♪ Sera Myu: A Newbie's Guide ♪

[Kawaisa Sailor Moon]

~*~*~ Sera Myu: A Newbie's Guide ~*~*~



From Left to Right: Anza Ooyama, Fumina Hara, Miyuki Kanbe, and Marina Kuroki

Table of Contents

Post 1: You Are Here
Post 2: Introduction
Post 3: Complete List of Plays
Post 4: Newbie's Play Guide
Post 5: Where to Watch?

 

[Kawaisa Sailor Moon]

~*~*~ Introduction ~*~*~

"Sera Myu" in my opinion is the lost gem of the Sailor Moon franchise. They are a group of musical stage plays that were preformed in Japan from 1993 - 2005. Each play is somewhere within movie length. Usually they expand upon ideas brought up in the anime/manga or create totally new stories. They consist of four stages, which are designed around which actress is playing Sailor Moon (pictured above). Due to them being performed almost entirely in Japanese they have never gotten an official English release with subtitles. We have to rely on fansubs and general internet access to provide us with content we can understand. 24 out of the total 29 plays were recorded and released on VHS. The first two stages have also been released on DVD but a few plays are still VHS only. There seems to be a complete lack of awareness in N.A. so here is my attempt to spread the word. I can't blame the general base for that and I'll explain why...

The list of 24 recorded plays includes two different types of plays. They are the original plays and plays called 'kaiteiban'. 'Kaiteiban' means revision, so a 'kaiteiban' is the same play with minor changes added. This means that there's only 15 plays that you have to watch if you don't want to watch both the original and revised plays. Fansubbers seem to have picked up on this because no one group has tackled all the plays. If you want to watch all there is to see of Sera Myu you'll need to jump from group to group. There is simply no other way. Why is that bad? Because everyone who sees Sera Myu has their own opinions of which is better. Some prefer the revisions, others perfer the originals, which is just how it is. It's worthy of note that to this day two kaiteiban have never gotten complete fansubs. For someone living outside of Japan that doesn't speak Japanese this is a lot of watching and reading that has to be done. Of course adding MOAR confusion to the base is the fact that there are also several videos for Sera Myu outside of the plays. These are mostly made up of fan events, DVD extras, extra performances after curtain call, etc.
So basically it all boils down to a lot of fluff and bother.

Lucky for you, I've been through it all ~ ≧ヮ≦

 

[Kawaisa Sailor Moon]

~*~*~ Complete List of Plays ~*~*~

FIRST STAGE:
Anza Ooyama
1993 - 1998

Never Released on Video Sailor Moon - Gaiden Dark Kingdom Fukkatsu Hen (Kaiteiban) (1994 Winter Special)
Never Released on Video Sailor Moon - Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Super Spring Festival (1994 Spring Special)
Never Released on Video Sailor Moon S - Henshin - Super Senshi e no Michi (1995 Winter Special)
Never Released on Video Sailor Moon S - Henshin - Super Senshi e no Michi (Kaiteiban) (1995 Spring Special)
Never Released on Video Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS Special Musical Show (1996 Early Summer Special)

[1] Sailor Moon - Gaiden Dark Kingdom Fukkatsu Hen (1993 Summer Special)

[2] Sailor Moon S - Usagi Ai no Senshi e no Michi (1994 Summer Special)

[3] Sailor Moon SuperS - Yume Senshi - Ai - Eien ni... (1995 Summer Special)
[4] Sailor Moon SuperS - (Kaiteiban) Yume Senshi - Ai - Eien ni... Saturn Fukkatsu Hen! (1996 Spring Special)

[5] Sailor Moon Sailor Stars (1996 Summer Special)
[6] Sailor Moon Sailor Stars (Kaiteiban) (1997 Winter Special)

[7] Eien Densetsu (1997 Summer Special)
[8] Eien Densetsu (Kaiteiban) - The Final First Stage (1998 Winter Special)

SECOND STAGE:
Fumina Hara
1998 - 1999

[9] Shin Densetsu Kourin (1998 Summer Special)

[10] Kaguya Shima Densetsu (1999 Spring Special)
[11] Kaguya Shima Densetsu (Kaiteiban) Natsuyasumi! Houseki Tankentai (1999 Summer Special)

