"Enjoy the differences between the old and new anime"

Just in time for Sailor Uranus's birthday, the new cast members of Sailor Moon Crystal were announced on January 27. Among these was Junko Minagawa as Haruka/Sailor Uranus. Megumi Ogata, who played the role in the original Sailor Moon anime series, reacted to the announcement on Twitter.

Ogata admitted to being surprised at the volume of messages she found waiting for her on her return home, some foreign, some "close to shrieking." She reminded distraught fans that the version of Haruka she played was quite different in background and personality from the version in the manga, and called her "a girl from the world of '90s anime." Since the new anime is closer to the manga, she told her fans that they now had an opportunity to enjoy the comparisons between old and new, and "those chances don't come often! (^_^)" She went on to say that Minagawa and Sayaka Ohara (who plays Michiru/Sailor Neptune) were both "very good actresses" and asked her fans to cheer for them.

Ogata also tweeted about her fondness for the role. "Inside me, that girl [Haruka] who only loved Michiru lives unchanged. This was a loooong time ago, but she's a part of me even now. Please allow me to let her out from time to time."

She then explained that she meant by "let her out" as "Eeeevery now and then, in concerts, I'll revive her more directly with her songs and covers of the old Sailor Moon OP! Please reach out to me if you'd like to meet the girl inside."

To overseas fans. Thank you for your BIG LOVE! Don't worry…HARUKA lives in my heart, always and forever. See you again!(・_-)-☆ LOVE, M.Ogata — 緒方恵美@2/13・14M'sBAR (@Megumi_Ogata) January 28, 2016

Ogata has recently incurred fan wrath over bitter interpretations of comments she made about fans who tell her that they can't come to her events. She has also opened up about the strain of playing another famous role, Shinji in Neon Genesis Evangelion.

[Via Twitter; Image from Seigura Web]