Usagi Tsukino
, also known as
Sailor Moon, is the main and title character of the
anime and
manga Sailor Moon, and the
de jure leader of the group known as the
Sailor Senshi. In the English version, she is known as
Serena Tsukino. Due to the series' widespread broadcast in many countries, as well as her distinctive and oft-copied "spaghetti and meatballs" (a.k.a.
odango) hairstyle, she is one of the most immediately recognizable and iconic anime characters worldwide. She is the only character to appear in all 200 episodes of the animated
Sailor Moon storyline.
Usagi's name is a
pun on the phrase "the
rabbit of the
moon" (月の兎
tsuki no usagi). This derives from a Japanese children's story about the rabbit that is said to be visible in the
Moon's face, much like the Western
Man in the Moon. (The manga translation, which otherwise uses the standard American names for the five
Inner Senshi, gives her the nickname
Bunny to partially preserve the pun; many other localizations, such as the German and Polish, give her name as "Bunny" in both the anime and manga.)
Similarly, "Serena" is probably at least in part a play on the word
Selene, a moon goddess in
Greek mythology who fell in love with a shepherd named
Endymion. It also derives from the name of the moon princess, which is alternately either "Selenity" (from
Selene) or "Serenity" (from the
Sea of Serenity on the moon), both of which would be rendered in
Japanese as .
(In an early
DiC promotional tape that advertised Sailor Moon to television stations, Usagi was called
Victoria. Another preliminary name, that appeared on Kodansha's English website in an advertisement for the series, was said to be
Celeste.)
As a character with different incarnations, special powers, transformations and a long lifetime virtually spanned between the Silver Millennium Era and the 30th century, Usagi gains multiple aspects and aliases such as Princess Serenity, Sailor Moon, Super Sailor Moon, Eternal Sailor Moon, Neo-Queen Serenity,
Sailor Cosmos, etc.
Princess Serenity, Silver Millennium era
Princess Serenity lived on the Moon Kingdom 1000 years ago and was the daughter of
Queen Serenity who ruled the
Silver Millennium, an age of peace and prosperity between all the planets of the Solar System. It was the job of the Moon Kingdom to watch over the
Earth and protect it with the
Mystical Silver Crystal. Princess Serenity was very beautiful, adventurous and friendly; her
guardians, attendants,
instructors and
best friends were the Inner
Sailor Senshi who lived on the Moon with her:
Sailor Mercury,
Sailor Venus,
Sailor Mars and
Sailor Jupiter.
Serenity, in her adventurous nature would often go to Earth and explore it because it had many things the moon did not. It was whilst on Earth one day, she met and fell in love with its prince,
Prince Endymion.
According to the manga, one day an evil entity was born from the
Sun and landed on the Earth - whose people envied the longevity of the Moon people - and using their jealousy, turned them against the people of the Moon. The evil entity, known as
Queen Metallia, took over a human woman named Sage Beryl (who henceforth became known as
Queen Beryl) and used her, alongside the
Four Kings, Endymion's former lieutenants, to attack the Moon.
Prince Endymion fled to the Moon to inform Princess Serenity of the attack on the Moon, but the army of the
Dark Kingdom was too strong. Beryl asked Endymion to become her King, but he refused and so she went to attack Princess Serenity.
Ultimately, the Silver Millennium was destroyed and Queen Serenity used the powers of the Silver Moon Crystal to seal the souls of her daughter, Prince Endymion, the Sailor Senshi and the Moon Kingdom, and sent them to the
20th century so that they could have a better and more peaceful life on Earth.
Essentially, she is Usagi, but in this manifestation she is barefoot and wears a
gown. She does occasionally appear as Princess Serenity in the 20th century, often at climactic moments when more strength is needed than Sailor Moon can access.
Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon, 20th Century Tokyo
Just as Queen Serenity wished and planned, Princess Serenity, reincarnated as Usagi Tsukino, lives in the 20th Century. She prefers the normal life of a teenaged Earth girl. However, she continues to fight the evils of her past life and protects the Earth with the Silver Crystal, as the Champion of Justice, Sailor Moon.
One day, as Usagi was running off to school, she saw some neighborhood kids abusing a cat, which she rescued. Afterwards, the cat (who could talk, and who was named
Luna) gave her a magical device that allows her to transform into the "soldier for love and justice", known as
Sailor Moon. Though at first the very definition of the term "reluctant heroine" (she often had to be bailed out of trouble by
Tuxedo Kamen, in what became one of the show's recurring
leitmotifs), as time went on she grew in both confidence and maturity, largely out of love for the friends who fought at her side -- though even late in the metaseries she would still have her "crybaby" moments.
Usagi lives at her home in the real-life suburb of
Azabu Juuban with her mother Ikuko Tsukino, her father Kenji Tsukino, and her brother
Shingo Tsukino. These characters were named after the real-life family of the metaseries' creator,
Naoko Takeuchi. She and
Minako Aino seem to be the only main characters with a conventional nuclear family; she is also the only senshi with a sibling. She is a markedly poor student, and often comes off as dumb (especially in the anime), though this is generally played off as being due to naïveté and laziness rather than actual stupidity, since she often spends her time eating, playing video games and reading comics rather than studying. She is frequently shown to have more talent in artistic endeavors (like drawing and cooking) than in scientific ones (like math). This is in contrast to series creator Takeuchi, who graduated university with a degree in pharmacy.
One of the biggest secrets about Sailor Moon is revealed in a number of connecting episodes in the end of the first series, when she realizes that she is Princess Serenity (the "crown princess" of the
Silver Millennium) reborn. In the second series, Usagi learns that she will give birth to a daughter by
Mamoru Chiba (
Chibiusa), and Usagi will become a "sovereign of the Earth," known as Neo-Queen Serenity, by the 30th century.
In Sailor Moon S, she takes on an enhanced aspect known as
Super Sailor Moon.
Eternal Sailor Moon
Eternal Sailor Moon is a title that is received by the
Sailor Moon character in the opening episodes of the last series of the anime
metaverse, known as
Sailor Stars. It is used to distinguish her from
Sailor Cosmos, the Sailor Moon of the future time of Chaos. In the anime
Sailor Stars, Eternal Sailor Moon has a radically different transformation sequence and ending pose. Her uniform has been drastically altered; her
gloves have increased in length as to cover her entire arm, and the design of her boots is different as well. In addition, she has also grown wings on her back.
Eternal Sailor Moon is not necessarily
immortal, as she comes very close to
death in her battle with
Sailor Galaxia (First, her Star Seed is taken from her, then her sailor fuku unravels into shiny red ribbons, a common element of most of
Sailor Moon's transformation sequences). She still relies on the
ginzuishou (Silver Crystal) as the source of her power; if it is shattered (as it was during the series), she is weakened to the point of immobility.
|
Usagi in her first Senshi uniform (R) |
The following information is commonly found in character profiles.
*Name (Japanese): 月野うさぎ
*Transliteration: Tsukino Usagi
*North American Name: Serena Tsukino
*Meaning: "Rabbit of the Moon" (野 is effectively an
ateji)
*Age: 14 (beginning of storyline), 16 (end of storyline), between 20-30 (as
Neo-Queen Serenity)
*Height: 150 cm
*Birthday:
June 30*
Blood Type: O
*Astrological Sign:
Cancer*Guardian Cat: Luna
*Boyfriend/Future Husband:
Mamoru Chiba*Favorite food:
Ice cream *Least favorite food:
Carrots
*Favorite color: White and Pink
*Senshi uniform colors: Blue, white, red, yellow
*Favorite Subject:
Home Economics*Least Favorite Subject:
Math,
English*Hobbies: Eating, eating
cakes, sleeping
*Dislikes: Tests and Ghosts
*Dream: to be a
bride*Special Traits: Loyal Friend, caring personality, courageous, gentle person, honest and truthful
*School: Azabu Juuban Junior High School, known as Crossroads Junior High in the
English version; Azabu Juuban High School (in
Sailor Stars only)
*
Moon Prism Power, Make-up! — Used to transform into Sailor Moon in the Dark Kingdom saga. In the English anime, she does not say
Make-up!.
