Why did some villains get an upgrade in characterization in the 90’s anime while others a downgrade?

[Tsundereshipper]

One of the things the 90’s anime is best known and loved for is it’s fleshing out of the villains compared to the manga. It took what was supposed to be little more than MOTD designs and breathed life into them by turning them into full-fledged characters in their own right rather than simply panel filler.

Most of the villains that is, some did manage to slip through the cracks however…

What baffles my mind is that the villains this tended to happen to not only didn’t get an expansion but were actively downgraded in characterization compared to even what they already had in the manga.

I’m talking villains like Beryl, Rubeus and Galaxia - characters who while not terribly fleshed out due to the nature of Naoko’s writing still had either a distinct personality, (in the case of Rubeus) in-depth motivation and backstory (Beryl) or even both!

And yet these traits were completely wiped away in favor of generic villainy (or in the case of Galaxia simply turning her into an uncharacterized plot-device who we know little about) during their transition to the anime, how come when the 90’s anime staff was so good at characterization for nearly every other villain? And why did it seem like it was only Naoko’s very best villain’s characterization that they did this to? Was it merely a coincidence?

Your thoughts as to the reasoning behind some of Toei’s villain characterization downgrades?

(Note that for the purposes of this thread I am not counting the last few Witches 5 who get characterization in neither, and likely the only reason why the 90’s anime didn’t try to flesh out Tellu or Cypriot/Petilol is because they were running low on time and attempting to juggle the expanded cast S brought with the Outers.)

 

[Wild Rose Rebellion]

I think the simplest explanation could be that when it came to the bigger enemies, they knew Takeuchi would develop them later on and didn't want to provide stories that would create too many discrepancies with the manga, so they focused on developing the minions instead because they could have more free reign with them.

While that doesn't explain why they didn't end up adapting the manga backstory for characters like Beryl, I figure that had to do with time constraints and the pacing of the 90s anime. For Beryl in particular she outlives her manga counterpart and the finale is completely altered to allow for the Hell Tree arc, so her backstory could have become lost in the shuffle.

For other characters, maybe they deemed some backstories a bit too weird or dark to adapt properly, like how Wiseman is a serial killer turned into a planet, lol.

 

[kasumigenx]

Galaxia was originally planned by Naoko to be similar to her other bosses in the manga which was also the original plan of the anime staff, but TOEI and Bandai decided to give her Cosmos' backstory though, in the anime, I think TOEI and Bandai do not like an Usagi who becomes the Queen of the Whole Galaxy which basically makes her a Jump Hero like Character.

 

[ChampionOfNuggets]

What's weird about Beryl is it's not like the anime completely ignored her backstory. Her interest in Endymion is still apparent and in episode 40 the story of the Lake Yokai and the Legendary Lovers is obviously an intended parallel to Beryl and Serenity and Endymion. It's like the anime wanted viewers to rely on the manga to make the connection to why Beryl is so infatuated with having Endymion by her side and how she got corrupted by Metaria and didn't want to explain it themselves. Like how some movie adaptations of books will leave out details and rely on people having read the books to fill in some gaps.


Like Wild Rose said a lot of the subordinates getting "upgraded" is pretty much necessary since they're glorified monsters of the day in the manga.


I also think they learned their mistake from Jadeite who was so goddamm boring that they made the other members of the Shitennou more interesting, Nephrite with his storyline with Naru and Kunzite and Zoicite with their relationship.

I struggle to say the Akayashi Sisters were upgraded. Their creepy obsession with the occult was a lot more interesting than 4 bickering "Dark counterpart" to the Guardian Soldiers who are all obsessed with fashion and make-up. Their redemption felt more like a saving throw because of how bland Ikuhara made them. (I also think Toei or somebody wasn't keen on Sailor Moon killing human villains....the only human villain she actually killed was Kunzite and that was deflecting his own attack back at him, Beryl had to be turned more alien looking before she could get vaporized)

 

[YuYu Yuichiro]

the only human villain she actually killed was Kunzite and that was deflecting his own attack back at him, Beryl had to be turned more alien looking before she could get vaporized

*Remembers how she tried to kill four children*

Spoiler: show

 

[ChampionOfNuggets]

*Remembers how she tried to kill four children*

Spoiler: show

And she didn't kill them so...

 

[YuYu Yuichiro]

And she didn't kill them so...

Nothing. I just thought it interesting she tried to do that.

