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 24: An Artful Attack

Queen Beryl is disappointed that Zoisite has failed again and puts her under pressure to be more successful the next time. When Bunny asks herself what she should think about Tuxedo Mask, she is being invited to an art exhibition of the painter Yumeni, who never shows herself to public. By accident, Mamoru and Bunny actually get to know Yumeni, who is inspired by them and who tells them that she does not show herself because she deems herself unattractive. Some of her pictures remind the two of some memories. Later, Luna criticizes Bunny for losing the Moon Scepter. Meanwhile, Zoisite suddenly appears at Yumeni's, who is s crystal bearer and steals the crystal, which transforms her into the Youma Vena. The Sailor Warriors fight it while Tuxedo Mask wants to retrieve the crystal from Zoisite, but he loses the fight and only Sailor Moon can save him. The two part under ambiguous circumstances as he does not want to give his crystal back but leaves the music box he lost to Sailor Moon. Eventually, Vena is being defeated and transforms back. Yumeni later shows herself to the public for the first time in order to present her newest picture... showing a rather familiar couple.

Running time of German episode: 18:25
Running time of the US episode: 17:39

Disregarding newly added scene, 46 seconds are missing.

Notes to the Episode
Usually, all the changes in the plot are named individually. However, the WHOLE story about Yumeni was twisted around in this episode so I will talk about it at the beginning.

In the German Version, Yumeni is embarassed because she is not as pretty as other women and has an inspirational crisis, which she can only get over with the help of Bunny and Mamoru. Yumeni's motivation for painting pictures is also based on love and selffulfillment.
In the US Version, however, she stays covert because she thinks her pictures sell better like it. She also looks for perfect models which is the only reason she draws Bunny and Mamoru, her motivation for drawing is subsequently less idealistic.

Of course, this means that all plot elements connected to this were altered as well.

[00:00]-[00:53]
Alteration
The scene with Zoisite and Queen Beryl was unnecessarily lengthened.

In the original, Beryl says that they only had one rainbow crystal and that three of the Youma's had been defeated. She then asks Zoisite how she wants to make up for it. Zoisite has already found the next crystal bearer and swears on her life that she will get the crystal. Beryl warns her about what will happen if she fails, but Zoisite knows it all too well.

In the US Version, they talk a lot more (obviously the producers thought silence was something bad). Next to the facts, Beryl criticizes Zoisite really harsh and says that she would probably need a replacement for the job. Zoisite begs for another chance and calls the black crystal, which shows the next crystal bearer. Zoisite swears on her life that she would get the crystal, but Beryl tells her that she was the one who decided about life and death.

[01:02]-[01:26]
[-24 sec.]
Cut
Bunny leans over the railing at the lake shore and jealously looks at the couples in love. She then wonders what she should think of Tuxedo Mask. Luna says that – as he wants to get the silver crystal as well – they should probably see him as an enemy, but Bunny does not agree.

[01:50]-[01:54]
[-4 sec.]
Cut
The shot of the advertisement for the art exhibition was removed due to the Japanese letters, although it will be seen more often and without retouching later.

[02:01]-[02:43]
Alteration
The whole story was changed.

In the German Version, Bunny is amazed about the beauty of the pictures and wonders why so many couples were there. Then Umino approaches and says the pictures were about love and Naru adds that the pictures are supposed to help with love matters, which causes Bunny to say she wanted a poster(!) of one of the pictures. They then have a look at Yumeni's self-portait. Bunny is amazed by her beauty, but Umino reminds her that she would never go into public. Bunny then comments that Yumeni probably was ugly and Naru adds that she would probably paint herself more beautifal than she really was.

In the US Version, Naru says the picture was called "Self-portait of a Moon Princess". Then Umino approaches and wants to name all the chemicals in the colors. Naru distracts him when she says the pictures would help in love matters, which causes Bunny to say she wanted to use them as her wallpaper (!). They then look at the portrait and Naru says it would remind her of Bunny, which Bunny denies. When Umino reminds them of the fact that Yumeni does not show herself in public, they make fun of famous snobs.

[02:46]-[02:52]
[-6 sec.]
Cut
Yumeni goes through the crowd and tries to find something inspiring.

[07:51]-[07:53]
[-2 sec.]
Cut
The beginning of the scene in which Yumeni talks about her motivation for painting.

[08:02]-[08:07]
Alteration
A very unnecessary alteration. The shadows of Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask can be seen under a tree and hugging (the same shot that is being used in the outro). In the German Version, the background is blue whereas it is orange in the American Version and the picture is overall darker.

German Version	US Version

[10:20]-[10:57]
Alteration
The scene between Luna and Bunny was totally changed in its meaning.

Bunny recognizes the Moon Scepter and Luna criticizes her for forgetting it in the park and thinks about the possibility that the other might look after it better. Bunny is shocked and asks for forgiveness, she had just thought about Tuxedo Mask. Luna tries some weird psychology and tell Bunny that her problems would solve theselves which is why she would not need any comfort. Bunny is depressed because of that and walks away.

In the US Version, however, Bunny is rather stupid and thinks Luna had found a second scepter. Luna criticizes Bunny for losing it in the park. Bunny tries to say she had not, but Luna says that she was too careless with the scepter. When Luna talks about the other Sailor Warriors and that they might be more careful, Bunny gets angry and runs away.

[11:27]-[11:31]
[-4 sec.]
Cut
A part of the scene in which Zoisite robs the crystal is missing.

[14:18]-[14:23]
Alteration
Something really stupid in the US Version. Bunny (whose US name is Serena) talks to the Youma: " Let's not fight. It's me Serena, I'm Sailor Moon. I'm your friend, remember?" And all this while both Zoisite and Tuxedo Mask are nearby. This is the second time that Sailor Moon carelessly gives away her identity.

[14:28]-[14:30]
[-2 sec.]
Cut
The Youma creates the threads which became snakes longer.

[15:33]-[15:37]
[-4 sec.]
Cut
Zoisite's crystal bullet can be seen flying towards Tuxedo Mask before Sailor Moon's moonstone stops it.