*
Moon Power! — Used with the Disguise Pen to change forms. (Adds the phrase
ni nare in the anime.)
*
Moon Crystal Power, Make-up! — Used to transform into Sailor Moon in the Makaiju and Black Moon sagas. In the English anime, she does not say
Make-up!. In some episodes of the English version, the phrase
Moon Star Power was used instead.
*
Moon Cosmic Power, Make-up! — Used to transform into Sailor Moon in the Infinite saga. In the English anime, she does not say
Make-up!.
*
Crisis, Make-up! — Used to transform into Super Sailor Moon in the Infinite saga. In the English anime, she says
Moon Crisis Power!.
*
Moon Crisis, Make-up! — Used to transform into Super Sailor Moon in the Dreams saga. In the anime, she transforms together with
Sailor Chibi Moon, and in English the phrase
Moon Cosmic Dream Action (or
Super Moon Crisis Power in the dubbed version of the SuperS movie) is used.
*
Silver Moon Crystal Power, Make-Up! — The transformation phrase in the
manga, used to transform into Eternal Sailor Moon in STARS saga.
*
Moon Eternal, Make-Up! — The transformation phrase in the
anime series
Sailor Stars (and also her first transformation of equivalent manga arcs). It is used to transform into Eternal Sailor Moon.
Most of Usagi's anime transformations involve the use of shiny red or pink ribbons that form the
leotard,
boots, and gloves. These ribbons come out of her brooch. When her detransformation is shown (which is rare), these ribbons unravel from around her body and go back into the brooch, leaving her in the clothes she was wearing before she transformed. The one exception is her transformation to Eternal Sailor Moon, in which feathers are substituted for the ribbons.
Series 1: Sailor Moon / Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon
*
Moon Frisbee — Sailor Moon uses her tiara as a frisbee to attack the opponent. In the anime, this is called
Moon Tiara Action, and in English is called
Moon Tiara Magic. This attack was used extensively during the first series, rarely used afterwards.
* — Sailor Moon uses her hairpieces to amplify sound. This attack does not have a name in the anime.
*
Moon Tiara Stardust — An anime-only attack which is a variation of
Moon Tiara Action, but instead of attacking the enemy it would circle over them and shed purifying dust over them. Only used once in episode 5, thus was never shown in the English dub as the episode was cut.
*
Moon Tiara Boomerang — A
PGSM attack, also the attack used at the very beginning of the Japanese manga series.
*
Sailor Moon Kick — Sailor Moon jumps and kicks. Sometimes used by Usagi when she is not transformed, to kick doors/siblings. Later used as a dual attack with Sailor ChibiMoon.
*
Moon Twilight Flash — In manga, causes a bright light to flash from her second tiara. In the live action, she uses her Moon Stick for this attack.
*
Moon Healing Escalation — Used in combination with the Moon Stick/Crescent Moon Wand to turn people possessed by the Dark Kingdom into their original forms. Once she acquires the Silver Crystal this attack is powered up. In the Japanese anime, it causes the monster to yell "Refresh!" before returning to normal. In the English anime, the attack is called
Moon Healing Activation.
Series 2: Sailor Moon R
*
Moon Princess Halation — Used in combination with the Cutie Moon Rod to attack enemies. It is called
Moon Scepter Elimination or
Moon Scepter Activation in the English television series, and
Moon Princess Elimination in the dubbed movie and various subtitled episodes. The attack causes the Cardians to yell "Cleansing!" before transforming back into cards.
