What did everyone think of the episode? I thought it was kinda meh

As always, i'll start with the pros, though there aren't that many:
Pluto
Diana
Neo-Queen Serenity
Chibs and Pluto moments
They got rid of the implications with the kitchen floor scene

Cons:
Why was everyone's face shadowed in this episode? And what was up with the silhouettes?
The animation is super wonky and is constantly barfing in our faces
Luna just keeps staring at the door, not once turning around to face the Queen
Wiseman has become downright laughable
Chibiusa's princess gown. Why is it Princess Serenity's gown? She should be dressed as Small Lady. And what were those orange things on the side of her head?

I'm hoping that Toei's not going back to their old tricks again. Hopefully stuff picks up in time for my favourite episode. If they screw it up i'll ragequit

I loved this episode! Well, more like the second half really, because I loved the little glimpses of Crystal Tokyo! Like how it was apparently a bustling metropolis that wasn't ALL made of crystal...but for some reason the people all wore medieval attire? I don't know, but it was so cool! I loved how we got a glimpse at how the palace works too. Now I really hope they animate the rest of the manga, because I want to see more of Crystal Tokyo!

Before I finish this episode, I have just one question to pose.

In the manga, it's very clear that Usagi and Mamoru are makin' out on the floor. In Crystal, it looks like they're going all the way with the blessing of the moon. I can't see it as anything else. Before that, it also looks like they're just plopping straight to the ground.

Toei is going to try and air this for children in other countries outside of Japan. It's hilarious.

Just started the episode and oh boy I feel like we're in for a treat:



Where the heck is her eye? I get it's suppose to be shadow, but they shaded it wrong so it looks like she's missing her eye.

I also agree this episode was kind of meh.  I'm glad Toei at least kept Usagi and Mamoru's love scene as consensual this time and didn't make it all awkward like the last time Mamoru and Usagi kissed in Crystal.  I loved the scenes with Chibi-usa and Sailor Pluto.  The scene where Sailor Moon is chasing Chibi-usa around Pluto was cute and funny.  I was also glad to see more of the return of the goofy facial expressions but why did they have them around those random box things?  It kept reminding me of the old DiC dub's CGI scene transition graphics.  I personally was a bit disappointed in how Crystal is portraying Crystal Tokyo.  I felt like the original anime portrayed the future with a lot more attention to detail.  Crystal Tokyo is just kind of bare, like where's the destroyed buildings and stuff?  Like I get Black Moon is really powerful and all but I seriously doubt they just vaporized all the buildings.  Surely some will be left standing in that partially destroyed way the original anime was so good at portraying.  Crystal Palace was also kind of underwhelming compared to how majestic it was in the original anime while still having this decaying feeling to it.   The animation was really bad this episode.  It seemed like everybody was drawn horribly off modeled in every scene they were in, especially the cats.   Why did Luna looks so weird in this episode?  I really hope Toei is going to make some drastic changes to the animation on the BD release here.   The original anime to me just did a way better job of building up suspense and making you actually really hyped up to see what the future looks like.  Crystal just feels like they're going from point A to point B without much feeling and emotion to it all.

i don't CARE about anything..THAT scene was in it! i've been waiting too see it for SO long <3!!!!!! i'm so HAPPY!!! i was screaming xD i was going to snapchat my reaction but because of the excitement i couldn't xD.

Another perfect episode just one thing...i thought King Endymion's suit was more purple-ish than gray o.o oh well ^.^

I really looked forward to this episode since we were finally going to see a bit of Crystal Tokyo and Pluto. But dayum, I'm super disappointed.

Well, I really enjoyed the goofy faces (they reminded me a bit of the 90s anime - there were lots of them and I loved it) and plot was pretty good too - though I didn't have many feelings while watching it, no happiness, no sadness...just meh - but: THE ANIMATION! What happened Toei? I know it's no surprise that there are animation errors. But this episode had by far the most animation errors out of all.

Maybe I'm just oversensitive but I really can't enjoy a show when the animation looks so bad nearly every 30 seconds.

My sweet collection of animation errors:

I feel like a bad person when I hate that much xD But I can't help it.

I can forgive animation errors if they're like in one or two scenes an episode given the low budget nature of this show but this episode is like every frame looks awful.  It surely must cost Toei as much to fix the animation later as it would to be just get it right the first time.   But Toei has no sense of how to balance a budget.  The last few episodes looked decent enough and they should be saving their animation budget for the most important episodes like these moments here.   It's just absurd we're dealing with this kind of budget at all for a show as important to anime history as Sailor Moon.  But just pick just about any new anime from this year and last year and I'll guarantee that whatever you pick no matter how bad the show itself is will still have way better animation quality than Crystal does.  I was also disappointed in Esmeraude's henchmen in this episode.  I felt like they were much more scary and threatening in the original anime whereas here they just kind of show up and leave.  I have mixed feelings that Tuxedo Mask is now powerful enough to defeat the monsters on his own.  On the one hand, this is faithful to the manga and I'm glad he no longer has to rely on those silly roses all the time.  On the other hand, this has also created this weird situation for Crystal where Tuxedo Mask is now more powerful than the Sailor Soldiers who have still failed to kill any of the monsters on their own which seems to take away from the girl power message of Sailor Moon that I love.

