May 16th, Friday- during its Anime Central panel, Viz Media made an announcement regarding their acquisition over the entire original Sailor Moon franchise. This license includes the remake of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal, all 5 seasons (All 200 episodes!), 3 films and various TV specials.
Viz is offering the franchise without edits in its original uncropped 4:3 aspect ratio, with the original Japanese names, story elements, and relationships. It is also producing an uncut English dub with a new voice cast.
Just look at this picture comparison between the 2002/2009 Japanese DVD version and 2014 Viz Blu-ray release.
Set to air this coming May 19th, the first four episodes, with the original Japanese dub and English subtitles, will be available via streaming on Viz Media’s NeonAlley.com service and the Hulu Plus service. And will regularly air two episodes on Mondays aka “Moon-day”. While the uncut English dub will be aired in late 2014.
Viz has also told us the following:
#sailormoon deets: This Sailor Moon release will have a new English dub cast blessed by the creator herself.
— VIZ (@VIZMedia) May 17, 2014
As for the digital and home video distribution, Viz Media plans to release half-season sets of both the remastered Blu-ray / DVD Combo, which will be off the market this coming Fall.
And on July 5th, the new Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal will have its worldwide premiere with a simultaneous celebration of “Sailor Moon Day” at Anime Expo.
Here’s the announcement and take note of the new voice actress for Usagi:
Are you all hyped with this Sailor Moon comeback? Will you be there when they release the first episodes this coming Monday? You should! Or in the name of moon, Sailor Moon will punish you!
