Wikipedia

Naoko Takeuchi

"Love Witch" redirects here. For the 2016 film, seeThe Love Witch.
The native form of thispersonal nameisTakeuchi Naoko.This article usesWestern name orderwhen mentioning individuals.

Naoko Takeuchi(Japanese:Võ nội thẳng tử,Hepburn:Takeuchi Naoko,born March 15, 1967)is a Japanesemanga artist.She is best known as the author ofSailor Moon,one of the most popular manga series of all time.[2]She has won several awards, including the 1993Kodansha Manga AwardforSailor Moon.[3]

Naoko Takeuchi
Võ nội thẳng tử
Takeuchi at the 1998San Diego Comic-Con
Born(1967-03-15)March 15, 1967(age 57)
Kōfu, Yamanashi,Japan
Other namesSumire Shirobara[1]
OccupationManga artist
Years active1986–present
Notable work
Spouse
​
(m.1999)​
Children2
AwardsKodansha Manga Award(1993)

Takeuchi is married toYoshihiro Togashi,the author ofYuYu HakushoandHunter × Hunter.

Early life

edit

Takeuchi was born inKofu,Yamanashi,Japan to Kenji and Ikuko Takeuchi. She has a younger brother, Shingo. She gave the names of her relatives to the characters she created forSailor Moon,and mentions this in interviews and in several comic strips she produced, in place of author notes.

Takeuchi attended Kofu Ichi High School, where she wore asailor uniformand joined theastronomyand manga clubs.[4][5]These experiences influenced her work forSailor Moon,in addition to her other pieces, such asLove CallandRain Kiss.Her formative high school experiences influenced her trajectory to become a manga artist. Takeuchi's father encouraged her to pursue other career paths, in case she wouldn't find success as a professional artist, which is why she attended university to study chemistry.

Takeuchi graduated from theKyoritsu College of Pharmacy,where she received a degree in chemistry and became a licensedpharmacist.Her senior thesis was called "Heightened Effects of Thrombolytic Actions Due to Ultrasound".[6]

Career

edit

1986–1997: Early work and success

edit

After graduating from theKyoritsu College of Pharmacy,at the age of 19, Takeuchi entered the manga industry by submitting her workLove CalltoKodansha;Takeuchi received Nakayoshi's New Artist award forLove Call.She worked steadily onone-shotpieces until writingMaria,which was published inNakayoshifrom early to mid-1990. This work, Takeuchi's first serial comic, was loosely based onJean Webster's 1912 novelDaddy-Long-Legsand on her friendMarie Koizumi,who helped write it.

After completingMaria,Takeuchi worked on the ice-skating seriesThe Cherry Project,which was serialized inNakayoshifrom late 1990 to 1991. While working onThe Cherry Project,Takeuchi wanted to do a manga on outer space and girl fighters. Her editor, Fumio Osano, asked her to put the fighters in sailor suits. This concept would later become a one-shot calledCodename: Sailor V,which would later begin serialization inRunRun.WhenToei Animationplanned to adapt her manga into an anime series, she reworkedSailor Vand added four other superheroines.

In December 1991,Nakayoshibegan serializingSailor Moon,which became an instant hit. The success encouraged Takeuchi to work on bothSailor MoonandSailor Vfrom 1991 to 1997. However,RunRunwas canceled with the November 1997 issue, and the plannedSailor Vanime adaptation was canceled along with it.[7]During that six-year period, she produced 60 chapters, which were collected in 18 volumes. The success of the manga led toa 200-episode anime adaptation,three animated films, numerous video games, and wide-ranging merchandising.

She had an interview withSilent Möbiuscreator, Kia Asamiya.[8]

At the series' end, Takeuchi worked onPQ AngelsforNakayoshi.This gained a fair amount of popularity, but was canceled due to Kodansha losing seven pages of her manuscript. Takeuchi said that Toei Animation had the manuscript, therefore it would have been possible to create an anime adaptation of the series.[9]

Takeuchi's own studio is called "Princess Naoko Planning" (PNP). Takeuchi established PNP to manage her properties, mainlySailor Moon.The studio later encompassedYoshihiro Togashi's work as well and appeared in the credits for such anime asLevel EandHunter × Hunter.Its name also appears on the musical credits forShin Kaguya Shima Densetsuand other projects.

