Bishoujo
Senshi SailorMoon ~ Shin / Henshin . SuperSenshi he no
Michi . Last Dorakuru Jyokoku
Review by: Diana Kou (Michiru
Kaioh)
Whats this?
Sailor Moon again?...
Don't fret,
Anime-goers. This Chapter of SailorMoon History is one to
be reckoned with. The 8th installment of the SailorMoon
Musicals has passed and gone. Just how great this Musical
was is another story...
The musical
started on January 2nd, 2000, and ran till the 17th of
the same month, at a rate of nearly two shows per day.
New cast members joined the stage for the commemorative
500th Performance Staging of SeraMyu [Seera Muun
Myuujikaru / Sailor Moon Musical], as the "Senior"
performers cheered them on for this special event.
"Last
Dracule's Overture" was the title this season, and
to much delight, it was an overwhelming success. Fans
recovered over the loss of Fumina Hara, the previous
actress of Usagi Tsukino / SailorMoon; Hara left due to
her longing to be successful on her college entrance
exams. All was well in the end. Hara passed her exams,
and the Musical went fine, led by the third SailorMoon
actress, Miyuki Kanbe. Kanbe, being only of 15 years of
age, did much of what was expected of her, and much more.
Two new performers followed suit of Kanbe, being Hidemasa
Edo as Mamoru Chiba/Takishiido Kamen and Teruyo Watanabe
as Setsuna Meioh/SailorPluto. The normal set of baddies
were almost completely new, besides the returning of
Seniors Yuta Mochizuki, Ryuji Kasahara, Ado Endo and Miki
Kawasaki. All and all, the cast performed great as a
whole.
The album
consists of 19 tracks. For a long-time SeraMyu fan, these tracks wouldn't be a new
surprise - - In actuality, this Musical is a "New
Version" of the 1993/94 Musicals, "Sailor Moon
S - Usagi, Ai no Senshi e no Michi / Henshin Super Senshi
no e Michi", so most of the tracks are 'recycled',
if you will. [Mainly half, if not more than that, are
revised versions]. This isn't a 'new thing' to SeraMyu,
but these particular versions really shine. Many say that
Kanbe's cute and high voice really suits the role of
Usagi this time, mainly because the previous actresses
did not quite grasp the "Anime" feel of the
character. I can honestly say that I am pleased with
Kanbe's album performance, however, her performance from
the Last Dorakuru Koushiki Guide Video wasn't as pleasant..
All that is left to critique is the actual musical
itself, which is to be released on the 25th of April.
SONG
REVIEWS:
Overture
An instrumental track, usually accompanied by some sort
of on-screen prologue. Nice - - A mixture of different
SeraMyu bg themes.
>revised<
An Evil
Dream [M. Kanbe]
Usagi's "Nightmare Song". Kanbe's first solo
song ever. Nice tempo, beat, rhythm. Kanbe is quite good
on emphasizing the Usagi's frightened feeling in this
song.
>original<
Wake Up!
Usagi! [M. Kanbe, H. Akamine, E. Kanda, E. Kuriyama, N.
Inada...etc.]
Definitely a cute and catchy song. The Girls join Usagi
in this song, and the end product is a song you just
can't help but sing along with! Kanbe's "Oh - ho!!"
is the cutest thing I've ever heard.
>original<
Mata
Mata ChibiUsa-desu [A. Gunzi]
Probably the best version, performed by the best ChibiUsa
actress ever. Ayano Gunzi yet AGAIN pulls off a majorly
cute song, yet not as annoying as the previous actresses
did. How so I loathe her leaving SeraMyu! [Note - Ayano-chan
quotes, "When I'm 15, I want to return to SeraMyu as
SailorMoon!". I doubt she'll have trouble pulling
that off!]
>revision<
Muma no
Odori [K. Ono, chorus]
This song is probably one of the most revised songs in
SeraMyu History. Kazuko Ono's voice makes this particular
version more dark and deep - - I like it! This version,
as well as Queen Beryl's [Yuri Nishina], shine most from
the many.
>revision<
Gondara
no Koibito-tachi [M. Kanbe, H. Edo]
A nice duet with Usagi and Mamoru. This is the
presentation comparison - - Any fan that heavily
evaluates the singer's style would agree that Kanbe and
Edo are practically mimicking the style of Anza Oyama [Moon
93-98] and Yuta Mochizuki [Kamen 93-98]. Not in a bad
way, but I would have liked to hear a bit more variation
this time. A good song, nonetheless.
>revision<
Kubisude
wo Sashidase [K. Ono]
"...Bloody... Spirit...Bloody... Spirit.."- -
This song is definitely cool! Yet again, Ono deserves
another "evil" award! Her singing style is very
much of English/American-Musical nature, yet in a sultry
Japanese Villain way. This is where DeathRamia's plans
are coming to order...
>original<
Choubi!
Uranus to Neptune [N. Takagi, Y. Asami]
What can I say? Anyone who knows me, knows that I simply
ADORE Nao Takagi! Even much so, due to her irreplaceable
role as my beautiful Haruka Tenoh/SailorUranus! This
particular version is probably tied in comparison to the
original, performed by Sanae Kimura [Uranus] and Kaoru
Sakamoto [Neptune]. Takagi's singing is great, but I
expected a little more of Yuhka Asami.
>revision<
Dream
Yume ha Ougiki [H. Akamine, E. Kanda, E. Kuriyama, N.
