Sailor Moon in Germany
Sailor Moon in Germany refers to the German versions of the Sailor Moon anime and the Sailor Moon manga.
Contents
Anime
The anime first aired in 1996 on ZDF. The full German title was Sailor Moon - Das Mädchen mit den Zauberkräften (Sailor Moon - The Girl with Magic Powers). The network showed one episode a week every Saturday. There was some censorship in a few episodes, but generally the German dub stayed close to the original Japanese version. Sailor Moon enjoyed some success on ZDF, but it was not until it moved to RTL II in May 1997 that the show really became popular in Germany. On RTL II it became part of an afternoon-long kids' program called Vampy, and was given a prime-time slot. ZDF's dub only included the first season, but RTL II decided to also dub Sailor Moon R, and later the rest of the series. Most, but not all, voice actors from the ZDF dub were brought back by RTL II to reprise their roles. The German dub has also been shown in Lithuania, with Lithuanian subtitles (a double audio dub similar to that of the Russian dub).
Sailor Moon on RTL II
Having already established a name for itself through ZDF's showing, Sailor Moon soon became a national hit, with viewership of over 10% of the German population during its popularity peak. RTL II chose to air all of the Sailor Moon episodes, except for episode 89, as it was merely a recap of previous episodes. RTL II also dubbed all the movies and aired them as "special episodes," although the actual specials were not dubbed.
In 2000, Sailor Moon finished after a successful three years on RTL II. It had no further re-runs there and RTL II apparently let the license expire, suggesting that it will not air on that network again. After RTL II Sailor Moon moved to Fox Kids (Germany/Austria).
Censorship and Changes
The German dub closely followed the original Japanese version; there was minimal censorship done by RTL II, and the dialogue closely followed the original, occasionally word-for-word. The description the two gave of their relationship was translated word for word ("She is very special to me"), although some other minor lines of dialogue were changed.
Unlike most other dubs, the German dub did not attempt to change the names of the characters, apart from Usagi who became "Bunny" in order to work in the pun of her name. In some episodes, however, she was still called Usagi; it was not clear if this was intended and her name was actually Usagi (making "Bunny" a nickname), or if it was just an error in the dubbing script.
Some changes were made, however, and these included:
- Michiru and Haruka's relationship was toned down.
- In the earlier episodes some of the Japanese elements were downplayed; for example, Bunny claimed that she was eating doughnuts (not odango).
- Instead of translating "odango atama" literally, Mamoru initially made fun of Bunny's "weiche Birne" ("weich" means "soft," and "Birne" translates as "pear" or as slang for "head").
- The word "kill" was often dubbed as "sleep" or "enchant" ("Rei, don't fall asleep" instead of "Rei, you can't die" or Rubeus shouting "Sleep, Sailor Moon!" instead of "Die, Sailor Moon!"). Instead of dying, it was said that the Talisman owners would "never be their old selves again" if they lost their Pure Heart Crystals.
- How Chibiusa got her name was never explained; everyone just started using that name in episode 61.
- Scenes where Sailor Moon was screaming in pain were shortened by ZDF for the first airing of episode 46.
The first Japanese opening video - with some changes at the beginning - was used from the first season onwards, and was not changed until one re-run of the S season. The opening theme songs were changed a few times, even after the whole series had been dubbed, so the German episodes can be found in different versions with different theme songs. The first three were original German songs, called "Sag das Zauberwort," "Kämpfe Sailor Moon," and "Macht des Mondes"; the latter two were performed by the Super Moonies. The fourth and last theme song was called "Flieg durch die Wolken."
The dub's constant ending song was a short, slow-tempo version of "Sag das Zauberwort," played with an excerpt from the first Japanese ending animation.
Most of the songs featured within the episodes were played without vocal tracks, but "Ai no Senshi," "Anata no Sei Janai," "Watashi-tachi ni Naritakute," "Onaji Namida wo Wakeatte," "Eien no Melody," "Nagareboshi He," "Route Venus," "Moon Revenge," and the "Sailor Star Song" in episode 200 only were dubbed with German vocals. All of these songs were sung by Mara Winzer, who was also the voice actress for Luna from Sailor Moon R and onwards.
