(L+CR) Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal

[Arkeus]

Ok, really, really liked this episode.

Usagi is actually sounding like a real girl most of the times (rare in anime nowadays), the Usagi/Ami friendship stuff is well done and actually touching, the Ami TS was very nice, and i /love/ the art direction.

The mysticism and classicism of the art direction is just clicking perfectly for me

[OrionBuble]

Offical MV for opening song

[YourIdeas]

Originally Posted by Arkeus

Usagi is actually sounding like a real girl most of the times (rare in anime nowadays), the Usagi/Ami friendship stuff is well done and actually touching, the Ami TS was very nice, and i /love/ the art direction.

Usagi sounds nothing like any real Japanese speaking girls/women I've heard.

[Funkatron]

I love the fact that Mercury has her own end of the henshin phrase now instead of cribbing off of Sailor Moon. Guardian of Love and Intelligence, indeed. I'd douse myself and repent for you anyday, Mercury

Is the personalized role call in the manga? Looking forwards to see what the other senshi say.

[GDB]

Originally Posted by Sageblink

I, on the opposite, thought that her henshin sequence was awful.
The rest of the episode was great.

Of course it was awful. It was just less awful than Moon's.

It was a nice touch when Luna was using... whatever weird ass computer she was using, and if you look at the reflection in her eyes you can see Rei's name. Can't wait for some Biribiri.

Though it'd be nice if they cut down on some of this "how convenient" stuff that happened this episode. Just happens that mashing the buttons lets you find out it's a brainwashing program, just happens that the enemy attack that had been cutting everything apart just sticks you to a wall, just happens that Ami is alone, etc. Kind of takes suspension away.

[HandofFate]

Episode 2 was enjoyable, first half was kind of boring, since Ami is probably my least favorite, next to Moon herself, lol.

So the transformer pens for Ami and Moon also function as real pens, that's convenient.

I hated Moon's CGI transformation in the first episode, but found myself liking Mercury's. I think her transformation and looks like the rest will lend themselves to CGI transformations better than moon due to the elemental graphics.

Also, nice surprise is Mercury having her own unique rollcall. Don't remember that, so that really helps giving her character and distinction.

[Kanon]

Mercury used the exact same rollcall in the old anime too. You guys must have forgotten.

[YourIdeas]

Originally Posted by Kanon

Mercury used the exact same rollcall in the old anime too. You guys must have forgotten.

I think it's more that Moon and Mars were the most memorable of the role calls, and Mercury didn't do hers right off the bat.

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by YourIdeas

Usagi sounds nothing like any real Japanese speaking girls/women I've heard.

This, a thousand times over.

[Stark700]

It's going to take me awhile to get used to Usagi's voice. Nonetheless, good episode. I like Sailor Mercury's voice quite a bit and her role already in this series.

Next episode should be interesting well.

[RDNexus]

I'm kind surprised nobody commented about the MV of Moon Pride...
I've yet to check the sister-topic of this one, it may be being commented there as it seems to have spoilers...

[Arkeus]

Originally Posted by YourIdeas

Usagi sounds nothing like any real Japanese speaking girls/women I've heard.

Sorry, i have no clue about voices- it's characterization that interests me.

[Sol Falling]

Originally Posted by OrionBuble

Offical MV for opening song

Dat animation quality... blows the actual show out of the water lol . C'mon Toei, step it up, ep.2 was off-model all over the place.

It was kinda funny that the episode didn't even let Ami talk until about ~7 minutes into the episode. Kanemoto Hisako's Ami sounds pretty good, but slips pretty frequently into the voices of other characters I recognize so that I think I'll need a couple more episodes before I get a complete feeling for her voice as this character.

Speaking of the old and new Sailor Mercuries, though, I have to admit that the fluffy vs. cool comments make me chuckle as a Precure fan. Kanemoto's Cure Peace might be pretty high in my list of favourite Precures but Hisakawa's Cure Moonlight can easily give her a run for her money, lol.

Spoiler for Cure Peace:

Spoiler for Cure Moonlight:

As for the rest of the episode...well, I thought the friendship moments between Ami and Usagi were really sweet. Not particularly taken in by the rest of the plot yet, but as earlier I am willing to wait and let it grow. If the first half-dozen episodes simply take their time to introduce the cast of characters, I believe I will still be suitably engaged/entertained.