1998–2009

edit

Following the loss of seven pages of Takeuchi'sPQ Angelsmanuscript, Osano departed Kodansha and the plans for theMaterials Collectionwere canceled.[9]Takeuchi departed Kodansha forShueisha.[9]

On August 13, 1998, Takeuchi made her first appearance in the United States atSan Diego Comic-Confor three days.[10]That same year, she published the firstSailor Moonartbook since her departure from Kodansha,Sailor Moon Infinity Collection Art Bookwith limited releases.

While working on her short comic stripPrincess Naoko Takeuchi Back-to-Work Punch!!,Takeuchi metYoshihiro Togashiat aWeekly Shōnen Jumpmeeting hosted byKazushi Hagiwara,and had a meeting arranged between them by voice actressMegumi Ogata.[11][12]She collaborated with Togashi as an assistant (doingscreentone) and as a manager on volume 1 ofHunter × Hunter.However, the work and the demands proved more than she had expected, and as a result, Takeuchi left Shueisha.

Around this time, Takeuchi conceived the idea for a one-shot calledToki☆Meka,which eventually turned intoToki☆Meca.[13]Togashi had a similar idea at the same time as her, but never fully brought it to fruition. He helped somewhat withToki☆Mekaat this point in developing the idea by drawing some concept sketches, which Takeuchi showed inToki☆Mecavolume 1.

Togashi and Takeuchi married in 1999. From this marriage, the couple have two children: a son, born in January 2001, and a daughter, born in 2009.[14]

After Kodansha's rights toSailor Moonexpired, Takeuchi returned to the publisher in 1999 to develop and publish theMaterials Collection.She also began serializingLove Witch,but it was cancelled. Takeuchi started to work on the reprints ofSailor MoonandSailor V,and publishedToki☆MecainNakayoshi.

In 2003, Takeuchi became heavily involved in producingPretty Guardian Sailor Moon,atokusatsutelevision series based onSailor Moon,as she had an interest in learning more about the anime industry.[15]This culminated in the creation ofPretty Guardian Sailor Moon.The series displays a plot that is heavily reliant on the manga and also explores many themes that the manga was unable to explore. She showed up at the official conference with a fist up, meaning "good luck", in Act Zero.

After the production ofPretty Guardian Sailor Moonended in 2004, Takeuchi continued to work onToki☆Meca.During the manga's serialization, Osano returned as her editor.[13]Takeuchi also worked more closely with managing PNP and gave talks to college students.[16]At the same time, she wrote a children's book titledOboo-nu- to Chiboo-nu-as a birthday present to her son. (Togashi provided illustrations for the book; Takeuchi made mention of this in the back of the first volume ofToki☆Meca.) She still works on the website, updating it about once a month with new flash animations or profiles.[17]

2010–2019

edit

In 2012, it was announced that a newSailor Moonanime adaptation was in development.[18]With it, Takeuchi started aKanzenbanversion of the manga, which was announced by Osano, and will include fixed past mistakes and new covers for the manga. Color pages are also included for the title pages. There was also an artbook announced, and she has been working on merchandise, which was announced by Osano on his Twitter feed.

The newrebootanime,Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal,debuted in July 2014. It streamed onNiconicobi-weekly, and ended in July 2015, spanning a total of 26 episodes, which cover theDark KingdomandBlack Moonarc of the manga.[19]Takeuchi wrote the ending theme song, "Moonbow"(Nguyệt hồng,Gekkō),under herpenname,"Sumire Shirobara"(Bạch tường vi sumire,Shirobara Sumire).[1]The series eventually gained its 13-episode third season,Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season III,covering theInfinityarc of the manga (known asDeath Bustersin Japan), and aired weekly on Japanese television from April to June 2016.[20]

2020–present

edit

In 2020, the two volumes of official "All Colored Eternal Edition"(オールカラー hoàn toàn bản,Ōrukarā Kanzenban)of theSailor Moonmanga was released on June 29, with Takeuchi providing new illustrations for both covers.[21]

In 2021, Takeuchi chief supervised the production of the two-part anime film,Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie,which adapted theDreamarc of the manga (known asDead Moonin Japan), and acted as a "fourth season" for theSailor Moon Crystalseries. Both films were released in 2021 in Japanese theaters, with the first film on January 8, and the second film on February 11.[22]Takeuchi also provided the lyrics for the theme song, "Moon Color Chainon"(Ánh trăng Chainon,Tsukiiro Chainon),under the name of "Sumire Shirobara".[23]

