Sailor Moonis without a doubt one of the most popular anime in history. The impact this cute but deeply entertaining series has on the industry is one that is still felt today. Naoko Takeuchi’s masterpiece revolutionized the magical girl genre, thanks to its complex story, loveable characters, andahead-of-its-time themes.
The series was such a hit that it managed to rival the popularity of giants likeDragon Ball. As such, it is no surprise to any anime fan that these series have made references to each other over the years. One of these easter eggs, included in episode #25 of theSailor Moonanime, has passed over viewers' radars for decades, and it is time for fans to learn about it.
Sailor Moon’s Enemies Look Oddly Familiar
Keisuke Masunaga Brought Dragon Ball’s Iconic Style to Serena’s Universe
In episode #25 of theSailor Moonanime, Usagi (Serena) and Makoto (Lita) are attacked by a group of bullies, forcing the latter to defend herself. The scene, while not significant to the overarching story of the series, has been constantly brought up by fans for several years, as something about its animation did not fit right with the show. The reason behind it is simple and fascinating, as it involves one ofDragon Ball Z’s animators. Keisuke Masunaga, famous for his work as a key animator in the adaptation of Akira Toriyama’s manga, was brought over to help withSailor Moonepisode #25.
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Due to his experience animating Goku and his friends, which caused him to adapt the series’ iconic art style to his own, the characters Serena fights look as if they had been taken out of theDragon Ball Zanime. When examined closely, their hair, eyes, teeth, and even their movement resemblethe overwhelmingly strong Saiyansfans had grown to love. Moreover, according to the information about the episode’s production, Usagi and Makoto had also been drawn in Masunaga’s style, something that had to be corrected by the director, Hisashi Kagawa.
Masunaga Is an Anime Icon
His Work Is Known by Almost All Fans
The reason why Masunaga had a difficult time adapting to the art style of theSailor Moonanime was due to his extensive time working on theDragon Ballfranchise. While not many fans might know him by name, they have undoubtedly seen his work on their screens. The artist worked for many years as one of Toei Animation’s key animators and directors. It is thanks to him thatmany of the bestDragon Ball Zepisodesand movies have such impressively high quality.
His time working on theSailor Moonanime was extremely short in comparison, as he only aided with the creation of episode #25. Nonetheless, his contributions to the series will be forever remembered, as once fans notice the characteristics of Serena’s bullies, it will be hard not to see Goku and his friends. Matsunaga is an icon of the anime industry, and his work helpedDragon Ballestablish itself as one of the most recognizable and cherished shows worldwide. His character designs have helped bring together two of the most influential anime in history.