 

[Slowpokeking]

Again, why do you think Beryl got downgrade?

Anime Beryl was 10 times more menacing than manga.

She also showed much more love and care for Mamoru, chose to keep his personality at first, and never blamed him once for messing up.

The only problem is that her former humanself was never shown.

Rubeus was also much more menacing than he was in the manga. Also kept his human side.

 

[Tsundereshipper]

For other characters, maybe they deemed some backstories a bit too weird or dark to adapt properly, like how Wiseman is a serial killer turned into a planet, lol.

Wiseman’s in that weird category of villains where he has more personality than his manga counterpart and is more personably hateable (largely because we get to see his manipulations play out real time in action) in the anime but his lore and background is extremely lacking.

The Shittenou and Quartet also fall under this category. (Nehellenia a bit too, if only because I find her backstory vastly more interesting and intriguing in the manga)

Her interest in Endymion is still apparent and in episode 40 the story of the Lake Yokai and the Legendary Lovers is obviously an intended parallel to Beryl and Serenity and Endymion.

Yeah Beryl in particular was a really weirdly handled one, it felt like they were trying to directly allude to her manga backstory and give her deeper motivations rather than just mere lust for power - but it’s like they didn’t want to commit to it all the way? Apparently I’ve heard the PC Engine game fixes this which is considered to be canon to the 90’s anime.

I also think they learned their mistake from Jadeite who was so goddamm boring that they made the other members of the Shitennou more interesting, Nephrite with his storyline with Naru and Kunzite and Zoicite with their relationship.

So why did they repeat the same for Rubeus and not use his manga’s more unique and vivacious personality?

I struggle to say the Akayashi Sisters were upgraded. Their creepy obsession with the occult was a lot more interesting than 4 bickering "Dark counterpart" to the Guardian Soldiers who are all obsessed with fashion and make-up. Their redemption felt more like a saving throw because of how bland Ikuhara made them

…Y-You didn’t find the Ayakashi Sisters to be good and interesting characters in the 90’s anime? They were literally the most fleshed out and developed villains of R, and are whom mainly what people are thinking of when they cite R for having some of the best and most memorable villains in the series.

I can’t fathom anyone not liking the Sisters, I mean you do you it’s ultimately your tastes but they’re widely considered a highlight of R for good reason. (I feel your opinion on them would be perfect for the “Unpopular Opinions” thread now that I think of it lol)

She also showed much more love and care for Mamoru, chose to keep his personality at first, and never blamed him once for messing up.

She was never explicitly stated to be in love with Mamoru though like her manga counterpart or alluded to having deeper feelings for him besides just a useful pawn - that was the downgrade. In the 90’s anime she comes off as just evil for the sake of bei evil with no deeper motivation for making a deal with Metallia other than she’s just power-hungry.

Also kept his human side.

Hardly, in the manga he actually has a unique and distinct personality where he’s suave, jokester playboy type and the 90’s anime turned him into a Jadeite 2.0.

 

[Wild Rose Rebellion]

I struggle to say the Akayashi Sisters were upgraded. Their creepy obsession with the occult was a lot more interesting than 4 bickering "Dark counterpart" to the Guardian Soldiers who are all obsessed with fashion and make-up.

I liked reading that take. In the anime their dynamics were more fleshed out and you could sympathize with them, so I think that's why they're popular, I myself like them in R. But you are right in that they are too vain, so I understand why you would prefer their manga counterparts, who had that cool occult leitmotif with the "R" missions and seemed to care for one another.

Again, why do you think Beryl got downgrade?

Anime Beryl was 10 times more menacing than manga.

I don't think they were talking about Beryl's power level but rather her backstory and development, and manga Beryl had a clearer one while the anime only hinted at it and didn't even bother to explain what the Dark Kingdom was.

I'd also argue that she was more menacing in the manga, she personally attacks (and defeats) the Guardians as early as in Act 6 and remains more proactive. In the anime, she does nothing until Sailor Moon meets her in the very last episode, where it's still Endymion doing the fighting while she stands around. She does fuse with Metalia but even then she doesn't get to do anything other than attack Sailor Moon and then die (can she even move in this form? it seems as if she's stuck in the flower she comes out of).

 

[Slowpokeking]

I don't think they were talking about Beryl's power level but rather her backstory and development, and manga Beryl had a clearer one while the anime only hinted at it and didn't even bother to explain what the Dark Kingdom was.