*
Moon Crystal Power — This is not really an attack, as it is only used to transform the Akayashi Sisters into normal women. It causes them to say 'Refresh!' in a more pleasant tone than when 'healing' a monster. It simply involves holding up the Crystal Compact, and uses the same animation as the start of Moon Crystal Power Make-Up, albeit with a gloved hand instead of a bare hand. In the dub this is referred to as
Moon Crystal Healing Activation!*
Sailor Moon Body Slam — Sailor Moon slams her body against her opponent.
Series 3: Sailor Moon S
*
Moon Spiral Heart Attack — Used with the Spiral Heart Moon Rod to attack enemies. In the anime (dubbed and original Japanese), it usually causes the monster to yell "Lovely!" before returning to normal.
*
Rainbow Moon Heart Ache — An upgrade of the "Moon Spiral Heart Attack" that could only be used as Super Sailor Moon. In the English version of "Sailor Moon S: The Movie", it was called
Rainbow Moon Heartache Reform. It also causes the monster to yell "Lovely!" before returning to normal.
*
Rainbow Double Moon Heart Ache — A manga-only attack used by Sailor Moon and
Sailor Chibi Moon.
Series 4: Sailor Moon SuperS
*
Moon Gorgeous Meditation — In the manga, this was an attack used by Sailor Moon and
Sailor Chibi Moon. In the anime (SuperS), Chibi Moon would summon Pegasus after which Sailor Moon would use this attack. The lemures ("monster-of-the-day" for this series) would scream "Stage out!" before being destroyed by rainbow light-flashing, shattered mirrors rapidly fired at their direction from Super Sailor Moon's
Kaliedo Moon Scope. In the SuperS movie, both Moon and Chibi Moon used this attack to kill Badiane, who had merged with her Black Dream Hole. In the SuperS dub, it was referred to as
Moon Super Moon Target, in the first episode and
Super Moon Target in the second episode.
Series 5: Sailor Moon Sailor Stars
*
Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss — Her first attack as Eternal Sailor Moon. In the manga, it is used to defeat
Queen Nehellenia. In the anime, she uses it to return phage to their original forms (the phage would yell "Beautiful!" before returning to normal).
*
Silver Moon Crystal Power Therapy Kiss — In the manga, Eternal Sailor Moon uses this attack to destroy the zombified Sailor Soldiers.
*
Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss — In the anime, it is an upgrade to "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss". Eternal Sailor Moon blows feathers in the direction of the opponent. In the anime, she uses it to return phage to their original forms (the phage would yell "Beautiful!" before returning to normal).
*
Silver Moon Crystal Eternal Power — A manga-only attack that summons the
Sailor Crystals to destroy Chaos.
*
German and
Polish: Bunny
*
French: Bunny Rivière
*
Swedish: Annie
*
Portuguese (Brazilian): Serena
|
Usagi Tsukino (Live action), portrayed by Miyu Sawai |
* In the Japanese animated version, Usagi is played by
Kotono Mitsuishi. While she had her
appendix removed during the final episodes of series one,
Kae Araki played her.
* In the Latin-American Spanish dub, Serena is played by Patricia 'Paty' Acevedo. She's considered as one of the best foreign-language voice actresses for the role, specially for her heartfelt performance. She also played Chibi-Chibi in the Stars season, just as Kotono did..
* In the musical version, Usagi has been played by four actresses: , , , and .
* In the English dubbed version, Serena is played by
Tracey Moore (episodes 1-11, 15 and 21),
Terri Hawkes (episodes 12, 14-20, 22-82, and movies) and
Linda Ballantyne (episodes 90-166). Hawkes is considered by fans to be the "definitive" English-language voice of the character, due in large part to her professional embrace of the role and of the series's
fandom.
* In
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Usagi is played by .
*
Selene — Greek Mythology*
Serapii-Kisu (Therapy Kiss) - A fanshrine for the character Usagi Tsukino.