THIRD STAGE:
Miyuki Kanbe
2000 - 2001

[12] Shin / Henshin - Super Senshi e no Michi - Last Dracul Jokyoku (2000 Winter Special)

[13] Kessen / Transylvania no Mori - Shin Toujou! Chibi Moon wo Mamoru Senshi-tachi (2000 Summer Special)
[14] Kessen / Transylvania no Mori (Kaiteiban) - Saikyou no Kataki Dark Cain no Nazo (2001 Winter Special)

[15] Chou Wakusei Death Vulcan no Fuuin (2001 Spring Special)

FOURTH STAGE:
Marina Kuroki
2001 - 2005

[16] Tanjou! Ankoku no Princess Black Lady (2001 Summer Special)
[17] Tanjou! Ankoku no Princess Black Lady (Kaiteiban) - Wakusei Nemesis no Nazo (2002 Winter Special)

[18] 10th Anniversary Festival - Ai no Sanctuary (2002 Spring Special)

[19] Mugen Gakuen - Mistress Labyrinth (2002 Summer Special)
[20] Mugen Gakuen - Mistress Labyrinth (Kaiteiban) (2003 Winter Special)

[21] Starlights - Ryuusei Densetsu (2003 Summer Special)
[22] Kakyuu-Ouhi Kourin - The Second Stage Final (2004 Winter Special) (This is technically a kaiteiban)

[23] Shin Kaguya Shima Densetsu (2004 Summer Special)
[24] Shin Kaguya Shima Densetsu (Kaiteiban) - Marinamoon Final (2005 Winter Special)  

[Kawaisa Sailor Moon]

~*~*~ Newbie's Play Guide ~*~*~

There is nothing wrong with being a newbie to Sera Myu simply because it's not well know at all.

That being said, If you understand the whole 'kaiteiban' concept than you may proceed. If that word makes no sense to you than go back and read my Introduction and look at the Complete List of Plays. If you cannot wrap your head around the idea of revised plays than Sera Myu is NOT for you. Turn back now.

Also of note, usually plays aren't numbered (numbering can vary due to the never-recorded plays) and are rarely listed with full titles. Keep that in mind when searching for them.

You DON'T Care About These Things

I can tell you right off the bat that if you haven't seen a play yet and haven't gotten into Sera Myu than you don't care about any of this:

Fan Kansha/fankan
Guide Video
Senshuuraku
Service Number
Omake
raw/raws

These words ONLY apply to you if you find, in the long run, that you like Sera Myu and you're willing to put up with the hell that is YouTube parts and general internet searching. All of these things are bonus materials that you don't care about if you are a newbie trying to get into it. 'Raw' means that the play is in Japanese WITHOUT English subtitles, which is equally something you don't care about as a newbie. You also don't care at all about any of the plays that were never released.

You TOTALLY DO Want to Start Here

Feel free to pick any of these plays and just start. You can pick either a regular play or a revised kaiteiban, but do NOT watch an original play and then go watch its kaiteiban right after it. These are all excellent plays that should be easy to find on the websites I suggest. Even if you have to watch them in parts on YouTube, these plays are worth it.

[5] Sailor Moon Sailor Stars (1996 Summer Special)
[6] Sailor Moon Sailor Stars (Kaiteiban) (1997 Winter Special)

[7] Eien Densetsu (1997 Summer Special) (HIGHLY recommended)

[16] Tanjou! Ankoku no Princess Black Lady (2001 Summer Special)
[17] Tanjou! Ankoku no Princess Black Lady (Kaiteiban) - Wakusei Nemesis no Nazo (2002 Winter Special)

[19] Mugen Gakuen - Mistress Labyrinth (2002 Summer Special)
[20] Mugen Gakuen - Mistress Labyrinth (Kaiteiban) (2003 Winter Special) (HIGHLY recommended)

[21] Starlights - Ryuusei Densetsu (2003 Summer Special)
[22] Kakyuu-Ouhi Kourin - The Second Stage Final (2004 Winter Special) (HIGHLY recommended)

[23] Shin Kaguya Shima Densetsu (2004 Summer Special)

Other Good Plays

If you've watched the previous plays and liked what you saw, here are some more plays. These are good plays that are enjoyable if you like what you've seen already.