Her character was much more menacing in the anime as the big boss, we can see her personality more clearly as the big boss, how she manages her underlings, how she interact with Mamoru and her background was hinted.

I'd also argue that she was more menacing in the manga, she personally attacks (and defeats) the Guardians as early as in Act 6 and remains more proactive. In the anime, she does nothing until Sailor Moon meets her in the very last episode, where it's still Endymion doing the fighting while she stands around. She does fuse with Metalia but even then she doesn't get to do anything other than attack Sailor Moon and then die (can she even move in this form? it seems as if she's stuck in the flower she comes out of).

She easily defeats the four kings. Took Mamoru's life to take down rather than get killed.

She also got much more plot to deal with the senshi.

 

[ChampionOfNuggets]

So why did they repeat the same for Rubeus and not use his manga’s more unique and vivacious personality?

Couple reasons (I'm guessing)

1. Ikuhara took over from Sato as series director

2. Since Rubeus was just there to bark orders at the Akayashi sisters he probably didn't need to be interesting. (By which I mean the anime staff didn't feel the need to inject him with personality) The Akayashi sisters were the ones front and center of that portion of the arc. Rubeus is put in this weird position where he's technically just a general like the Shitennou but because we don't see his boss until after he dies and he commands his own sub group the narrative treats him as a "Boss" villain like Beryl.

…Y-You didn’t find the Ayakashi Sisters to be good and interesting characters in the 90’s anime? They were literally the most fleshed out and developed villains of R, and are whom mainly what people are thinking of when they cite R for having some of the best and most memorable villains in the series.

I can’t fathom anyone not liking the Sisters, I mean you do you it’s ultimately your tastes but they’re widely considered a highlight of R for good reason. (I feel your opinion on them would be perfect for the “Unpopular Opinions” thread now that I think of it lol)

No, let's play a game. Look at just their debut episode up until episode 69. What was fleshed out or developed about them? Their four sisters who like make-up and fashion and Calvarez and Petz kind of have this dynamic of sibling rivalry as the two oldest and?



All their development happens in their redemption trilogy and then their swan song in episode 86. Until episode 70 we get no hint that Koan is an abusive relationship with Rubeus, until episode 71 we get no hint that Berthier feels bullied by her two older sisters and by episode 72 its just "time to redeem the last two"

They were more interesting as creepy occultist in the manga if severely underdeveloped and needed a random redemption arc to be interesting in the anime. And look Koan's breakdown was one of my favorite moments in Sailor Moon but that doesn't change things for how they were before episode 70.

And the same can sort of be said about Nephrite but his subplot with Naru was at least fleshed out for the second half of his arc.

 

[Slowpokeking]

She was never explicitly stated to be in love with Mamoru though like her manga counterpart or alluded to having deeper feelings for him besides just a useful pawn - that was the downgrade. In the 90’s anime she comes off as just evil for the sake of bei evil with no deeper motivation for making a deal with Metallia other than she’s just power-hungry.

Again, when did the manga show she loves Mamoru?

Killed him with 0 remorse
Turned him into a total puppet
Without any remorse.

Her ambition and dark deal was very well written in the manga, she was rotten to the core in the beginning.

Hardly, in the manga he actually has a unique and distinct personality where he’s suave, jokester playboy type and the 90’s anime turned him into a Jadeite 2.0.

No, the anime Rebues was a menacing foe, loyal and very good at using his pawn's emotion. I don't think he was downplayed.

 

[Nadia]

Your thoughts as to the reasoning behind some of Toei’s villain characterization downgrades?

I'd answer the reason for all three is because the anime was in production at the same time as the manga and decided to take a MOTW format. As Memento mentioned, the first chapter of the manga was actually published December 28, 1991, And the anime was in production at this point. Even if TOEI did get advanced copies of the chapter drafts and was in communication with the story direction, they almost certainly did not know the resolution to the stories while they were working on them.

What TOEI did is generally give the mid-boss characters more personality, since they would be on the screen longer. The MOTW format allowed those underlings to be developed, largely in part due to their interactions with their monsters (although this really started to fade the longer Ikuhara was on board, which makes me wonder if this was a Sato mandate...). But the problem is when you flesh out the underlings, their bosses have to be made made more nasty to compensate to emphasize that these people are bad. If everyone has a tragic backstory or is sympathetic, it takes away from any rooting interest.

