Did Gohans popularity from 1993 inspire Chibiusa to be made?

[BlackasKnight]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1543285001260785664

According to Naoko Takeuchi in 1993 her editor Fumio Osano asked her to give Sailor Moon a daughter, this was when she began to do the Black Moon storyline. In that saga Chibiusa was first introduced from April to July meanwhile from April to June Gohans popularity as a child was outdoing every character in Dragonball by that point. Future Trunks, Vegeta, Piccolo, and even Goku were also at their most popularity among fans by this point and yet Gohan drew in the most youthful viewers. It maybe because he was the child underdog that the majority of DBZ watchers who were youthful related to.

I guess because Gohan was so popular with the younger viewers the Sailor Moon writers suggested to the creator tries out the same for Usagi to have a daughter. I mean if a child character that's been a sidekick mostly suddenly becomes stronger than their parent the main poster protagonist then why not experiment with that idea?

Gohan and Chibiusa also parallel with eachother. Chibiusa in many Nakayoshi Sailor Moon popularity polls she had passed and competed with her mother Usagi atleast according to what Tuxedo Unmasked said How Did the Sailor Moon Cast’s Popularity Differ in the Anime and Manga?
Gohan in Weekly Shonen Jump popularity polls he went #1 in 1993 over his own father Goku.

Gohan was also set to be the main protagonist by Akira Toriyama but went back to Goku instead. Naoko Takeuchi said she intended for Chibiusa to be the main character but it ended up not happening and Usagi was still the main character by the end of the series.

This might not be true but I like the idea. What do you guys think?

 

[Jawshx]

Perhaps. I mostly think introducing Chibi Usa was more a way of extending the manga’s shelf life. Perhaps Osabu had in mind a spin off for Chibi Usa. Or perhaps Usagi’s adventure would’ve finished earlier and the later arcs would be more Chibi Usa-centric. Of course Naoko had had enough after Stars so nothing ever materialized.

 

[BlackasKnight]

Makes sense. I mean Gohan was practically made for the same purpose. Naoko did make Parallel Moon story which featured a possible alternate life of Sailor Moon starring another of her children Kousagi.

 

[Mystical Moonbow]

Gohan might have been popular, but Chibiusa (at least in the 90’s version) has been one of the most hated characters in the franchise. I guess it kind of backfired if all of the above was the case.

Either way, it’s still a success to me since regardless how people feel about 90’s Rei, Mamoru, and Chibiusa, those are the versions of the characters that people keep talking and having full-on discussions about. If you can keep discussions going for characters thirty years later, you must be doing something right to be living rent-free in their heads.

 

[Masquerade]

Gohan might have been popular, but Chibiusa (at least in the 90’s version) has been one of the most hated characters in the franchise. I guess it kind of backfired if all of the above was the case.

Either way, it’s still a success to me since regardless how people feel about 90’s Rei, Mamoru, and Chibiusa, those are the versions of the characters that people keep talking and having full-on discussions about. If you can keep discussions going for characters thirty years later, you must be doing something right to be living rent-free in their heads.

Western opinions about characters are often different from Japanese ones.
Very few people regard Ami as their favorite character in the West, but she was the queen of character polls in 90s Japan. That's why she got a short movie all about herself.

 

[Mystical Moonbow]

Western opinions about characters are often different from Japanese ones.
Very few people regard Ami as their favorite character in the West, but she was the queen of character polls in 90s Japan. That's why she got a short movie all about herself.

Well that’s a breath of fresh air after constantly seeing many boarding Rei, Mamoru, and Chibiusa hate trains. Though I did hear that some in Japan didn’t like Chibiusa in R but were okay with her afterwards.

 

[Neo King Rose]

Though I did hear that some in Japan didn’t like Chibiusa in R but were okay with her afterwards.

I'm in that same boat

 

[BlackasKnight]

Gohan might have been popular, but Chibiusa (at least in the 90’s version) has been one of the most hated characters in the franchise. I guess it kind of backfired if all of the above was the case.

Either way, it’s still a success to me since regardless how people feel about 90’s Rei, Mamoru, and Chibiusa, those are the versions of the characters that people keep talking and having full-on discussions about. If you can keep discussions going for characters thirty years later, you must be doing something right to be living rent-free in their heads.

They tried the same thing with Boruto from Naruto and like Chibiusa fans didn't seem happy with the idea of a main characters child taking over the main role. Heck in the west they tried with Miles Morales to replace Peter Parker as Spiderman but it was rough on him until Into the Spiderverse gave Miles a chance.

Yashahime looks to be like another attempt at doing the whole next generation child of protagonist trope.

 

[BlackasKnight]

Well that’s a breath of fresh air after constantly seeing many boarding Rei, Mamoru, and Chibiusa hate trains. Though I did hear that some in Japan didn’t like Chibiusa in R but were okay with her afterwards.

