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 5: Computer School Blues

Jedite informs Queen ebryl about the Japanese educational system. He says that many children suffer from extreme stress and Beryl wants to use this fact to harvest some life energy. At the same time, Bunny has some trouble with her parents because of her bad marks and Luna thinks that something is a bit strange about a certain girl called Ami. The next day: the results of the exam are being publicised in Bunny's school and once more Ami Mizuno, a lonely genius is the best. Bunny's friends declare her to be a snob, but Bunny tries to befriend her after Luna jumped on Ami's shoulder on the way home (not without thinking that she might help her studying). When they say goodbye and she goes off the her crammer school, Ami loses a floppy disk. The warily Luna finds out that the floppy contains a program that steals life energy. Sailor Moon storms into the school and finds Youma using the computers to steal energy, only Ami was spared because she had lost the disk. However, Sailor Moon has no chance against Youm until Luna finally recognizes Ami as Sailor Mercury when a symbol starts glowing on her forehead. Together, they can defeat Youma and stop Jedite's plan. From now on, the two fight together against evil.

Running time of the German episode: 18:20
Running time of the US episode: 17:33

Disregarding newly added scenes, 51 seconds were cut.

[00:00]-[00:37]
Alteration
The meaning of the scene was changed completely.

In the German Version, Jedite inform Queen Beryl about the Japanese educational system and how the children are extremely stressed out because of it. When Beryl asks him whas would follow after the education he answers that he would not have gotten so far yet. Beryl then says that they should use this pressure for their gain.

In the US Version, however, Jedite says he had discovered a new source of energy. Beryl reminds him of the fact that his last ideas all failed. Jedite mentions education and says that the children's computers could be used against them. Beryl allows him to start his operation.

[00:38]-[00:40]
Alteration
The shot of Bunny's manga was replaced by a view of the Tsukino house because Katakana can be seen in it.

German Version	US Version

[00:55]-[00:57]
[-2 sec.]
Cut
When Ikkuko stops laughing, a big drop of sweat can be soon on Bunny's face.

[02:24]-[02:26]
[-2 sec.]
Cut
When Luna admits that she does not really know any details about the mission, Bunny's look changes.

[02:37]-[02:53]
Alteration
In the scenes in which Luna uses the manipulated video game in order to communicate with the "headquarters", shots in which Katakana can be seen where either replaced or changed.

German Version	US Version

[02:54]-[03:21]
Alteration
Lunas report was changed completely.

In the original, she says that she had not made any progress in search of the princess yet and that Bunny was not completely reliable. She then says that a student seems suspicious to her and Ami's picture appears on the screen. Luna has received orders to check on Ami.
In the US Version, Luna only complains about Bunny's lack of abilities. Then headquarters tell her that someone at school is suspicious and Ami's picture appears, Luna is supposed to check on her. The fact that she types something was explained with her entering a password.

[03:22]-[03:28]
Alteration+Cut
The scene the next morning was changed. Except of the students in front of the board informing about the results of the exam, the standard shot of the school (with translated sign) can be seen.

German Version	US Version

[03:25]-[00:28] [-3 sec.]The second part of the scene, when a close-up of the results can be seen, was cut because of the many Kanjis.

[03:45]-[03:50]
[-5 sec.]
Cut
Naru is angry with Umino, who startled her when he had suddenly appeared, and slaps him for that.

[04:00]-[04:30]
Alteration
The chat between the students was changed totally.

In the German Version, Bunny and Umino talk about Ami visiting the Crystal seminar. Bunny asks how she can afford it and the fat student says that she would be very rich because her mother was a physician. Umino reminds her that she does not have to pay at all because she was a honor student. Naru and the fat one say that something was wrong about Ami.

In the US Version, however, they only say mean things about Ami while Umino was changed into a total eager beaver, who only is looking for mental exercise. Especially Naru and Bunny are displayed worse because of that.

[04:43]-[04:51]
[-8 sec.]
Cut
Bunny imagines her mother reacting to her bad grades. In her thoughts, she sees Ikkuko putting her on a dog leash and commanding her to study more (in the original she says she needs to go to a crammer) Bunny starts sweating when she thinks about that.

[05:04]
[-1 sec.]
Cut
Ami's looking at Luna was shortened.

[06:08]-[06:12]
Alteration
While Bunny thinks about getting better grades when having Ami as a friend, a though bubble appears showing her as a devil because of this exploitative plan. The bubble has been removed for the US.

