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 episode series about a group of girls, who can perform magic and fight 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 quite a surprise. In comparison to Saber Rider for instance, the German Version is 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 modifications (please see below), the German Version is equal to the uncensored original Japanese Version.

The US North American Version however is a different matter.

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 - "Sailor Stars" - 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 legendary, but for all thw wrong reasons. It's a perfect example for heavy censorship in animes these days. After the horrors of the first season, everyone expected the worst... and it happened. DiC also created an absurd broadcast schedule. They first released 2/3 of the season (with the first 13 episodes for some reason put at the end of the broadcast) and then waited for almost three years before they bothered to do the remaining episodes (that's because they'd had the insane idea to just do 65 episodes for sydication, regardless if the story is done or not).

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 erased as well. Further differences are renamed food (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 too revealing. This also and particularly concerns the transformations (except Sailor Moon's) where body lines 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. In the second season, episode 67 was being removed. (Note: The German Version 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", 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 Princess Halation	Moon Sceptre Elimination	Macht des Mondes, verwandle ihn/sie zurück
Shine Aqua Illusion	Mercury Ice Storm Splash	Wasserstrahl, flieg
Burning Mandala	Mars Celestial Fire Surround	Feuerringe, fliegt
Sparkling Wide Pressure	Jupiter Thundercrash Zap	Donnerschlag, flieg
Venus Love Me Chain	Venus Love Chain Encircle	Feuerhertzenkette, flieg

• Change of names affects all characters. Here's a list of characters with more than one appearance in season 2. 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
Chibiusa	Rini
Der Erleuchtete	Wiseman
Prinz Diamond(Demand)	Prince Diamond
Saphir	Sapphire
Esmeraude	Emerald
Rubeus	Rubeus
Kermesite(Kōan)	Catzi
Bertherite(Berthier)	Bertie
Kavalerite(Calaveras)	Avery
Petzite(Petz)	Prizma
Ail(Eiru)	Ali
Anne(An)	En
Naru Osaka	Molly Baker
Motoki Furuhata	Andrew
Umino Gurio	Melvin
Shingo Tsukino	Sammy Tsukino
Ikuko Tsukino	Mom
Kenji Tsukino	Dad
Haruna Sakurada	Patricia Haruna
Yuuichirou Kumada	Chad
Königin Serenity	Queen Serena
König Endymion	King of Earth

It's also worth being mentioned that the German Version 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 dialog with subtitled Japanese episodes prove how close to the Original the German dialog is.

Only the comparison of the first episode of the second season (episode 47) 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 one of them, sometimes both at the same time. The time index is based on the German Version.

Episode 72: Sibling Rivalry

Wiseman warns Rubeus, that time is runnig out and that he should better find and kill Chibiusa soon. Thus Rubeus uses the anger of Kavalerite and Petzite against their sisters for his gain and gives them a wand that's supposed to bring them victory. They kidnap their sisters in front of the Senshi and Chibiusa learns by accident who the Senshi are. On a bridge it come down to a showdown. Petzite gows power-mad and backstabs Kavalerite, the wand's power making her power-drunk. However, in the end bother are defeated. RRubeus then appears and explains, they are only chess figures to him and have done exactly as he wanted: gathering everyone in one place for him to kill and then get all the glory for himself. The wand turns into a black hole, however, it can be closed. Petzite and Kavalerite know they can never return to Black Moon after what has happened after this backstab and decide to cut their connection to live a normal life with their sisters. Rubeus however now knows where to find the Silver Crystal...

Length German TV-Version: 19:00
Length US-TV Version: 17:53

The US TV Version lacks 1 Minute and 7 Seconds of footage.

Note
This episode is infamous in the US, since it marks the point where the series, minus the removed episodes, reached the 65-episode mark. Sinc that is the usual number of episodes for syndication, DiC then simply closed shop and left the remaining episodes undubbed for almost three years, as insane as it sounds. They didn't care it was in the middle of the season. When they finally did the rest, the break in produtio was unable to be covered up.

