Finally an update on the much-awaited anime film project for the beloved Sailor Moon franchise: the official website of the upcoming two-part movie Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Eternal has just announced that Studio DEEN will be animating the film alongside Toei Animation.

Studio DEEN has produced anime series of varied genres throughout the years, such as yaoi anime Sekaiichi Hatsukoi (2011) and Junjou Romantica (2008), yuri anime Sakura Trick (2014) and Maria-sama ga Miteru (2004-2009), and comedies such as Ranma ½ (1989), among many others. Their most recent works are Haven’t You Heard, I’m Sakamoto? (2016) and Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! (KONOSUBA God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World) (2016), among others. The studio also animated the first Fate/stay night anime series, which is largely panned by fans.

Most of the cast from Sailor Moon Crystal is set to return for the film, such as:

· Kotono Mitsuishi as Usagi Tsukino / Sailor Moon

· Hisako Kanemoto as Ami Mizuno / Sailor Mercury

· Rina Satou as Rei Hino / Sailor Mars

· Ami Koshimizu as Makoto Kino / Sailor Jupiter

· Shizuka Itou as Minako Aino / Sailor Venus

· Misato Fukuen as Chibi-Usa / Sailor Chibi Moon

Toei confirmed some of the key staff that will be working on the film. Chiaki Kon, who directed the third season of Sailor Moon Crystal (which critics deemed an improvement from the first two seasons) will be returning to direct the two films. Character design will be done by Kazuko Tadano, who is credited for the same role in the original anime. The script will be penned by JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s Kazuyuki Fudeyasu, with the manga’s author herself Naoko Takeuchi serving as supervisor to the movies.

The two-part film is part of Sailor Moon Crystal, the modern reiteration of the beloved anime classic. Unlike the 90s anime, Crystal adapted the entire manga’s story and also stayed closer to the manga’s art style. Three TV seasons were released so far for Crystal: the first centered on the Dark Kingdom arc from the manga, the second on the arrival of the Black Moon Clan and Chibiusa, and the third featured the Death Busters and the introduction of the Outer Senshi (Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, Pluto). Most Moonies were waiting for news of a fourth season, which is supposed to adapt the Dead Moon arc; now, we’ll be getting two movies instead.

Source: Anime News Network