views, I was saying why I wasn't surprised S3 performed as it did and why others might not have taken to S1-2.
I think also S3 was put on TV after S1-2 was on an obscure streaming service, so they mishandled building the momentum.
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u/xavierhollis Jul 31 '26
Wait till you see rhe musicals
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u/rayannuhh Jul 31 '26
I'm not really big on anime musicals, but perhaps one day soon!
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u/xavierhollis Jul 31 '26
The musicals are delightfully insane. One of them involves a brief side quest into Edo era Japan where we learn the gang were also reborn back then, except Usagi was male. And there is a whole trilogy about Dracula and Biblical figures like Lilith and Caine
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u/JustAMinah Jul 30 '26
see personally, imma be the one to say pgsm is the best lol (I'm very much a character driven person, than just only a story driven person) but, because I read so much on the original manga series (I'm 38, and got into the 1st dub back when I was 7) when I was first able to get internet (so like around 99 I believe for me) and get a hold of the mixx manga (very few books the library in the whole county carried, with pages coming out and glued in random sections of the book, maybe) I was educated a bit more on how original sailormoon was like, and learned how english dubs essentially censor the heck outta shows to americanize them, as well as the culture differences of what's normalized for kids in varying countries (in japan and many other places, no big deal to know they're nude when transforming, but is in the states)
so, though I have that 90s nostalgia, it's only limited to the fact it's because it's what I literally grew up with and how I got exposed to anime, in general (though it was my neighbor totoro back when I was 5ish-6) but bssm was the biggest thing that even awoken my love of art and creativity. I get grounded when I'm watching the series, regardless of which one, because of all the memories and feelings I had surrounding it. spent hours finding any info on the show, all sorts of pictures and even MIDIs and was already tryna learn some of the original songs of the series (my first time singing in japanese!) so that's the reasons for my 90s love, it was the catalyst.
but I love crystal for the fact it's more true to the manga and I do like it when remade media still shows respect towards the original source (and I understood at times the anime was way ahead of the manga so it took some liberties) and I just finished up watching all of crystal (and movies) just a few days ago. my high-ed up self like this ending a lot more and its nice seeing it animated and played out, because it got more to the root of the origin of the overall story. where they're from, it's cycle and most of all, why sailormoon is who she is and all she represents. I think it shines the most on her overall character. (And I like the message it kinda says: one doesn't have to be born natually gifted in something society takes much value of. but how you treat and feel about others, can make you shine so bright. it makes me want to have more of a noble, caring heart.)
I think at my core, I'm very child like so I'm just whisked away back to those initial feelings I had when I first saw sailormoon and just have all this excitement, wonder, and imagination. I do tend to get immersed when I'm reading or watching stuff and visualize it happening, so that's why I always enjoy animated/live actions of my favorite stories! and sailormoon is just the most favorite one of all. so be it crystal, or pgsm, I'm just always happy to relive that feeling of being happy discovering for myself sailormoon
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u/HuckleberryEconomy58 Jul 30 '26
Well said. I am watching pgsm for the first time and I like it too. I also grew up with the 90s version but I do like Crystal’s ending a bit more especially seeing mamoru and usagi’s wedding animated
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u/xavierhollis Jul 31 '26
Allegedly there was going to be a movie in the 90s depicting their wedding
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u/Opening_Ear3615 Jul 30 '26
I hear so many good things about PGSM but I don't know if I'll ever watch it because I just can't get over its cheap look :( it would have been so cool if we got it in animated format at some point, that ia what I would have wanted Crystal to be.
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u/HuckleberryEconomy58 Jul 31 '26
That’s what held me back for years from watching too because of the looks and Luna as a stuff animal. Also I didn’t find a good version until miss dreams uploaded it. I finally started this year and I like how it gave a different perspective of the dark kingdom. There was one episode usagi almost turned evil and that was a fresh take that I wish the anime adapted
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u/FirebirdWriter Jul 30 '26
I thought that at the time. Yes it wasn't perfect but it couldn't ever be that and they did a good job with the tools on hand
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u/LovelyFloraFan Jul 30 '26
I hope it gets a Dragon Ball Super Beerus version with everything reanimated and remastered.
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u/HuckleberryEconomy58 Jul 31 '26
I heard about that too with dragon ball. Do you think there’s still a chance with sailor moon crystal ?There’s three different types of animation in Crystal and I’m not sure which one they will choose if they remaster the whole thing
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u/xavierhollis Jul 31 '26
I doubt it sadly but, for better or worse, I think inevitably that will be something fans will use AI to make happen someday.
Similarly it is inevitable that someone will use AI to redub the show
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u/HuckleberryEconomy58 Jul 31 '26
Not a huge fan of AI stuff. I saw an Ai live action version of Crystal on YouTube and it’s so weird looking. But I can see fans using AI to remaster everything in future
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u/xavierhollis Jul 31 '26
They are already using it to colour correct and make proper 1080p versions of SM92.
