I always felt that the anime even in Japanese over simplified the Serenity situation... By having Usagi constantly switch between herself and Serenity it almost just felt they were the same person... however in PGSM, Usagi is distinctly told that "Usagi is Usagi" and everyone notes that Princess Serenity is "not Usagi" in the later half of the series, in fact Serenity's presence is brings panic to both villains and sailor senshi. the manga is quite vague and doesn't really tell us much more than "Usagi is the reincarnation of Serenity" as far as I remember and the musicals make strong implications that Serenity was quite a selfish self centered immature princess who would put her own feelings before others, which is a complete turnaround from Usagi. Even Beryl is shocked when Usagi apologizes for Serenity's behaviour.

So what do you guys think... are Usagi and Serenity one in the same or are they two distinct people who happen to be incarnations of the same Star seed... or is Usagi a Serenity that has merely learned from her mistakes... personally i believe that although Usagi is reincarnated from Serenity that by no means that Usagi does not have her own distinct personality and ideals....

I think they are two distinct people who happen to be incarnations of the same star seed. Their characters, even though it doesn't go into serious depth on Serenity, seem to be quite different.

I think that Usagi and Serenity are totally different, but very similar.

It's sort of how a child is born. A kid has the characteristics of both parents, yet they are extremely different than the people that gave birth to them. I sort of think of star seeds in that way. It's like an extra set of genes.

Plus, the timeline has LOADS to do with it. Even as normal people ourselves, we are vastly different than the people that grew up in the 1950's. Usagi, growing up in the 1990's in Tokyo, is mostly different than her predecessor from thousands of years ago, and her successor thousands of years in the future.

Hmm. I don't know, from growing up watching the English version of Sailor Moon and not reading the Manga until now with the Re-Release, I feel like there is no doubt at all that Serenity and Usagi are not the same. Yet kinda are the same..? There is actually a lot that comes into play.

Queen Serenity sent to Princess to Earth to be reborn, to be different, to have a real life. Not her enclosed, stressed life as a princess stuck on the Moon for but those times she could escape to Earth. I feel like the Princess almost even hated her life until she meet the Earth Prince and that's why she didn't even think about giving up her own life and power over the throne to be with him, even without even knowing what there was after death. What if she killed herself and didn't get to see him? If she ended up forever alone? (Until her Star Seed would be reborn?) I also wonder if Princess Serenity even knew about Sailor Moon? Was it even possible for her to become her in this life?

While Usagi grew up as a normal, care-free child with a different, care-free, mother. She became a hero to Earth. Not just sitting around while her friends kept her safe. She took risk. She became powerful and she became Queen.

As for Neo-Queen Serenity. I see her as maybe both Princess Serenity and Usagi as one. Because as understood/seen NQS is a very serious and mature, much like what you see of PS; the two of them having close to/the same voice even. Though I also feel that around her friends and family she would still be the goofy Meatball Head. As Diana stated at one point that the Queen and King where "offend sick but then suddenly better the next day".

So as all three are carefree spirits they also know when to be serious.

I'm sure princess serenity was spoiled like every other princess and that was probably why she was selfish. I think usagi being reborn to parents who have very different genetics from queen serenity from the past may have something to do with it too. Behaviors and likes/dislikes are picked up based on our parents right? Plus Usagi and her counterpart Serenity grew up in very different environments: one being a princess and the other being a common girl growing up in Tokyo.

In my opinion, Star Seeds are souls, and so the two of them share the same soul and so are mostly the same. If you look at the manga, what we know of Serenity would fit perfectly in with Usagi's character (but for the whole suicide thing); they are both almost magnetic, attracting everyone to them, supplying this ultimate source of love and light that everyone craves; they both dislike studying, are bouncy and a little naive -- I think what differences they had were brought about through their nurturing and life experiences.

I believe that Serenity and Usagi are the same person BUT she may have changed her personality because of the time in which they each where born. So while Princess Serenity was (probably?) mature, responsible, well behaved(?) selfish and everything a princess is; while Usagi grew to be a crybaby, sweets lover, lazy as hell, hates studying, super friendly and loving person.

