VIZ MEDIA, IN ASSOCIATION WITH TOEI AND ELEVEN ARTS, ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE

SAILOR MOON R: THE MOVIE U.S. THEATRICAL PREMIERE

First Feature Film Of The Legendary Anime Series Makes A Big Screen Premiere With A Celebrated English Voice Cast In Over 300 Theaters Across The U.S. In January!

San Francisco, CA, November 14, 2016 – Toei Animation Inc. and VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, teams with Los Angeles-based film distribution company, ELEVEN ARTS, to present the U.S. premiere of SAILOR MOON R: THE MOVIE in a series of special limited engagements in late January at more than 300 theaters across the U.S.  

The exclusive event also features the North American theatrical debut of the original SAILOR MOON short, MAKE UP! SAILOR GUARDIANS. 

Screenings will be offered English dubbed, with select screenings in Japanese with English subtitles (please check theaters for info). A special SAILOR MOON bonus gift will be given to ticket holders at the screenings while supplies last. A comprehensive list of participating theater locations and advance ticket purchase will be listed soon at www.elevenarts.net and https://www.viz.com/blog/posts/sailor-moon-r-the-movie-coming-to-theaters.

Presented uncut and for the first time in North American theaters, SAILOR MOON R: THE MOVIE features the renowned English language cast already familiar to fans from the VIZ Media-distributed SAILOR MOON anime series. Voice actress Stephanie Sheh reprises her leading role of Usagi Tsukino / Sailor Moon along with actor Robbie Daymond as Mamoru Chiba / Tuxedo Mask. Newcomer Ben Diskin will voice the role of the film’s villain, Fiore.  

In the film, long before Mamoru found his destiny with Usagi, he gave a single rose in thanks to a lonely boy who helped him recover from the crash that claimed his parents. This long-forgotten friend, Fiore, has been searching the galaxy for a flower worthy of that sweet gesture long ago. The mysterious flower he finds is beautiful, but has a dark side - it has the power to take over planets. To make matters worse, the strange plant is tied to an ominous new asteroid near Earth! Faced with an enemy blooming out of control, it’s up to Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians to band together, stop the impending destruction and save Mamoru! 

In the MAKE UP! SAILOR GUARDIANS short, Usagi and Chibi-Usa are at a cafe when they overhear two girls debating which one of the Sailor Guardians is the best. Will Usagi’s alter-ego, Sailor Moon, end up being their favorite? Fans will not want to miss the answer!   

“SAILOR MOON holds a special place in the hearts of multiple generations of anime fans and these exciting premieres present the film in a vivid way befitting its celebrated status among viewers,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Marketing Manager, Animation. “Fans will love the new, uncut English dub and we’ve worked closely with our partners at Toei Animation and ELEVEN ARTS to bring SAILOR MOON R: THE MOVIE to many major cities and metropolitan area across the U.S. We look forward to audiences enjoying all the action and drama as the Sailor Guardians face their new foe on the big screen!”

“We are beyond thrilled to present SAILOR MOON in theaters for the first time in North America. Watching anime on the big screen is an electrifying experience that no other setting can match. We invite theatergoers to root for their favorite Sailor Guardian alongside us at the premiere of this fantastic anime adventure,” says Ko Mori, President/CEO, ELEVEN ARTS.

“SAILOR MOON has always had a special place in the hearts of fans who grew up with the series. Now, with a new generation of viewers, the unending love for these characters is very gratifying,” said Masayuki Endo, President of Toei Animation Inc. “We are excited to welcome everyone to attend these special screenings and experience SAILOR MOON R: THE MOVIE in the way it was meant to be experienced.”

The SAILOR MOON anime series depicts the adventures of Usagi Tsukino, a cheerful 14-year-old schoolgirl who often finds herself in unwanted trouble. One day, she saves a talking cat named Luna from some mean kids, and her life is changed forever. Luna gives Usagi a magic brooch that transforms her into Sailor Moon, guardian of love and justice!

The SAILOR MOON anime series is inspired by the bestselling manga series created by Naoko Takeuchi. In the series, Usagi Tsukino is a clumsy but kindhearted teenage girl who transforms into the powerful guardian of love and justice, Sailor Moon. Meeting allies along the way who share similar fates, Usagi and her team of planetary Sailor Guardians fight to protect the universe from forces of evil and total annihilation!  

Fans are also invited to enjoy the original, classic SAILOR MOON as well as the all-new SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL anime series, which are now available from VIZ Media as Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Packs as well as multi-disc Standard Edition DVD Sets.

For more information on SAILOR MOON, SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL and other award-winning anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

About Toei Animation Inc.

Based in Los Angeles, Toei Animation Inc. manages the film distribution of Toei’s top properties, including Dragon Ball all series, Sailor Moon, One Piece, Saint Seiya, and many others to North America, Latin America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Toei Animation Los Angeles office further handles all categories of consumer product licensing based on its film and television brands within these territories. For more information, please visit http: http://www.toei-animation-usa.com/.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at www.VIZ.com.

About ELEVEN ARTS

ELEVEN ARTS is a Los Angeles based film production/distribution company known for distributing high quality Japanese films, both live-action and animation, to North American audiences. ELEVEN ARTS’s major live-action titles include: Japan Academy Awards winner Memories of Tomorrow (starring Ken Watanabe) and Oscar nominated director Yoji Yamada’s samurai film Love and Honor. ELEVEN ARTS' anime titles include: DIGIMON ADVENTURE tri, CHAPTER 1: REUNION, the Evangelion franchise, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos, the Puella Magi Madoka Magica franchise, Blue Exorcist: The Movie, Expelled from Paradise, The Last: Naruto the Movie, Boruto: Naruto the Movie, and The Anthem of the Heart.

For additional information, visit: www.elevenarts.net https://www.facebook.com/elevenarts/  https://twitter.com/ELEVEN_ARTS  https://www.instagram.com/eleven_arts/