Tokyo Game Show has recently taken place; the major Japanese video game companies were showing their upcoming releases. If there was a Sailor Moon game coming out for Wii and produced by Namco/Bandai, it would have been on the Namco/Bandai list of upcoming games at the show. To our knowledge, it it is absent.

While we have reported whatever information we've been given about about a possible Wii game coming out, right now all we have to go on is what Yes Asia has said, which is not a lot of evidence for its existence. Although anything is possible, if this rumor were try we would have expected the game to at least be mentioned as an upcoming release by the purported publisher.

 In other news, Geneon appears to be exiting the American anime scene. Last month they announced a deal whereby ADV would take over distrobution, now that deal has been cancelled. Geneon is letting go of most of its staff and is becoming an effective non-entity in the US anime market. While this is sad news for the anime industry, and while Geneon released the Sailor Moon films, Sailor Moon S, and Sailor Moon SS seasons on DVD several years back, we feel their absence is largely irrelevant to the potential for Sailor Moon's relerease in the US. Recent indications from Toei are that they're gung-ho on doing things themselves (and via broadband).

Regardless, this is a sad day for the US anime industry; one of its longtime stalwarts is departing. We wish Geneon's staff the best of luck in finding new positions.

Last, Sailor Moon Channel has updated with Act 6 of their animated "Prism Channel " Manga. 

The Sailor Moon channel website updated on September 1st.

On the top-left of the main page, the scrolling text says:

Fall has come quickly upon us. I hope no one is catching a cold. We've updated the mailbox and added Sailor Pluto's profile. For anyone who hasn't played the latest Game Center Crown game, what are you waiting for? 

As the note says, the two updates include the mailbox page and the addition of Sailor Pluto to the album page. It's just a brief profile with her favourite color and such.

Here is the mailbox update, which is listed as 8/1 for some reason.

From Sayarin-chan (Age 10)

I love Usagi-chan! Please continue to punish the Dark Kingdom in the name of the moon, and save the world! I'm rooting for you!

Luna: Thanks for your support! We're doing our very best, so Sayarin-chan, please help us protect the world too!

From Risa-chan (Age 9)

Usagi-chan seems to love ice cream, and I too love ice cream, moreso than sweets. I won't give up!

Luna: Actually, Usagi-chan likes ice cream but, she loves, loves, LOVES, sweets too! Sweet stuff is the best! But don't eat too much of it!
 
From Fearii Earii-san (Age 18)

By chance, I've recently come to love Sailor Moon. Every night I watch the Sailor Moon television series! I've bought the tankoubon too! Sailor Moon is a godly anime!!
  
Luna: Thank you. It seems you've just lately come to appreciate Sailor Moon. We plan to continue to introduce the activities of the sailor senshi at this homepage, so please look forward to it.
 
From Fubami-chan (Age 9)

What's a crescent moon shale?

Luna: I think you're asking about the lyric from the Sailor Moon S ending theme. A shale is a glass dish used in science experiments. If you make one in the shape of a crescent moon, I think it'll be sparkly and beautiful.
  
From Rii-chan (Age 8)

I've loved Sailor Moon since I was three years old. In particular, I love Usagi-chan! I won't forgive anyone who bullies Usagi-chan!
  
Luna: Rii-chan, thank you! With your support, Usagi's courage has gone up 100x! We'll keep fighting our best, so keep watching us!
  
From 'Playful Rabbit' (Age 13)
 
In the Black Moon storyline, when Chibiusa fell, it looked like Usagi's neck was in a lot of pain. Was Usagi okay? Last, I really love everyone!

Luna: Chibiusa is pretty light so I think it was okay. But Usagi said that she was really surprised.

Update: 8/16 - 5:30pm EST -  ANN bumped the poll back to the homepage twenty minutes ago.

Have you voted in the official Toei poll on which series Toei should make available for subtitled download? Sailor Moon is on there. Don't miss this opportunity!

Sailor Moon already has a huge lead thanks to the efforts of fans like yourself, with over 60% of voters checking the series. I'm awed by the efforts the Sailor Moon fan community has made to get out the vote. Great job!

The poll probably isn't going to last for much longer. Soon it'll be off the ANN front page, so Sailor Moon has an even better chance to blow the competition away. Keep asking other fans to vote in the poll if they haven't already. Toei is the poll's sponsor and are checking to see what market there is for their video-on-demand service, so this is the best chance to make sure Toei's staff knows how much Sailor Moon is loved outside Japan.

Also, Sailor Moon Channel has updated. The fifth act of their animated version of the Sailor Moon manga, "Prism Channel," is ready.

New update over at the Sailor Moon Channel website. We've got the translations here for you.

The scrolling text at the top says: In this hot summer, are you enjoying your summer break? We've got a new game in "game Center Crown!" Give it a shot!

The Mailbox page:

From Natsukichi (8 years old)

I LOVE Ami-chan. Getting ranked first in Japan [on tests] is incredible.

Luna: Ami-chan is trying to be a doctor and always studies a ton! She's impressive; fighting enemies as a sailor senshi while not letting her grades slip. If you [Natsukichi] keep trying your best at something, you'll also turn into a wonderful girl.

Updated 7/28: 9PM EST (Links section) 

The latest story with TokyoPop is that they're trying to renegotiate the manga. As I wrote earlier in the week, and as others are saying around the Sailor Moon web, it ends up being something we've heard before, but it's important in that it shows companies like TokyoPop still see the series as having market potential here. I don't forsee further updates to the Otakon-related story.

Moving on, I hope to have the Otakon PGSM panel video available sometime next week. (I have to get my camera back from Yoshimoon then encode and edit it.)

A happy belated birthday to one Tsukino Usagi (and her daughter!)

The Sailor Moon Channel website updated over the weekend. There were two updates, first for the mailbox, second for the item collection. Translations:

From Sailor Yuu (6 years old):

I really love Jupiter the most!! In particular, I love how cool she is. Of course, I love all the Sailor Senshi!

Luna: Jupiter is pretty strong and cool, isn't she. And not only that, she's good at cooking too! Ahh, I wish Usagi would take a cue from her.

Japanese newspaper Yomiuri has an interesting article on a global "TV chill." From the article:

I wish I had more to update with in the last month or two but there's sadly been almost no news to discuss in the Sailor Moon world. If something did happen, we'd have news and translations up right away but...

Anyway they did update at Sailor Moon Channel not too long ago; if you're wondering what it says on the top page it says the following:

There's been an update at Sailor Moon channel and I've translated the small notice on the top left.

Finally, the Asakusa district's rainy season has begun to clear. We dropped by our friends at Banpresto and held a fireworks viewing party along the Sumida river which Takeuchi-sensei attended.

It had this wonderful "Ah, it's summer!" type feeling to it. This month we here at Sailor Moon Channel are working together to see a fortune-telling page get made. Please look forward to it.

Banpresto's HQ is in Taito-ku, not too far from where I live. The Asakusa district is a famous old entertainment center about twenty minutes from my apartment, and is well known for its opening and closing of the Sumida river ceremonies, where fireworks are lit on the river that runs alongside Asakusa. You can see some pictures of Asakusa at the WoL Tour page, since we went there on Day 2.

I figured it would be good to say at least something this month.

First off, thanks to Adam Kanal and Jon Mays for notice on the following. There's an unsubstantiated rumor (note the link) that Japanese magazine Animage has announced that Fox has picked up the rights for a live action Sailor Moon flick starring Lindsay Lohan. I'll pick up a copy of Animage this weekend and see if they actually say anything, but I'm currently rolling my eyes at this.