It’s no secret that anime is popular in America. Children and adults alike enjoy watching these Japanese cartoons both on the air and online. One of the first anime imported to the States from Japan in the 1990s was Sailor Moon. This show chronicles 14-year-old Usagi (or Serena, as American fans know her) and her adventures as the sailor-suited superhero, Sailor Moon. Twenty-five years after the first episode aired in Japan, Sailor Moon is still a wonderful show for the whole family to enjoy.

Sailor Moon definitely has a comic element to it. Being a kids’ show, there’s got to be humor to keep the kids entertained. Part of it comes from Usagi being a crybaby who is lazy and gets bad grades all the time. This kind of personality is bound to reel in some laughs, especially in the bulk of the first season, where she repeatedly refuses to fight crime. Some of the other characters whose personalities play into the humor are Rei, a hotheaded fellow sailor senshi (Japanese for “soldier”) who is constantly butting heads with Usagi, and Luna, a fussy-nanny talking cat who is Usagi’s companion and is super sassy.

The villains on this show are surprisingly fun to watch. It’s not that they’re total idiots who can’t get anything done, like most American cartoons. They’re totally serious villains. The only reason they can’t get anything done is that the sailor senshi are always in the way. They’re so interesting to watch because the villains are always a group, such as the Dark Kingdom of season 1 or the Black Moon Clan of season 2. It’s always interesting to see the different members interact with each other in their lairs. The Spectre Sisters from the Black Moon Clan are the best example of this. When the quartet of sisters weren’t trying to find the Crystal Points or capture Rabbit, they were usually squabbling with each other and trying to impress their boss, Lord Rubeus.

One of the best parts of Sailor Moon, however, is the message it sends out. On the surface, the Pretty Guardian who Fights for Love and Justice teaches the lesson that love and justice triumph over all, but there’s a deeper message when you think about it. Usagi is a total klutz, probably not the superhero type especially when compared to the other sailor senshi. Ami (Sailor Mercury) is a genius, Rei (Mars) is a psychic, Mako (Jupiter) is super tough, and Minako (Venus) is a former celebrity. This gives off the message that you don’t need to be special to make a difference.

All in all, Sailor Moon is a delightful show that everyone will enjoy, and it has gathered a following of many loyal fans since its debut. Sailor Moon is currently available on Hulu, Viz Media, and several other places online.