Sailor Moon S Movie: Hearts in Ice
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
An unusual snow storm hits Tokyo and the Sailor Senshi discover that an evil snow queen Kaguya, wants to freeze the entire earth. It's up to the Inner Sailor Senshi along with the Outers, to defeat the Queen. Meanwhile, Luna falls in love with a human astronomer named Kakeru whose girlfriend is an astronaut about to take a space shuttle mission. Kakeru becomes ill and Luna wishes she could be a human to help him.
Audience Consensus
The audience overwhelmingly regards Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Kaguya-hime no Koibito as a standout film within the franchise, particularly for its heartfelt focus on Luna's emotional journey and romantic subplot. While minor criticisms exist regarding plot clarity and character inclusion, the consensus is that its strong emotional core, beautiful animation, and evocative music make it a highly recommended and beloved entry.
Strengths
- The focus on Luna's character development and her romantic storyline is a significant strength.
- The music and its emotional impact are frequently praised, particularly the theme associated with Luna's feelings.
- The animation and artwork, especially in certain scenes and transformations, are considered beautiful and well-executed, often surpassing the main series.
- The plot, while not always highly original, is generally well-paced for its runtime and hits emotional notes effectively.
- The film successfully expands on characters often sidelined in the main series, offering a fresh perspective.
Weaknesses
- The plot can be confusing at times, particularly regarding the mix of past and present timelines or the scientists' role.
- Some supporting characters, like Himeko, are criticized for being one-dimensional or serving only as plot devices.
- The absence of Hotaru (Sailor Saturn) from the film's finale is a point of disappointment for some viewers, given her importance in the S season.
- The sound design, specifically the 'Snow Dancers' noises, is noted as being unpleasant by one reviewer.
- While based on the manga, some feel the film missed an opportunity to delve deeper into Luna and Artemis's past as presented in the source material.