Sailor Moon Crystal, known in Japan as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal (美少女戦士セーラームーンCrystal(クリスタル) Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn Kurisutaru), is a 2014 original net animation series produced by Toei Animation and directed by Munehisa Sakai, celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the shōjo manga series Sailor Moon. As opposed to a remake of Toei's 1992–97 anime series preceding it, Crystal serves as a reboot of Sailor Moon and intends to be a more faithful adaptation of the original manga written by Naoko Takeuchi. The story focuses on Usagi Tsukino, a young girl who is granted the power to become the titular protagonist and is joined by fellow Sailor Guardians in search of a mysterious princess and the Legendary Silver Crystal.
The series, which is planned for 26 episodes, began streaming worldwide on Niconico from July 5, 2014, with new episodes being released twice a month. The first episode had an advanced screening on June 30, 2014 to celebrate the eponymous character's birthday. The first limited edition Blu-ray box set is scheduled to be released in Japan on October 15, 2014, with the regular Blu-ray and DVD compilations set for release the following month; individual volumes are to be released monthly. In May 2014, Viz Media licensed Crystal for an English-language release in North America, and are simulcasting the series on Neon Alley, Hulu, and Crunchyroll to coincide with the worldwide streaming. Viz also premiered the first episode as part of their "Sailor Moon Day" celebration at the Anime Expo Convention in Los Angeles. The first episode of Sailor Moon Crystal had over one million views on Niconico during the first two days of streaming it.
The music for Sailor Moon Crystal was composed by Yasuharu Takanashi. The series uses two pieces of theme music: an opening theme and an ending theme. The opening theme is titled "Moon Pride", and the ending theme is "Gekkō" (月虹?, lit. "Moon Rainbow"), both performed by Momoiro Clover Z.
