Sailor Moon S: The Movie

This article is about the movie. For the third story arc of Sailor Moon, see Sailor Moon S.

Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon S The Movie
Movie poster New charcters Kakeru and Himeko are at the bottom. Luna's human form is also pictured.
Directed by	Hiroki Shibata
Written by	Naoko Takeuchi, Sukehiro Tomita (screenplay), Lisa Lumby-Richards (English adaptation)
Starring	Kotono Mitsuishi, Masami Kikuchi, Megumi Hayashibara, Eiko Masuyama, Keiko Han (Japanese version) Terri Hawkes, Linda Ballantyne, Jeff Lumby, Jill Frappier, Susan Aceron (English version)
Cinematography	Motoi Takahashi
Edited by	Yasuhiro Yoshikawa
Music by	Takanori Arisawa
Distributed by	Toei Company, Ltd. (Japan) Walt Disney Pictures (U.S.) Pioneer Entertainment (U.S.) Optimum Productions (U.S. and Canada) Cloverway (Mexico)
Release dates	December 4, 1994
Running time	61 min.
Country	Japan
Languages	Japanese, English

Sailor Moon S: The Movie is the second of three theatrically released Sailor Moon movies. Its full name in Japanese is Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon S The Movie (劇場版 美少女戦士セーラームーンＳ, Gekijouhan Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S). The English dub is called Sailor Moon S the Movie: Hearts in Ice. It debuted in Japanese theater on December 4, 1994. The film was soft matted for its theatrical release, as it was animated in 4:3 full screen. The same was done with the Sailor Moon R Movie and the Sailor Moon Super S Movie. The movie is named thus for the third arc of the Sailor Moon anime, Sailor Moon S, as it was released around the same time. The events portrayed seem to take place during approximately the same time period.

The "S movie" is the only one of the three to have been based on a story which actually appeared in Naoko Takeuchi's original manga series. The sidestory, entitled The Lover of Princess Kaguya (Kaguya hime no koibito), was published as Volume 11 in the original release of the manga. It was accompanied by a shorter sidestory called Casablanca Memories, featuring Rei Hino.

Plot

File:Luna Manga.jpg

Luna's human form as seen in the manga.

Long ago, Princess Snow Kaguya tried to cover the Earth in ice, but failed when the Ginzuishou melted the ice and saved the planet. She has now made her way to Earth to try again. A piece of her comet has been lost and she cannot proceed without it. She sends her minions, the Snow Dancers, to search for the missing shard. A young astronomer named Kakeru Ōzora finds the shard and keeps it in his observatory.

The Senshi are enjoying a day in town. Luna develops a cold and leaves the Senshi to go back to Usagi's house. On the way there, she is almost hit by a car, but is rescued and nursed to health by Kakeru. Luna then develops romantic feelings for him, even kissing him in his sleep, leaving Artemis feeling dejected. Luna herself ends up with unrequited love because it turns out that Kakeru has a girlfriend of his own, an astronaut named Himeko Nayotake, and more importantly, because Luna is a cat. It turns out the two are unhappy because the scientific Himeko cannot come to terms with Kakeru's belief of the existence of the mythological Princess Kaguya; Himeko later leaves on a space mission without reconciling with him.

The shard of the comet attaches itself to Kakeru's life force, and begins slowly stealing his energy, causing him to become very ill. Princess Snow Kaguya takes the shard, but because it is linked to his life force, he is brought even closer to death when it is taken. She throws the shard into the ocean and creates an enormous ice crystal that will continue to draw away Kakeru's energy until he dies. She and her Snow Dancers then begin to freeze the Earth. The Senshi attempt to stop her, but none of their attacks seem to work. All of the Senshi combine their powers to activate the Ginzuishou, which destroys Princess Snow Kaguya, her Snow Dancers, the ice crystal in the ocean, and her comet.

When the Senshi defeat Princess Snow Kaguya, Sailor Moon wishes for Luna to become Princess Kaguya. Kakeru, worried about Himeko's safety, had been wandering in the snowstorm and is saved by Luna, transformed into a woman. She takes him near the moon, where Himeko, on her space mission, witnesses the odd phenomenon. Luna tells him that he needs to stop focusing on his work so much and to pay more attention to Himeko. She shares a sad kiss with him, then they return to normal. Kakeru takes up Luna's advice and meets Himeko, who now believes in Kaguya, at the airport. Artemis then comforts Luna, and they make up.

See also

• The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
• Yuki-onna

External links

• Hitoshi Doi - Summary of the Sailor Moon S Movie
• Manga Guide - In-depth synopsis of "The Lover of Princess Kaguya" side story
• Princess Snow Kaguya @ The Oracle - Information, Images, Name Origin