We’re trying out a new editorial column. It’s called “Ask the Editors.” We’ve always meant for the Soapbox to have regular editorial features, and this is a good way to get us to do just that. So send us your questions!
The first comes from reader Olajuwan Cobb who asks, “Do you think that there would be an American version of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (PGSM) or would it be too risky for any producer?”
This is a perfect question to kick things off because I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Anyone who’s seen the recent “Transformers” movie might be doing the same. It was a real surprise- Hollywood did an amazing job of turning an 80’s cartoon into fun, engaging blockbuster. Its success bodes well for other cartoons to be revived.
The question, however, asks about a PGSM series, and a television show is in a different realm from a theatrical release. They have to think about ongoing production, advertisers, and dealing with networks that are tight on purse strings when it comes to children’s programming.
When Power Rangers was brought here many years ago Saban saved money by using Japanese footage for the action sequences; apart from the strange mix of film reel and videotape, it worked fine since the Japanese actors were costumed. They can’t do that with PGSM; every scene will have to be filmed from scratch.
