Sailor Moon has been a girl-power branded anime mascot powerhouse ever since 1991. Officially translated as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, the series has a ton of amazing characters and henshin-transforming girls, also known as Sailor Scouts. It started as a manga from 1991 to 1997 and spanned its way into dozens of forms of media.
The Sailor Scout names all usually involve some significance with their powers as well, but it might be easier to just go through them all. Here’s a list of all the major Sailor Moon characters, or specifically, the original ten sailor scouts (plus a bonus). I’ll go over the inner Sailor Scouts first (the core team), and then the outer Sailor Scouts (the extra scouts).
How Many Sailor Moon Media Are There?
If a form of media exists, then Sailor Moon is probably represented there in one way, shape or form. The series started out as a manga but is most famously known as an anime.
The story has been adapted into an anime not once, but twice, as Sailor Moon and Sailor Moon Crystal. During Sailor Moon’s original 90s run, it also spawned several television specials and feature-length films.
Companion books and novels exist of the long-running franchise. The novels were written and produced by Tokyopop.
Sailor Moon has also been given the live-action treatment more than once. The most famous and successful version was released in Japan, titled Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. It featured CGI monsters, original songs and dances, digital transformation scenes and a moving, talking, interactive little Luna, the cat companion of the main protagonist.
The lesser-known version (we don’t like to talk about much) was the 1993 U.S. live-action remake. Complete with space surfboard rockets and characters very loosely based on their original design, it never really made it off the planning floor, even though a 17 minute pilot of it exists. We wrote about it here.
There’s also an entire fandom dedicated exclusively to the Sailor Moon musical live show, or Sērāmyū (as the fans call it.) The show started in 1993, with over 500 performances. It still has occasional appearances like its 20th stage anniversary in 2013, and it also made its North American debut in 2019 in New York City and Washington DC.
Who Are the Inner Sailor Scouts?
The main characters of Sailor Moon are known as the ‘Inner Sailor Soldiers.’
Sailor Moon
The most important character on this list is without a doubt Sailor Moon. The character represents the Moon Kingdom.
Her civilian name is Usagi Tsukino. Our introduction to the world of Sailor Moon is the same in every series, with a girl who sports two pigtails with buns atop her head being late for school, all while being identified as a ‘cry baby’.
Usagi likes to eat, sleep, and play video games. She awakens into her super form ‘Sailor Moon’ also known as ‘Soldier of Love and Justice’. Sailor Moon has many identities; she is also Princess Serenity and Neo-Queen Serenity. (there is a debate whether Sailor Moon has more secret identities than these, but for spoiler’s sake I will leave them out.)
Usagi Tsukino’s name is a pun that can be translated as ‘Rabbit of the moon’.
Usagi’s character is different depending on what type of media she is in. In every story, she is immature, lazy, goofball who slowly matures into a leader and a lady. She is more silly and childish through the original 90s anime, where she has much more poise and grows up more quickly in the manga series.
Some common traits in all of her depictions include being outgoing, cheerful, emotional, caring, sincere, and despite her being easily frightened, having the courage when needed most.
Usagi Facts:
- Blood Type: O
- Height: 150cm (4’11’)
- Birthdate: 30 June (Cancer)
- Enjoys: Sweets, Video Games, Comics/Manga, Boys, Napping
- Does not enjoy: Math, English class, dentists, thunder, lightning, carrots
Tuxedo Mask
The character who represents Earth is no other than Mamoru Chiba. He is also Tuxedo Mask and Prince Endymion. Tuxedo Mask is depicted differently in each form of media, from everything from his age and his appearance to his backstory.
However, in every version of the story, Mamoru starts off gently teasing Usagi and having a playful relationship with her. Their relationship also grows in a more intimate way when they have their identities hidden, as Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon.
After Mamoru reigns his memories (and a few other spoilery events happen) they resume a relationship they once started a very long time ago on the moon as Prince Endymion and Princess Serenity. (If you haven’t watched the series yet, you probably should. That sentence won’t make any more sense than it does unless you do so.)
In every single version Mamoru is serious (but a little sarcastic), kind, hard-working, protective, and caring.
Mamoru Facts:
- Blood Type: A
- Height: 5’9
- Birthday: 3 August (Leo)
- Enjoys: Being with Usagi and being with Chibiusa
- Does Not Enjoy: Bell peppers and needles
Sailor Mercury
The Sailor Scout that represents the planet Mercury is named Ami Mizuno. She has powers that are represented by things like water, ice, computers, and intelligence. Part of her last name in Japanese translates to ‘water.’
In every version of the series, Ami is a studious, serious, polite young woman who finds joy in studying and working diligently. Ami helps out the team by solving situations using her book smarts and fast-thinking brain. She has a specialized weapon, a tiny laptop computer.
