Was it more of Crystal or the Manga's problem?

[Slowpokeking]

The overall voice cast is fine, Sailor Moon has already built up a fanbase while its prime has past.

The design was fine, the animation was a bit bad especially in the first release but wasn't too big of a problem.

Was its below expectation reception more of its own fault or the manga's like way too quick pace, lack of character development and friendship? The manga mostly used independent chapters to build up other characters, if you only use the main plot it would be too vague. The fighting scenes also needs to be filled up.

The 3rd arc was fine also due to it was the best part of the manga(overall) .

 

[CrystalBard]

Honestly, I've never seen any problem with Crystal.

 

[Clow]

The problems with Crystal were two: the long wait for each episode to air and the episodes airing unfinished.

 

[Crystal Moon]

The problem with Crystal is it didn't emphasize on the thing which needed emphasizing.
For example, the one hate most is episode 21. The characters spend most time talking in that episode. What a shame, it is a very beautiful one.

 

[Star Angel Haruki]

It's hard to pin down accurately. The manga DOES have problems that Crystal did not fix and/or expand on. I personally don't know why this is but I'd guess they were limited to what they could do. This could be based on Naoko's final approval or executive funding for the project, maybe both?

I think there is also a "fan" problem too.

While some people have genuine concerns for the delivery of the series, others are quite nitpicky about specific things.

We have some obsessed with making Crystal the 90's anime. Never wanting a retelling of the manga but instead, a sequel to the 90's...etc.

 

[Slowpokeking]

It's hard to pin down accurately. The manga DOES have problems that Crystal did not fix and/or expand on. I personally don't know why this is but I'd guess they were limited to what they could do. This could be based on Naoko's final approval or executive funding for the project, maybe both?

I think there is also a "fan" problem too.

While some people have genuine concerns for the delivery of the series, others are quite nitpicky about specific things.

We have some obsessed with making Crystal the 90's anime. Never wanting a retelling of the manga but instead, a sequel to the 90's...etc.

It's understandable since the 90's anime has a wider influence than the manga.

 

[Clow]

The 90’s anime is good, but it has too many filler episodes with weird MOTDs that add absolutely nothing to the overall story.

Crystal is more straightforward.

 

[Slowpokeking]

The 90’s anime is good, but it has too many filler episodes with weird MOTDs that add absolutely nothing to the overall story.

Crystal is more straightforward.

Before SuperS, most of the fillers are good since it built up the characters and the world around everyone. The manga was way too straightforward so most of the characters lack of personality, nor was the friendship well shown.

 

[FloraKiraraHime]

The problems with Crystal were two: the long wait for each episode to air and the episodes airing unfinished.

I concur.

 

[CrystalBard]

Before SuperS, most of the fillers are good since it built up the characters and the world around everyone. The manga was way too straightforward so most of the characters lack of personality, nor was the friendship well shown.

Yes, that is a fair point. Reading the manga can be an...exhausting experience. Crystal has a vaguely soap opera feel. "What? The evil queen is actually my boyfriend's jilted lover?" (Freeze frame.) (A cliff hanger every episode, I swear.)

 

[MikeMasters05]

Leaving animation aside, the biggest problem of the biggest problems I see with Crystal it’s the lack of characterization.

And it’s not the manga’s problem; per se, allow me to explain.

Crystal tried to lift the personality of the girls from the 90’s anime (except probably for Reí) they rather than showing, just described what the girls liked, were good at, their friendship.

In the long rung this didn’t pay off, specially at the end of the dark kingdom arc, where they said “Usagi is the best friend ever she saved me from loneliness” but no one believed it. Why?

Because unlike the manga and the 90’s anime, this was never shown. They removed a lot of small interactions, panels and jokes that even though were “irrelevant”, they gave personality to the girls and helped to build who they are known. Not adapting special chapters hurt to, because these chapters were when everyone other than Usagi had a chance to shine.

Everyone felt flat, lifeless and the Scriptwriter helped to take the soul from the girls by having them complete each other’s phrases, instead of giving them unique dialogue.

By the 3rd season, you can see that Chiaki Kon tried to return some personality to them, and she picked up some gags from the 90’s (Mina and Mako getting crazy over Mugen academy and Haruka, Rei throwing shade to Usagi, Ami being mean without noticing)

But then again this is lifting from a previous work in other to love different characters, if you are new to the franchise you can even say that this came out of nowhere, and it was very limited too. (Only a few scenes, due to the episode count.)

