I think you are undercutting Sailor Moon as a show. One thing it does that so many modern magical girls shows don\'t do is develop the relationship between the characters. The characters hang out, have their own unique social dynamics, and often talk to each other about each others problems. Compare this to stuff like Madoka, in which the girls explode on a whim and flip from one emotion to the next or Nanoha, in which the series focuses obsessively on fighting battles and the main character is little more then a gender-flipped shonen protagonist and you\'ll see Sailor Moon that has much more depth then its counterparts. Characters suddenly getting superpowers are a dime a dozen, but the show spends much more time on drama then action, and I think that\'s what makes it work.
@Immortalbear Sorry, when ever I write a “Not for Everyone” review, it always sounds more negative than I intend.
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I Love It, But...
It's definitely not for everybody. It can come across as overly cheesy and boring to many. Usagi especially tends to be quite divisive but I personally think of her as less Mary Sue and more Escapist Character. However, despite this, I would recommend it due to its influence on the genre, and also because it's quite charming.
That being said, a lot of people have a bad taste in their mouth from the 90s English dub of the anime, which, while not without its merits, features a lot of hammy acting and unnecessary changes. I'd recommend watching the more recent Viz dub or just the original version with subtitles (I don't really go one way or the other when it comes to the Subbing vs. Dubbing debate).
As for Crystal, if you didn’t like the original manga, chances are you won't like this either. I'd say the original anime did the first three arcs better, but I have a feeling that this will do the final two better than the original, though it's too soon to say. Personally, Crystal is kind of like the Star Wars sequel trilogy for me. I enjoy it, even though I know it's not as good as what came before, while still understanding why so many people don't like it.
Codename: Sailor V is quite underrated, IMO, and was not given an anime adaptation (though a fan made opening can be found here
). It has many similarities to the original, with some elements seeming like prototypical versions of plot points from the original manga but still is a very good (and somewhat more realistic) story in its own right. (Please can we get one after Crystal is over?)
The musicals are pretty good from what I've heard and the songs are lovely.
And finally, the live-action series, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. While it only covers the Dark Kingdom arc, it explores the world and characters quite a bit, though the special effects can be a bit cringe-worthy (This was the early 2000s after all). I should also note that original manga creator Naoko Takeuchi was very involved in the production of this version and it really shows.
All in all while I love every version of this iconic story, you'll either love it or hate it. With that said, the LGBT characters are all portrayed in positive and sympathetic ways, even the two that were villains, and the girls do care for and support each other, each with their own unique dynamics. I especially love Makoto because she may be the toughest of the Sailor Senshi, but she loves roses and cooking and dreams of being a bride. Usagi’s sexuality is portrayed as simply a part of who she is, and Codename: Sailor V had a chapter that felt very relevant in the age of “fake geek girl” accusations.
Highly recommended for fans of the Magical Girl genre.