If you look at at it, Chibiusa's introduction is absurd. This little kid has the guts to hold Sailor Flipping Moon at gunpoint. The '90's anime did the right thing in completing the absurdity and making it a slapstick episode. Usagi getting tired of her antics and giving her, of all things, a spanking relieves the tension arising from the absurdity of the situation. Crystal played it straight and it didn't work. Usagi later wondering if Chibiusa is an enemy doesn't work either. Usagi thinks with her heart not her head. The end of her '90's debut episode with Usagi tucking her in fits Usagi's motherly characteristics better. (Notice they had her acting like a mom towards Chibiusa before the relationship was revealed? Spanking her, tucking her in.)
The 90s completely elliminated the development of the relationship. They never warmed up to each other gradually. There was no deepening of their relationship. And it never progessed to something more than slapstick, and in very little places it did the regress was immediate. Chibi Usa was terribly done in the 90s. I don't think Crystal did the best they could in Black Moon arc, but saying the 90s did her so much better, when most people hated and couldn't stand her is a big exaggeration.
Characters can be flawed to progress. 90s Usagi was superficially flawed while still perfrct behind the obvious stuff. Manga Usagi starts as selfish, actual cowered, full of self doubt, didn't know how to treat Chibi Usa at the begining, but she gradually learned how to become better and stronger, it is deserved and learned, not granted to her.
Characters can be flawed to progress. 90s Usagi was superficially flawed while still perfrct behind the obvious stuff. Manga Usagi starts as selfish, actual cowered, full of self doubt, didn't know how to treat Chibi Usa at the begining, but she gradually learned how to become better and stronger, it is deserved and learned, not granted to her.
At the age 14 you learn how to be a mom, gradually. It is not like you just become the mother your future self cannot be due to responsabilities.
Likes:
yaya_ikuto
I dunno, dude. We're talking about a girl who went from totally normal to dealing with energy/life-stealing monsters, reincarnated villains with super powers, and a faceless evil all wanting her dead over what, the course of a few months? If she was dealing with all that PTSD and a kid dropped out of the sky with a real-looking pistol pointed at her head, who knows what she was thinking? I think it's reasonable for her to be wary as hell and not leap to 'this is a totally ordinary kid that I apparently have the right to physically assault just because I'm older and irritated by her.' I mean, seriously? She had no right to do that. It's one of those things that hasn't aged entirely well in the OG!anime unless you take it purely as slapstick.
In the manga is more explored - she is traumatized. Look what she just escaped from, and add to that the whole bullying going on and the 900 years of living as a child, frustrated that you cannot grow up. Going to ask the legendary Sailor Moon for help, the past of your glorious mom, only to see Usagi, that is as clumsy as you, that is not so strong at this point and let her friends being kidnapped. Is this real? How can this be your mom?
Well, spanking was, at the time, an accepted way to discipline a child. Likely, Usagi herself was spanked as a child (hence her mind jumping to that) so she was really just disciplining her in a way she felt was appropriate not really trying to harm her. And Chibiusa was pushing her luck quite a bit. Still love the scene where Usagi tucks her in. Usagi has a naturally caring personality so her to express that to a child-even a misbehaving one-feels more natural than her being suspicious. (I personally don't agree with spanking, but that was the way kids were disciplined for a long time.)
Last edited:
Eh, you really do bring up a good point there. In Crystal, Chibiusa's behavior doesn't bother me as much as Usagi's. If they'd had '90's Usagi with her better qualities (being more annoyed that this child is misbehaving, but willing to tuck her in and even read her a bedtime story) and Crystal Chibiusa (obviously acting out due to fear) it'd have been a good combination. And just drop Usagi being jealous of a (at first glance) five year old. Just...drop that altogether.
Last edited:
Likes:
FloraKiraraHime
It is not so much about being jealous of Chibi Usa. It is more like self doubt and inmaturity. Who is this kid, she has my name, my hairstyle, she infiltrated my home, my parents and brother are all go go gaga over her. On top of that she is usurping my boyfriend. Later on she was not so much jealous. She was upset that it is their daughter but Mamoru says I will protect her on my own, exclusing her. She has so much to deal with - traumatizing past, suddenly knowing her future destiny, all the responsability, this kid that is her daughter but is doubting her. Sure, the execution can be better. Could have been expanded.
Likes:
FloraKiraraHime
but if you though about usagi matter, it have a point been suspicious about chibi usa, usagi past the dark kingdom battle than when at least she have some pace appear a girl bringing her some problems and dosent tell her much about what is happening, than her boyfriend taking more care to chibiusa, and in the manga we see usagi feel awful been like that and that's character development, she mature in that matter
than i really hate that episode in the 90s because everyone was taking chibiusa side, and she did some bad things, i know it deserved the spanking but well we didn't see much development later, and keep on going usagi jealousy tower chibi usa even til sailor moon super s because in stars chibi usa wasn't in it but was harsh and every time everyone taking chibi usa side i hate it
than i really hate that episode in the 90s because everyone was taking chibiusa side, and she did some bad things, i know it deserved the spanking but well we didn't see much development later, and keep on going usagi jealousy tower chibi usa even til sailor moon super s because in stars chibi usa wasn't in it but was harsh and every time everyone taking chibi usa side i hate it