Sailor Moon is renowned for being a pioneer of the magical girl anime genre, featuring iconic transformation sequences, a memorable theme song, and showcasing the power of love and friendship. Usagi Tsukino, better known as Sailor Moon, and Mamoru Chiba, known as Tuxedo Mask, form the central romantic pairing in the series.
Despite being iconic, the romance between Usagi and Mamoru has been a source of criticism for many years. Much of the criticism focuses on aspects such as the slow development of their romance, the age difference between Usagi and Mamoru, and the recurring theme of Mamoru being brainwashed or manipulated.
At the beginning of the
Sailor Moon
series, Usagi is a 14-year-old junior high school student, while Mamoru is a 17-year-old college student. Mamoru perceives Usagi as immature due to the differences in their life stages. Mamoru’s perception of Usagi as immature can be rooted in the distinctions between their different stages of life.While the age difference itself might not be considered that big, the contrast in their experiences and responsibilities at these formative stages of life creates a noticeable divide. Some fans have expressed discomfort with this age-related distinction, as it can contribute to a power dynamic. As the series progresses, both characters undergo growth, and the nuanced exploration of their relationship allows for a more balanced and supportive dynamic to emerge. However, the initial age-related tension remains a point of contention among some fans.
Usagi Thinks Mamoru is Rude
Mamoru’s personality is characterized by aloofness and nonchalance, which at times can come across as rudeness. In an episode addressing Usagi’s body image issues, Mamoru’s comments about her eating habits, such as telling her she’s “eating like a pig” while holding a bag of pork buns, can be seen as insensitive. The use of the nickname
“meatball head” is a recurring playful insult
directed at Usagi, referring to her distinctive hairstyle that looks like two round buns.While his teasing is not always malicious in nature, and the nickname becomes a term of endearment over time, it initially contributes to a dynamic where Usagi feels hurt by his words. Mamoru’s teasing and jokes at Usagi’s expense, while lighthearted in nature, can be seen as him using a certain level of condescension.
Trying to Make Usagi a “Damsel in Distress”
Early in the series, Sailor Moon is often saved by Tuxedo Mask. This “saving” has become a meme in the anime community, as Tuxedo Mask’s assistance does not often involve him actually fighting but rather throwing a rose to distract the villains before leaving. While Sailor Moon engages in much of the fighting, there has been criticism surrounding the notion that this plays into the antiquated “damsel in distress” trope, in which a female character is depicted as needing rescue or protection from a male character.As the series progresses, it is acknowledged that the Sailor Guardians, including Sailor Moon, undergo significant growth and empowerment. The initial dynamics, including
Tuxedo Mask’s distinctive role,
are seen as reflective of the time when the series was created and the genre conventions prevalent in magical girl anime during that period. The criticism surrounding the “damsel in distress” trope in Sailor Moon highlights a broader discussion about gender roles in storytelling and the evolution of female character representation in anime.
Mamoru Can’t Stop Getting Brainwashed
Mamoru gets brainwashed or manipulated a lot throughout the series. The constant threat of Mamoru being brainwashed definitely impacted the dynamics of his relationship with Usagi. In the Dark Kingdom arc, Queen Beryl brainwashes Mamoru, turning him into her loyal servant, Endymion. During the Black Moon Clan arc, Mamoru is once again targeted, which leads to him turning against Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians.
Death Phantom, the ultimate antagonist of the Black Moon Clan arc, manipulates
Mamoru in the future,
which leads to him becoming Black Lady. Mamoru is manipulated by Wiseman, and he transforms into Prince Demande. In the SuperS arc, the Dead Moon Circus targets Mamoru. While not explicitly brainwashed, he falls under the influence of the Amazon Trio, who serve the Dead Moon Circus. All of these result in him fighting or coming into conflict with Sailor Moon and often the Sailor Scouts.
Lack of Chemistry and Communication
One of the biggest criticisms about
the relationship between Usagi and Mamoru
is that there is a clear lack of communication and chemistry between the two. While many relationships are never fully fleshed out, the ones that seem to develop at an extremely slow pace. Because Sailor Moon is episodic in nature, many episodes often are about standalone adventures and battles against different villains. This format, while contributing to the series’ charm, doesn’t always allow for extensive character development or relationship building. Additionally, the series places significant emphasis on the friendship and relationships among the Sailor Senshi. While this teamwork is central to the show’s themes, it makes it harder to make episodes just focused on personal interactions between Usagi and Mamoru.
Story Arcs and External Challenges
Story arcs often revolve around the introduction of new villains and conflicts, requiring attention to
developing and resolving these plotlines.
This focus on external challenges can overshadow the portrayal of character relationships, including the central romance. Fragmented Interactions: The episodic structure contributes to less frequent and more fragmented interactions between Usagi and Mamoru. With the need to balance standalone adventures and overarching story arcs, the continuous development of their romantic relationship can be affected.
While Usagi Tsukino and Mamoru Chiba do end up being together, culminating with the defeat of the final antagonist, Sailor Galaxia, and the restoration of peace, their reunion symbolizes a happily ever after for the central romantic couple of the series. Usagi and Mamoru’s love contributes to the ultimate victory of the Sailor Guardians, emphasizing the enduring power of love, friendship, and the indomitable spirit that enables them to overcome the challenges they face throughout the series. However, despite the restored peace, there are lingering issues in the relationship between Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask.
Sailor Moon
is available for streaming on
Prime Video.