Neon Genesis wrote:

I have mixed feelings that Tuxedo Mask is now powerful enough to defeat the monsters on his own.  On the one hand, this is faithful to the manga and I'm glad he no longer has to rely on those silly roses all the time.  On the other hand, this has also created this weird situation for Crystal where Tuxedo Mask is now more powerful than the Sailor Soldiers who have still failed to kill any of the monsters on their own which seems to take away from the girl power message of Sailor Moon that I love.

Good point! I'm really glad he doesn't throw roses anymore combined with his Tuxedo Mask speeches (they are funny but as a villain I would have laughed at him all the time) and has own powers instead. But well yeah. Now he's stronger than the girls what I really don't like xD

So um... 

The make out scene was the worse thing I have ever seen. I feel really bad for UsaMamo fans. It was poorly animated and Usagi's hair looked like crap. It's so bad it's funny. I nearly laughed out loud, when I saw it.

AS for the episode? Meh. I wasn't excited to see Pluto because how things were drawn. Pluto hugging Chibiusa was so awkward looking. 

THIS:




These reaction boxes throughout the episode. While they are super cute they seem so out of place. I felt like they were a distraction more than anything. 

I don't if it's me, but I feel like Usagi is just eh? I mean in the old anime she could be annoying, but I feel like she's just as annoying in the manga and Crystal now. Everyone paints her as better character in the manga, but I don't really see it. I know it's the second arc, but she has gone through enough to show changes. Crystal keeps convincing be that PGSM is the best version of Sailor Moon.

Goddess Yami wrote:

I don't if it's me, but I feel like Usagi is just eh? I mean in the old anime she could be annoying, but I feel like she's just as annoying in the manga and Crystal now. Everyone paints her as better character in the manga, but I don't really see it. I know it's the second arc, but she has gone through enough to show changes. Crystal keeps convincing be that PGSM is the best version of Sailor Moon.

Some fans complain about Chibi-usa being more annoying in the original anime but I think it's that conflict between her and Chibi-usa that gives their relationship dynamic and makes you care about them as you watch the two mature over the course of the show.  With Crystal, we've barely had much of any actual interaction between Usagi and Chibi-usa besides Usagi getting jealous of a six year old kid that their relationship just feels a bit artificial at times here.

I'm wondering how Chibiusa was able to jump so high and onto Usagi's head. xD

I would also love it so much if someone could edit that Usamamo scene with tuxedo mask's theme music. It gives off a more romantic vibe and feels more fit to the scene. :3

Neon Genesis wrote:

Goddess Yami wrote:

I don't if it's me, but I feel like Usagi is just eh? I mean in the old anime she could be annoying, but I feel like she's just as annoying in the manga and Crystal now. Everyone paints her as better character in the manga, but I don't really see it. I know it's the second arc, but she has gone through enough to show changes. Crystal keeps convincing be that PGSM is the best version of Sailor Moon.

Some fans complain about Chibi-usa being more annoying in the original anime but I think it's that conflict between her and Chibi-usa that gives their relationship dynamic and makes you care about them as you watch the two mature over the course of the show.  With Crystal, we've barely had much of any actual interaction between Usagi and Chibi-usa besides Usagi getting jealous of a six year old kid that their relationship just feels a bit artificial at times here.

Honestly I never cared for Chibiusa in both versions. I just find her as a wasted penitential. However I don't find her annoying at all in either versions.

WHY TOEI

I enjoyed the plot furthering and the tenderness between Chibiusa and Pluto, but I didn't get too many feels from this episode. The closest it came was when Pluto appeared and didn't look as bad as she does in the intro song.

Also, Crystal Dead Scream has NOTHING on the original...

*sighs* 

I hate to this say. I really don't care that Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter has been kidnapped. I also don't care about the current state of the future. I like have no emotions while I watch Crystal expect when I laugh at the characters' pain. I feel so heartless and I try so hard to watch with an open mind. I just can't bring it to myself to care about these characters.

I think it has something to do with both the manga and Crystal. I don't hate the manga, but I will admit I felt emotionless, when I read it all the way through. I feel like the tone was not set right. Like for the Black Moon arc for example. I feel no tension and sense of urgency to rescue their allies.

This is really just a ramble and how I felt while watching this episode..

Sailor Pluto: "I don't care by killing you I'll completely distort time, future villains will destroy the Earth, and the only person I care about will vanish from existing."