Transformations and Attacks
Sailor Moon
Original | German | Translation |
---|---|---|
Moon Prism Power, Make Up | Macht der Mondnebel, Macht auf! | Moon nebula power, power on! |
Moon Power [disguise] ni nare | Macht des Mondes, verwandle mich in [disguise]! | Moon power, change me into a [disguise]! |
Moon Crystal Power, Make Up | Macht des Mondkristalls, Macht auf! | Moon crystal power, power on! |
Moon Cosmic Power, Make Up | Macht der Mondherzen, Macht auf! | Moon hearts' power, power on! |
Crisis, Make Up | Macht des Grals, Macht auf! | Power of the grail, power on! |
Moon Crisis, Make Up | Macht der Mondherzen, Macht auf! | Moon hearts' power, power on! |
Moon Eternal, Make Up | Macht des Mondlichts, Macht auf! | Moonlight power, power on! |
Moon Tiara Action | Mondstein, flieg und sieg! Stirnreif, flieg und sieg! (once) |
Moonstone, fly and conquer! Tiara, fly and conquer! |
Moon Tiara Stardust | Mondstein! Sternennebel! | Moonstone! Star nebula! |
Moon Healing Escalation | Macht des Mondes, verwandle ihn/sie zurück! | Moon power, change him/her/them back! |
Moon Princess Halation | Macht des Mondes, verwandle ihn zurück! Macht des Mondes, vernichte ihn! (once, against Rubeus) Macht des Mondes, öffne die Höhle! (once, in ep 67) |
Moon power, change it back! Moon Power, destroy him! Moon Power, open the cave! |
Moon Spiral Heart Attack Moon Gorgeous Meditation |
Macht der Liebe, flieg und sieg! | Love power, fly and conquer! |
Rainbow Moon Heart Ache | Mächte aller Zeiten, lass die Liebe sich verbreiten! | Powers of all times, let love spread itself! |
Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss | Macht des Lichtes, flieg und heile! | Light power, fly and heal! |
Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss | Licht des Silbermondes, schein und heile! | Silver moon light, shine and heal! |
Sailor Mercury
Original | German | Translation |
---|---|---|
Mercury Power, Make Up Mercury Star Power, Make Up Mercury Crystal Power, Make Up |
Macht der Merkurnebel, Macht auf! | Mercury nebula power, power on! |
Sabão Spray Sabão Spray Freezing Double Sabão Spray Freezing |
Seifenblasen, fliegt! Seifenblasen, fliegt und friert! |
Soap bubbles, fly! Soap bubbles, fly and freeze! |
Shine Aqua Illusion | Wasserstrahl, flieg! | Water ray, fly! |
Mercury Aqua Rhapsody | Merkur! Macht des Wassers, sieg! | Mercury! Water power, conquer! |
Sailor Mars
Original | German | Translation |
---|---|---|
Mars Power, Make Up Mars Star Power, Make Up Mars Crystal Power, Make Up |
Macht der Marsnebel, Macht auf! | Mars nebula power, power on! |
Akuryo Taisan | Ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, ku, juu! Böser Geist, weiche! | One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten! Evil ghost, go away! |
Fire Soul Fire Soul Bird |
Feuerball, flieg! Feuerstrahl, flieg! |
Fireball, fly! Fire ray, flieg! |
Burning Mandala | Feuerringe, fliegt und siegt! | Fire rings, fly and conquer! |
Mars Flame Sniper | Mars! Macht des Feuers, sieg! | Mars! Fire power, conquer! |
Sailor Jupiter
Original | German | Translation |
---|---|---|
Jupiter Power, Make Up Jupiter Star Power, Make Up Jupiter Crystal Power, Make Up |
Macht der Jupiternebel, Macht auf! | Jupiter nebula power, power on! |
Supreme Thunder Supreme Thunder Dragon |
Donnerschlag, flieg! | Thunder strike, fly! |
Sparkling Wide Pressure | Donnerschlag, flieg and conquer! | Thunder strike, fly and conquer! |
Super Supreme Thunder | Blitz- und Donnerschlag, flieg! | Lightning and thunder strike, fly! |
Jupiter Oak Evolution | Jupiter! Macht des Donners, sieg! | Jupiter! Thunder power, conquer! |
Sailor Venus
Original | German | Translation |
---|---|---|
Venus Power, Make Up Venus Star Power, Make Up Venus Crystal Power, Make Up |
Macht der Venusnebel, Macht auf! | Venus nebula power, power on! |
Crescent Beam Crescent Beam Shower |
Halbmondstrahl, flieg! | Half-moon ray, fly! |
Venus Love-Me Chain Hissatsu Love-Me Moon Chain Furious Random Crescent Beam Shots |
Feuerherzen, fliegt! | Fire hearts, fly! |
Venus Love and Beauty Shock | Venus! Macht der Herzen, sieg! | Venus! Hearts' power, conquer! |
Sailor Chibi Moon
Original | German | Translation |
---|---|---|
Moon Prism Power, Make Up | Macht der Mondherzen, Macht auf! | Moon hearts' power, power on! |
