Sailor Moon Cosmos

Sailor Moon Cosmos
Theatrical release poster
Kanji	劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos（コスモス）」
Literal meaning	Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie
Revised Hepburn	Gekijōban Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn Kosumosu
Directed by	Tomoya Takahashi
Screenplay by	Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
Based on	Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi
Produced by	Hideharu Gomi Seira Takano
Starring	Kotono Mitsuishi Kenji Nojima Misato Fukuen Hisako Kanemoto Rina Satō Ami Koshimizu Shizuka Itō Junko Minagawa Sayaka Ohara Ai Maeda Yukiyo Fujii Nana Mizuki Marina Inoue Saori Hayami Ayane Sakura Megumi Hayashibara
Cinematography	Takashi Yanagida
Edited by	Keiko Onodera
Music by	Yasuharu Takanashi
Production companies	Toei Animation Studio Deen
Distributed by	Toei Company, Ltd.
Release dates	June 9, 2023 (2023-06-09)(Part 1) June 30, 2023 (2023-06-30)(Part 2)
Running time	160 minutes (total, 80 minutes per film) [1] [2]
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese

Sailor Moon Cosmos ^{[lower-alpha 1]} is a 2023 Japanese two-part animated action fantasy film directed by Tomoya Takahashi and written by Kazuyuki Fudeyasu based on the Stars arc of the Sailor Moon manga by Naoko Takeuchi, who also serves as a chief supervisor. Co-produced by Toei Animation and Studio Deen, and distributed by Toei Company, Cosmos is a direct sequel to Sailor Moon Eternal (2021) and serves as the "fifth and final season" in the Sailor Moon Crystal anime series. ^[3] The two-part film stars Kotono Mitsuishi as the voice of Sailor Moon and Chibi-Chibi alongside Kenji Nojima, Misato Fukuen, Hisako Kanemoto, Rina Satō, Ami Koshimizu, Shizuka Itō, Junko Minagawa, Sayaka Ohara, Ai Maeda, Yukiyo Fujii, Nana Mizuki, Marina Inoue, Saori Hayami, Ayane Sakura, and Megumi Hayashibara. Cosmos was released in Japan in June 2023, with the first film on the 9th, and the second film on the 30th. ^[4]

Plot

Part One

Months after defeating the Dead Moon Circus, ^{[lower-alpha 2]} Usagi Tsukino and her friends continue to live peaceful lives as ordinary high school students in the Azabu-Jūban district of Minato, Tokyo. Mamoru Chiba, Usagi's boyfriend, plans to study abroad in the United States. At the airport, Mamoru gives Usagi a ring, but before he can propose is suddenly killed by the mysterious Sailor Galaxia, who steals his Golden Crystal and disappears. Unable to comprehend Mamoru's death, Usagi believes he boarded his plane and left. After bidding Chibiusa farewell, as she returns to the 30th century, Usagi and her friends attend a concert headlined by popular idol group Three Lights, composed of Kō Seiya, Kō Taiki, and Kō Yaten. During the concert, Sailor Iron Mouse, a Sailor Animamate and member of Shadow Galactica, an empire ruled by Sailor Galaxia and devoted to stealing Sailor Crystals across the galaxy, attacks. The Eternal Sailor Guardians are saved by the Sailor Starlights, a trio of Sailor Guardians from another star system. They realize that the Starlights are the Three Lights, but remain unsure of their motives. Meanwhile, a mysterious child named Chibi-Chibi arrives at Usagi's home, and Usagi and her friends presume she may be related to Chibiusa and accept her presence.

Usagi is disappointed when she fails to hear from Mamoru, and is surprised when the Three Lights enroll at her high school. Meeting Seiya, she learns that the Starlights are searching for their princess, who fled to Earth when Galaxia attacked their planet. They are ambushed by Sailor Aluminum Siren, who manages to kill Sailors Jupiter and Mercury and take their Sailor Crystals, before being defeated by the Starlights. While Usagi is comforted by Chibi-Chibi, Minako and Rei decide to confront the Starlights to ascertain their motives, and afterward, confront another attacker, Sailor Lead Crow. Lead Crow kills Phobos and Deimos, revealing that the Sailor Animamates are survivors of planets destroyed by Galaxia who have been granted powers of Sailor Guardians. Sailor Moon defeats her, but Sailors Venus and Mars are killed by Galaxia and their crystals are stolen. Their deaths cause Usagi to remember the truth of Mamoru's death.