Inada]
This is a great song. Much ado about variety! This song
has different climax points - - a different tempo for
each of the Inner Senshi, and their talks of aspirations
in life. I totally prefer this version over the original,
seeing as the singers are so much more lively and
believable... not to mention kawaii! ^^;
>revision<
Tabidachi
[M. Kanbe, H. Akamine]
One word. Emotional! This song is so touching; it could
make one cry! This is the song of Ami-chan leaving the
Girls to pursue her dream represented in a soft ballad. I
prefer this version to the original, because Kanbe's
voice seems to flow more than that of Anza Oyama, who had
a particularly raspy [but awesome!] voice at times.
Akamine's presentation is quite hard to compare to that
of Ayako Morino [Mercury 93-98], because, well.. they're
both just too great!
>revision<
Homunkurusu
Tanjiyou Zenya [K. Ono, R. Kasahara]
Hm.. Another 'baddie' song. Surprisingly better than most
short-baddie-songs, Ryuji Kasahara continues to straddle
the "high" to "low" pitched toned
voice he so often uses. I can honestly say that I do not
favor Kasahara very much, but his voice has gotten even
better this year. Nevertheless, this song is quite catchy
and Ono makes up for the lack of energy in this song.
>original<
Tuxedo
Mission [H. Edo, chorus]
Ah..for sooth. A Takishiido Kamen song! This song, as
many of the originals, has been revised to its death.
This version sounds VERY close to the original, much
because of the reason I mentioned before [i.e Hidemasa
& Yuta's singing comparison]. Nothing new here, folks..
Just another Kamen song. Short and sweet, much like his
speeches. I personally favor the '98 Version by Yuta
Enomoto & Yuta Mochizuki.
>revision<
Dorakuru
Hakushiiku no Kodoku [Y. Mochizuki]
Ah-ah. As usual, the Senior Actor Yuta Mochizuki receives
swoons from his more matured of fans because of this
song, in the name of his vampire character. Mochizuki's
voice seems much smoother these days, and blends well
with the elements of the bg. I love it, but it's too
short! ;.;
>original<
To a
Brand New World [M. Mita]
Saturn's Character Image song of the Musicals. No words
could totally fulfill my feelings on this song, because
it's just so awesome! The bg music, the effects, and
Saturn's mellow voice produce one heck of a song. Mita
performs very well, and I could consider her version the
best of the three much because she resembles the voice
tone of Hotaru/Saturn from the Anime the best.
Unfortunately as Ayano Gunzji, Mao Mita has also left the
stage.
>revision<
Tuxedo
Royal [H. Edo]
Another Kamen revision. Short, simple, the same. Not much
I can say about this song. ^,^;
FIRE [SailorSenshi-tachi]
One word. AWESOME! This has got to be one of the best
SeraMyu Theme songs, ranking high with "La Moon",
"La Soldier", and so on, so forth. An up-beat
battle song, almost techno like, adds spice to what
seemed to be a dark and mysterious storyline. Kanbe's
voice suits this particular track very well, and I'm sure
any SailorMoon, or Anime fan, would enjoy this song just
the same.
>revision<
La Muuru
Da Muuru Moonlight [SailorSenshi-tachi]
One thing that I could say I liked best about this
Musical Album is the fact that they put four of the most
outstanding tracks in a row! "La Muuru..." is a
great song, and I enjoy this version very much, although
it doesn't differ much from the original.
>revision<
Solar
Miracle Make Up [SailorSenshi-tachi]
Probably one of my most favorable songs ever, "Solar
Miracle Make Up!" is revised for what seems to be
the forth time. No matter how many revisions, this song
will never truly get 'old'. The only change this time is
that EternalMoon does not get a solo in the first line of
the song, like the third version. I wish it did however,
because the song just seems so much more complete that
way.
>revision<
La
Soldier [SailorSenshi-tachi]
Of course, the album could not be complete without the
fan's favorite track! Always an encore performance,
"La Soldier" continues to shine in the hearts
of SeraMyu fans. One funny thing about this song occurred
on this particular album, which has never happened before
- - It was printed as it would be spelled in katakana,
which is "La Sourujiyaa" or rather, "La
Souldier". Oops!
>revision<
Can we say,
"Long Review"? Hehe.. but of course. My advice
in purchasing this album sways on the "yes"
side, because it's great to hear how the newer casts sing
in comparison to the old. If contemplating on buying the
2000 or 1993 version, I would vouche for the 2000. As a
whole, I would give this album a rating grade of an
"A", due to its wonderful content, beautiful
exterior and booklet, not to mention that ... well.. Nao
Takagi is on it! Just kidding.. somewhat... ^,^()
Scans of this
album booklet are available on my SeraMyu Second Stage
Shrine, located at http://seramyu.tripod.com/ in the "CD Shrine
Gallery" section located on the frame panel. More
information on this 2000 Musical are also available on my
page as well. Dai-chan, signing off!
|
Review Info
File |
 |
Title:
Memorial
Album of The Musical 8: Pretty
Soldier SailorMoon: Bishoujo
Senshi SailorMoon ~ Shin /
Henshin . SuperSenshi he no Michi
. Last Dorakuru Jyokoku [Pretty
Soldier SailorMoon ~ New /
Transform . Road to the
SuperSenshi . Last Dracule's
Overture] |
Format:
Compact
Disc (CD-DA) |
Production:
Nippon Columbia Co., LTD.
|
Rating:
A |
Comments:
Released
on January 1st, 2000.
Goes out of Print on December 31st,
2002.
Sold for an equivalent ¥3,000. |
|
|
|