Shopping Guide
The simultaneous worldwide broadcast of the talked-about new anime Sailor Moon Crystal began on July 5. In sync with this, large-scale events were held at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, U.S. and Japan Expo in Paris, France, and private screenings were held in five major cities throughout Japan. This first new TV anime for the series in 17 years is exciting the world.
Sailor Moon, for which a 20th anniversary project is underway, is extremely popular the world over. So much so that the remastered edition that released in the U.S. in 2012 became a bestseller though it was an old work. Sailor Moon Crystal is a new work in the series that fans have been long expecting. In addition to the series’ popularity, this new anime is also being showered in attention due to it releasing simultaneously worldwide.
The anime’s distribution began on July 5 and proved extremely popular. Just as expected, it’s already a huge hit. In just the first two days, the anime, which is being distributed domestically through Nico Nico Live and Nico Nico Douga as well as being distributed around the world in 12 languages, broke through 1 million views. The anime is also available on Hulu and Crunchyroll, and many fans were able to watch the first episode through these services during the first weekend of July. Judging from the favorable start, fans can look forward to the anime expanding from here.
With no word of a TV broadcast yet, Sailor Moon Crystal will continue to be distributed first online. That means this wonderful anime produced by Toei Animation and directed by Munehisa Sakai of One Piece fame can only be enjoyed online.
New episodes of Sailor Moon Crystal will release at a rate of one every other week. Distribution of Episode 2 will begin on July 19 at 19:00. Due to the first appearance of the new character Sailor Mercury, it as well will likely gather popularity.
© Naoko Takeuchi, PNP, Kodansha Ltd., Toei Animation Co. Ltd.
Source: animeanime
