Compared are the heavily censored US TV Version and the German TV Version.

German Version:	US Version:

The anime series Sailor Moon should ring a bell. The 200 episodes-series about a group of girls, who can perform magic tricks, fighting Evil is a classic which left a mark in the awareness of Japanese Productions (in both directions). No doubt about that. The series was a major success worldwide. But the German Version is quitr a surprise. In comparison to Saber Rider for instance, the German Version are based on the original Japanese master and the effort to keep it as close as possible to the Original was being made. Besides a few modification (please see below), the German Version is equal to the uncensored original Japanese Version.

Unlike the US North American Version.

The company DiC was calling the shots for the adaption of the first two seasons and Cloverway for the following two seasons. The final season 5 has never been released in the US, probably because of the controversial "Sailor Starlights", which also change the gender during their transformations. The realization is legen.... wait for it.... [sorry, wrong franchise -:)] The realization is legendary but it's also a perfect example for heavy censorship in animes these days. Especially season 1, produced by DiC, has a very dreadful rep and is the one with the most censorships being made. "Highlights" are the last two episodes of the first season. The remains of these episodes were put together to one single episode. Really preposterous.

The modifications / censorship

The

removal of scenes is the most common censorship. The length of the removed scenes is purely and simply impressive. Looks like the episodes were censored randomly. Besides the violence cuts, which could be expected, plot scenes, some gags and anything that could cause trouble with the FCC, was precautionally removed.

The meaning of scenes was changed very often, too. In most cases, the lines in the dub are softer but modifications of the footage were also being made. As a result of that, a scene might have an entirely different meaning than the exact same scene in the Original.

Americanization describes the pathetic attempt to make the series less Japanese. Not only the character names are different (please see below for details) but the Japanese ideographs (Kanji, Katakana, Hiragana) are wiped out as well. Further differences are renamed foot (but it still looks the same which is quite hilarious). But the best thing is: anything takes place in the US, Tokyo isn't being mentioned for once. These modifications aren't going to be mentioned anymore because it happens too often. Exeptions are extraordinary examples for that.
Examples:

German Version:	US Version:

Images were censored, especially when it became to revealing. This also and particularly concerns the transitions (except Sailor Moon's) where curves were removed like there were no tomorrow.
Examples:

German Version:	US Version:

CGI was added to a lot of scenes which doesn't contain any CGI in the Original Version. Listing all the CGI of any episode would break the mold but I can assure you: if there's a conspicuous CG shot, it wasn't in the Original Version.
Examples:

German Version:	US Version:

Transitions were added digitally as well. Recognizing them is a piece of cake because they're obviously a break of style and they're supposed to cover up the cuts. And here also counts: listing any transition would break the mold, so I'm not going to do that.
Examples:

Unfortunately there are some

removed episodes, too. From 46 Original episodes of season 1, only 40 were left over. The removed episodes Nr. 2, 5, 6, 20, 42 and the episodes 44 and 45 were so heavily cut that it was one single episode in the end.
In the second season, episode 67 was being removed. (Note: The German Vesion lacks episode 89 but it only consists of stock footage and is hated by the fanbase, so it's not a big loss at all.)

Gender change is a popular method to hide homosexuality. In this case, two characters are being affected: Zoicite (in Germany Zoisite) in season 1 is actually a man. But to avoid his homosexual relationship with Kunzite, he's a woman now. The second character is Fish Eye in season 4. Though he acts very feminine, he's actually a male (and he's also gay). A further victim of a gender change is Zirconia in season 4 for instance. And if such a censorship wasn't possible, the status of their relationship was being changed. The lovers Uranus and Neptun e.g. are cousins now.
The

modification of the audio track is no censorship in the proper sense but a lot of atmosphere gets lost. The reason for that is pretty simple: the US Version takes a pass on the original music and noises - a new audio track was being made. It works for the noises but it doesn't for the music. The original music is way better.

"Sailor Says" is a segment which exists exclusively in the US Version. If you know Filmation's "Masters Of The Universe" (good old times), the last scene should be look very familiar because it also with a scene where the kids were supposed to learn a lesson. This could be realized with stock footage.

Different names for the attacks and transformations were used, despite the fact that the names in the Original Version are English as well. But I must say that someof the German names were just made up, too. Here some examples of attacks, an entire list would be too long.

