Materials Collection Notes

The sixth and final Sailor Moon artbook that Naoko Takeuchi published, the "Materials Collection" artbook, contains all of Naoko's original character designs and handwritten notes, which she used when creating the Sailor Moon manga. On this page you will find Naoko's handwritten notes about the Sailor Starlights, as they originally existed in her mind when she first created them. Obviously, these characters were revised and changed a lot before Naoko created the finalized version of the Sailor Moon manga; nevertheless, it is interesting to see Naoko's original, rough versions of the characters.

These notes are written by Naoko Takeuchi's own hand, and are translated by Alex Glover. They come from pages 82-86 of the sixth Sailor Moon manga artbook, the Materials Collection. Any italicized comments are mine. Naoko's original comments, although sometimes bracketed in parenthesis, are kept in normal print. Some of these notes may be out of order, because it's hard to keep them in the same order that they appear as spread out over five different pages of both images and text, and then still make sense in a "list" format. So I stuck a couple of the random, displaced notes - like the rose images, and the theme animals - in a spot that I deemed appropriate. Other than that, I didn't mess with anything.

If you want to see Naoko's original notes in Japanese, laid out with the matching sketches, visit the Manga Image Gallery for fully annotated scans of the actual pages from the Materials Collection.

For more details about the actual fuku itself, and more images, visit the Fuku Study.

  Notes for all three Starlights

The three of them form the idol group "Three Lights" (techno style).

Sailor Starlights: The three soldiers' theme color is navy blue.

School uniform: All three are the same.

Costume notes:

(Brooch.) Wings. Star containing a sailor crystal.

(Hot pants.) Front and back.

(Bra frame.) When you look from the side, the breastplate does not fit neatly over her breasts. It's loose.

High heels with spiked heels.

The costume material is enamel.

  Seiya Kou

Seiya Kou (female), Juuban High, grade 10, class 1, age 16, blood type A. Club: Football.

Born 7/30 (same birthday as Schwarzenegger), Leo.

Red rose image.

Animal image: Doberman.

Sometimes wears a red headband. (Like during sports.)

Unkempt hair.

Trimmed in back.

Hobby: Fighting.

Cool. Not very understandable.

She gives the impression of Mamoru and Haruka added together and broken in two, to make a shounen.

Always mad.

Physical and egotistical.

A worrying super-pessimist.

Silver earrings. (in civilian form)

The model was Jenny Shimizu! (**see below**)

Light blue ribbon. (for her hair)

  Sailor Starfighter

Her keyword is seriousness. Her theme color is navy blue.

The zealous hero type.

(This is a) Belt-type protector.

Attacks:

Death move: Star Serious Laser
Starfighter Kick
Starfighter Punch
Starfighter Uppercut
Starfighter Attack
Others.

  Taiki Kou

Taiki Kou (female), Juuban High, grade 10, class 1, age 16, blood type AB. Club: Literature.

Born 5/30 (same birthday as Dante), Gemini.

Hobby: Poetry reading.

White rose image.

Animal image: Leopard.

Internal egotist. A 200% Takarazuka type.

Anyway, she is cool, with a poker face. Not very understandable.

Her charm points are her long ponytail and long fingers.

She gives the impression of a cool, reticent Setsuna.

Earrings are amethyst.

She often wears black sunglasses. She even wears glasses. (But her eyes are good.)

  Sailor Starmaker

Her keyword is grace. Her theme color is light brown.

(This is a) Heavy metal iron protector.

Attacks:

Death move: Star Gentle Uterus
Starmaker Relaxation (what kind of move could that be?)
Starmaker Strike (a bit ecchi)
Starmaker Music Box.

Purple ribbon. (for her hair)

  Yaten Kou

Yaten Kou (female), Juuban High, grade 10, class 1, age 16, blood type B. Club: Returning home. (Kotetsu's note: Some interpret this as meaning "Homecoming club." But knowing Yaten, it more likely refers to the joke that students who join no after-school clubs belong by default to the "Going home" club, because they go straight home.)

Born 2/8 (same as James Dean), Aquarius.

Yellow rose image.

Animal image: Chameleon.

Super dark-natured, super jerk, super egotist (especially her face). She's a fashion model.

She has never carried anything heavier than chopsticks. Injuring her face or body is the most unpleasant thing for her.

Super delicate, super wily, super nervous, super grudge-holding type.

She has no interest in girls (even though she is a girl).

Boasts a weight of 38 kg.

If she doesn't sleep 13 hours a day, her body doesn't hold up.

Earrings are emerald.

  Sailor Starhealer

Her keyword is delicate. Her theme color is gray.

Attacks:

Death move: Star Sensitive Inferno
Starhealer Beam
Starhealer Tornado
Starhealer Worm

Crystal balls are punched on her belt.

Yellow-green ribbon. (for her hair)

  My Notes, Additional Material

You may be wondering, who the heck is Jenny Shimizu? Jenny Shimizu is a Japanese actress who has acted in a few American films, including Foxfire in 1996. The image of her to the right comes from the cover of the Foxfire DVD. Hmm, she's definitely got that sultry, androgynous look. She also had minor roles in Ding Dong (1995) and The New Women (2001). She made guest appearances in the 1997 season of the television show Ellen. For more information, I recommend The Internet Movie Database or a quick Google Search.

Now, Taiki may be noted to be a "200% Takarazuka type," but what the heck is Takarazuka?!

Takarazuka is the name of a musical revue company that originated in the city of Takarazuka. The actresses are ALL FEMALE, so both male and female roles are always played by females. The following information is shamelessly copied and pasted from Takarazuka City homepage.

The Takarazuka Revue Company was born on the 1st of April, 1915 and since then, with a motto of "pure, right and beautiful," it has been producing splendid stage shows which are loved by many fans. There are about 400 members at present who are divided into four groups, "Flower," "Moon," "Snow" and "Star," and each group appears on the stage in turn. Large staircases full of bright illumination, trapdoors, rotating stage, flower way and apron stage are used to create a big scale stage setting. The Takarazuka members, with luxurious costumes and elaborate lighting, play out beautiful love stories which intoxicate their audience.

It is extremely difficult to get into the Takarazuka music school which belongs to Takarazuka Revue Company. Students have strict training for singing, dancing and drama for two years and when they finish the school, they are entitled to appear on the stage.

The Takarazuka Revue tours all over Japan. Most of their musicals seem to be either fantasies, romantic comedies, or a combination of both. Takarazuka is also famous for romantic dramas and tragedies, made all the more fascinating because women play both the male and female leads.

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