In the end I believe small changes, and trying to fleshed out the girls instead on relying on previous works it’s what hurt Crystal in the end.

 

[CrystalBard]

Leaving animation aside, the biggest problem of the biggest problems I see with Crystal it’s the lack of characterization.

And it’s not the manga’s problem; per se, allow me to explain.

Crystal tried to lift the personality of the girls from the 90’s anime (except probably for Reí) they rather than showing, just described what the girls liked, were good at, their friendship.

In the long rung this didn’t pay off, specially at the end of the dark kingdom arc, where they said “Usagi is the best friend ever she saved me from loneliness” but no one believed it. Why?

Because unlike the manga and the 90’s anime, this was never shown. They removed a lot of small interactions, panels and jokes that even though were “irrelevant”, they gave personality to the girls and helped to build who they are known. Not adapting special chapters hurt to, because these chapters were when everyone other than Usagi had a chance to shine.

Everyone felt flat, lifeless and the Scriptwriter helped to take the soul from the girls by having them complete each other’s phrases, instead of giving them unique dialogue.

By the 3rd season, you can see that Chiaki Kon tried to return some personality to them, and she picked up some gags from the 90’s (Mina and Mako getting crazy over Mugen academy and Haruka, Rei throwing shade to Usagi, Ami being mean without noticing)

But then again this is lifting from a previous work in other to love different characters, if you are new to the franchise you can even say that this came out of nowhere, and it was very limited too. (Only a few scenes, due to the episode count.)

In the end I believe small changes, and trying to fleshed out the girls instead on relying on previous works it’s what hurt Crystal in the end.

TBH, While there was a lack of characterization, I felt what we saw was superior to the '90's anime where it felt a little too slapstick and at times even mean. (Making a Rei a bully, Usagi too much of a ditz, etc.) I like Crystal's characterizations in seeing a more mature Usagi and MInako having the "burden of command" so to speak. Even Rei seemed a bit more spiritual though she keeps her classic grumpiness.

 

[Slowpokeking]

TBH, While there was a lack of characterization, I felt what we saw was superior to the '90's anime where it felt a little too slapstick and at times even mean. (Making a Rei a bully, Usagi too much of a ditz, etc.) I like Crystal's characterizations in seeing a more mature Usagi and MInak having the "burden of command" so to speak. Even Rei seemed a bit more spiritual though she keeps her classic grumpiness.

Rei was not really a bully, she and Usagi pick at each other at the same time remain as best friends.

 

[CrystalBard]

Rei was not really a bully, she and Usagi pick at each other at the same time remain as best friends.

She pinched my waifu and I can't forgive that. Being mean to Ami is simply unacceptable. She's like a kitten.

 

[rgveda99]

Once in a while you get one these posts in one of the Facebook groups. I just read the comments for the s such as this one:

I hate all of them.
Crystal especially.

 

[Clow]

^I love SMC seasons 1-2 and I particularly love, love Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles & xxxHolic.

xxxHolic is one of the most beautiful manga titles I have read.

As for the “unrealistic limbs“ seen in Crystal, they are part of Takeuchi’s aesthetic. She draws slim women with long limbs, almost defying the law of gravity, but that is an aesthetic choice. And SMC seasons 1-2 were faithful to Takeuchi’s aesthetic and style.

 

[Star Angel Haruki]

She pinched my waifu and I can't forgive that. Being mean to Ami is simply unacceptable. She's like a kitten.

I laughed a little when she pinched Ami. Rei is such a Queen. A diva sometimes but a Queen.

 

[rgveda99]

was the alpha in season 1 until that ninja/reporter youma appeared.

Or ..........

Spoiler: show

...........until proved she had the most talent.

 

[Star Angel Haruki]

was the alpha in season 1 until that ninja/reporter youma appeared.

Or ..........

Spoiler: show

...........until proved she had the most talent.

There is a scene in Season 1 where Rei got annoyed because Mako spoke about going into action before she could. Rei was typically ready to charge into battle and the look on her face when Mako took the lead was funny.

 

[rgveda99]

And that scene with . really looked like an amateur.