Moon Crisis, Make Up | Macht der Mondherzen, Macht auf! | Moon hearts' power, power on! |
Pink Sugar Heart Attack | Zuckerherzen, für die Gerechtigkeit, fliegt und siegt! | Sugar hearts, for justice, fly and conquer! |
Twinkle Yell | Pegasus, ich bitte Dich: beschütz die Träume der Menschen! Pegasus, hilf! | Pegasus, I beg you: protect the dreams of humanity! Pegasus, help! |
Sailor Uranus
Original | German | Translation |
---|---|---|
Uranus Planet Power, Make Up | Macht der Uranusnebel, Macht auf! | Uranus nebula power, power on! |
World Shaking | Uranus, flieg! | Uranus, fly! |
Space Sword Blaster | Schwert des Lichtes, flieg! | Light sword, fly! |
Sailor Neptune
Original | German | Translation |
---|---|---|
Neptune Planet Power, Make Up | Macht der Neptunnebel, Macht auf! | Neptune nebula power, power on! |
Deep Submerge | Neptun, flieg! | Neptune, fly! |
Submarine Reflection | Licht des Spiegels, flieg! | Mirror light, fly! |
Sailor Pluto
Original | German | Translation |
---|---|---|
Pluto Planet Power, Make Up | Macht der Plutonebel, Macht auf! | Pluto nebula power, power on! |
Dead Scream | Pluto, flieg und sieg! Macht des Plutos, flieg und sieg! Pluto, schick das Feuer der Tiefe! (ep 113 only) |
Pluto, fly and conquer! Pluto power, fly and conquer! Pluto, send the fire of the depths! |
Sailor Saturn
Original | German | Translation |
---|---|---|
Silence Wall | Saturn, schütze sie! | Saturn, protect them! |
Silence Glaive Surprise | Macht des Saturns, flieg! | Saturn power, fly! |
Sailor Star Fighter
Original | German | Translation |
---|---|---|
Fighter Star Power, Make Up | Macht der Star Fighter, Macht auf! | Star Fighter power, power on! |
Star Serious Laser | Sailor Star, strafe ihn/sie! | Sailor Star, punish him/her/them! |
Sailor Star Maker
Original | German | Translation |
---|---|---|
Maker Star Power, Make Up | Macht der Star Maker, Macht auf! | Star Maker power, power on! |
Star Gentle Uterus | Sailor Star, halt ihn/sie auf! | Sailor Star, stop him/her/them! |
Sailor Star Healer
Original | German | Translation |
---|---|---|
Healer Star Power, Make Up | Macht der Star Healer, Macht auf! | Star Healer power, power on! |
Star Sensitive Inferno | Sailor Star, lähme ihn/sie! | Sailor Star, paralyze him/her/them! |
Manga
The 18 tankoubon of the Sailor Moon manga were translated and released in Germany between 1998 and 2000 by FeestComics, a subsidiary of the publishing company Egmont. Though the first manga released by them was Appleseed in 1994, Sailor Moon was the first major commercial success for the company's manga line. They also published the first five Sailor Moon artbooks, and the Codename: Sailor V manga was released under the title Sailor V.
Changes
Most of the characters' names were kept, except for Usagi's name being changed to Bunny, and some minor spelling changes. Queen Beryl was called "Perilia," Jadeite's name was spelled "Jedyte," and Nephrite's was spelled "Neflite." Chibiusa's real name was Bunny Tsukino, and the characters at first called her "Kleine Bunny" (Little Bunny). However, Luna P called her "Chibi-usa" and soon everyone else picked it up, with no explanation as to where the name came from.
Some items, attacks, and side characters had more significant name changes.
The pages were flipped and the translation was done from the English version of the Sailor Moon manga, and from the French version of the Sailor V manga.
Volume Titles
Each volume of the manga was also given a new title, though the different names of each arc were not retained.
- Die Metamorphose (The Metamorphosis)
- Der Maskierte Mann (The Masked Man)
- Die Mondkriegerinnen (The Moon Warriors)
- Der Silberkristall (The Silver Crystal)
- Die Wächterin der Zeit (The Guardian of Time)
- Der Planet Nemesis (The Planet Nemesis)
- Black Lady
- Die Schule des Lebens (The School of Life)
- Uranus und Neptun (Uranus and Neptune)
- Sailor Saturn
- Prinzessin Kaguyas Geliebter (The Beloved of Princess Kaguya)
- Der Pegasus (The Pegasus)
- Helios
- Dead Moon Circus
- Königin Nehelenia (Queen Nehellenia)
- Die Sailor Starlights (The Sailor Starlights)
- Sailor Galaxia
- Das Galaktische Chaos (The Galactic Chaos)
Trivia
- The actress who played Sailor Jupiter in the German dub of the anime, Veronika Neugebauer, died of cancer in 2008.