AKA: N/A

Genre: Magical girl / comedy

Length: Television special, 3 episodes, 15-20 minutes each

Distributor: Currently licensed by Viz Entertainment, but will also be made available for streaming on Viz and Hulu.

Content Rating: 7+ (mild adult themes, non-sexual nudity)

Related Series: Sailor Moon original lineup (Sailor Moon, R, S, Super S, Stars - TV season and accompanying movie, plus the "Ami in Love" short), Sailor Moon Crystal lineup (Crystal - 3 TV seasons, Eternal - 2 movies, Cosmos - 2 movies)

Also Recommended: Magical Project S, Sailor Moon S, Sailor Moon Super S, Sailor Moon Super S Special: Ami's First Love

Notes: Originally shown as a television special one week after the fourth episode of the Super S television series. It was later released on video and laserdisc as a standalone, and even later on R2 DVD with Ami-chan no Hatsukoi. The third story is based on a filler chapter of the Sailor Moon manga written by Naoko Takeuchi herself.

Rating:

Sailor Moon Super S TV Special

Synopsis

The special is divided into three parts:

1.) A clip show in which Usagi, Luna, and Artemis explain to Chibi-Usa about how Usagi became Sailor Moon for the first time anddefeated Queen Beryl and her generals from the Dark Kingdom, then later fought the Black Moon and the Death Busters.

2.) Haruka and Michiru fight an evil puppet.

3.) A new student in Chibi-Usa's class isn't what she seems; she's actually a vampire!

Review

This is an odd set of specials. Nothing groundbreaking, but still enjoyable.

To me, the true highlight was, in the first episode, seeing all those cute little scenes from the first season of Sailor Moon. You know, Usagi revealed as the Moon Princess, all the Sailor Senshi working together to defeat Beryl, and Sailor Moon's very first battle (and without Tuxedo Mask, would've been her very last) against the Dark Kingdom. That, and hearing that funky first season transformation music for Sailor Moon (just my opinion, of course).

Anyway, the only true reason this special was made was to show you what happened to Haruka and Michiru after the Death Busters were defeated. Not being a big fan of Haruka and Michiru, I wasn't exactly thrilled at seeing Haruka hit on yet ANOTHER GIRL (knock some sense into your lover already, Michiru: tell her to stop hitting on other women), but it was cute to see Micihiru fighting for the sake of her sick friend in bed ("A world without Haruka is one I don't want to live in!"). Considering its paper-thin plot (guy possessed by puppet ... how incredibly *original!*), it's a treat for Haruka and Michiru fans, especially if they were getting tired of Sailor Moon and her justice-heavy friends during their last encounters.

This leaves the third, the final, and the only part of the trio of episodes actually *gasp* based on the manga. It's standard Chibi Usa fare, though Usagi-tachi explaining to Chibi Usa what a vampire is is absolutely hilarious (Minako wants to suck your blood, kiddies. Beware!). Besides, what other Sailor Moon episode can you name that involves not only four Sailor Senshi defeating the monster of the day (TM) with a four-person garlic attack, but also feature Tuxedo Kamen telling Sailor Moon and Sailor Chibi-Moon not to put his hard-earned cash to waste (he's talking about the roses, of course)?

Animation is about the same as the Super S TV series: average, if not slightly outdated looking. Still, it's fairly good considering the time period and genre it's from (90s shoujo anime aren't exactly works of art, after all). Music is about the same level as the tv series, too: appropriate, though mono-sounding and recycled.

And that pretty much concludes my review. Although far from crucial watching for Sailor Moon fans, the SuperS tv speical is still cute and funny (unless, of course, you're one of those anti-SuperS meanies only watching this to see Haruka and Michiru). If you can watch it, go ahead. Just don't go crazy enough to buy a R2 DVD player and import the DVD from Japan to watch it, though (though you wouldn't have to in the first place if Pioneer just released the specials/ got the specials from Toei ... sigh).

A cute and funny stand-alone special, but those not already into Super S can drop one or two stars. Add one star if you've been anxiously awaiting the return of Haruka and Michiru since the end of S. — Tim Jones

Recommended Audience: Nothing objectionable at all, except for undetailed nudity.