Sailor Moon Takes the Stage: SXSW Panel Highlights “The Super Live” Tour Across North America
Fans of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon gathered at SXSW for an illuminating panel about The Super Live, the 2.5D musical adaptation of the beloved anime and manga franchise. Moderated by Gordon Cox (contributing theater editor at Variety), the discussion featured insights from producer Makoto Matsuda (Appare Co., Ltd.), Fumio Osano (President of PNP Inc.), and Riko Tanaka, who portrays Sailor Moon in the production. The panelists shared how The Super Live brings Sailor Moon to life in a new way, blending musical performance, cutting-edge stage effects, and high-energy choreography to create an experience that appeals to both longtime fans and newcomers. As the show prepares to embark on a 21-city North American tour, the panelists reflected on the global appeal of Sailor Moon and what makes this production special.
Fumio Osano has been working with Sailor Moon since 1991 as an editor for Naoko Takeuchi’s manga series. He emphasized that while the franchise has evolved across different formats—from manga and anime to live-action and musicals—the heart of the story remains unchanged. The Super Live distills the first arc of the manga (and first season of the original anime) into a 90-minute spectacle, making it accessible even to those unfamiliar with the series.
“The idea of adapting Sailor Moon into a stage production first emerged in 1993," Osano recalled. “I remember the moment clearly—one day at work, my editor-in-chief called me over and suddenly announced, ‘The musical has been decided.’ I was young at the time, and I could hardly believe it! But I quickly came to understand that Sailor Moon has three essential pillars: the original manga, the anime, and the musicals. All three are vital to the identity of the franchise, and we have always prioritized keeping them in balance."
Originally, Sailor Moon musicals were designed exclusively for a Japanese audience, but The Super Live producer Makoto Matsuda shared how that’s changed. This production was designed with international audiences in mind, incorporating visual effects and immersive concert-style elements to enhance the storytelling. He also highlighted a major shift from the first iteration of The Super Live in 2018 to the current version.
“In the first version of The Super Live, we initially removed most spoken dialogue, assuming that Japanese wouldn't be widely understood," Matsuda shared about a key difference between the previous tour, which only had two U.S. stops in Washington D.C. and New York City. “For this version, we decided to confidently present it in Japanese. We now believe that audiences worldwide are willing to engage with the language as part of the experience." Part of the reason, he added, is the widespread love of anime, which fans are increasingly viewing in its original language with subtitles.
Riko Tanaka, who plays Sailor Moon, shared her personal connection to the series, recalling how she would rent the series as a child to watch it at home. "I didn’t just want to play Sailor Moon—I wanted to be a Sailor Guardian," she admitted. Now, as an actress bringing Usagi to life, she focuses on the contrast between Usagi’s clumsy charm and Sailor Moon’s unwavering strength. "She’s goofy and lovable as Usagi, but the moment she transforms, she becomes so powerful," Tanaka explained. "That contrast is what makes her so inspiring, and I try to highlight that in my performance." The stage role of Sailor Moon is highly coveted amongst actresses in Japan. Riko Tanaka appeared in costume from the tour, sang a brief a capella version of “Moonlight Densetsu" (the Sailor Moon theme song), and showcased the complicated choreography she had to learn to keep Usagi’s signature pigtails from getting coiled around her arms.
As The Super Live prepares to tour North America, Matsuda expressed excitement about bringing this globally loved production to new audiences. The cast and crew have spent months rehearsing, ensuring a high-energy, visually stunning experience. "We’ve been working tirelessly, refining every movement, every effect, to make sure this show is something truly special," Matsuda shared.
With all-new songs written specifically for the musical and a concert-style finale featuring classic Sailor Moon music, the show is designed to be a one-of-a-kind event for both devoted fans and those discovering the series for the first time. Matsuda also acknowledged the nostalgic revival of anime in the U.S., noting that international fans have embraced Sailor Moon in ways that even surpass its popularity in Japan. "The fact that people around the world still love and rediscover Sailor Moon is incredible," Matsuda said. "This show is our way of bringing that magic directly to fans."
The North American tour of Sailor Moon: The Super Live kicks off soon, making stops in cities across the United States and Canada. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a newcomer, this visually stunning, high-energy stage show is a can’t-miss event that brings the legend of Sailor Moon to life like never before. For tour dates and ticket information, visit SailorMoonSuperLive.com.
Fun Fact: Sailor Moon was first brought to North America in 1995 as an English-language dub of the animated series by DiC. Disney acquired DiC a year later in 1996, and Disney distributed the original VHS release of the series in the United States. Before Disney sold DiC in 2000, they had considered a live-action feature-film adaptation of the story.