I mean Chibiusa did gain a tv special and in popularity polls she gave her mother a run for her money lol.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

I mean Chibiusa did gain a tv special and in popularity polls she gave her mother a run for her money lol.

She's also got a whole seaon centered on herself, whether that season has turned out to be performing well or not.

 

[Clow]

I suggest watching the video below to find out where the idea of Chibiusa really came from.

Similarly, the character in the show becomes evil just like Chibiusa does.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

^ Of course, Takeuchi has stolen incorporated so many elements from that show into both Sailor V & Sailor Moon. lol

 

[Clow]

^ Of course, Takeuchi has stolen incorporated so many elements from that show into both Sailor V & Sailor Moon. lol

Reading the first volume of the Sailor V manga is like watching an episode of the show.

 

[BlackasKnight]

I suggest watching the video below to find out where the idea of Chibiusa really came from.

Similarly, the character in the show becomes evil just like Chibiusa does.

Right thank you for this. I agree Chibi Moon was definitely inspired by Poitrine Petite however that show was out for a long time in 1990 and Chibiusa wouldn't be made until the same year and near the time Gohan was a popular figure in Japan. Also Chibiusa was specifically made to be the offspring of the leading star of the series.

 

[BlackasKnight]

She's also got a whole seaon centered on herself, whether that season has turned out to be performing well or not.

Even more parallels with how Gohan was in the Cell Saga. Gohan even got a movie where he defeated Bojack the main villian.

 

[ChampionOfNuggets]

If Chibi Usa was created by editorial request and not by Naoko Takeuchi's own creative decision I can see Osa-P being inspired by Gohan's then popularity.

 

[Tsundereshipper]

Well that’s a breath of fresh air after constantly seeing many boarding Rei, Mamoru, and Chibiusa hate trains. Though I did hear that some in Japan didn’t like Chibiusa in R but were okay with her afterwards.

It’s not that Chibi-Usa’s character in the 90’s anime is particularly bad, it’s just that she’s way more annoying and pales in comparison to her Manga/Crystal counterpart development wise.

But even if you go by the much less annoying and more developed manga Chibs you’ll still have to contend with her much more overt and creepy Electra Complex there, plus a lot of fans didn’t appreciate that she stole the show away from our main cast in SuperS, so it’s no surprise she’s just a controversial character all around.

Gohan was much better accepted as a character cause he didn’t have nearly as many detractors as Chibi-Usa did.

Very few people regard Ami as their favorite character in the West, but she was the queen of character polls in 90s Japan. That's why she got a short movie all about herself.

And Rei was Ikuhara’s own personal fave, so I guess that explains why both she and Ami got the most solo spotlight episodes dedicated to them in the 90’s anime.

Yashahime looks to be like another attempt at doing the whole next generation child of protagonist trope.

Difference being is that the next-gen kid here (Moroha specifically) was actually good, and a perfect example of how to create a well done next-gen protagonist. Except the main problem here is that she’s not in fact the starring protagonist, when logically she has every reason to be but instead gets sidelined for Sesshomaru’s much less interesting, fanficcy Donut Steel twins. (Seriously, SessRin as a ship is creepy and never was intended to be canon by Rumiko. Sesshomaru displaying romantic interest in anyone let alone a human is OOC to begin with)

 

[BlackasKnight]

It’s not that Chibi-Usa’s character in the 90’s anime is particularly bad, it’s just that she’s way more annoying and pales in comparison to her Manga/Crystal counterpart development wise.

But even if you go by the much less annoying and more developed manga Chibs you’ll still have to contend with her much more overt and creepy Electra Complex there, plus a lot of fans didn’t appreciate that she stole the show away from our main cast in SuperS, so it’s no surprise she’s just a controversial character all around.

Gohan was much better accepted as a character cause he didn’t have nearly as many detractors as Chibi-Usa did.


Difference being is that the next-gen kid here (Moroha specifically) was actually good, and a perfect example of how to create a well done next-gen protagonist. Except the main problem here is that she’s not in fact the starring protagonist, when logically she has every reason to be but instead gets sidelined for Sesshomaru’s much less interesting, fanficcy Donut Steel twins. (Seriously, SessRin as a ship is creepy and never was intended to be canon by Rumiko. Sesshomaru displaying romantic interest in anyone let alone a human is OOC to begin with)

Irony, grown up versions of Chibiusa were more accepted or atleast more enjoyable compared to how her as a child were and yet Gohan as a grown up were less accepted compared to how he was when he was a child.

Yeah I think Rumiko may've went abit overboard for SesshomaruXRin and I believe she never really planned it. IDK I like Rumikos work but they seem to have their limits. Naoko did say that when she planned to make Chibiusa the protagonist she had the end be Usagi and Mamorus wedding which I can see it work out with the end goal in mind.