The music Dic vs the Japanese original.

[ABC123]

I actually like it. Especially the chorus here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rym2q2o8hRM

I actually like the chorus of Senshi music its very catchy especially Sailor Mars. But still it only accounts for one season. And I agree with Saber the music is very elegant for the Senshi. The Sailor Jupiter cue from DIC is just generic to me and could apply to anything.


But as I've said before I think Dic did an excellent job with Serena's transformation music for the english dub their best bar none I just wish they would have changed it up like the original did.

 

[MS-14S]

I have to say that the only thing I like about the DiC dub is the music. They actually put effort into producing it and it fit the theme of the show quite well. I just wish that the rest of the dub didn't suck so bad.

 

[EienFugue]

Not that the DIC opening doesn't work and it's definitely fitting and I just love the guitar solo and the animation to match it with Serena looking forlorn and her reflection as Sailor Moon looking back.

Oh God, I absolutely love that part. That section was a significant factor as to why I watched the show in the first place, I was just in awe that a cartoon like this could possibly end up so serious and reflective in that way, so I continued watching it despite how boring most of it was out of the hope that I could possibly see how epic it might end up being.

When the Doom Tree Arc came up I just gave up and didn't come back for years.

 

[ABC123]

Not that the DIC opening doesn't work and it's definitely fitting and I just love the guitar solo and the animation to match it with Serena looking forlorn and her reflection as Sailor Moon looking back.

Oh God, I absolutely love that part. That section was a significant factor as to why I watched the show in the first place, I was just in awe that a cartoon like this could possibly end up so serious and reflective in that way, so I continued watching it despite how boring most of it was out of the hope that I could possibly see how epic it might end up being.

When the Doom Tree Arc came up I just gave up and didn't come back for years.

Yes even today the reflexive imagine of Serena/Sailor Moon in the dub opening is the most iconic moment of the show for me and my nostalgia. It even had more resonance than its actual use in the first R opening in the Japanese version.

 

[EienFugue]

Yes even today the reflexive imagine of Serena/Sailor Moon in the dub opening is the most iconic moment of the show for me and my nostalgia. It even had more resonance than its actual use in the first R opening in the Japanese version.

The way that shot gets used in the R opening really doesn't have anywhere near the same effect, the way the dub presents Serena is wholely diffrent from how Usagi is portrayed. Serena seems somehow deeply unsure of herself in contrast to her reflected alter ego's optmistic confdence, the way this is juxtaposed with shots of her as the princess with guitars wailing in the background creates a specific effect, the sense that she is deeply responsible for something that is way over her head and is torn between her initial simplistic view of her role and one that recognises tragedy. In this way, the dub seems to get what Sailor Moon is about from the start in a way that the original didn't properly pick up on until the S season.

I suspect there are a ton of people who feel exactly the same way but who have never explicitly discussed this with anyone. I remember in year 7 one of my friends at the time threw out the phrase "meatball head" at me, so I reflexively pointed out that it was clearly taken from Sailor Moon in order to disarm the insult. At this point we were faced with a stunning moment of realisation, we had both watched the show and were now mutually aware of this fact. I tried to backpeddle by claiming that I only caught glimpses of it due to my younger siblings watching it, but I suspect we both watched the dub for the same reasons.

 

[DREWdesu]

I actually love the dubbed music a lot. Especially the Inners' Transformation, Tuxedo Mask's introduction and piano reprise it was amazing.

As for the Japanese Music, I actually do like it but I think I need to watch all 200 episodes before I can judge it. But as opposed to Dragon Ball Z's original Japanese OST, the Sailor Moon OST was by far better. Maybe because of Bruce Falcouner's music...

 

[Studio Plant]

Yes even today the reflexive imagine of Serena/Sailor Moon in the dub opening is the most iconic moment of the show for me and my nostalgia. It even had more resonance than its actual use in the first R opening in the Japanese version.

The way that shot gets used in the R opening really doesn't have anywhere near the same effect, the way the dub presents Serena is wholely diffrent from how Usagi is portrayed. Serena seems somehow deeply unsure of herself in contrast to her reflected alter ego's optmistic confdence, the way this is juxtaposed with shots of her as the princess with guitars wailing in the background creates a specific effect, the sense that she is deeply responsible for something that is way over her head and is torn between her initial simplistic view of her role and one that recognises tragedy. In this way, the dub seems to get what Sailor Moon is about from the start in a way that the original didn't properly pick up on until the S season.

I suspect there are a ton of people who feel exactly the same way but who have never explicitly discussed this with anyone. I remember in year 7 one of my friends at the time threw out the phrase "meatball head" at me, so I reflexively pointed out that it was clearly taken from Sailor Moon in order to disarm the insult. At this point we were faced with a stunning moment of realisation, we had both watched the show and were now mutually aware of this fact. I tried to backpeddle by claiming that I only caught glimpses of it due to my younger siblings watching it, but I suspect we both watched the dub for the same reasons.

I love the points you make about the dub, it is interesting how despite using barely altered footage the character of Serena and Usagi are actually quite different. I do like the original japanese version showing a real five season arc for serenas character, slowly watching her change from a school girl who wants to have fun, to a leader who's decisions actually hurt or at least effect the people around her.

 

[Quarite]

This thread has been dead for 5 years so I know I am only posting in vain but I would have to say both!