In the 30th century, Chibiusa notices time distortions affecting the future, but is told to remain by Neo Queen Serenity. In the present, the Starlights notice an incense burner in Chibi-Chibi's possession and discover that it houses their princess, Princess Kakyuu. She emerges, having healed her body, and reveals that Chibi-Chibi is a Sailor Guardian as well. Another of the Sailor Animamates, Sailor Tin Nyanko, attacks Usagi, severely injuring Luna, Artemis, and Diana. They are rescued by the Starlights, who take Usagi to meet Princess Kakyuu. Kakyuu warns Usagi that Sailor Galaxia seeks to control the galaxy by obtaining the Sailor Crystals, especially Usagi's Silver Moon Crystal. On her way home, Usagi encounters Galaxia, who attacks and overwhelms her, but Chibi-Chibi's intervention forces Galaxia to retreat. In her palace, Galaxia reflects on seeking a star worthy of her power and discovering Chaos, an immense embodiment of evil at the center of the galaxy.

Usagi resolves to confront Galaxia in order to regain her friends' Sailor Crystals and restore them to life. Concerned that Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Saturn, who have gone to their respective home bases, may be in danger, she asks for Kakyuu and the Starlights' assistance.

Part Two

Neo Queen Serenity reveals to Chibiusa that the Sailor Guardians are being killed in the past. Chibiusa, joined by the Sailor Quartet, transforms to go help Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon, Kakyuu, the Starlights, and Chibi-Chibi travel to the Outer Guardians' respective home bases, but learn that they've already been killed. They head to Galaxia's base and encounter Sailors Lethe and Mnemosyne. Lethe kills Luna, Artemis, and Diana, blaming the Silver Moon Crystal for causing conflict as she and Mnemosyne reluctantly joined Galaxia after she destroyed their planets. Mnemosyne stops Lethe from killing Sailor Moon, but Sailor Moon asks Lethe to kill her if it will truly bring peace to the galaxy. Lethe, shocked by her earnestness, relents, but Galaxia's henchmen, Sailors Phi and Chi, show up and kill Lethe and Mnemosyne for their disobedience before also killing the Starlights. After convincing Kakyuu they can bring the Starlights back by regaining their Sailor Crystals, they are ambushed by the last of the Animamates, Sailor Heavy Metal Papillon, but are saved by the sudden arrival of Sailor Chibi Moon and the Sailor Quartet. Sailor Moon reunites with Chibi Moon, who assumes that Sailor Moon teleported them to her, but both she and Kakyuu say it wasn't them, leaving them to speculate if it was Chibi-Chibi.

Sailors Phi and Chi appear again and are defeated, but Kakyuu is fatally wounded during the battle. They are suddenly attacked by the revived Eternal Sailor Guardians and Tuxedo Mask. The Sailor Quartet are incapacitated and Chibi-Chibi urges Chibi Moon not to interfere, causing her to question who Chibi-Chibi truly is. Reluctantly, Sailor Moon defeats her friends and arrives at Galaxia's chambers, where they battle. Galaxia flees to the true center of the galaxy: the Galaxy Cauldron, source of all life in the Milky Way. She throws the Sailor Crystals and Tuxedo Mask into the Cauldron, erasing them—and by extension, Chibi Moon—from existence. In doing so, she hopes Sailor Moon's powers will overload from grief and destroy Chaos, which lurks in the Cauldron, thereby leaving her as the sole ruler of the galaxy. Chaos merges with the Cauldron and injures Galaxia, planning to take the Silver Moon Crystal and rule the galaxy. It reveals that all of Sailor Moon's previous enemies were incarnations of itself, ^{[lower-alpha 3]} and that light and darkness were both born from the Cauldron.