German Version	US Version

[06:50]-[08:10]
Alteration
The outlook of the Sailor V video game was changed completely, only the Sailor V sprite was kept.

German Version	US Version

[08:10]
[+4 sec.]
Additional Scene
This cannot be seen in the original. When Ami jumps up, we can see that the game ends because of this.

[08:46]-[08:51]
[-5 sec.]
Cut
The sign of the crammer was removed, again most probably due to the Katakana letters.

[09:39]-[09:41] und [09:42]-[09:50]
Alteration
The scene was changed massively.

Two shots were replaced because of the many Kanjis. One of Bunny reading the poster and looking at the floppy disk and one of Mamoru talking to her and her reaction to that.

The content of the scene was changed as well. In the original, Bunny is reading the pster about the crystal disk and wonders whether this was the dis. Luna wants her to be careful and Bunny comments that Luna was paranoid. Mamoru cynically asks her whether she wants to enter this course.

In the US Version, Bunny complains that she did not want to enter that school but she had to in order to return the disk. Luna tells her to be careful but she thinks it is not necessary. Mamoru talks to her and asks whether she was talking to herself again.

German Version	US Version

[09:51]-[09:59]
[-8 sec.]
Cut
Bunny reacts quite angrily about Mamoru's comment. He stays cool and asks whether he had heard correctly and if the cat had spoken.

[10:12]-[10:14] und [10:26]-[10:30]
Alteration
Bunny's thought bubble with the sweat drop was removed twice. In the first shot it was removed (the sound can still be heard), in the second shot it was replaced with a view of Bunny holding the disk.

German Version	US Version

[10:31]-[11:15]
Alteration
The whole scene with the disk and later the computer was changed.

In the German Version, Luna wants that they check the disk in the computer room of the school, upon which Bunny remarks that she is unable to operate a computer. Scene change, Luna is at the computer. Bunny thinks that was great, but Luna comments sarcastically that everybody these days knew how to operate a computer. Eventually, Luna hacks the program and when the two her Jedite's voice they know that the Dark Kingdom is behind it.

In the US Version Luna wants them to enter a computer store in order to check the disk and mentions that Ami might plan something. Bunny comments, then scene change and Luna is operating the computer. Luna says that Bunny could learn it but Bunny thinks it is too exhausting. When they find the program with the voice, Luna instantly says that Ami was behind it.

[11:16]-[11:19]
[-3 sec.]
Cut
The sign of the crammer was removed.

[13:35]-[14:23]
Alteration
The scene with the Youma was totally rewritten.

In the original version, the Youma starts asking Sailor Moon typical school questions, firstly about Newton. Her answer is wrong and the Youma starts shooting at her with razorblade sharp school certificates. She does not get te right answer until Luna tells her, the shooting then stops. However, the Youma asks the enxt question and when Sailor Moon fails again to answer it correctly, the hypnotised students attack her.

In the US Version, the Youma presents her with an arithmetical problem. Sailor Moon does not want to answer because it is not her teacher and then she is being shot at with the school certificates. Bunny is getting cocky and ends up in a corner. The shooting stops without reason. The Youma gives her two options: surrender now or later. Bunny refuses and the Youma sends the students against her.

[15:43]-[15:45]
[-2 sec.]
Cut
Luna's call out to Ami was shortened a bit.

[15:57]-[15:60]
[-3 sec.]
Cut
Sailor Mercury's transformation was cut a bit. It is rather obvious that this was done because of her body being a bit too visible, too visible for the US Fee TV that is. The cut will be repeated in the next episode, but only here will I include the pictures.

[17:25]-[17:28]
[-3 sec.]
Cut
When the Youma falls apart it is missing how Mercury's fog dissolves, because then the Katakanas on the windows become visible.

[17:47]-[17:50]
[-3 sec.]
Cut
Sailor Mercury's happy face can be seen longer.

[18:01]-[18:07]
[-6 sec.]
Cut
Bunny laughing about her new free teacher was removed.

Trivia

This episode mentions the brutal Japanese school system. Students are under enormous pressure to always have the best grades like machines, the human factor and health are not being seen as important as success. The chat between Jedite and Queen Beryl and Bunny imagining the reaction of her mother are clear indications for that.

The crammer school (Jap. "Juku") is only there in order to intensify this system f pressure. Many parents send her children to these schools after the regular school hours, filling almost the whole day with studying.

Ami Mizuno is by far the most ppopular main chararcter. The reasons are clear: Ami stands for diligence, modesty and reserve. All these are traits highly valued in Japan.