Original Version:	US Version:	German Version:
Moon Tiara Action	Moon Tiara Magic	Mondstein, flieg und sieg
Shabon Spray	Mercury Bubbles Blast	Seifenblasen, fliegt
Fire Soul	Mars Fire Ignite	Feuerball, flieg
Supreme Thunder	Supreme Thunder Crash	Donnerschlag, flieg
Cresent Beam	Venus Cresent Beam Smash	Halbmondstrahl, flieg

Change of names affects all characters. Here's a list of characters with more than one appearance in season 1. Find the original name in brackets if the German name is different.

German Version:	US Version:
Bunny(Usagi) Tsukino	Serena Tsukino
Mamoru Chiba/Tuxedo Mask	Darien Shields/Tuxedo Mask
Ami Mizuno	Amy Anderson
Rei Hino	Reye Hino
Makoto Kino	Lita Kino
Minako Aino	Mina Aino
Luna	Luna
Artemis	Artemis
Königin Perillia(Beryl)	Queen Beryl
Königin Metallia	Negaforce
Jedite (Jadeite)	Jadeite
Neflite(Nephrite)	Neflyte
Zoisite(Zoicite)	Zoycite
Kunzite	Malachite
Naru Osaka	Molly Baker
Motoki Furuhata	Andrew
Umino Gurio	Melvin
Shingo Tsukino	Sammy Tsukino
Ikkuko Tsukino	Mom
Kenji Tsukino	Dad
Mika Kayama	Mika Cassidy
Haruna Sakurada	Patricia Haruna
Reika	Rita
Yuuichirou Kumada	Chad

It's also worth being mentioned that the German was being modified here and there, too. Zoisite e.g. is a woman as well (I guess the channel changed that) and attempts to avoid words like "kill", "die" etc. were being made, which causes an odd result in some scenes. But still: these modifications are pretty harmless in comparison to the DiC Version. Comparisons of the dialogs with subtitled Japanese episodes proof how close to the Original the German dialogs are.

Only the comparison of the first episode mentions the differences of the opening and final credits, the title of the episodes, the preview of the next episode and the "Sailor Says". All these elements are being ignored in the calculation of the different lengths. Basically, cuts and modifications are the two issues that might have happened. Sometimes it's only of them, sometimes both at the same time. The time index is based on the German Version.

Episode 31: A Reluctant Princess

Bunny was unveiled as the moon princess. The other warriors are surprised and Mamoru recalls his previous life as Endymion, prince of the earth. Zoisite wants to take her silver crystal, but does not succeed. But suddenly, Kunzite emerges and takes Zoisite and Mamoru with her…Zoisite is mortally injured by queen Beryl as Zoisite rejects the direct command to spare Mamorus. Thereby, Kunzite becomes bitter and angry. Meanwhile, Sailor Moon is devastated about Mamorus’ kidnapping and has severe self-doubts that let her feel quite depressed. When they finally found the exit, Kunzite appears, being in a state of complete deadness. He attacks and almost defeats them right before Sailor Moon can put him to flight with the silver crystal. Kunzite swears that he will take possession of crystal to avenge Zoisite. In the meantime, Mamoru gets brainwashed; Beryl wants him to be only there for her. And the Sailor warriors – finally free – are now aware that they have to fight against their enemy if they want Mamoru back alive. The burden of being the moon princess is a very tough one for Bunny…

length (German episode): 18:25
length (US episode): 17:48

43 seconds are missing in the US version..

general information about the episode

This episode contains one of the two most important happenings of the first season. This is why the altered dialogue scenes throughout the episode are severe as they are distorting the meaning. In the following comparison the worst passages are shown but also the rest of the dialogue is quite bad and has only little in common with the original.

[00:00]-[04:21]
change of scene
The first four minutes of this episode were completely ruined (dialogue-wise) or were ridiculed.

There are many calm passages in the German version where there is nothing but music. The Sailor warriors are surprised that Bunny is the moon princess. Zoisite wants to steal the silver crystal but is parried by it. The following review has no dialogue in it and then it is clarified that the memories have overwhelmed Sailor Moon. Suddenly, Kunzite appears and Zoisite warns him that Sailor Moon is the princess. Kunzite gives him a grace period but kidnaps Mamoru before Zoisite and him disappear. Sailor Mars is desperate about what to do next.