[00:22]-[00:36]
[-14 Sec.]
Shortened Scene
The conversation between Rubeus and Wiseman is longer. Wiseman warns Rubeus, that he has to kill Chibiusa and the Sailor Senshi soon, in order to win. Rubeus snarls, that he knows this and will use the remaining sisters in order to get the glory all for himself.

[00:48]-[01:00]
[-12 Sec.]
Shortened Scene
Bunny is angry at Chibiusa, since hse is throwing around theleaves they've put into one heap. Chibiusa hides behind her age and of course everyone takes her side. Chibiusa then acts nice shild to Kermesite, while she's doing her hair. The cut causes a continuity error, since suddenly Kermesite is busy with Chibiusa.
[01:35]-[01:52]
[-17 Sec.]
Shortened Scene
More scenes of Chibiusa getting a preferred treatment and everyone taking her side, this time over sweet potatoes. It's almost a relief that these scenes were cut in the first place.

[02:08]-[03:10]
Altered Scene
The conversation between Rubeus, Kavalerite and Petzite was seriously altered.

In the Original and German Version, Kavalerite and Petzite are deeply concerned about their loyalty and despise their sisters, whome they have disowned. They promise to kill the traintors, Senshi and Shibiusa. Rubeus doubts their loyalty and gives they the black wand as a last chance. He gives orders to kill and warns that should they fail, they could never return.

In the US Version however, Kavalerite and Petzite want to get their sisters back. Rubeus tells them that the wand has come from Wiseman and that it could return the missing sisters back to evil. Petzite tries to get his favor and bets her wardrobe that they'll be loyal. Rubeus only says, he won't tolerate further failure.

This complete alteration will be fatal later in the episode.

[03:21]-[03:26]
[-5 Sec.]
Shortened Scene
Petzite adds with poison in her voice, that Kavalerite is to stay out of this matter.

[03:42]-[03:44]
[-2 Sec.]
Shortened Scene
Due to the gerneric CG-scene transition, the original scene transition got lost here. A pity, since the original was fully animated, Bunny "eating" the scene.

[03:45]-[04:20]
Shortened Scene + Altered Scene
This scene was not only changed in its meaning, but also partially cut.

While Bunny is eating, the others warn her in the Original not to eat this much or she'll become fat. Bunny says she doesn't care. Rei then needles that it then isn't a wonder Mamorus hasleft her, causing everyone to be shocked at these insensible words. In the US Version however they complain that Bunny is eating like a pig and Rei adds, that these were protein bars, 1000 kal a piece (in the original, they are sweet potatoes and also still look the way).

[04:03]-[04:20] [-17 Sec.] Also, the second half of the scene got removed.

Minako and Makoto warnBunny, that eating so much will make her fart. Bunny dismisses this, but that does have to fart loudly, causing everyone to protest vocally, being glad that they are outside (the scene takes place on the veranda with open sliding doors).

[13:26]-[14:10]
Altered Scene
When Rubeus shows his true colors, his motivation and reasons were seriously altered.

In the Original and German Version, Rubeus mocks Petzite, telling her that she's done exactly as he wanted, gathering enemies and traitors in one place. She was planned to lose anyway. Rubeus boasts that killing everyone will be easy for him and dismisses Petzite as a replacable tool, of which he's got many more. He then wishes them a nice death and announces the true power of the wand.

In the US Version, Rubeus says that Petzite has obviously turned against him as well, but dismisses it as irrelevant. He says the sisters are ugly and dress badlym but now everyone is in one place. For him, it's a lucky chance to take out all of them in one go, saying they've lost their use to him, announcing one power of the wand they have missed.

Due to these changes, it was hidden that it was Rubeus' true plan right from the start to kill the sisters, in order to get all glory for himself.

[17:38]-[17:43]
Altered Scene
At Kavalerite's and Petzite's alteration, the picture was manipulated again, in order to hide their nudity.

German Version	US Version