SailorKittyElyon wrote:

WHY TOEI

Admittedly, this is supposed to be a joke. It's a joke that falls flat of course because it's not done right. The yellow attachments on her head are good, but she shouldn't be wearing Princess Serenity's outfit. It just confuses the viewer. The way to go about it would have been to have her wear a gaudy princess outfit while riding on a pretty pony or something. That's how you do a joke like that.

Goddess Yami wrote:

*sighs* 

I hate to this say. I really don't care that Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter has been kidnapped. I also don't care about the current state of the future. I like have no emotions while I watch Crystal expect when I laugh at the characters' pain. I feel so heartless and I try so hard to watch with an open mind. I just can't bring it to myself to care about these characters.

I think it has something to do with both the manga and Crystal. I don't hate the manga, but I will admit I felt emotionless, when I read it all the way through. I feel like the tone was not set right. Like for the Black Moon arc for example. I feel no tension and sense of urgency to rescue their allies.

This is really just a ramble and how I felt while watching this episode..

Glad i'm not the only one who felt like this while reading the manga

Sailor CJ wrote:

SailorKittyElyon wrote:

WHY TOEI

Admittedly, this is supposed to be a joke. It's a joke that falls flat of course because it's not done right. The yellow attachments on her head are good, but she shouldn't be wearing Princess Serenity's outfit. It just confuses the viewer. The way to go about it would have been to have her wear a gaudy princess outfit while riding on a pretty pony or something. That's how you do a joke like that.

Agreed. Although the gloves do look nice

I liked this episode more than I expected to. I was a bit disappointed with Pluto's "Dead Scream" animation, but hopefully in later usage (if we get to the Infinity arc) it'll be more than just an energized melee attack.
Here are only real complaints:
-The frames during the more comical scenes. They are distracting and totally pulls me out of my viewing. IDK what the heck TOEI was thinking with these, but they need to stop.
-This is a petty gripe, but one I couldn't get out of my head. Esmeraude's "blushing" when Demande gave her the death glare makes her face look like it got carved up by Luna and/or Artemis. It needs to either be much more subtle in the blu-ray or, preferably, go away completely. She reacted that way because she knew she said too much and (imo) briefly feared Demande. Having her blush kinda takes away the small bit of tension in that moment.

Regarding Chibi-Usa's dress; I honestly thought that it was just Usagi's mental image of what Chibi-Usa would look like as a "princess", rather than an actual representation.

RemEngel wrote:

-The frames during the more comical scenes. They are distracting and totally pulls me out of my viewing. IDK what the heck TOEI was thinking with these, but they need to stop.

Those frames remind me of the ones DiC used in the 90's anime

RemEngel wrote:

I liked this episode more than I expected to. I was a bit disappointed with Pluto's "Dead Scream" animation, but hopefully in later usage (if we get to the Infinity arc) it'll be more than just an energized melee attack.
Here are only real complaints:
-The frames during the more comical scenes. They are distracting and totally pulls me out of my viewing. IDK what the heck TOEI was thinking with these, but they need to stop.
-This is a petty gripe, but one I couldn't get out of my head. Esmeraude's "blushing" when Demande gave her the death glare makes her face look like it got carved up by Luna and/or Artemis. It needs to either be much more subtle in the blu-ray or, preferably, go away completely. She reacted that way because she knew she said too much and (imo) briefly feared Demande. Having her blush kinda takes away the small bit of tension in that moment.

Regarding Chibi-Usa's dress; I honestly thought that it was just Usagi's mental image of what Chibi-Usa would look like as a "princess", rather than an actual representation.

I thought the same thing about that image of Chibiusa as a princess.

SailorKittyElyon wrote:

RemEngel wrote:

-The frames during the more comical scenes. They are distracting and totally pulls me out of my viewing. IDK what the heck TOEI was thinking with these, but they need to stop.

Those frames remind me of the ones DiC used in the 90's anime

I think I said this before in the Act 17 or 18 thread, but they are trying to do too much by fusing homages to the original anime, Myu, and PGSM with the manga storyline. It contributes to the anemic quality of storytelling and removes the heart from the series (you know, along with the bad animation, sometimes shoddy plot pacing, and lack of reason to care about the characters).

I'm hoping all my feels will come back after they rescue Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter, but right now I'm watching just to keep up.

I think my feels are gonna wash over me pretty soon. Two more episodes to go until:

For me anyway

Just noticed how ironical it actually is. Though I complained so much about this episode I have a SMC avatar. Oh well xDD

I think I've enjoyed this episode more than others. It feels like they are trying a little harder though its too little too late. I'm kinda glad that the scene kinda confirmed that they didn't do much beyond kissing because later in the manga Usagi says her relationship with Mamo is "pure" in a very Japanese sense (Aka no sexual interactions yet). As much as I much as Id like to think Usa and Mamo may have done the frick frack at that point, i think i prefer that its waited until the day before their wedding where she feels the creation of her daughter's star within her womb. Its more touching...