In the US version, there are the following changes:

A voiceover of Bunny was integrated in the passages where she addresses directly to the audience and explains the story again. The used phrases sometimes arise the feeling that she speaks ‘fluent Moron’ instead of normal English.

The other warriors mix their astonishment with rude comments against Bunny. They also use her real name while Zoisite is standing next to them. This is already the third case in the US version where the secret identities are being revealed.

Bunny also comments the whole review in which she explains the obvious or twists the facts for the US version.

A wide range of stupid lines were integrated, such as: Jupiter:"You have to go through us first, pretty boy!"

Zoisite has tons of imputed passages and is more concerned that the warriors may escape (which she also tells Kunzite).

[05:11]-[05:14]
[-3 sec.]
scene deduction
A shot where queen Beryl messed up Zoisite is missing.

[05:24]-[05:26]
[-2 sec.]
scene deduction
The shot of the soul vessel of queen Metallias was shortened.

[06:17]-[06:45]
[-28 Sek.]
scene deduction
Probably one of the most important scenes of the episode has been cut!

Zoisite is dying and asks Kunzite to die in beauty. Thereupon, Kunzite creates an ocean of flowers around her. In a rain of falling petals, Kunzite holds her in his arms. She thanks him and tells him one last time how much she loves him before she dies. Kunzite‘s heart breaks into pieces.

The removal of this scene is disastrous for this episode as Kunzite’s hatred and anger over everybody else (from this fateful moment on) is a riddle to the audience.

[08:57]-[10:12]
change of scene
The background story of the silver millennial has been strongly altered.

In the German version it says that the kingdom on the moon was a paradise. But then, the power of evil overran the earth, conquered it and attacked the moon to steal the silver crystal. The evil could be fought and banned but the kingdom of the moon was destroyed and the warriors were re-born. The US version puts its focus mainly on the princess. It is also explained that Beryl is not from earth (which is just wrong) and that she attacked from the “Negaverse”. Additionally, it is mentioned that Beryl was locked within planet earth and the others were sent to earth in case something might happen. These alternations only make it harder for the audience to follow.

[11:51]-[11:55]
[-4 sec.]
scene deduction
While Sailor Moon whines around, a short flashback was cut out. It implied how Tuxedo Mask was pierced by the crystal.

[12:04]-[12:10]
[-6 sec.]
scene deduction
Sailor Mars cannot take Sailor Moons whining and self-abandonment any longer and slaps her hard in her face. By that, there is a logical mistake in the following because one asks himself why Sailor Moon touches her cheek.

funny trivia: The face-slapping is shown in the preview of the episode; therefore, the cut is quite senseless.

[12:11]-[12:36]
change of scene
Sailor Moon’s dialogue is turned into the opposite of its original meaning.

In the German version, she accuses Moon angrily to be an abject coward. Moon keeps on whining that she is obviously weak, not everyone could be as strong as Mars which disgusts her. Mars asks horrified if Mamoru really sacrificed herself for such a weak individual. In the US version, Mars says the opposite by saying that Moon is – despite her weaknesses – such a great leader, especially after she has used the silver crystal.

[12:44]-[12:46]
change of scene
Normally, we do not mention digital inserted effects, but in this case, it just seems so strange…as Sailor Mercury switches off her data glasses, many tiny sickle moons fly away from her. One may ask oneself who had this idea and why the hell was it integrated?! It is just so senseless.

German version	US version

[14:21]
[+6 sec.]
additional scene
The scene where Kunzite tortures Saiol, Jupiter and Venus with electric shocks was repeated once. Also the shot of the other three Sailor warriors is shown twice.

[17:14]-[17:31]
change of scene
As queen Beryl starts brainwashing Mamoru, the content of the scene was completely changed.

In the German version, Mamoru (Endymion) embraces his memories and his love towards princess Serenity. But queen Beryl wants him all for herself and for that reason she wants him to forget about his past and only love her. In the US version, she only brainwashes him to make a loyal soldier out of him. So Beryl’s background and motivation to capture Mamoru is ignored once again.