In 2022, Takeuchi chief supervised the production of the sequel toSailor Moon Eternal,titledPretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie.The two-part film covered theStarsarc of the manga (known asShadow Galacticain Japan), and acted as a "fifth and final season" for theSailor Moon Crystalseries. Both films were released in June 2023, with the first film on the 9th, and the second film on the 30th.[24]

Works

edit

Manga

edit
Work Years Summary
Chocolate Christmas(チョコレート·クリスマス,Chokorēto Kurisumasu) 1987–1988 A story about a girl who falls in love with aDJover Christmas. It appeared collected into a singletankōbonvolume.
Maria(ま·り·あ,Ma-ri-a) 1989–1990 A story, co-written with her friend,Marie Koizumi,loosely based on the bookDaddy-Long-LegsbyJean Webster.She released a pocket edition of the book in 1994.
The Cherry Project(Theチェリー・プロジェクト,Za Cherī Purojekuto) 1990–1991 Afigure-skating-themed manga, involving the young skater Cherry's quests to become a professional skater and win the heart of a boy. The series was released by Kodansha in three collected volumes between 1991 and 1992. One of its characters,Haruna Sakurada,also appears inSailor Moon.
Codename: Sailor V(コードネームはセーラーV,Kōdonēmu wa Sērā Bui) 1991–1997 This series follows the adventures of costumed "magical girl"Sailor V. It directly preceded (and became something of a prototype for)Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon,introducingMinako Aino,alias "Sailor V", who would become a significant character in the latter series. Initially starting as aone-shotin 1991, Takeuchi would later makeSailor Va serialized manga series that ran concurrently withSailor Moon.Takeuchi concluded the series after she had already finishedSailor Moon;Sailor Vfeatured an ending that tied the two series together. Originally released in three volumes,Codename: Sailor Vwas re-released in 2004 in a deluxe, two-volume "Renewal Edition" ( tân trang bảnshinzōban) format. In 2014, Codename: Sailor V was published in a two-volume "Eternal Edition" ( hoàn toàn bảnkanzenban).
Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon,later known asPretty Guardian Sailor Moon(Mỹ thiếu nữ chiến sĩ セーラームーン,Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn) 1991–1997 Known to international audiences simply asSailor Moon,this manga became Naoko Takeuchi's most famous work and spawned two anime, several films, stage musicals, a live-action television series, and video games of various genres. A fusion of styles between themahō shōjoandsentaigenres,Sailor Moontells the story ofUsagi Tsukino,a girl who one day discovers her identity as thereincarnationof a celestial heroine who fights for love and justice. This series was largely responsible for the late-1990s resurgence of "magical girl" anime and manga. The series was originally released in eighteen volumes, but was re-released in 2003 and 2004 in a deluxe, twelve-volume "Renewal Edition" ( tân trang bảnshinzōban) format, with two supplementary volumes containing side stories to the main work. In 2013, the chapters were once again re-released in ten "Eternal Edition" ( hoàn toàn bảnkanzenban) volumes to commemorate the manga's twentieth anniversary, which includes digitally remastered artwork, new covers and color artwork from its Nakayoshi run. Characters from her previous work,Codename Sailor V,return in this one.
Miss Rain(ミス・レイン,Misu Rein) 1993 A collection of five short manga, including the title work.
Prism Time(プリズムタイム,Purizumu Taimu) 1996–1997 A collection ofone-shotstories, from early works to those from the late 1990s. It is available in two volumes, released in 1995 and 1997, respectively.
PQ Angels(PQエンジェルス,PQ Enjerusu) 1997 Features two alien girls with the ability to turn intocockroaches,who are searching for their princess. The series was a complete disaster for Takeuchi: it was discontinued abruptly after only four chapters, and Kodansha lost the proofs of the portion that had been written. It has therefore only appeared in its original serialization, from September to December 1997.
Princess Naoko Takeuchi's Return-to-Society Punch!! 1998–2004 A collection of short strips, detailing what Takeuchi did afterSailor Moon.It ran for a number of years under a changing title, giving details about her post-Sailor Moonslump and recovery, as well as her meeting, marrying, and starting a family with fellow manga creatorYoshihiro Togashi.The comic ran inShueisha'sYoung You,rather than a Kodansha publication, and has not been collected since its original serialization. There are similar "____ Punch!" comic strips in the same format at the end of some of theSailor Moon"Renewal Edition" volumes.
Toki☆Meka!(とき☆メカ!,Toki☆Meka!) 2001 A one-shot story about a robot (Mecha), her creator, and their adventures.
Love Witch(ラブ・ウィッチ,Rabu Witchi) 2002 A story where a girl receives a perfume bottle and becomes a witch, but with a heavy price. It ran inNakayoshifrom April to June 2002, with a side story, "Sister Witch", in September 2002. It was discontinued after three chapters with no explanation. It has yet to be reprinted in any sort of compilation.
Toki☆Meca!(とき☆めか!,Toki☆Meca!) 2005–2006 A serialized version of the original one-shot, which began after the completion of theSailor MoonandSailor Vre-releases. The first portion ran from the January to April 2005 issues ofNakayoshi,after which the author went on hiatus, promising that she would return to the series later. The second phase of the series started in November 2005. One collected volume, released in August 2005, has been published thus far. The serialization officially ended in May 2006. This makesToki☆Meca!the first series that Takeuchi has completed sinceSailor MoonandCodename: Sailor V.