That aside, the little silly comic things were SUPER adorable but SO SO horribly out of place! I wish they had been in earlier episodes of Crystal and timed better cause they were really cute...


At least I'm enjoying this half better than the first half.

This episode was fantastic. They didn't remove anything, and even added tiny elements that didn't seem out of place! The pacing was great, the diologe was great, everything about this episode was great! (aside from the animation, but we've all given up on that at this point.)

So far, the black moon arc is getting represented as it should be, unlike the first arc.  I hope they keep the ball rolling and NOT pull any unnecessary plot changes. We all know how the first arc turned out.

RemEngel wrote:

I liked this episode more than I expected to. I was a bit disappointed with Pluto's "Dead Scream" animation, but hopefully in later usage (if we get to the Infinity arc) it'll be more than just an energized melee attack.
Here are only real complaints:
-The frames during the more comical scenes. They are distracting and totally pulls me out of my viewing. IDK what the heck TOEI was thinking with these, but they need to stop.
-This is a petty gripe, but one I couldn't get out of my head. Esmeraude's "blushing" when Demande gave her the death glare makes her face look like it got carved up by Luna and/or Artemis. It needs to either be much more subtle in the blu-ray or, preferably, go away completely. She reacted that way because she knew she said too much and (imo) briefly feared Demande. Having her blush kinda takes away the small bit of tension in that moment.

Regarding Chibi-Usa's dress; I honestly thought that it was just Usagi's mental image of what Chibi-Usa would look like as a "princess", rather than an actual representation.

Yeah, I agree with you about Chibiusa's dress. Since Usagi herself is a princess, I think that she would make her own dress the "default" dress when imagining a princess. It would also explain why the dress itself appears way too big for Chibs, especially around the bodice--I interpret that as Usagi's disbelief that Chibs, a shrimp in her eyes, is a princess just like she is.

Another random thing: the gloves Chibs was wearing in that scene reminded me of Madoka's gloves from PMMM, and the yellow bows on her odangos made me think of CereCere

Empress Vesta wrote:

RemEngel wrote:

Regarding Chibi-Usa's dress; I honestly thought that it was just Usagi's mental image of what Chibi-Usa would look like as a "princess", rather than an actual representation.

Yeah, I agree with you about Chibiusa's dress. Since Usagi herself is a princess, I think that she would make her own dress the "default" dress when imagining a princess. It would also explain why the dress itself appears way too big for Chibs, especially around the bodice--I interpret that as Usagi's disbelief that Chibs, a shrimp in her eyes, is a princess just like she is.

I was curious so I actually went ahead and rewatched that part of the episode.

It's clear that if this is anyone's interpretation, it's the audience's or at least Chibi-usa's. It's smack dab in the middle of her monologue with zero cuts to Sailor Moon while she's giving it. It doesn't help that Princess Serenity's dress has been mistakenly used on Queen Serenity before, so it makes the viewer think that this is a possible mistake too. Again, the humor would have worked much better if it was a more gaudy dress and unlike anything we the viewers have seen before.

Empress Vesta wrote:

RemEngel wrote:

I liked this episode more than I expected to. I was a bit disappointed with Pluto's "Dead Scream" animation, but hopefully in later usage (if we get to the Infinity arc) it'll be more than just an energized melee attack.
Here are only real complaints:
-The frames during the more comical scenes. They are distracting and totally pulls me out of my viewing. IDK what the heck TOEI was thinking with these, but they need to stop.
-This is a petty gripe, but one I couldn't get out of my head. Esmeraude's "blushing" when Demande gave her the death glare makes her face look like it got carved up by Luna and/or Artemis. It needs to either be much more subtle in the blu-ray or, preferably, go away completely. She reacted that way because she knew she said too much and (imo) briefly feared Demande. Having her blush kinda takes away the small bit of tension in that moment.

Regarding Chibi-Usa's dress; I honestly thought that it was just Usagi's mental image of what Chibi-Usa would look like as a "princess", rather than an actual representation.

Yeah, I agree with you about Chibiusa's dress. Since Usagi herself is a princess, I think that she would make her own dress the "default" dress when imagining a princess. It would also explain why the dress itself appears way too big for Chibs, especially around the bodice--I interpret that as Usagi's disbelief that Chibs, a shrimp in her eyes, is a princess just like she is.

Another random thing: the gloves Chibs was wearing in that scene reminded me of Madoka's gloves from PMMM, and the yellow bows on her odangos made me think of CereCere

or i guess it could be interpreted as the fact that Chibiusa at this point feels like she's in her mothers shadow and has to be exactly like her. I only have a problem with it because i just love her real princess dress