[Pablete]

Plz, Cure Moonlight can curbstomp 90% of MS characters hands down ever.

Btw,comparisons:



.

Spoiler for Mercyrt henshin:

[FlareKnight]

It's still a pretty horrible voice and sadly given to the character who is probably going to talk the most in the series . Oh well, at least Ami seemed to turn out alright casting wise.

Kind of left cheering for the monster to hurry up and take Sailor Moon out during that fight .

At least since it was mostly covered in water the transformation sequence wasn't completely horrible this time. No weirdly animated limbs. Although I still think they should have just gone ahead for good sequences instead of cramming in that bad CGI.

Not a bad episode. Although can't help but joke at Ami being their brain and yet thinking Sailor Moon can take down an enemy while pinned down against the wall . Also, still feel sorry for her. Talk about a sad power compared to the rest, "behold a smoke screen!"

[Lota]

Awww, that was a rather good episode. At some points I found Usagi adorable (though still quite annoying...), but dammit, that animation quality. Not good at all, the faces looked different in every shot. I still have a problem with Usagi's design (although, interestingly, the others look fine to me), but here there were some angles where she looked great and some were... cringeworthy to say the least. The manga Usagi's design had something that this one doesn't, though I still can't quite understand what it is.

The development of the episode was, at least for me, enjoyable. I was wondering whether this would be a modernized adaptation and as soon as I saw that CD, I thought "Yeah, I bet the original had a floppy disk" (a fact that has already been confirmed in this thread). And those computers... Yeah, it's modern

One thing that bothers me a little is the fact that Mamoru and Usagi's dynamics were a bit different in the manga, Mamoru had a bit more personality. Other than that, the adaptation is so far so good. Looking forward to the other episodes! (Although I have to say that this whole waiting for 2 weeks thing is really not to my liking. Really.)

Originally Posted by OrionBuble

Offical MV for opening song

Ooh, I like that. I actually prefer this design of Usagi to the one in the anime. And yeah, some spoilers I guess. Although that sequence at the end where they are CGI walking is creapyyyyy

[JagdPanther]

The CG still isn't getting it done for me, but I do think that Ami's sequence was better than Usagi's.

One thing I forgot about Mercury's appearance from the manga... the lack of any sleeves (I am a guy, so I know next to nothing of fashion terminology) or whatever the heck is at the shoulder area of the other senshi's uniforms kinda irked me.

[Triple_R]

2nd Episode was a bit better than the first one, in my opinion. The 2nd episode's plot seemed to flow a bit more evenly and smoothly.

Pros:

1. Ami's transformation scene was pretty good. Unlike with Sailor Moon's, I can honestly say I (slightly) prefer Ami's new transformation scene to her old 90s one. Here is one area where CGI helps a bit I think - The watery effect looks a bit more stunning and impressive due to the CGI.

2. It was a good introduction episode for Sailor Mercury. She came across as humble and down-to-Earth, in spite of her incredibly impressive intelligence. Her initial loneliness was handled well, which made her later interactions with Sailor Moon very sweet and rewarding to watch. "Civilian" Usagi came off well here - Yes, she's ditzy and a bit airheaded, but her sincere niceness and friendliness shines brightly.

3. Luna came across as very helpful and effective in this episode. It's good to see her get involved personally and proactively, rather than just nag Sailor Moon into action.


Cons:

1. Sailor Moon's highly wimpish behavior in battle is already getting tiresome to me. It also clashes nastily with how firm she starts out with some bold proclamations. I mean, to say all those rhetorically strong and sternly delivered lines, only to right after start screaming in terror before you've even begun to fight... Man, it's anti-cool. It makes me facepalm and wince.

2. It's not a big deal, but I echo what others said about certain elements of Episode 2's plot being a bit overly convenient.


On the whole, a very good Episode 2.

[Master_Yoma]

Ami transformation as good as ever but still waiting for Rei

[Hazou]

WTF!

Why so much negativity?

I like this anime. I like the CGI. I like Usagi's voice. I like Usagi because she's a lot different then the Cool and Spicy we see in every god damn maho. She's a breath of fresh air. She's unique compared to the Mahou Shadokas and other stuff.

The anime is totally 90s, you can tell, even as a remake, it just rings 90s charm and cheesy. So hammy sometimes.

But this is a good anime. And I'm tired of old school fans trashing it.

I watched the old school version. I watched the movies. And now I'm watching the remake and loving it.