Anime

edit

Sailor Moon(1990s series)

edit
Year Title Format Credit Notes
1992-93 Sailor Moon Anime television series Original Creator (based on her mangaSailor Moon) AdaptedDark Kingdomarc
46 episodes
1993-94 Sailor Moon R AdaptedBlack Moonarc
43 episodes
1993 Sailor Moon R: The Movie Anime film —
1994-95 Sailor Moon S Anime television series AdaptedInfinityarc
38 episodes
1994 Sailor Moon S: The Movie Anime film AdaptedPrincess Kaguya's Loverside story
1995-96 Sailor Moon SuperS Anime television series AdaptedDreamarc
39 episodes
1996 Sailor Moon SuperS: The Movie Anime film —
1996-97 Sailor Moon Sailor Stars Anime television series AdaptedStarsarc
34 episodes

Sailor Moon Crystal(2014 reboot series)

edit
Year Title Format Credit Note
2014 Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season I Original net animation Original Work (based on her mangaSailor Moon) AdaptedDark Kingdomarc
14 episodes
2015 Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season II AdaptedBlack Moonarc
12 episodes
2016 Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season III Anime television series AdaptedInfinityarc
13 episodes
2021 Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie Two-part anime film Original Work (based on her mangaSailor Moon), Chief Supervisor AdaptedDreamarc
2023 Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie AdaptedStarsarc

Illustrations

edit
  • Maria(ま·り·あ, Ma-ri-a) (novelization of Takeuchi's manga, with prose byMarie Koizumi), 1994
  • Mermaid Panic(マーメイド・ぱにっく) Volumes 1–4 (written byMarie Koizumi), 1996-1997
  • Atashi no Wagamama wo Kiite...(あたし の わがままを nghe いて...) (written byMarie Koizumi), 1998
  • Zettai, Kare w Ubatte Miseru!( tuyệt đối, bỉ を đoạt ってみせる!) (written byMarie Koizumi), 1998

Written books

edit
  • Oboo-nu- to Chiboo-nu-(illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi)
    • A children's book written for her son's birthday.

Song lyrics

edit

Takeuchi wrote the lyrics for a number of songs featured in theSailor Moonanime and live-action series. Though mainly character-basedimage songs,they include a fewtheme songs.[25] These include:

Awards

edit

Takeuchi has won several awards, including the 2nd Nakayoshi Comic Prize for Newcomers forYume ja Nai no Nein 1985. She also won for "Love Call", which won Nakayoshi's New Artist award which debuted in the Nakayoshi Deluxe September 1986 issue. In 1993 she won the 17thKodansha Manga Awardfor shōjo forSailor Moon.[26]

