Common Sense Media Review
By Lien Murakami
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Classic magical girl anime is action-packed and fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Sailor Moon
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 25 parent reviews
Parents say this show has become a nostalgic favorite, celebrated for its positive messages around empowerment, friendship, and self-acceptance, though it contains moments that may not be suitable for all children due to mild language, nudity, and some violence. While many appreciate the strong female role models and valuable life lessons, concerns about certain themes such as body image and relationships may warrant parental guidance, especially for younger viewers.
- positive messages
- strong role models
- parental guidance needed
- mild language
- cultural differences
Summarized with AI
Based on 83 kid reviews
Kids say the iconic magical girl series brilliantly combines themes of adventure, friendship, and personal growth, making it a beloved choice for tweens and teens, though with some caution due to mild language, violence, and brief nudity. Many reviewers appreciate the show's positive portrayals of diverse relationships, with several mentioning its LGBT representation and character development, while others note that some mature themes make it best suited for viewers aged 10 and up.
- classic magical girl
- positive messages
- mature themes
- character development
- LGBT representation
- age-appropriate fun
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Serena Tsukino (Terri Hawkes in the English dub) is a regular 14-year-old ditsy crybaby when she rescues a talking cat named Luna (Jill Frappier). Luna is a survivor from a long-lost kingdom of the moon whose queen sent her daughter as well as her daughter's guardians and advisors to the future to be reborn. Serena is revealed to be a reincarnation of Sailor Moon, a champion of justice. With Luna's help, Serena eventually uncovers ally "sailor scouts" who help her protect the earth and the princess of the moon from the forces of evil.
Is It Any Good?
SAILOR MOON is one of the most popular and influential anime franchises in the world and it is easy to see why. The series is full of the stuff that makes girls go crazy for Disney princesses, but with a twist. Sailor Moon has its own princesses (and a handsome prince), but these girls kick butt almost every episode. The girls start out each episode as regular school kids, but they each have a secret identity and a special purpose. What girl wouldn't find that appealing?
The dubbed American version is heavily edited from the original Japanese anime in order to make the series more appropriate for tweens and some of the original storyline and nuances are lost. In addition, some of the voice acting in the American version is downright cringe worthy. Thankfully, Sailor Moon's charm as well as the personalities of the other sailor scouts shine through. The love story between Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask (Vince Corazza) as reincarnated lovers is the stuff of soap opera fun and not only provides some romantic fluff to the series, but helps drive part of the storyline later on. Since this is a series aimed at girls, it's refreshing that Sailor Moon isn't often a victim, and instead sometimes rescues her male paramour. Even though the English dub leaves something to be desired, this classic anime series offers appealing characters and lots of girl power.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the lack of action-oriented animated series aimed at girls. What are your favorite female super heroes? What makes super heroes good role models for girls?
Families can talk about the different beliefs and views that different cultures have regarding life after death. If you could be reincarnated into anything, what would you be? If reincarnation were real, what do you think your last life might have been like?
Families can also talk about body image in the media. The sailor scout uniforms are very short and the scouts themselves are all thin with exaggerated figures. What types of images are girls shown in the media and does that affect what they view as attractive? Do the images that girls see affect how they view themselves?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 11, 1995
- Cast : Jill Frappier , Karen Bernstein , Katie Griffin , Terri Hawkes , Vince Corazza
- Networks : USA , Cartoon Network , Syndicated
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Superheroes , Friendship
- TV rating :
- Last updated : January 3, 2026
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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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