For these past few days I have taken a liking to a recent Japanese LIVE series. Of all the Jdorama out there, this was one of those I least expected to be a fan of.
Sailormoon LIVE.
I’ve followed the series, seen the manga, read a lot of fanfictions, and became a fan of the characters’ lives. The anime series consisted of finding true love, fighting off sexy looking villains, characters’ finding their path to the future and going through life’s phases of trust and betrayal.
I’ve loved the series and will consider it as one of the most, if not, classically famous anime series of all time. It’s a girl series and I remember back in high school when all my projects would always include a part of Sailormoon. It could a character drawing, a plot synopsis, or anything in between related to the series.
I was very intrigued by the LIVE series upon hearing hosts of Japan-a-radio talking about it. I was very surprised hearing the hosts were all male and were avid fans so I quickly logged into YouTube, searched for a trailer, and instantly found the opening music vid. I laughed my head off seeing the cheesy opening especially with their pop act singing along the tune of the opening song. It was okay though, as the opening scene progressed, I was taken aback the time the anime series was still popular and I could take into account the quality of detail they took from the anime. I am just very thankful that the actresses portraying the seishis didn’t have to wear a colored wig all the time. It would be just plain hilarious if it were so. Obviously happy with the opening vid I took the next step and watched the first episode. I give it two-thumbs up! The rest followed. ^^
First and foremost, I’m beginning to understand the fanatism of Japan-A-radio hosts of the LIVE series. Much as the story center on girls, romance, and fighting justice with colored-candy lights and cuteness (may I add pirouette kicks) the LIVE series maintained that Jdorama essence of being reality based and not too anime oriented. The seishis (soldiers) have dark parts in their lives which when taken into account are normal parts of teenage lives. The main character, Usagi, became an instrument of happiness for the lives of the other seishis. She became a friend to an anti-social, smart Amy. She opened doors of friendship to a lonely priestess, Rei. She opened up a scared heart of a tomboy, Makoto and became a friend to a popular but solitary pop singer, Minako. In return, the seishis have given their friendship and loyalty to Usagi especially when they found out Usagi was the princess they have sworn to protect from dark forces.
The LIVE series progresses beautifully and there are twists integrated to give it a separate essence from the anime. The costumes are done beautifully and I believe I have to give credit to the actress for being able to move gracefully while wearing it. For me, the best costumes aren’t with seishis but with the four generals of Endymion. Some of them looked weird with colored wigs but I definitely enjoy their acting. The whole thing of costumes and fighting sequences reminds me a lot of sentai shows back then. Only, this one consisted of girls and doesn’t even include blood or gore to make kids go away. Wait a minute, I believe kids even don’t care about those stuff anymore. Anyways…
I haven’t finished watching the series in YouTube and even if I want to continue watching it I just couldn’t wait seeing the end part of the series. So earlier I watched the last episode (Yes, I’m a spoiler. I fast-forwarded too much. Meep!) and a Special Act situated four years after the end of the series. The Special Act consists of the seishis living their normal lives and turning into women of their chosen paths, which eventually lead to two of them leaving Japan to pursue their dreams. Minako, being the pop icon she is, toured the world to build up her career. Ami pursued her dream to become a doctor and went to America to work under great doctors and is deemed as the youngest doctor to make it in the field. Back in Japan, Rei travelled and lived in a temple within the Kyoto mountain to strengthen her spiritual power. Makoto found passion in flower arrangement and is honoured to make the bouquet to be used in Usagi’s wedding.
Obviously, after obliterating a reborned evil within the Special Act, the episode ended with the wedding with all family and friends reunited for the happy event. The seishis and four generals are present and Usagi is very happy for them to be together after being separated a long time. Usagi’s thought after the bouquet throwing got me. She thought that their friendship (seishis and hers) has changed within the four years. She realized they were now different and life has taken its course. She remembered their happy times in high school, the first time they became friends, their arguments, their trips, etc. As her exact thoughts went…
“It has ended.”
My heart ached. With those words I remembered that part of childhood that will never come back. I’m sure Usagi and I felt the same thing. We both know the friendship will remain but the times together, the things we used to do, the sleepovers, the get-togethers, etc., it will all come to an end. We both have the feeling of wanting to keep the moments together and not have them as memories. We both know it’s unrealistic but it will never stop us to dream. We are both child at heart even if we do go along with the tide called Life.
If I we could put that moment in time within a frame and relive it anytime we want too, we will do just that. It’s a sad course of life but everyone goes along with it.
“It has ended.”
A new part of life will start again. Usagi has realized that especially since she is to start a life with her husband and she and her friends will live their own lives again not as seishis but as women. They will live separate lives but their memories will remain.
Who would have thought that a simple, a bit cheesy, all girly series could remind me so much of Life.
I’m missing my friends, my acquaintances, my family and relatives local and abroad… I hope everyone is living happily.
“It has ended…”
“And another one begins.”