Galaxia realizes the futility of her plan and Sailor Moon despairs that everything she loves is now gone. They contemplate if Chaos winning will bring lasting peace to the galaxy, but Chibi-Chibi urges Sailor Moon to destroy Chaos by destroying the Cauldron. Sailor Moon protests, as destroying the Cauldron will prevent new life from being born in the galaxy. Chibi-Chibi reveals that the galaxy will be spared endless future battles between light and darkness if she destroys the Cauldron now. Galaxia posits that new life could still appear elsewhere and give birth to conflict again. Sailor Moon is heartened by this, realizing that life will always include both joy and the sorrow. Galaxia is awed by Sailor Moon, but her bracelets shatter and dies. Sailor Moon urges Chibi-Chibi not to give up hope, and Chibi-Chibi reveals her true form: Sailor Cosmos. Sailor Moon dives into the Cauldron, calling upon all the Sailor Crystals in the Cauldron to lend her their power. Chaos is defeated and melts into the Cauldron along with Sailor Moon.

The Cauldron resets and revitalizes the Sailor Crystals, returning them to their home planets. Sailor Cosmos informs the revived Sailor Quartet that this restoration is the "Lambda Power" from all the Sailor Crystals joining together to form the Cosmos Crystal. The Quartet wonder if she is a future form of Sailor Moon, and she confirms that she is from the distant future. She explains that in her time, Chaos reemerged as the unbeatable Sailor Chaos. Cosmos fled to the past, believing she could avoid the devastating losses of battle by guiding her past self to destroy the Cauldron before Sailor Chaos emerged. However, Sailor Moon's final act of courage has restored her resolve to fight on. She returns the Sailor Quartet to the 30th century before returning to her own time. Inside the Cauldron, Usagi reunites with Mamoru, her friends, and Chibiusa, who returns to her own time. The guardian of the Cauldron, Guardian Cosmos, appears and asks Usagi if she wishes to start a new life for all of them, but she wishes for them to continue their current lives. Guardian Cosmos sends them back to Earth, informing her that Chaos is gone, but may one day reemerge. On Earth, Usagi reunites with her family and Luna.

Some time in the future, Mamoru and Usagi marry, pledging their fidelity to each other, their friends, and their mission to guard the Earth. Mamoru reflects that even if they all disappear one day, Sailor Moon will forever shine as the brightest, most beautiful star.

Voice cast

See also: List of Sailor Moon characters

Character	Japanese voice cast
Usagi Tsukino/Eternal Sailor Moon	Kotono Mitsuishi
Luna	Ryō Hirohashi
Mamoru Chiba/Tuxedo Mask	Kenji Nojima
Ami Mizuno/Eternal Sailor Mercury	Hisako Kanemoto
Rei Hino/Eternal Sailor Mars	Rina Satō
Makoto Kino/Eternal Sailor Jupiter	Ami Koshimizu
Minako Aino/Eternal Sailor Venus	Shizuka Itō
Artemis	Taishi Murata
Chibiusa/Eternal Sailor Chibi Moon	Misato Fukuen
Diana	Shoko Nakagawa
Setsuna Meioh/Eternal Sailor Pluto	Ai Maeda
Haruka Tenoh/Eternal Sailor Uranus	Junko Minagawa
Michiru Kaioh/Eternal Sailor Neptune	Sayaka Ohara
Hotaru Tomoe/Eternal Sailor Saturn	Yukiyo Fujii
Kō Seiya/Sailor Star Fighter	Marina Inoue [4]
Kō Taiki/Sailor Star Maker	Saori Hayami [4]
Kō Yaten/Sailor Star Healer	Ayane Sakura [4]
Princess Kakyuu/Sailor Kakyuu	Nana Mizuki [5]
Chibi-Chibi/Sailor Chibi-Chibi Moon	Kotono Mitsuishi [5]
Sailor Cosmos	Keiko Kitagawa [6]
Chaos	Mitsuki Saiga
Sailor Galaxia	Megumi Hayashibara [5]
Sailor Iron Mouse	Sena Koizumi [7]
Sailor Aluminum Siren	Ayumu Murase [7]
Sailor Lead Crow	Yōko Hikasa [7]
Sailor Tin Nyanko	Mariya Ise [7]
Sailor Heavy Metal Papillon	Haruka Kudō [7]
Sailor Lethe	Shiori Mikami [7]
Sailor Mnemosyne	Kanae Itō [7]
Sailor Phi	Fumie Mizusawa [7]
Sailor Chi	Yuka Komatsu [7]

Additional voice cast includes:

