Fans rejoice! Crunchyroll has just announced that they will be simulcasting Sailor Moon Crystal!

Originally announced to be streaming on NicoNico, Sailor Moon Crystal has also been licensed to Crunchyroll! It is slated to start airing online July 5 at 6:00 AM, Pacific Time in the US. Currently, we have no other regions confirmed as having access to the simulcast, though the press release has stated that a list of offical territories will be announced in the future. The classic 90’s Sailor Moon will not be appearing on Crunchyroll. A representative from Crunchyroll confirmed with Emily at Anime North that Viz Media and Hulu currently have an exclusive agreement in regards to the streaming rights of the old show.

 
For those new to Crunchyroll, you need an account to watch the videos on their site. Free accounts receive ads during the stream, usually at the start, middle, and end of each episode. New simulcasts have a one week delay from their air date before becoming open to free users. Paid members get instant access, and higher quality, no ad streams. An anime streaming membership costs $6.95 per month with a free two week trial.

Barbara Radecki (Sailor Neptune and Serena’s Mom) will be appearing at Unplugged Expo this September. This is the third year for the convention and it will be moving to a bigger venue, the Chestnut Conference Centre in downtown Toronto, near St. Patrick and Dundas subway stations.

Last year, Unplugged Expo had a number of Sailor Moon related guests. We will keep you posted of additional Sailor Moon related guest announcements.

Edit: Added Barabara’s other voice credit in Sailor Moon

By now you have probably read our announcement post about VIZ acquiring Sailor Moon. And we also recommend reading the interview with Charlene Ingram and Josh Lopez on Anime News Network.

We now have more details from the official press release (which will be public on Monday) and the tweets from the official VIZ Media Twitter feed.

(image from VIZ Media)

From VIZ Media PR:

• VIZ has acquired licensing for all 200 episodes, the 3 movies, and additional specials
• VIZ Media’s North American rights cover digital streaming, EST (Electronic Sell Through) and all home media products in the U.S. and Canada. Tokyo-based Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is the producer and global licensor for the SAILOR MOON anime property.
• The series will be rated TV-PG
• All new and accurate English subtitles
• Subtitled Electronic Sell Through sets will be available starting in late June 2014 (beginning with season 1, part 1) and dubbed editions will be available in late 2014, day and date with the DVD/Blu-ray combo pack release
• DVD and deluxe, limited edition Blu-ray/DVD combo packs are planned for fall 2014 in 1/2 season sets
• Created from the Japanese remaster, and for the first time ever available on Blu-ray!
• The release will be uncut, uncensored, and in the original 4:3 aspect ratio
• All original Japanese names, story elements, and relationships will be intact
• New English dub will feature a new voice cast
• Monday, May 19th, VIZ Media will premier episodes 1-4 subtitled on NeonAlley.com for free as well as in high definition on the paid HuluPlus service
• 2 new episodes will premiere every Monday, which VIZ is calling “Moon days”
• Dub streaming coming soon
• VIZ Media has also acquired Sailor Moon Crystal, with more details forthcoming
• More details will be announced at AnimeExpo, July 3rd-6th at the Los angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. VIZ Media will host a variety of special activities and panels on “Sailor Moon Day” – Saturday, July 5th.

Quotes from the press release:

“We’re pleased to partner with VIZ Media to bring the beloved SAILOR MOON anime series back to North America,” says Masayuki Endo, General Manager, Toei Animation, Inc. “This fresh uncut and uncensored release of SAILOR MOON  featuring the most accurate adaptation available will be just as creator Naoko Takeuchi intended. We look forward to fans current and new discovering and falling in love with this classic series all over again!”

“SAILOR MOON is one of the extremely rare breed of anime series truly deserving of the title of ‘Legendary’,” says Charlene Ingram, VIZ Media Senior Manager, Animation Marketing. “Since its initial debut in the mid-1990’s, SAILOR MOON has been unavailable to English-speaking fans for nearly a decade. It has also never seen a complete and proper unedited release in North America…until now!”

“SAILOR MOON was groundbreaking in the way its storyline and main characters resonated with both a male and female audience, and these aspects continue to attract a new generation of fans eager to see this iconic series,” says Brian Ige, VIZ Media Vice President of Animation. “We’re thrilled to be able to release this empowering action title uncut and in its entirety. We invite fans to catch the official premieres on Neon Alley and to enjoy the series on DVD and Blu-ray later this year!”