For the Dark Kingdom, unlike future groups, the minibosses were shown with an individuals graduating level of difficulty. Jadeite was the first boss, Nephrite, Zoisite, and Kunzite. It's possible that by expanding Jadeite's time (to give the manga more time to get ahead), the decision was made to treat all of the generals in the same manner, this making the Queen Beryl the final obstacle. Given that the anime made other significant, intentional changes to the backstory, it's clear they wanted Beryl to be seen as the end boss, the one responsible for all the destruction, and the person you wanted Sailor Moon to beat. Humanizing her would have the opposite effect, especially since the anime is aimed at a slightly younger audience than the manga. That they did this and still required a filler arc to open up Sailor Moon R suggest that the main problem was pacing, though.

For Rubeus, the change was also deliberate for a similar reason; he's the bad boss and a bad man. Giving him a more rounded personality would conflict with that, and it's also likely that at this point, the writers don't even know what the end goal is with the Black Moon Clan. By doling out his mission overseeing duties to the Sisters, he's purposely not even given the chance to show personality, while by contrast, the Sisters serve a similart role as the MOTW in the manga. For the anime, it's much easier to write him the same way as the Shitennou were writen, as an obstacle, and without even the interactions with rank-and-file minions it's even easier to keep him a cartoon villain. Besides, even if you did flesh him out, the fact is he directly tried to kill a kid and ordered other people to kill a kid; there's no redemption from that.

Galaxia is a completely different case. Given how short that Stars season is, it's pretty clear those making it were caught between overtaking the manga and finishing up the story with the episode count, but at this point, the formula had become the standard (even though the Nehelennia arc which bent the formula is widely regarded as superior). Galaxia wasn't made into a flat villain because because she was a bad boss, but because they didn't have time to do anything with her and they had to create an ending from their own take on the material...and it shows. It doesn't help that of all the arcs, Stars is the one that had to stretch the most to fit the MOTW mold to the point where it's easily the least similiar the the cosmic scope of the manga. For Galaxia, it seemed like the format and setting changes themselves flattened her rather than them deliberately making her one-dimensional to be hated.

I'd also argue that she was more menacing in the manga, she personally attacks (and defeats) the Guardians as early as in Act 6 and remains more proactive. In the anime, she does nothing until Sailor Moon meets her in the very last episode, where it's still Endymion doing the fighting while she stands around. She does fuse with Metalia but even then she doesn't get to do anything other than attack Sailor Moon and then die (can she even move in this form? it seems as if she's stuck in the flower she comes out of).

I thought Queen Beryl busting in out of nowhere to save Zoisite was only in Crystal. I don't feel like looking at the manga to actually check, but I definitely remember watching that scene and going "This isn't what happened, WTF."

 

[kasumigenx]

Galaxia is a completely different case. Given how short that Stars season is, it's pretty clear those making it were caught between overtaking the manga and finishing up the story with the episode count, but at this point, the formula had become the standard (even though the Nehelennia arc which bent the formula is widely regarded as superior). Galaxia wasn't made into a flat villain because because she was a bad boss, but because they didn't have time to do anything with her and they had to create an ending from their own take on the material...and it shows. It doesn't help that of all the arcs, Stars is the one that had to stretch the most to fit the MOTW mold to the point where it's easily the least similiar the the cosmic scope of the manga. For Galaxia, it seemed like the format and setting changes themselves flattened her rather than them deliberately making her one-dimensional to be hated.

Both the anime and manga scrapped the idea of Galaxia being a flat villain.

 

[MsImagination]

For other characters, maybe they deemed some backstories a bit too weird or dark to adapt properly, like how Wiseman is a serial killer turned into a planet, lol.

I think the simplest explanation could be that when it came to the bigger enemies, they knew Takeuchi would develop them later on and didn't want to provide stories that would create too many discrepancies with the manga, so they focused on developing the minions instead because they could have more free reign with them.

While that doesn't explain why they didn't end up adapting the manga backstory for characters like Beryl, I figure that had to do with time constraints and the pacing of the 90s anime. For Beryl in particular she outlives her manga counterpart and the finale is completely altered to allow for the Hell Tree arc, so her backstory could have become lost in the shuffle.

For other characters, maybe they deemed some backstories a bit too weird or dark to adapt properly, like how Wiseman is a serial killer turned into a planet, lol.

I think that's the main reason.The anime and manga were created together.So characters that did not have much.Were easy choice to stretch out the story.