Ami Facts:
- Blood Type: A
- Height: 5’2
- Birthday: 10 September (Virgo)
- Enjoys: Reading, chess, swimming, sandwiches, the color blue, mathematics, computers, technology
- Does Not Enjoy: Failing
Sailor Mars
Rei Hino is the character that represents the red planet of Mars. Part of her last name translates to ‘fire’ in Japanese. She has two crows named Phobos and Deimos. Rei works as a Miko shrine maiden at her grandfather’s temple, and there she developed psychic powers.
Her powers all involve psychic, fire, and spirituality.
In all variations, Rei is the hothead of the bunch. She is stern, assertive, strong, and passionate. In the anime, her anger is added for comedic effect. Creating a foil between her and Usagi’s natures.
However, in the manga and live-action depictions of Rei, she’s seen more composed.
Rei Facts:
- Blood Type: AB
- Height: 5’3
- Birthday: 17 April (Aries)
- Enjoys: Zazen (meditating), ancient writing, rubies, Thai food, fugu, white Casablancas, pandas, small lizards, divination, the colors red and black, plum juice
- Does Not Enjoy: Canned asparagus, television, men, modern society
Sailor Venus
The scout that represents the planet Venus is Minako Aino. She also goes by the name Sailor V. Minako is a special character because she was actually the protagonist of the prequel series Codename: Sailor V. It’s natural for her to have some similarities with Usagi, as they were both intended to become the main character of a series.
Part of Minako’s last name means ‘Love” in Japanese. The majority of Sailor Venus’s powers include elements of love and beauty. She lives with her magical cat, Artemis.
Sailor Venus is a star volleyball player and aspiring idol. In the Live-Action version, she IS actually an idol. She is extremely outgoing, dramatic, confident, showy, and affectionate. Her dramatic traits are played up in the original 90s anime for comedy’s sake.
Minako Facts:
- Blood Type: B
- Height: 5’2
- Birthday: 22 October (Libra)
- Enjoys: Playing pranks, chasing after idols, curry, video games, jokes, physical education, the colors yellow and red
- Does Not Enjoy: Her mother, police officers, math, English class, shiitake, nerds
Who Are the ‘Outer Sailor Soldiers’?
The ‘Outer Sailor Soldiers’ are the characters that were introduced to the series after the first season. They are called the ‘Outer Sailor Soldiers’ because, with the exception of Chibiusa, they all represent the planets farthest from the sun and moon.
Sailor Chibi Moon
Usagi ‘Chibiusa’ Small Lady Serenity is the daughter of Neo Queen Serenity and Prince Endymion (aka Usagi Tsukino and Mamoru Chiba.) She also represents the moon, as she is the heir to the throne and sent from the distant future to train as a sailor soldier in the present. She is known under the alias Sailor Chibi Moon. Her powers usually involve the color pink, hearts, or are similar attacks to her mother.
Chibiusa is over 900 years old physically, but around 8-10 years old mentally. She has been raised as the princess of Crystal Tokyo.
Her relationship with her mother greatly differs depending on whether she is with the present version (in her age of 15-16) than it does with the future version (as an adult) Chibiusa and Usagi frequently bicker, though the bickering is played up in the 90s anime version. (Though, it’s a common plot point in every form of media where Chibiusa is represented.)
Chibiusa has a very haughty, confident, almost arrogant personality. She is extremely affectionate to her friends, animals, and her father in both forms.
Chibiusa Facts:
- Blood Type: O
- Height: 3’6-4’5
- Birthday: 30 June (Cancer)
- Enjoys: Drawing, getting people to give her stuff, collecting rabbit themed goods
- Does Not Enjoy: Carrots, thunder and lightning, ghosts, vampires, dentists, needles
Sailor Pluto
The sailor scout that represents the planet of Pluto is named Setsuna Meiou. Sailor Pluto has led a complicated journey in the series, going from the gatekeeper of the doors of time to becoming reborn as a human in the civilian world with the others.
Her powers usually have dark elements to them. Part of her last name can be translated to ‘dark’ in Japanese.
Setsuna has a very quiet personality. She also accepts what her duties are, no matter what they are. She has been known to do what’s needed for the greater good, even if it breaks a (big) rule or two. She never takes the role of leader, but she has applied a sort of foster motherly role to Hotaru (Sailor Saturn) and Chibiusa (Sailor Chibi Moon).