From the interview on ANN, there is a hint that we might see some old cast members return. No names at this time as the cast announcement will be at AnimeExpo. We have no idea if it is only one former cast member at this time or multiple. However, we can speculate that former English language cast members who are eligible to work in the US are likely to have a greater chance of being considered.

They also included a preview image of the Blu-ray quality:

(image from Anime News Network)

As we mentioned previously, VIZ Media has confirmed that Naoko Takeuchi has final approval of the cast:

#sailormoon deets: This Sailor Moon release will have a new English dub cast blessed by the creator herself.

— VIZ Media (@VIZMedia) May 17, 2014

No television broadcasts have been announced yet, but VIZ Media is interested in talking to YTV about it:

@andrepaploo @fireaxe428 @IMissBionix @MichaelToole we’re always up for a conversation @ytv give us a call sometime
— VIZ Media (@VIZMedia) May 17, 2014

@OcassionalVlog we’re actually hoping that our sempai @ytv might give us a call about broadcast

— VIZ Media (@VIZMedia) May 17, 2014

We want to support Sailor Moon getting a television broadcast, particularly in Canada as NeonAlley and Hulu are currently blocked in Canada. We also have a soft sport for YTV as they were the first network to air Sailor Moon in Canada.

Let’s make this trend! Canadians want to see #SailorMoon back on @YTV @VIZMedia

— Moon Chase (@moonchaseblog) May 17, 2014

Fans can also use the hashtag #SailorMoononYTV to show support! @YTV @VIZMedia

— Moon Chase (@moonchaseblog) May 17, 2014

Of course, we would also like to see a US television broadcast of Sailor Moon too (hello, Cartoon Network?)

This is an exciting time to be a Sailor Moon fan! We will keep you posted with more details as they are released.

Exciting news for Sailor Moon fans in North America. Viz has secured licensing for Sailor Moon – the original anime and Sailor Moon Crystal:

Now announcing…. We officially have the license to #sailormoon

— VIZ Media (@VIZMedia) May 16, 2014

And… we also have #SailorMoonCrystal #micdrop #winning — VIZ Media (@VIZMedia) May 16, 2014

Starting May 19th, fans can start watching the original Sailor Moon anime on Neon Alley and Hulu. New episodes will be aired every Monday. Canadian fans – Viz is working on a streaming option for Canada as well.

Launch trailer below:

Details are limited at the moment, but here’s what we know so far.

Viz will stream all 200 episodes and 3 movies uncut:

#SailorMoon deets: We’ve acquired all 200 episodes and 3 movies.

— VIZ Media (@VIZMedia) May 17, 2014

#sailormoon deets, Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune will NO LONGER BE COUSINS! Can I get an RT?!

— VIZ Media (@VIZMedia) May 16, 2014

#sailormoon deets: no more Serena and Darien, meet Usagi and Mamoru

— VIZ Media (@VIZMedia) May 16, 2014

There will be a Blu-ray release – for the first time ever (in addition to DVD and digital releases):

Available subtitled and with a new English language dub:

#sailormoon deets: This Sailor Moon release will have a new English dub cast blessed by the creator herself.

— VIZ Media (@VIZMedia) May 17, 2014

They may also be considering televised airings:

@andrepaploo @fireaxe428 @IMissBionix @MichaelToole we’re always up for a conversation @ytv give us a call sometime

— VIZ Media (@VIZMedia) May 17, 2014

(YTV was the first TV network in North America to air Sailor Moon the first time!)

You can also check out the official Sailor Moon launch site here.

Edit: added more details about the release

Hi Moonies, Sailordees here! I just want to let you know I have spotted what I think (?) is a new Sailor Moon seatbelt belt design from Buckle Down. I spotted it at my local 2nd and Charles and did not see it at Hot Topic or Spencer’s. I have no idea where this can be found online and if any fans spot it elsewhere, please let us know! I am actually a fan of this design – when I was younger I really liked the neon cityscape that was used in the first opening of the series and I’m glad it has returned! I snapped a couple photos of the belt’s design up close so you can all see.

On another note, I know we are behind but I am hoping to get things sorted out this Summer with some more staff. I am aware that there has been a lot happening in the last year, with new merchandise coming out in Japan as well as on this side (what do you all think of the Premium Bandai clothing? Would you like to see more “couture” Sailor Moon things on this side of the ocean? What do you think about all the Hot Topic T-shirts with singular characters that were released lately?), and finally the new series is going to make its debut this Summer. Thank you all for your patience – graduate school, travels, and a bazillion other things have left me with little time for much else. I want to also thank Emily and Moon-Cookie for having held up the fort amazingly well in my absence :).