 

[Slowpokeking]

Couple reasons (I'm guessing)

1. Ikuhara took over from Sato as series director

2. Since Rubeus was just there to bark orders at the Akayashi sisters he probably didn't need to be interesting. (By which I mean the anime staff didn't feel the need to inject him with personality) The Akayashi sisters were the ones front and center of that portion of the arc. Rubeus is put in this weird position where he's technically just a general like the Shitennou but because we don't see his boss until after he dies and he commands his own sub group the narrative treats him as a "Boss" villain like Beryl.

Actually he was quite active to tease and use them, "guide" and discard them when he felt right.

Also he used all the tricks he got to fight Sailor Moon, at the same time being a coward among losing.

I don't think he was downgraded, no. He was much more menacing and memorable compare to his manga self.

 

[Tsundereshipper]

I'd also argue that she was more menacing in the manga, she personally attacks (and defeats) the Guardians as early as in Act 6 and remains more proactive. In the anime, she does nothing until Sailor Moon meets her in the very last episode, where it's still Endymion doing the fighting while she stands around. She does fuse with Metalia but even then she doesn't get to do anything other than attack Sailor Moon and then die (can she even move in this form? it seems as if she's stuck in the flower she comes out of).

This. 90’s anime Beryl is really lazy by comparison and just sits on her ass all day probing her Crystal Ball. (But to be fair to her, Demande and Galaxia are also really lazy bosses in the 90’s anime)

No, let's play a game. Look at just their debut episode up until episode 69. What was fleshed out or developed about them? Their four sisters who like make-up and fashion and Calvarez and Petz kind of have this dynamic of sibling rivalry as the two oldest and?



All their development happens in their redemption trilogy and then their swan song in episode 86. Until episode 70 we get no hint that Koan is an abusive relationship with Rubeus, until episode 71 we get no hint that Berthier feels bullied by her two older sisters and by episode 72 its just "time to redeem the last two"

They were more interesting as creepy occultist in the manga if severely underdeveloped and needed a random redemption arc to be interesting in the anime. And look Koan's breakdown was one of my favorite moments in Sailor Moon but that doesn't change things for how they were before episode 70.

They had very distinct personalities though, they weren’t just makeup and fashion obsessed vapid air-heads even before their respective redemption episodes, I feel like that’s a hyperbolic flanderization of their actual personalities.

Koan, as the baby of the group is shown to be naive and impulsive but really earnest with a hot-tempered passionate side.

Berthier plays herself off as the unassuming ditzy airhead but is actually really cunning and ruthless.

Calaveras is a sarcastic, charming and ambitious diva type who likes to poke at Petz to get under her skin but really does seem to care about her, and more often then not her jabs seem like a misguided attempt to help Petz see the light and learn how to let go and depend on her more. She seems to be the “common sense” one of the group who frequently likes tells it like it is and keep it real for the group.

Petz is the no-nonsense uptight one with alot of haughty pride and anger management issues that can’t stand being shown up - she’s the one I would argue is the most developed of the Sisters and goes through a whole character arc from her very debut (not just in her respective redemption episodes) It’s clear she has issues with teamwork and looking vulnerable as well as leaning on others for help - life seems to be a constant power struggle for her which she learns to let go of by the time of her redemption. We also get hints of her messy history with Saphir from her grudge against men that is referenced several times in her fights with Calaveras - she actually helps to serve as the perfect foil to Makoto.

So no, I think it’s inaccurate to say the Sisters were shallow characters from the start until their redemption episodes. Like it or not both they as well as Ail & En are who fans often cite when they note the excellent villains of R - they’re some of the most memorable characters and for good reason I’d say! (The Sisters also have the honor of being the first miniboss squad who were all redeemed - something that wouldn’t happen again until SuperS with the Trio and Quartet)

Esmeraude is fun but she’s who I would actually characterize as a shallow villain, not the Sisters.

I have my own biases for both Demande and Saphir, but objectively speaking the Sisters are better developed characters than them - they simply don’t get enough screentime to really shine.

Rubeus and Black Lady are both better done in the Manga/Crystal.

And Wiseman… Well, no one actually ever really cares about the designated “ultimate Eldritch bad” of the season. (He is very effective at getting you to hate him for villainy though, more than any other of the Eldridtch Energy blobs in the series I’d say - garbage, nonexistent lore compared to his manga counterpart though)

Both Ail/En and the Ayakashi Sisters are who people usually first think of when they cite R as being known for it’s standout villains. The others are either badly written and devoid of personality (Rubeus), Shallow Characterization (Esmeraude and Black Lady) or underdeveloped with not enough screentime (Demande and Saphir)

But the problem is when you flesh out the underlings, their bosses have to be made made more nasty to compensate to emphasize that these people are bad. If everyone has a tragic backstory or is sympathetic, it takes away from any rooting interest.