My point is that they grew in different environments and cultures therefore they are the same person but with slightly different personalities.

So I believe that when Usagi is in her princess form she is still Usagi/Serenity from THIS moment (199?).

This would probably be easier if there where more character development for PS during the Silver Millennium.

I personally think that they over exaggerated the difference between Usagi and Serenity in PGSM. Concerning the manga and anime, I do believe that Usagi is the reincarnation of Serenity, however they share the same soul, the same core of their personality. I think because of her responsibilities as a Princess, Serenity possessed a deeper side of maturity that takes Usagi several seasons of battles to attain. However, the two of them are very much alike and near identical in ways.

Both girls have a childlike innocence to them, as we see in the flashbacks of the manga in where Serenity sneaks out to visit Endymion and is often scolded by her Senshi guardians because of it. She smiles and giggles in return and in another scene sticks out her tongue childishly at Venus. We often see these tendencies of Usagi. Serenity also understands the severity of dangerous invaders, as does Sailor Moon and both react in the same calm, strong manner. Both also will sacrifice themselves for the one they love, as Serenity did for Endymion and Sailor Moon did for Tuxedo Kamen. They both understand the meaning of a love so powerful it becomes all consuming, a love so strong that it can defy all odds, both as Serenity and Endymion as beings from separate worlds and as Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen do against their enemies.

I think the reason she becomes so interchangeable in the anime is because Serenity lives in the heart of the silver crystal. When Sailor Moon is at her most desperate and dire need she calls forth the power of the silver crystal, therefore unconsciously summoning Serenity. Because the heart of their personalities are so connected, Usagi's demeanor is not thwarted when she joins with her past self.

Princess Serenity are both the same person yet they are both different from each other. Usagi is only the reincarnation of Serenity not the exact thing. so of course serenity and usagi will have a different personalty. although in the anime and manga Usagi personalty some times switch out witch serenity when they are in trouble or she need courage.

I believe they are the same person. They however, have differences, but that is because of the time period that each of them comes from. Not just the conditions of how and where they grew up, but the people around them and the changes in life. Usagi went through a lot of things that Serenity didn't have to go through, but she also had different friends. They both are compasionate and believe the best in people as well as work hard to keep others from suffering. Their different lives don't make them different people because they are the same. The same answer could be given for any of the other scouts and Mamoru.

I believe that Usagi and Serenity are the same person, and the difference begins at the life experience. I feel that Serenity is a girl who has experienced much more loneliness and sadness than Usagi. She was sheltered and resticted by her life as a princess. Even though she had friends in the Guardian Senshi, it possible she couldn't even put herself on the same level with them, as they were her guardians and had an amount of authority over her. Though she was still a sweet and friendly person who cared very much for her family, friends, and people in general, I imagine she must have been very frustated and eventually rebelious (Cancer's hate being told what to do).
Usagi is much more carefree and happy. After all, she gets the benefits of being a common girl (however uncommon she might be), but she mirrors Serenity's frustration and rebellion. You see it when the Guardian Senshi try to keep her from Haruka and Michiru in S, and again when the Outer Senshi come between her and Seiya in Stars. She doesn't even back down from Haruka in regards to Seiya: "You're all terrible! Everybody has decided the situation... that's terrible! Don't stick your nose in!". Serenity did the same thing when she started sneaking off to Earth to see Endymion.
I think the difference is that sad, lonely Serenity lost hope, gave into dispair and killed herself where Usagi never loses hope even when the situation seems hopeless. When Usagi lost Mamoru and everyone else at the end of Sailorstars, she said she was lonely, and she cried, but she never gave up anyway. So yes, they are the same person, but Usagi's personal growth wasn't stunted by everone around her like Serenity's was.

The only Sailor Moon related thing that I think showed any big difference in character was PGSM. That was the only time that I could see two separate people. That is partially because of the acting choices and also because of the choices that the writers made. To purposely separate the two characters.