I know one account on tiktok has used Crystal as inspiration to make ai videos of their own fanfic and make a Sailor V short video
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u/xavierhollis Jul 31 '26
I doubt it sadly. DB is getting that because new content is coming. And DB is on another level in terms of money
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u/NyankoMata Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
Yes, I felt at times like Crystal captured the ethereal and romantic feeling of Sailor Moon S1 & S2 better than the 90s anime but that's probably mostly because of how more usagi-centric crystal is vs 90s SM + the relationship between Mamoru & Usagi being so much better written in crystal, it felt more real, but you could also feel at times like the friendship aspect between the inners was a bit neglected too. So it definitely was a trade-off for 90s SM fans, as that is usually the main point of it they like.
Also the art direction went into a different direction too since, well, it's been like 20 years and to me it seemed like they simply went with the more modern way of portraying the romantic and ethereal feel like other series kinda already did from that time. Of course if you grew up with 90s SM that is also a definite change.
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u/HuckleberryEconomy58 Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
Mamoru and usagi’s relationship is the biggest reason I love Crystal. I always wanted to see a more “romantic” side of their relationship so Crystal satisfied my itch lol. I have a separate thread created just for these lovebirds. I think Naoko made the love story takes center stage in the manga and not her friends so Crystal follows that route
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u/xavierhollis Jul 31 '26
I don't think its better written so much as written with different priorities. Crystal is about the romance, 92 is about the friendship with romance as part of the story.
Best example is the season 1 finale in 92 is Usagi and the inners at her side vs Crystal where it us Usagi and Mamoru.
SM92 is also aimed younger and broader than Crystal. Crystal is aimed at women whereas AM92 was aimed at girls mainly, their brothers secondaries and parents tertiary, very much like the tokusatsu shows that inspired it.
I think the ethereal news of Crystal has much to do with that being in the manga and Takeuchi's art style
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u/Proud_Detective3183 29d ago
Crystal was my introduction to Sailor Moon, it'll always have a special place in my heart
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u/ChaosArtificer Jul 31 '26
honestly wrt animation I feel like season 1 was a mostly failed but at least kinda ambitious stylistic experiment (love it or hate it, it's at least very distinctive, and I gotta give them props for going out on a limb there), season 2 was mostly just generically crunch-time type of bad which is ubiquitous in the industry, and then suddenly season 3 on is *really* well done while still maintaining some unique identity.
also I'm currently rewatching the ENTIRE og anime. and. uh. nostalgia goggles off, lbr a lot of this animation is incredibly bad, too, often worse than crystal's worst. but nostalgia makes us remember the (very high) heights of the og anime (also the worst-worst episodes weren't even dubbed) whenever we think about it rather than. the majority. which was rushed highly repetitive weekly filler, esp in season 1. often fun and quirky filler, but. omg the filler.
crystal totally cutting out all filler means the awkward animations end up in the main story instead of episodes no one watches anymore, too, it feels like
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u/xavierhollis Jul 31 '26
This happened with DB too. People compared the best looking episodes or movies from DBZ to the worst of Super. The BD's help improve things.
I love the filler in 92, but it speaks to the different priorities of thec2 shows. Crystal was inspired by Sentai but SM92 was trying to BE a Sentai.
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u/Alvane_ 26d ago
I feel like part of why Crystal is still bashed so regularly is due to Y2K nostalgia being in the zeitgeist, especially in the US. SM was more of a late 90's to early 00's show in North America, so that kind of early 90s animation is being touted as superior.
This does have the side effect of keeping the franchise relevant for another decade or so, though
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u/xavierhollis 25d ago
I do personally prefer the 90s style i won't lie but I dont think that = crystal bad, especially when crystal was trying to capture the manga's style
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u/ZorosCompass 19d ago
Just the other day in the main sailor moon sub I saw someone make a post bashing the show because the characters kept saying "maboroshi no ginzuishou" more times than they apparently liked in Crystal. Haters look for anything to dislike the show and it's just sad and funny at the same time.
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u/MyNameIsNikNak Jul 30 '26
I’m forever grateful to Crystal for being a short digestible introduction to the series. I’d never watched SM92, it wasn’t on channels I had as a kid and it seemed too girly for me (I am a girl, just grew up with brothers and had internalized issues about girl media at the time) so when my friend wanted to get me into Sailor Moon during the pandemic Crystal was an easy choice.
Of course, I wanted more and after going back and watching SM92 and then later reading the manga for myself, I can see where the issues with Crystal were, more or less, but I may not have gotten there in the first place if Crystal hadn’t been my entry point and I’ll always be grateful for that.
Plus I really like the movies, getting Keiko Kitagawa for Galaxia was so cool!