Character	Japanese voice cast
Ikuko Tsukino	Wakana Yamazaki
Kenji Tsukino	Mitsuaki Madono
Shingo Tsukino	Seira Ryū
Ittō Asanuma	Daisuke Sakaguchi
Phobos	Kanami Taguchi
Deimos	Aya Yamane
Saphir	Tsubasa Yonaga
Wiseman	Hiroshi Iwasaki
Sailor Ceres	Reina Ueda
Sailor Pallas	Sumire Morohoshi
Sailor Juno	Yūko Hara
Sailor Vesta	Rie Takahashi
Guardian Cosmos	Keiko Kitagawa [8]

Production

Development

The sequel was first teased at the end of the second film of Sailor Moon Eternal . ^[9] In April 2022, it was announced that the sequel covering the Stars arc of the manga was to be produced as a two-part anime film project, titled Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie (劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos（コスモス）」, Gekijōban Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn Kosumosu). ^[10] Majority of key staff members from Eternal two-part film returned, with Kazuyuki Fudeyasu writing the screenplay, Kazuko Tadano designing the characters, and original creator and mangaka Naoko Takeuchi chief supervising the films' production, while Tomoya Takahashi had taken over Chiaki Kon 's position as a director. Studio Deen will also continue to co-animate and produce the films with Toei Animation. ^{[11] [12]}

Casting

The main voice cast from Sailor Moon Crystal and Eternal reprised their respective roles, and had already recorded their lines for the first film prior to the announcement. ^[13] In January 2023, it was announced that Marina Inoue, Saori Hayami, and Ayane Sakura have been cast as Kō Seiya/Sailor Star Fighter, Kō Taiki/Sailor Star Maker, and Kō Yaten/Sailor Star Healer respectively. ^{[4] [14]} That same month, it was announced that Megumi Hayashibara and Nana Mizuki were cast as Sailor Galaxia and Princess Kakyuu respectively, while Kotono Mitsuishi would reprise her role as Chibi-Chibi. ^{[5] [15]} In May 2023, the rest of the Shadow Galactica cast was announced, with Yuka Komatsu and Fumie Mizusawa as Sailor Chi and Sailor Phi, Shiori Mikami and Kanae Itō as Sailor Lethe and Sailor Mnemosyne, and Sena Koizumi, Ayumu Murase, Yōko Hikasa, Mariya Ise, and Haruka Kudō as the Sailor Animamates: Sailor Iron Mouse, Sailor Aluminum Siren, Sailor Lead Crow, Sailor Tin Nyanko, and Sailor Heavy Metal Papillon respectively. ^[7] In June 2023, it was revealed that Japanese actress Keiko Kitagawa, who previously portrayed Rei Hino/Sailor Mars in the 2003 live-action series, was cast as Sailor Cosmos. ^[6]

Music

See also: List of Sailor Moon soundtracks

Yasuharu Takanashi returned to compose the music for the two-part film. ^[12] The theme song for the two-part film is titled "Moon Flower" (月の花, Tsuki no Hana), sung by Daoko. ^{[16] [17]} The five-track theme song collection album, titled Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie Theme Song Collection, was released on June 30, 2023, which included the opening songs, " Moonlight Legend " (ムーンライト伝説, Mūnraito Densetsu), sung by Eternal Sailor5Guardians ^{[lower-alpha 4]} (first film) and " Sailor Star Song " (セーラースターソング, Sērā Sutā Songu), sung by Nana Mizuki (as Sailor Kakyuu), Marina Inoue (as Sailor Star Fighter), Saori Hayami (as Sailor Star Maker) and Ayane Sakura (as Sailor Star Healer) (second film), an In-Universe song, "To the Shooting Star" (流れ星へ, Nagareboshi he), sung by voice actresses of Three Lights and the finale song, "Happy Marriage Song", sung by main voice cast of 10 Sailor Guardians and Mamoru Chiba (Kenji Nojima). ^{[18] [19]}

Release

The two-part film was released in theaters in Japan in June 2023, with the first film on the 9th, and the second film on 30th. ^[4] The Japanese Blu-ray and DVD was released on December 20, 2023. ^[20]

Reception

The first film failed to make it into top 10 in the Japanese box office in its opening weekend, but it ranked second on Filmmarks' first-day satisfaction ranking with an average rating of 3.85/5.0 based on 139 reviews. ^[21] The second film debuted at number 9 in the top 10 in its opening weekend. ^[22]

