Summary
Lost media has always been a fact of life. Thanks to the internet, sometimes audiences get glimpses of things that would otherwise be lost forever. Sometimes, lost media is found. Last yearthe pilot for the American version ofSailor Moonwas discovered, and fans got a taste of what could have been had things been a little different.
Sadly, there is another piece ofSailor Moonhistory that is lost, this one from creator Naoko Takeuchi herself.
Who is Naoko Takeuchi?
Naoko Takeuchi is a Japanese manga artist best known as the creator ofSailor Moon(known asBishoujo Senshi Sailor Moonin Japanese). Born on June 23, 2025, in Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan, she gained widespread recognition and acclaim for her work in the magical girl genre.Sailor Moonwas first serialized in 1991 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon in Japan and around the world.
The series follows the adventures of a teenage girl named Usagi Tsukino, who transforms into the magical warrior Sailor Moon to battle evil forces alongside her fellow Sailor Guardians. The series explored themes of friendship, love, and the power of female empowerment and resonated with audiences of all ages. Naoko Takeuchi’s work not only had a significant impact on the manga and anime industry but also played a crucial role in popularizing the magical girl genre globally. Despite this though, this was not the first (nor the last) work the world would receive from Takeuchi.
Her Post Sailor Moon Career
While Naoko Takeuchi may best be known forSailor Moon, she has also created other manga works. Before creatingSailor Moon, she created a manga calledCodename: Sailor V, which would ultimately serve as a precursor to theSailor Moonseries. It features Minako Aino, the future Sailor Venus, as the main character and explores heradventures as a magical girl. Another notable creation isThe Cherry Project.
This manga tells the story of Natsuki, a teenage girl who becomes involved in a love triangle with two brothers. It incorporated elements of romance and supernatural themes. These themes would be revisited inPrism Time,which revolves around a young girl named Nanaki who discovers a mysterious prism that allows her to see into the future. One final title we’d like to highlight isMiss Rain, a short story about a girl named Mami who encounters a mysterious woman named Rain, who has a profound impact on her life. It’s a story about personal growth and self-discovery.
While none of these titles achieved the same level of success asSailor Moondid, these series are all enjoyable, show different creative ideas from her, and (most importantly) are available in one form or another. There is, however, one title that almost no one has read, and likely will never be able to read.
What Happened to PQ Angels?
PQ Angels(nicknamedParallel Sailor Moonby its fans) is a short manga series consisting of three chapters that were published in 1999. The story takes a humorous and somewhat surreal turn. It featuresthe Sailor Guardiansfrom the mainSailor Moonseries in chibi (super-deformed) forms and explores their comedic adventures in a parallel universe. The characters retain their Sailor Guardian identities but find themselves in humorous and unusual situations.
The manga offers a lighthearted and comical take on the belovedSailor Mooncharacters and is more of a parody or comedic spin-off rather than a continuation of the main storyline. Considering the context of all this, you would think that the series would have been a huge hit. However, it was barely read by readers. The problem was that, after submitting the fourth chapter, the publishing company, Kodansha, informed her that the company had lost the proofs.
For those who are not aware, the proofs are the original manga pages. Whenever there is a re-release or printing of a title, publishers ALWAYS go back to the proofs to ensure they can get the best possible version of the material! What’s more, manga artists spend hours upon hours on each individual page. To lose just one page is devastating on a creative level; to lose over 60 pages is the equivalent of having poured weeks into a project being erased. Takeuchi was so upset that the entire series had essentially been wiped from existence, that she quit the series and severed her relationship withKodanshafor many years as a result of this event.
What’s worse, the fourth chapter was lost before it was ever published, meaning that fans would ultimately never get a chance to read the fourth chapter. Not only that, but even though three chapters appeared in magazine format, without the proofs they will never be able to be reprinted. It’s a shame, because by all accounts, the series had the chance to become another big hit for Takeuchi and theSailor Moonfranchise. Alas, all we can do now is imagine what could have been.
