VIZ Media announced that "Sailor Moon R: The Movie" will launch in the United States on Jan. 17, 2017. The upcoming film will be shown in over 300 theaters across the country.
IGN reported that VIZ Media and Toei Animation partnered with Eleven Arts to feature the HD remastered "Sailor Moon R: The Movie" in the U.S. The event will showcase the American premiere of "Sailor Moon R: The Movie," as well as the debut of "Make Up! Sailor Guardians," the Sailor Moon short. There will be English dubbed screenings and select showings that will feature "Sailor Moon R: The Movie" in Japanese with English subtitles.
"Sailor Moon R: The Movie" first launched in Japan in 1993. It was edited by Pioneer Entertainment in 2000 as "Sailor Moon R: The Movie - The Promise of the Rose." The story focuses on Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians, and their mission to save Earth from a mysterious dark flower that can take control of planets.
"Sailor Moon R: The Movie" will bring back several cast members from the popular anime TV series, such as UsagiTsukino / Sailor Moon (Stephanie Sheh), and Mamoru Chiba / Tuxedo Mask (Robbie Daymond). Fiore will be the main villain in "Sailor Moon R: The Movie," voiced by Ben Diskin.
Anime News Network recently interviewed Diskin, Daymond and Sheh to talk about the upcoming "Sailor Moon R: The Movie." Daymond mentioned that his character was partly possessed and went through so much, having been kidnapped and breaking up with his long-time romantic interest. He ultimately discovered that he was a space king and will have several new adventures with Sailor Moon.
As for Sailor Moon, Sheh shared that Usagi had to adjust to gradually becoming the leader of the Sailor Guardians. In "Sailor Moon R: The Movie," her character will mellow out and mature as Princess Serenity.
Charlene Ingram, Senior Manager of Animation Marketing at VIZ, also said that they were already wrapping up "Sailor Moon R: The Movie." Advance tickets for "Sailor Moon R: The Movie" and participating theaters will be listed on the official website of Eleven Arts soon.
