Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Bridging the Gap
Throughout Sailor Moon's history, each format existed almost completely withstanding from another, with a few small exceptions such as the case of La Soldier's appearance in Sailor Moon R episode 88. In these instances, including the La Soldier example, the cross-exposure probably existed for the sole reason of promoting both formats in hopes to boost sales. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon went beyond any previous connections made between the incarnations, and made several separate and very strong links to both the Sailor Moon musicals and the manga.
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon made an appeal to Sailor Moon musical fans in the form of the Kirari Super Live show. Although the show was primarily just a concert with very few spoken lines, it was performed in the spirit of the Sailor Moon musicals. It combined very simple visual effects and minimalist backgrounds, just as in the musicals.
The audience for this show was primarily very young children, so there were quite a few parts in which the actors waved, spoke to, or otherwise interacted with the audience members. In the later musicals, this was very common as well, as they were often started with a greeting directed toward the audience, led by the actress playing Moon. One scene with the Shitennou stood out in the show, where the actors were actually in the audience and speaking to the children. This has been done before in many of the musical productions, and similarly happened most frequently with the villain characters.
Several similar lighting and curtain-related techniques were used, as well as theatrical devices to illustrate magical attacks performed by the characters. Like in the musicals, they were very simple but effective in their purpose.
One more major similarity is the final song performed in the musical was a repeat of one previously sung, in this case Kirari Sailor Dream, which essentially acted as the equivalent of a Sailor Moon musical's theme song. During this final scene the entire cast, including the villains, assembled on stage and danced together. This is a constant in the Sailor Moon musicals, most typically seen during the curtain call, where the actors perform the same choreography.
Another connection between PGSM and Seramyu was the Super Dance Lesson DVD, on which the PGSM actresses performed and taught some of the dance routines included in the Super Live show.
Music had a strong presence within Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, with Minako Aino being a leading idol in the series, and Rei Hino later assuming the role of Mars Reiko, Minako's rival. C'est La Vie, Minako's hit song, is played many times throughout the series. Minako is often seen performing that song as well as her newer song, Romance. Mars Reiko also performs Sakura Fubuki in the show. Although these songs' frequent appearances in the show were most likely a device to help push sales of the series' CD releases, the possibility of these songs perhaps being a nod to the Sailor Moon musicals does not seem too unlikely, given that they were performed in the show.
Another notable connection between the musicals and PGSM existed in Chieko Kawabe, who was cast as Naru Oosaka in PGSM. Chieko had actually played as Sailor Mercury in the musicals, beginning with 2000's Fan Kansha Event, and continuing until 2002's Spring Special Musical the 10th Anniversary Festival.
The overlap between manga and Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon occurred in the revised version of the Sailor Moon manga. The title of the series was changed to reflect that of the tokusatsu TV show, and the publicity and marketing of this new release also acted as a vehicle to bring more exposure to the show. In fact, just as the original editions of the manga included advertisements for the Sailor Moon musicals, the new release included those for PGSM.
The Codename wa Sailor V manga was also revised and re-released during Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon's run. The character of Sailor V was crucial to the plot of the TV show, and had a much stronger presence than in the Sailor Moon anime, perhaps also a connection.
Although the connection between these formats is weak, it is there. Bridging the gap between the Sailor Moon stories perhaps only existed as a last-ditch effort to drive sales in this nearly final version of the story, but it gave us some lovely songs, a beautiful new version of the manga, and an entertaining stage show.