As soon as the words “Moon Prism Power, Make Up!” are uttered, you know what’s coming. A flurry of ribbons and glitter envelopes everyone’s favorite blonde until she becomes Miss Sailor Moon herself. The It Girl of all It Girls. You know her, you love her, and at some point, you may have wanted to be her. I know I did, at least. That’s why, today, I’m going to tell you why Sailor Moon, a.k.a. Usagi, is the anime It Girl.
Since the anime’s release in 1992 and the U.S. release of its dubbed version in 1995, Sailor Moon has taken the world by storm. It revolutionized the magical girl genre as we know it, influencing later anime and even Western magical girl cartoons. And while yes, magical girl anime existed before Sailor Moon, like Majokko Megu-chan (1974), it was Sailor Moon that truly changed the genre, from how it’s written and interacted with to the overall popularity. Almost every magical girl series that followed took elements from Sailor Moon’s formula.
The series tells the story of Usagi Tsukino, an 8th grader known to be lazy, bad at school, and temperamental. Her life is changed forever when she encounters a talking cat named Luna, who shows her her true destiny. You see, Usagi is a sailor senshi, or sailor guardian, and she is just one of the many incarnations of Sailor Moon, protector of the cosmos. It’s her fate to battle against the forces of evil and find the other sailor guardian incarnations to pose a united front against the Dark Kingdom, led by Queen Beryl and her generals. It was up to her and the rest of the guardians to stop these villains from depleting humans of their energy and carrying out the rest of their plans.
Was Usagi up to the task? Not at first. She denied her fate until it found her in the middle of a jewelry store that had been taken over by a monster, where enchanted jewelry pieces that harvested human energy had turned their victims into mind-controlled vessels. And boy, was Usagi terrified. In fact, for most of the encounter, and subsequently the series, Usagi didn’t know what she was doing. She’d often be paralyzed by fear, panicking when minute things didn’t go her way, often resulting in crying sessions. I don’t know about you, but I’d never seen something more relatable. I mean, imagine being thrust into an obscure destiny where you’re now in charge of saving the world, and you still have to go back home to do homework and go to school. It would drive me insane and I, too, would be in a puddle of tears. More importantly, Sailor Moon showcased that it’s okay to be afraid. There’s no shame in not knowing what you’re doing nor panicking, or in displaying your emotions (however dismaying they may seem) as long as you pick yourself back up, like Usagi always did.
Sailor Moon also portrays the value of friendships and how we shouldn’t be afraid to depend on others. While Usagi was often terrified in the beginning of her journey, she eventually grew to be stronger, while still not losing her sense of self. She found strength in the sailor guardians — who became her lifelong best friends — in her family, and in her relationships. The anime showcased the importance of having people you can rely on to help you get back up and who will stay by your side when things get tough. But it also showed that you don’t have to sacrifice who you are in order to be strong and smart.
Another thing that’s pretty iconic about Sailor Moon is how the girls are seldom defined by their relationships with the men around them. Sure, Usagi’s in love with Mamoru, also known as Tuxedo Mask, but he’s not the focal point of her life. In fact, for most of the first season of the original animated series, Tuxedo Mask is rarely seen. He steps in occasionally to provide support and helps Usagi out of her panic sometimes, but the rest is all Usagi and the Sailor Scouts. They’re in charge of their destinies and their battles. As Japan Powered puts it, the men in the series often prove to be liabilities, furthering the theme that girls can be strong and independent on their own.
Usagi grows to be so strong that she’s currently considered one of the most powerful anime characters of all time. So powerful, in fact, that she could easily rival and beat other popular super-powered characters, like Goku. Although it’s true that in a battle of brute force Usagi has no chance, when she is in her final form, Sailor Cosmos, she blows Goku out of the water. A magical girl who can bend reality to her will with just a wave of her wand? Yeah, muscles have nothing against that.
Aside from the themes explored within the series, Sailor Moon’s cultural and economic impact is undeniable. Countless merch items have been produced since the anime’s release, such as clothing, accessories, stationery, etc. I myself have the Sailor Moon x ColourPop Makeup Collaboration, which I love. And following the relaunch of the manga in 2011, it quickly became the publisher’s best-selling manga, according to Business Insider.
Sailor Moon has also had a major impact on fashion and cosplay. Many people are often inspired by the aesthetics shown in the anime, with its pastel colors and soft pink filter, that give it a retro feel. It’s common to see people dressed up as Sailor Moon for various occasions, all with their own unique twist. My favorite cosplay of Sailor Moon at the moment is Megan Thee Stallion’s take on the character.
With all this being said, I hope you can see why Sailor Moon is such an iconic character. From being groundbreaking in her genre, to her impact across generations and the world, and the many themes explored through her character. She isn’t perfect, and neither is her series (a topic for another time), but there is no denying her influence. She may not be the strongest or bravest at times, but there’s nothing you can do when she sends her tiara flying at you. Which is why, for me, she qualifies as the ultimate anime It Girl.