Disney Owning Sailor Moon

[Terter]

when I was little and Sailor Moon stopped showing on tv for the 1st time I was at a comic book store and the Owner said Disney had bought Sailor Moon because they had felt threaten by her popularity. I'm amusing he meant the English version cause Japan kept going with Sailor Moon for many years maybe not the cartoon but musicals,Sailor Moon World dolls ect and even a live action tv show in 2004-2005.

I know its not true but any one else ever heard that back when?

[Elladorine]

I'd read about Disney buying out DiC, and that if "Meet the Deedles" performed well (which it didn't) they had planned on going with an American live-action feature a la Inspector Gadget.

My memory on the Disney/DiC deal is really hazy though. More info from our members here: http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... hp?t=24196

[Cosmic Creepers]

Disney used to own DiC Entertainment and when that company won a bidding war over rights to the show Disney began distributing it in the U.S. through DiC. They did do quite a bit of retooling to the show including dubbing it in English, censoring the show for time and content, adding the "Sailor Says" educational ending, merging some episodes into mini-movies and recording the theme song in English [which had not happened to a Japanese animated series since "Speed Racer"]. Disney also eventually took control of not only the home video licensing of the show in America/Canada but also that of the one-time distributor Saban. The Walt Disney Co. acquired Saban Entertainment when it purchased Fox Family [now ABC Family] which was the owner of Saban at that time. The company now goes under the title Buena Vista/Saban Entertainment[BVSE]. This also means that they own such other Saban favorites as "Power Rangers." These shows along with others they were producing were being aired on the Jetix block of programming on TOONDisney [which is now DisneyXD]. There are also many other connections between "Sailor Moon" and Disney but I believe that what I have written will suffice. However, having written all of this I still must say that I have not found any concrete evidence that states that Disney bought "Sailor Moon" because they felt threatened by her. I don't think they stopped the show from being show in America either especially since they were the ones that helped bring it to America and dub it in English. I don't know who you talked to Ter and I am also not sure if he was completely wrong either. After all, there isn't that much going on in America with "Sailor Moon" and its related shows but Disney is making quite a bit off of their current dealings with Studio Ghibli. Of course, unless any of us was at the company when anything was decided we are all just speculating here. [P.S. - Thanks for starting this thread!]

[KennethE]

On one hand, it would be nice for a media giant like Disney to bring back all those old Sailor Moon shows. I would love to own a box set of Sailor Moon! In fact, I would REALLY, REALLY love to own a box set of Sailor Moon.

However, with Disney's dealings with Studio Ghibli, I doubt this will ever happen.
In addition to this, many of the original episodes contained content that were "unsuitable" for American kids, (or so they say), which is why the shows were edited for American TV channels. I would hate to see Disney to release Sailor Moon episodes that had been butchered-up.

[Super Aurora]

If there's anyone who will get the Sailor Moon rights, it will be Funimation.

[Duckburger]

Wait, since when are the rights for Sailor Moon up for grabs. I thought Toei had the rights, and that they were gripping on tightly since they're not showing it on television - anywhere in the world as far as I know.

Though if SM were up for sale I bet Disney would love to have yet another very popular franchise - it's not like they're afraid to buy stuff for relatively high prices (Saban, Muppets, Marvel), as long as it would be profitable in the long run.

[Terter]

well a friend said he heard they are going to re air SM in Japan and if it did well would make a new set of dolls. I dont know how true that is.

[Elladorine]

From what I've read (and granted, it's been a few years now) Naoko Takeuchi and Toei wanted to focus completely on the Pretty Guardian (live action) version and had no interest in renewing rights to the original anime.

I could see them returning to it all these years later though if they're looking to cash in, given how popular the anime was and how poorly-received the live-action version was by comparison.

[Terter]

I actually liked the live action tv series better then the anime.

[Cordy_Biddle]

In Australia, "Sailor Moon" ran on the weekly morning cartoon/variety show "Agro's Cartoon Connection" (1996-97), and was reportedly their most successful, highest-rated animated series.

[diego14_1992]

I love Sailor Moon!! It's the best anime show ever created although I prefer the Manga better, I own most of them manga books Did anyone here ever heard of how America was gonna make a live action theatrical movie of Sailor Moon starring Lindsay Lohan??? I did like 2 years ago, i read it in a magazine..

[Cordy_Biddle]

That actually sounds kinda cool. I have two of the manga novels, plus a set of the smaller Ban Dai dolls (the Scouts plus Queen Beryl), the moon locket, set of the 14 American edit DVDs, plus some mini figurines.

[Poody]

I thought this was going to be about how Disney once claimed to be making a live action movie?

[Super Aurora]

Wait, since when are the rights for Sailor Moon up for grabs. I thought Toei had the rights, and that they were gripping on tightly since they're not showing it on television - anywhere in the world as far as I know.

There is 3 main considered factors of possible return of Sailor Moon franchise (anime and manga)

1. The live action did extremely poorly. In comparison to the amount of promotion and hype Toei advertise it.

2. Funimation and Toei are in very good very good relationship. Funimation made DBZ hugely popular in America and continue to do so. It also saved One Piece(another Toei production) from 4Kids(who fucked it up) and also becoming a potential mass appeal in America. One Piece is one of the most popular anime in japan for awhile and still is. If growing rate of success in One Piece continues, Toei will have even better relationship with Funimation.
This in turn could have Toei give Funimation another of their hugely popular titles to distribute and dub.

3. Like One Piece, Sailor Moon previously had massive editing and poorly done dub. If Funi gets it, They can redub and keep it unedited. This will increase potential sales as it did with what they did on One Piece.

Also Funi had a poll chart that ask fans which title they love Funi to license . A huge majority chose Sailor Moon.

[Elladorine]

I would *love* to see a new dub made of the anime if it was done properly.

[Terter]

I will always prefer the Jap over dub. But i loved the Dic dubs. I didn't like it after funmation picked up on SM S? It just wasn't the same with the new voice actors.

[Elladorine]

I will always prefer the Jap over dub. But i loved the Dic dubs. I didn't like it after funmation picked up on SM S? It just wasn't the same with the new voice actors.

I actually love the DiC episodes probably as much as the Japanese, even if they're chopped all to hell.

But yeah, I had a hard time with the S season and beyond with the Cloverway dub. Serena's new actress was horrible at first but eventually got better, and Amy's voice was just painful all the way through. The only improvement with a new voice actress was Rini.

[Terter]

I will always prefer the Jap over dub. But i loved the Dic dubs. I didn't like it after funmation picked up on SM S? It just wasn't the same with the new voice actors.

I actually love the DiC episodes probably as much as the Japanese, even if they're chopped all to hell.

But yeah, I had a hard time with the S season and beyond with the Cloverway dub. Serena's new actress was horrible at first but eventually got better, and Amy's voice was just painful all the way through. The only improvement with a new voice actress was Rini.

true that!

[milojthatch]

Anytime Disney owns or distribute any Anime, it makes me sick.

[Escapay]

Anytime Disney-is-the-only-animation-worth-watching fans give a blanket statement like that regardless if it's anime or Hanna-Barbera or whatever, it makes me sick.

albert