Sailor Moon is one of the world’s most famous anime and manga franchises, which originated in Japan at the beginning of the 1990s, and invaded the whole world in no time.
The basis for the Sailor Moon franchise was the shoujo manga Codename: Sailor Vi by Japanese Naoko Takeuchi, published in Nakayoshi magazine in 1991. At first, the story focused on only one female warrior, Minako Aino, or Sailor Venus. With the introduction of other characters, Aino ceased to be the main character, and Usagi Tsukino, Sailor Moon, came to the forefront.
The first episode aired on Japanese Asahi TV on March 7, 1992. The cartoon was dubbed and released in Europe, the United States, China, Australia, and Latin America. Like the manga in magazines, the series was released in 1997.
“Sailor Moon” revolutionized the maho-shojo genre, where the main character is a girl or young girl who has supernatural powers. The franchise also helped popularize the genre and manga in general outside of Japan.
Since then, many shows, movies, musicals, video games, and even ice performances based on Sailor Moon have been created. In 2013 a remake of the anime series based on Takeuchi’s manga was released.
Usagi Tsukino is the real name of Sailor Moon. It is a pun on the expression “Tsuki no usagi,” which means Moon Bunny. Recognizable by her iconic “odango” blond hair, Usagi is a Japanese schoolgirl who, day in and day out, tries to get along with her emotionality and overcome laziness.
Ordinary 14-year-old schoolgirl Usagi Tsukino meets the talking cat Luna, through whom she reveals her second personality, Sailor Moon. When she first turns to her magical alter ego, the girl reluctantly accepts her destiny. Over time, she realizes the importance of fighting evil. Sailor Moon’s catchphrase becomes “I bear vengeance in the name of the moon. Gradually she is joined by other heroines named after planets of the solar system.
What is Sailor Moon?
Sailor Moon is the name of a Japanese manga and anime franchise, which was one of the genre pioneers, going on a global level. The first episode of the anime series Beauty Warrior Sailor Moon was released on March 7, 1992. The franchise tells a story of a Japanese schoolgirl, Usagi Tsukino.
In terms of visual identity, the Sailor Moon franchise is very girly and sunny. The English version of the franchise’s badge has been redesigned several times throughout the years, experimenting with colors and shapes.
The first English version of the Sailor Moon logo was designed in 1994 and featured a golden three-dimensional lettering written in a wavy line and overlapping a silver moon, set on a background in the color of a night sky, with small shiny stars and planets around it.
In the redesign of 1995, the concept of the first version was kept, but all the contours and shapes were cleaned up and strengthened. The blue background with stars and planets was removed, and the new badge featured glossy golden lettering in a bold serif font, written over a plain white background with an enlarged silver moon in the center.
In 2011 the Sailor Moon logo was completely redrawn, using a new typeface and color palette. The refined composition consisted of voluminous cursive lettering in yellow and pink, with the name of the franchise written in a straight line and accompanied by a thin and sharp yellow moon on the left.
The elegant and ornate typeface from the primary Silver Moon logo does not have many commercial analogs, but looks somewhat close to such fonts as Krinkes Decor Swash, or Ristella, with significant modifications of the characters’ contours.
As for the color palette of Sailor Moon’s visual identity, it is based on a combination of yellow and pink, very vivid and feminine shades, which look friendly and light and evokes a sense of fun, kindness, and energy.