References

edit
  1. ^abLoo, Egan (2014-08-02)."Sailor Moon Creator Wrote Momoiro Clover Z's Crystal Theme Lyrics".Anime News Network.Retrieved2014-08-02.
  2. ^Schodt, Frederik L. (1999).Dreamland Japan(2nd ed.).Berkeley, California: Stone Bridge Press.ISBN9781880656235.
  3. ^Hahn, Joel."Kodansha Manga Award".Comic Book Awards Almanac.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-10-21.Retrieved2017-12-04.
  4. ^Glover, Alex."The Manga of Takeuchi Naoko".Archived fromthe originalon March 3, 2016.RetrievedOctober 27,2006.
  5. ^Obayashi, Ayano."Võ nội thẳng tử tiên sinh インタビュー の ý chính".Archived fromthe originalon October 6, 2002.RetrievedFebruary 8,2012.
  6. ^Glover, Alex."The Manga of Takeuchi Naoko".Archived fromthe originalon March 3, 2016.RetrievedOctober 27,2006.
  7. ^Takeuchi, Naoko (October 23, 2003). "Liner Notes".Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon Shinsoban Volume 3.Kodansha.ISBN4-06-334783-4.:"Run-Run, the magazine she was serialized in, went belly-up. The OVA they planned to put out never came out. She met a harsh fate. It's enough to make one sick. [Minako]: Where did Run-Run go? When is my video coming out?"
  8. ^"Kia Asamiya Interview".
  9. ^abc"Princess Takeuchi Naoko's Return-to-Society Punch!! Round 1".Archived fromthe originalon 2020-11-12.Retrieved2007-07-27.
  10. ^"Naoko Takeuchi at the San Diego Comic-Con!".Smile.Mixx Entertainment: 30–31. December 1998.
  11. ^"Princess Takeuchi Naoko's Return-to-Society Punch!! - Round 2".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-05-09.Retrieved2007-07-27.
  12. ^"Princess Takeuchi Naoko's Return-to-Society Punch!! - Round 2".Archived fromthe originalon 2022-07-25.Retrieved2007-07-27.
  13. ^abTakeuchi, Naoko (August 23, 2005). "Author Notes".Toki Meca Volume 1.Kodansha.ISBN4-06-372061-6.
  14. ^"Sailor Moon's Takeuchi, Hunter X Hunter's Togashi Have 2nd Baby (Updated) - News".Anime News Network.2009-12-24.Retrieved2014-06-25.
  15. ^Kappa Magazine #62, translated by Mina Kaye. Kia Asamiya interviewed Naoko Takeuchi. Naoko Takeuchi expressed an interest in coloring for Asamiya.
  16. ^"ひみつ の お bộ phòng".Archived fromthe originalon 12 February 2006.
  17. ^ Bacon, Michelle (July 7, 2007)."Manga Style".Retrieved2006-10-01.
  18. ^"Kodansha USA Announces the Return of Sailor Moon".Press release.2011-03-18.Retrieved2011-03-18.
  19. ^The first 26 episodes were dubbed "Seasons I & II" during the Japanese television broadcast of the updated Blu-ray versions in April 2015.
  20. ^Hodgkins, Crystalyn (2016-03-06)."Sailor Moon Crystal 3rd Season's Premiere Date, Theme Songs Revealed".Anime News Network.Retrieved2016-03-06.
  21. ^"『 mỹ thiếu nữ chiến sĩ セーラームーン オールカラー hoàn toàn bản 』1 quyển 2 quyển".Sailor Moon Official(in Japanese). 2020-06-27.Retrieved2020-06-27.
  22. ^Hodgkins, Crystalyn (2020-06-18)."1st Sailor Moon Eternal Film Delayed to January 8 with 2nd Film Scheduled for February 8".Anime News Network.Retrieved2020-06-18.
  23. ^Komatsu, Mikakazu (2020-10-04)."Momoiro Clover Z Performs Sailor Moon Eternal Film's Theme Song with the Five Main VAs".Crunchyroll.Retrieved2020-10-04.
  24. ^Mateo, Alex (April 28, 2022)."Sailor Moon Manga's Final Arc Gets 2 Sailor Moon Cosmos Films in Early Summer 2023".Anime News Network.RetrievedApril 28,2022.
  25. ^ Bacon, Michelle."Sailormusic.net".Retrieved2007-01-28.
  26. ^Fox, Emily; Makousky, Nadia; Polvi, Amanda; Sorensen, Taylor (2005)."Naoko Takeuchi"(PDF).University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy.Voices from the Gaps.RetrievedOctober 27,2006.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Naoko_Takeuchi&oldid=1254359422"