I agree with EienFugue, there are a lot of times when I feel as though the Japanese track is used inappropriately. On the other hand, I also agree that the repetition of the same songs in the DiC dub makes every episode feel the same.
As a child I didn't possess the musical understanding I do now that would have allowed me to appreciate the Japanese soundtrack. The DiC track was adrenaline pumping, almost always appropriate, and always gave a sense of a greater thing/being at work (probably why many people find the DiC track to be more magical than the Japanese track).
Now that I am older, I admire the effort that was put into creating the Japanese soundtrack. With obvious influences from classical, jazz, rock, and even klezmer music (Dead Moon Circus?) it was certainly much more diverse than the DiC track.

But if someone were to put a gun to my head I'd probably scream DiC track! It wins by a narrow margin. DiC is simply too iconic for me, it really set the mood to the series and my image of Sailor Moon for life.

 

[MeinHerr]

DiC is childhood. DiC is light. Nostalgia needs no further explanation. I still prefer the Japanese film score and soundtrack though. Tuxedo Mirage is my favorite Sailor Moon melody at the moment, I could listen to the instrumental all day, it's totally ringtone worthy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0gcz6DyVZY

 

[Ryo Urawa]

This thread has been dead for 5 years so I know I am only posting in vain but I would have to say both!

I agree with EienFugue, there are a lot of times when I feel as though the Japanese track is used inappropriately. On the other hand, I also agree that the repetition of the same songs in the DiC dub makes every episode feel the same.
As a child I didn't possess the musical understanding I do now that would have allowed me to appreciate the Japanese soundtrack. The DiC track was adrenaline pumping, almost always appropriate, and always gave a sense of a greater thing/being at work (probably why many people find the DiC track to be more magical than the Japanese track).
Now that I am older, I admire the effort that was put into creating the Japanese soundtrack. With obvious influences from classical, jazz, rock, and even klezmer music (Dead Moon Circus?) it was certainly much more diverse than the DiC track.

But if someone were to put a gun to my head I'd probably scream DiC track! It wins by a narrow margin. DiC is simply too iconic for me, it really set the mood to the series and my image of Sailor Moon for life.

this I agree with also I love Oh Starry Night but they ruined the song at the end by having Rei insult Usagi after she so very nicely complimented her (one of the few reasons 90s Rei kinda irked me )

 

[MariaTenebre]

I in general prefer the Japanese original music with some exception. Namely on the episode where the Moon Princess is revealed. I felt that My Only Love was far better, more romantic and beautiful then Maboroshi no Ginzuishou and made the scene so much better. I would love to have a copy of a Viz dub that uses My Only Love for the scene.

 

[Ryo Urawa]

I in general prefer the Japanese original music with some exception. Namely on the episode where the Moon Princess is revealed. I felt that My Only Love was far better, more romantic and beautiful then Maboroshi no Ginzuishou and made the scene so much better. I would love to have a copy of a Viz dub that uses My Only Love for the scene.

couldn't agree more although that scene was ruined by DiC when they gave Usagi lines she didn't have in the Japanese version after transforming into Serenity

 

[matt0044]

I in general prefer the Japanese original music with some exception. Namely on the episode where the Moon Princess is revealed. I felt that My Only Love was far better, more romantic and beautiful then Maboroshi no Ginzuishou and made the scene so much better. I would love to have a copy of a Viz dub that uses My Only Love for the scene.

couldn't agree more although that scene was ruined by DiC when they gave Usagi lines she didn't have in the Japanese version after transforming into Serenity

I like My Only Love but the "Maboroshi no Ginzuishou" song was a lot better at conveying the dramatic shift in tone, starting with a melancholy melody with Mamoru's critical injury to something more hopeful as the long sought Princess is unveiled at last. I'm just a sucker for excellent scoring.

 

[FloraKiraraHime]

Why not have both? I like both.

 

[SailorLinda1]

There are some songs from the english soundtracks that I really like, but overall I think I still prefer the original Japanese soundtracks, because there's more Japanese songs that I like from the anime.

 

[usagi29]

Japanese

I'm a French and in France, we have the same music of the original japanese played during SM except that music with japanese lyrics isn't played like in the scene of rubeus trying to attack and kill Chibi Usa in SMr. I have grown with japanese music of SM so I love it and it is a part of SM. Besides I had a SHOCK when I listened to videos of SM with english soundtrack, urggg!!! The same with DB. I am really happy to have grown with the japanese score dubbed in French rather than english.

Besides I just love orchestrations.

 

[Sakuranbo]

I prefer the original Japanese music because all of the songs are very wonderful to listen to and enjoy. I also like the DIC dub songs as well for nostalgic reasons.

 

[sapphire91]

I am obsessed with the original Japanese soundtrack. There was such a variety, and for me it fitted much better. I find the Dic score very generic and very cartoony, plus it is also not as versatile. But then afain I don't have any nostalgia attachment to Dic. It is ok for their version, but if you try to play that with uncut and uncensored version of the anime, at least for me it would be awful.

 

[Sailor Moon~]

I prefer the DIC soundtrack. It has this sort of magic touch that the original Japanese soundtrack doesn't have imo

 

[blondibear_17]

Sailor Moon could maybe use the Kai treatment like have a new score and newly animated opening and endings and some newly recorded dialogue.