“Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live” Brings 2.5D Magic to North America

The world of Sailor Moon is set to take center stage like never before as “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live” embarks on a highly-anticipated North American tour in 2025. This 2.5D musical — a genre that blends live-action performance with the stylized visuals of anime, video games, and manga — reimagines the beloved story of Usagi Tsukino and the Sailor Guardians through dance, performance, and visuals.

Ahead of opening night, EnVi attended a virtual press conference that provided a glimpse into what makes this production stand out. Featuring the show’s lead producer Makoto Matsuda, choreographer Satomi Toma, and actress Riko Tanaka, who takes on the role of Sailor Moon, the discussion touched on the show’s innovative approach and the personal connections the cast and crew have with Sailor Moon’s legacy.

A Super Magical Live Experience 

The concept of 2.5D theatre is still relatively new to Western theatre. “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live” is a prime example of how this format can transform a familiar story into an immersive stage experience. Unlike traditional musicals, 2.5D shows rely on movement, lighting, and visuals rather than heavy dialogue. This particular production brings Sailor Moon’s world to life through choreographed fight sequences, projection effects, and music, capturing the essence of the anime while introducing a fresh take for the stage.

Matsuda emphasized that The Super Live is a genre-defying experience, blending high energy performance and technology. “You’ll know when you see it,” he teased. “It has the regular song and music but also dance, technology, visuals, projectios, so much more than [a] conventional musical. So we wanted to honor the situation by naming it and giving it a new category name…And that is our intention [in] calling it ‘Super Live.’”

One of the most important aspects of “The Super Live” is its choreography. Choreographer Satomi Toma, who has a background in live theatre and dance, explained how her team worked to bring the iconic anime-style movements to life in a way that feels organic on stage.

“I had to think about how it would translate to a global, English-speaking audience,” she noted, emphasizing how each movement helps preserve the spirit of the original series. With Sailor Moon being a culturally-significant franchise in Japan and beyond, Toma’s goal was to ensure the production resonated with audiences worldwide. She also had to stay true to the energy and expressiveness that make the anime and manga so beloved. “The actors are good, and as a choreographer, I wanted to make sure they could do what they do best.”

Moonlight Memories

More than just a performance, “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live” evolves into a concert after the main show, giving fans a chance to sing along to classic songs from the Sailor Moon franchise. This interactive segment transforms the theater into a high-energy celebration, with audiences waving glow sticks and joining in on the music that has defined the series for decades.

Matsuda noted that fans’ enthusiasm makes these moments especially powerful. “Fans know every word to these songs, and hearing them sing along together is a powerful experience,” he shared.

Some fans will also have the chance to participate in a post show meet-and-greet with the cast, including a high-five session. Riko Tanaka recalled a memorable moment from a previous event when a fan excitedly exclaimed, “Oh, it’s a real high five!” capturing how special the experience feels for longtime fans of the series.

For The Fans, By The Moon

Since its debut in 1992, Sailor Moon has become one of the most beloved franchises in pop culture history, spanning manga, anime, films, merchandise, and luxury collaborations. With such a rich legacy behind it, bringing “The Super Live” to life required a deep understanding of what the series means to fans around the world.

During the conversation, lead producer Matsuda, spoke about the weight of adapting a franchise with such a devoted following and keeping it relevant to society today. “The action and the fighting [in the live] is about friendship,” Matsuda shared. “It’s about love and trust and the building of the human connection between those characters. This is a message about peace and how there’s a lot of fighting and action, but it is about how important it is to protect the precious peace of the world.”

For many fans, the heart of Sailor Moon lies in its protagonist, Usagi Tsukino: an ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny. Riko Tanaka, who plays the production’s titular character, reflected on why the character remains so beloved.

“I talk with so many people all the time, but I think that it comes down to the fact that the main character Usagi is really charming, a little clumsy, and a fun character that people want to kind of reach out and help,” Tanaka explained. “And there’s this other [side of her], Sailor Moon, which is the fighting, really powerful, strong, enigmatic character that is unbeatable. And that contrast between the two makes it really interesting and attractive.”

For Tanaka, playing Sailor Moon is more than just a role — it’s a full-circle moment. Growing up, she discovered the series through rental DVDs, becoming a lifelong fan before stepping into Usagi’s signature red boots. “I love Sailor Moon,” she shared enthusiastically wearing a Sailor Moon sweater, reflecting on how the character shaped her childhood.

Magic You Can Touch

Sailor Moon has long been a worldwide sensation, with the original manga selling over 46 million copies globally and the anime translated into numerous languages. Its themes of love, justice, and friendship have resonated across generations, making it a cultural touchstone for fans worldwide.

Now, with “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live” bringing the story to life on stage, North American audiences will have the chance to experience the magic firsthand. Featuring a primarily woman Japanese cast, the production also stars Kanon Maekawa as Sailor Mercury, Rei Kobayashi as Sailor Mars, Kisara Matsumura as Sailor Jupiter, and Marin Makino as Sailor Venus. The show is performed in Japanese with English subtitles and runs approximately 95 minutes with no intermission.

The North American tour kicked off on March 12, 2025, in Pittsburgh, PA, and will be making stops in major cities like Austin, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, and New York, where it will conclude with a multi show run at Palladium Times Square from April 24–26. 

With a mix of theatrical storytelling, concert elements, and interactive experiences, the production ensures that both longtime fans and newcomers will find something to love.

Matsuda summed it up best: “Fans keep Sailor Moon alive. Their love and passion are what have made it last for over 30 years. This show is our way of giving back to them.”

Tickets for “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live” are available now here.

Interested in more live shows? Check out our review of NCT 127’s 100th show in New Jersey here!