Notes

1. Also known as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie (Japanese: 劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos（コスモス）」, Hepburn: Gekijōban Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn Kosumosu)
2. Depicted in Sailor Moon Eternal (2021).
3. Queen Metaria, Death Phantom, and Pharaoh 90, the main villains depicted in Sailor Moon Crystal (2014-16), and Queen Nehelenia from Sailor Moon Eternal (2021).
4. The main voice actresses for the Inner Sailor Guardians: Kotono Mitsuishi (as Eternal Sailor Moon), Hisako Kanemoto (as Eternal Sailor Mercury), Rina Satō (as Eternal Sailor Mars), Ami Koshimizu (as Eternal Sailor Jupiter) and Shizuka Itō (as Eternal Sailor Venus).

References

1. 劇場版 美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos 前編 ["Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie -Part I-"]. eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved June 1, 2023.
2. 劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」《後編》 ["Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie -Part II-"]. tohotheater.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved June 5, 2023.
3. "劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」 PLAY BACK STORY" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
4. Pineda, Rafael (January 16, 2023). "Sailor Moon Cosmos Anime Films' Video Reveals Sailor Starlights Cast, June Openings". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
5. "Sailor Moon Cosmos Film Confirms Cast For Three Roles!". Tokyo Otaku Mode. January 24, 2023. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
6. "「セーラームーンCosmos」セーラーコスモス役は北川景子「本当に特別な作品です」". Comic Natalie (in Japanese). June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
7. Pineda, Rafael (May 29, 2023). "Sailor Moon Cosmos Anime Films' New Video Reveals Shadow Galactica Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
8. 劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」 [@sailor_movie] (June 14, 2023). "Keiko Kitagawa confirms her voice role as Sailor Cosmos and Guardian Cosmos" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved June 14, 2023– via Twitter.
9. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (February 11, 2021). "Sailor Moon Eternal Anime's 2nd Film Ends with 'To Be Continued' Teaser". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
10. "劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」 2023年初夏、2部作連続公開決定！" ["Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie" Coming Soon in 2023 in Two-Parts!]. Sailor Moon Official (in Japanese). April 28, 2022. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
11. "「美少女戦士セーラームーン」新作劇場版2023年初夏公開、セーラー戦士の最後の戦い". Natalie Comic (in Japanese). April 28, 2022. Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
12. Mateo, Alex (April 28, 2022). "Sailor Moon Manga's Final Arc Gets 2 Sailor Moon Cosmos Films in Early Summer 2023". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
13. "セーラームーンファンのヒャダイン、新作劇場版ビジュアル見て「この屋上は…」と考察始める". Natalie Comic (in Japanese). April 28, 2022. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
14. "劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーン Cosmos」 公開日決定！さらにセーラースターライツ特別映像＆キャスト解禁". Sailor Moon Official (in Japanese). January 16, 2023. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
15. "美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos：林原めぐみが最終章"最強の敵"セーラーギャラクシアに 火球皇女は水樹奈々 三石琴乃がちびちびに". Mantan Web (in Japanese). January 23, 2023. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
16. Komatsu, Mikakazu (January 30, 2023). "Fateful Final Battle Looms in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos Anime Films Full Trailer". Crunchyroll . Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
17. "劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」 本予告・本ビジュアル解禁！". Sailor Moon Official (in Japanese). January 30, 2023. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
18. "劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」 テーマソング・コレクション". Sailor Moon Official (in Japanese). May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
19. Loo, Egan (March 26, 2023). "Sailor Moon Cosmos Anime Films' 2nd Trailer Teases Climactic Battle". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
20. 劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」Blu-ray・DVD ["Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie" Blu-ray and DVD]. Sailor Moon Official (in Japanese). August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
21. Komatsu, Mikakazu (June 13, 2023). "Japan Box Office: Rohan at the Louvre Live-Action Stays in the Top 10 for Three Weeks". Crunchyroll . Retrieved June 13, 2023.
22. Hazra, Adriana (July 6, 2023). "2nd Tokyo Revengers 2 Live-Action Film Opens at #1 in Japan, 34th Anpanman Film Opens at #5". Anime News Network . Retrieved July 6, 2023.

External links

• Official movie site (in Japanese)
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie (film) at Anime News Network 's encyclopedia
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie at IMDb