True fax. As a kid I liked Mars better because she was a lot more forward but as I grew older....I STILL LOVED MARS but I began to understand Usagi a lot better and really appreciate what she shows as a main characters and how, in recent days, we've lost a lot of good things- https://twitter.com/inkfycreates/status/1314296057954795525

-that comes from showing a hero grow into their role rather than be 'destined saviors' from the start, not to say that there is anything wrong with that trope either but too many people now want to use this as the ONLY means of making 'strong empowered female characters'-

-and this is often due more to the person behind the story taking that as a personal hit and feeling like they really ARE saviors that the entire world is ignoring (when they're not. They're just egotistical fuck heads) and not considering the idea that not every woman-

-has that track in mind when it comes to their own empowerment and strength.

The best thing about Usagi IS that before the reveal of who she really is, she WAS a normal girl. Her being 'normal' shows that ANY GIRL can be a hero and that goes for the other Scouts.

They all had normal lives and wouldn't be considered 'hero class' had they never been returned to their connection with the Moon Kingdom and even when they do get their powers they still have to earn every bit of it back, and we see this with Usagi especially despite her being-

-the freaking Princess. The only one of the group who had training before them all was Venus and even then in reality she's a massive HAM but when she needs to be heroic, she is. And over the course of the series, we see all of them get better with their powers and skills-

-which is the fun of the journey along with finding out what happened that even resulted in them ending up in the situation they are. Usagi HAS that ultimate 'savior' ending (and even then that gets fucked along the way and threatened) but she doesn't START as a savior. She-

-and the others have to EARN their reward and there were times when they almost lost, meaning that EVERYTHING they did would have been for nothing. Nothing exactly was set in stone for them even when we got glimpses of the future because one thing could tear it away.

And back to Usagi, she shows that you don't have to be SUPER SERIOUS or perfect to be a hero. Yes, she's silly, a glutton, and just wants to have fun but when she needs to she protects those she cares about. She shows that she doesn't have to sacrifice those inner things-

-that she loves to be a hero. She matures and lets go of the silly stuff but she's still bright, cheerful, HUNGRY, and enjoys life and yes, a lot of people want that.

Way too many so-called empowering stories force the idea that the only way to be a 'strong woman' is to be-

-ONE WAY. Take the Mulan remake; the only way to be strong is be already born a savior and reject anything that resembles femininity and just take jobs that guys have 'traditionally' had. If you don't think like that, then you're like her weak and stupid sister who is only-

-destined to have babies.

Meanwhile in Sailor Moon, we have the fucking AMAZON of Makoto who LOVES cooking and baking adorable things, can dance and ice skate like a champ but can break men in half before her legs.

Sailor Moon, and I am remembering that it is made for a Japanese audience in mind thank you, doesn't tell you that there is wrong/right way to be a hero/strong based on your upbringing, your hobbies, your GRADES, whether or not you want to have a husband of children, ect.

Even if the Sailor Moon aesthetic is INCREDIBLY bishojo, it never gave off the feeling that you couldn't be strong if you were girly or if you were and that's why even now I love it. It wasn't tied up in this current shit we see now.

We need more Sailor Moons, in the idea that-

-heroism and strength can come from any walks of life, and less Mulans (and another M movie that was just as bad) where you're told that the measure of your heroism is based on if you had special powers when you were shot into the world and if you want kids or a 'man's job'.