[3] Sailor Moon SuperS - Yume Senshi - Ai - Eien ni... (1995 Summer Special)
[4] Sailor Moon SuperS - (Kaiteiban) Yume Senshi - Ai - Eien ni... Saturn Fukkatsu Hen! (1996 Spring Special)

Good plays, but some props are sub-par.

[10] Kaguya Shima Densetsu (1999 Spring Special)

I find there's quite a portion of the fanbase that doesn't like Fumina Hara as Sailor Moon. I honestly love the storyline of this play, and personally I like Fuminamoon.

[12] Shin / Henshin - Super Senshi e no Michi - Last Dracul Jokyoku (2000 Winter Special)

[13] Kessen / Transylvania no Mori - Shin Toujou! Chibi Moon wo Mamoru Senshi-tachi (2000 Summer Special)
[14] Kessen / Transylvania no Mori (Kaiteiban) - Saikyou no Kataki Dark Cain no Nazo (2001 Winter Special)

[15] Chou Wakusei Death Vulcan no Fuuin (2001 Spring Special)

12, 14 and 15 are the only plays that make one, continuous storyline. You may have to watch them more than once to make sense of everything, but I honestly adore these plays. These are easily among my favorites, but probably not best for beginners.

You DON'T Want to Start Here

These plays have problems. Either I didn't like the play in general or there is a problem with availability. Your opinion may be different from mine, but it would be better for you to discover that later than to start out here. These should be the last plays on your 'to watch' list.

[1] Sailor Moon - Gaiden Dark Kingdom Fukkatsu Hen (1993 Summer Special)
[2] Sailor Moon S - Usagi Ai no Senshi e no Michi (1994 Summer Special)

I find these two plays to be the worst in general quality. It makes sense, because they're the earliest recorded plays, but equally makes it tricky for new viewers since they're the logical place to start. Out of ALL of Sera Myu DO NOT start here.

[8] Eien Densetsu (Kaiteiban) - The Final First Stage (1998 Winter Special)

This play can be hard to find because there are two different versions of it. There's the regular version and the 'Senshuuraku' version. If you can find the original play, then go ahead and watch it. DO NOT watch the Senshuuraku version (though it's not always properly labeled), it is AWFUL in my honest opinion. Because of that, I'm keeping it down here.

[9] Shin Densetsu Kourin (1998 Summer Special)

This is one of those plays that some people really like and some people really don't. It's basically several plays shoved together. Personally I don't like it because most of the songs are 'cluttered' with several lines being sung at the same time. Not only do I find it grating on my ears, but it gets hard to read subtitles at that point too.

[11] Kaguya Shima Densetsu (Kaiteiban) Natsuyasumi! Houseki Tankentai (1999 Summer Special)

This play was never fully fan subtitled. That's a shame, because it's probably the best out of the second stage plays but I cannot, in my right mind, expect an English Audience to watch it in Japanese. There is a partial sub on YouTube but it is NOT finished, so no matter what you have to watch parts of it in Japanese/raw.

[18] 10th Anniversary Festival - Ai no Sanctuary (2002 Spring Special)

This is another love it or hate it play. I really hated the story of this play entirely. It's probably on par with the first two Sera Myu plays in quality. All the songs are reused and the villains come off as very monster-of-the-day.

[24] Shin Kaguya Shima Densetsu (Kaiteiban) - Marinamoon Final (2005 Winter Special)

This is another play that has never been fan subtitled. It's so sad, because this is the final play that was ever performed officially. The only way to watch it is in raw, or if you know Japanese and sub it yourself.  

[Kawaisa Sailor Moon]

~*~*~ Where To Watch? ~*~*~

seramyuantics.net

This is a good place to go and watch plays. You can watch plays there in full (no parts) with subtitles. They do NOT have all 24 plays, but they do have a lot of them. They also host several bonus videos.

seramyu.mabdese.net

This is another good place to go to watch plays in full (no parts). They also host a few plays in raw. Again, they do not have all 24 plays subbed there, but have a good amount. They do NOT host any bonus videos.

youtube.com

This is basically your last resort. You WILL be able to find the most amount of plays here but more than likely you will have to watch them in parts and definetly will have to jump back and forth between users. This is also a good place for bonus videos.

wikimoon.org OR sailormoon.wikia.com

These are NOT places for watching, BUT in general they're awesome for information. They offer musical plots, song translations, actor and actress information, and overall they're just really good places to go to if you have any questions.