But if that’s the case why were Tomoe, Nehellenia and Demande made more sympathetic then?

Besides, even if you did flesh him out, the fact is he directly tried to kill a kid and ordered other people to kill a kid; there's no redemption from that.

And Demande tried to sexually assault a 14 year old and he still managed to get redeemed and be portrayed as sympathetic - I guess Toei’s mind at the time was that SA was “less bad” than attempted child murder?

Galaxia is a completely different case. Given how short that Stars season is, it's pretty clear those making it were caught between overtaking the manga and finishing up the story with the episode count, but at this point, the formula had become the standard (even though the Nehelennia arc which bent the formula is widely regarded as superior). Galaxia wasn't made into a flat villain because because she was a bad boss, but because they didn't have time to do anything with her and they had to create an ending from their own take on the material...and it shows. It doesn't help that of all the arcs, Stars is the one that had to stretch the most to fit the MOTW mold to the point where it's easily the least similiar the the cosmic scope of the manga. For Galaxia, it seemed like the format and setting changes themselves flattened her rather than them deliberately making her one-dimensional to be hated.

Would you agree that the season’s decision to hyper-focus on the budding SeiUsa “romance” to the determent of everything else was also a contributing factor in Galaxia’s characterization downgrade?

 

[Nadia]

But if that’s the case why were Tomoe, Nehellenia and Demande made more sympathetic then?

These are pure guesses.

Tomoe was likely made more sympathetic for two reasons. One, S is the season where except for maybe Mimete (who herself arguably committed the worst murder of the group and probably one of the worst in the entire series), the underlings themselves are all one-dimensionally bad. That includes Kaolinite, who herself was made even even more pettily cruel than her manga counterpart, despite being downgraded in terms of rank and power.

Two, the anime creators did not want to follow the manga ending, where baby Saturn is adopted by Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto. After all, they had already diverged by giving Pluto her taboo moment in S to make up for having her be a bystander in R, and sticking closer to the manga would mean Neptune and Uranus alone would become teenage mothers. Plus having a minor lose her only biological relative and parent on screen was likely considered too dark for the kid audience. If Sailor Moon could save the world, she -- or at least the narrative -- could save a girl's father, too.

Nehellenia wasn't really made that much more sympathetic initially. While an older audience (including myself) is likely to see her backstory more sympathetically, kids are just going to see an evil mirror queen who was so afraid of "growing old" that she stole the dreams of others to sustain herself. It was only when they decided to create a filler arc that Nehellenia became sympathetic, and this was probably a precursor to the theme of Stars - Usagi's "superpower" is her forgiveness.

And Demande tried to sexually assault a 14 year old and he still managed to get redeemed and be portrayed as sympathetic - I guess Toei’s mind at the time was that SA was “less bad” than attempted child murder?

Definitely. Back then, a forced kiss was a forced kiss. It was disgusting and unwelcome, but not thought of a high crime in of itself. It's more the symbolism of Usagi possibly "breaking" her fidelity with Mamoru.

Would you agree that the season’s decision to hyper-focus on the budding SeiUsa “romance” to the determent of everything else was also a contributing factor in Galaxia’s characterization downgrade?

I think the whole "romance" was more of a result of the storytelling decisions they already made for the season than a reason why Galaxia didn't quite work in the anime. I'm presuming that by the time they started making Stars episodes, they already knew they had less than 30 episodes to wrap this thing up and though there were seemingly preliminary plans for more manga characters to appear that did not pan out. The romance was a result of the MOTD/filler format. Even if the romance had not been there, the filler still would be a more foolish path leading to what we got.

There's also the issue that the budget for the later episodes might not have been that big. If so, the change in setting of the final season from "all over the galaxy" to game conventions and other earthbound goofiness makes sense.

EDIT: SELF, DO NOT WRITE POSTS WHEN YOU ARE FALLING ASLEEP!

 

[Clow]

Both the 90’s anime and the manga have their strengths:

90’s anime: the DD girls.

Manga: Koan gets only one chapter, but she is far more menacing and scary in the manga than in the 90’s anime.