35 Years of Sailor Moon – Magical Girl Fandom Appreciation
By: Sarah Kujacznski
Sailor Moon was the most prominent memory of watching TV as a child (maybe because I
was born the same year and month it was created!) and I was really excited to be in
attendance at this panel. The creator of Sailor Moon, Naoko Takeuchi, wanted it to be an
example of all the things she loved about being a girl. She created this group of Sailor
Scouts to inspire younger girls about friendship, and this has resonated across the 35 years
of Sailor Moon.
The panel consisted of Jessica Tseang, moderator; Michelle Ruff, the voice of Sailor Luna in
Sailor Moon Crystal; Lauren Landa, the voice of Sailor Neptune in Sailor Moon Crystal;
Carrie Keranen, the voice of Sailor Galaxia, Sailor Moon Cosmos; and Debi Derryberry, the voice
of Dianna of Sailor Moon Crystal. The following is the discussion surrounding this heartfelt
panel.
What is it like to be a part of the Sailor Moon franchise?
Michelle – Grateful to be a part of the fandom. The fandom itself is beautiful and kind, and
she is grateful to be accepted as part of it. The franchise allows positive female friendships
and support while showing that you don’t have to lose your individuality to be part of the
group and succeed.
Carrie – Because she does portray a villain, she said it is nice to be the driving force behind
the Sailor Scouts, allowing them to find their inner strength.
Lauren – Was a dream to be part of the franchise. She has been a part of the fandom since
she was a child, and she was grateful to be able to bring to life a character that brings more
visibility for the LGBTQ community as Sailor Neptune.
Debi – She felt a very large responsibility to do well, and she was honored that they trusted
her to be a part of it. Stepping into an established ID is a lot!
How did you get involved?
Michelle – She got an email invitation to audition and read for all 6 scripts. She didn’t get a
call back but did get fully cast. Pretty much hired her on the spot. Chuckling, she explained
that they loved her voice but didn’t love her audition and knew she would be a good fit for
the part.
Carrie – She read for the Guardians but didn’t get cast; they thought she was better suited
for a villain.
Lauren – Just wanted to be a part of it once she found out it was a possibility; in her
audition, they tried to get her to sound older, but she stood firm because she believed the
character would sound like that, and they did agree with her.
Debi – She had friends and partnered with people at Studiopolis, and they would
sometimes have the group she was part of voice extra things if they needed help, i.e., voices,
extras, and Suzi, a friend who worked there, threw her a bone and told her to meow! Lol!
What was it like stepping into an established ID?
Michelle – The story is not old, but Sailor Moon was ahead of its time and is still relevant
today. It shows everyone has a right to be who they are and nobody else.
Lauren – It’s so relatable, and fans come up to her all the time to tell her that watching Sailor
Moon helped them understand who they are as a person and the story of who they want to
be.
Carrie – What the creator gifted them with, Sailor Moon, is something that every girl needs
and that they will always need. It is all about female friendships, and in tough moments
those female friendships are so important.
Panel as a whole – talked about the importance of showing inclusivity and how Sailor Moon
helped pioneer feminism in Manga, and it is what helped open the doors for shows like
Dragon Ball Z and others in the US.
Who would your character fight in the Dragonball Z universe, and would they
win?
Lauren – Sailor Neptune would crush Krillin.
Michelle – It would be fun to see Luna versus ChiChi.
Carrie – Her character would send in her minions and not have to lift a finger!
What personality do you feel you share with your character?
Michelle – She can be sarcastic but wasn’t really sure what characteristic she shares with.
Luna. The other panelists chimed in and told her she was 100% a guardian!
Lauren – She didn’t know what she shared but wished she was just as creative as her
character.
Carrie – She is very organized and a really good planner.
Who was your female role model?
Michelle – Her mom, because she thinks she is really cool even though she didn’t feel that
way growing up. Now she sees things from a different perspective as an adult.
Lauren – Her mom, because she was powerful and strong.
Carrie – She said she felt bad about not picking her mom now, but she loves her very much!
Lol! But she also looked up to Goldie Hawn, Sally Fields, and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Who would their character be if they were a part of the Disney franchise?
Lauren – Ariel
Carrie – Thanos!
The overall feel of the panel was very positive; the cast is all close in real life, true friends
with each other. It was a very emotional panel that was heartfelt, kind, and positive, just
like Sailor Moon.
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