Setsuna Facts:
- Blood Type: A
- Height: 5’10
- Birthday: 29 October (Scorpio)
- Enjoys: Physics, green tea, shopping, sewing, fashion
- Does Not Enjoy: Cockroaches, eggplant, the study of music
Sailor Uranus
Haruka Tenou is the Sailor Soldier of the planet Uranus. Part of her last name in Japanese translates to ‘Sky.’ Her powers usually have something to do with the sky or the ground.
Haruka Tenou is introduced to the series to have ambiguous gender, while they have always been clearly female in their Sailor Uranus form. She has been seen in both male and female clothing. Haruka is an internationally renowned racecar driver, with possession of her own sports car to boot. Her girlfriend is Michiru Kaiou.
In Haruka’s leisure, she is a bit of a tease and a lady charmer. She has an extremely strong stern, work-driven side to her. She has been known to play the ‘bad guy’ role whenever it is needed, to save the rest of her team from having to dirty their hands. She is also extremely passionate, whether it be love or hate.
Haruka Facts:
- Blood Type: B
- Height: 5’11
- Birthday: 27 January (Aquarius)
- Enjoys: Race car driving, running, salad, physical education, flirting
- Does Not Enjoy: Natto, slang, popular men
Sailor Neptune
The sailor scout of the planet Neptune is Michiru Kaiou. Part of her last name roughly translates to ‘sea’ in Japanese. Her powers usually involve the ocean. She is the girlfriend of Haruka.
Michiru is somewhat of a renaissance woman and prodigy at the violin. She also has a talent for swimming and painting. Her personality is elegant and polite to a fault. She is extremely refined and very sweet to her friends.
However, she has a contrasting temper and snobbish tendencies.
Michiru Facts:
- Blood Type: O
- Height: 5’4
- Birthday: 6 March (Pisces)
- Enjoys: Collecting cosmetics, playing the violin, swimming, painting, music, sashimi, aquariums; the colors turquoise, teal, and aquamarine
- Does Not Enjoy: Sea cucumbers, kikurage, physical education
Sailor Saturn
The incarnation of the planet Saturn is none other than Hotaru Tomoe. Her powers usually have elements of death to them. There is much to be said about Hotaru and her tragic past, but most of it is shrouded in mystery.
(Not for me, because I’ve read the manga six times, but to whoever hasn’t.)
After the events of her trauma and multiple awakenings unfold, Hotaru is a friend to Chibiusa, adoptive daughter to Setsuna, Haruka, and Michiru and a valued team member.
Hotaru is very stoic, quiet, and reserved. She is weak in the beginning of the series but later appears to be of normal health. Despite her seemingly timid nature, she has been defiant whenever she has needed to be. She is kind and sincere as well.
Hotaru Facts:
- Blood Type: AB
- Height: 4’10
- Birthday: 6 January (Capricorn)
- Enjoys: Japanese buckwheat noodles, the color purple, collecting lamps, world history
- Does Not Enjoy: Milk, Marathons, Sports
Who Are the Cats in Sailor Moon?
There are a number of magical talking cats in the Moonie universe, which usually serve as a mascot for the series.
Luna
Luna is a magical talking cat that serves as both the mascot and the herald of the series. In every version of Sailor Moon, Luna is the one who brings the information to Usagi that she is, in fact, Sailor Moon and can transform into her.
Luna helps Usagi realize her responsibilities as Sailor Moon and is strict with her and reminds her constantly to better herself as a person, student and sailor soldier. Luna is very serious and goal oriented.
It is heavily implied that she and Artemis will have a romantic relationship in the future. They have a special relationship, but also are both the only two talking cats in the series. That is until their daughter from the future, Diana shows up and tells them that they are both her parents. (further solidifying that the two will get together someday.)
Luna was also the star of the Sailor Moon S: Kaguya Hime no Koibito movie. This was adapted from ‘The Lover of Princess Kaguya’ portion of the manga. In the film she develops a crush on a human named Kakeru. Kakeru is an astronomer and Luna is able to transform into her human form to help him.
Artemis
Artemis is a magical talking cat that first appeared in the Codename: Sailor V manga. He guides Minako Aino through being Sailor V, and later Sailor Venus. He will have a romantic relationship with Luna in the future, and is the future father of Diana.
Artemis is serious enough to scold Minako and the others about goofing off and telling them to do their job, but he’s got a laid-back personality in his downtime.
Diana
Diana is the future kitten of Luna and Artemis from the future. She is a sweet, polite and curious kitty who addresses everyone formally.
Diana acts as a guardian to Chibiusa, just as Luna is to Usagi and Artemis is to Minako. Diana calls Chibiusa her official title ‘Small Lady.’
There you have it. This is everything you want to know about Sailor Moon and the Sailor Scouts.
Now that you have a list of the Sailor Moon characters, you’ll be all set once you need to identify them with names and pictures all over the internet.