So, I was all set up for the next installment of just not impressive enough, 1.1:1 adaption... and got just that and then a little. For the first time in quite awhile I can actually find some interest and enjoyment in typing these again. So let's dive into it.
Technical Performance
Let's get the horrible stuff out of the way right now. I mean, I already said many times how I usually don't care or wouldn't even notice animation errors, right? But unless my eyes were playing tricks on me, my PC is even worse off than I thought (which is likely but doubtful), the energy pillar from the Black Crystal looked just AWFUL. You could see the choppy pieces of color clearly without even trying and it really hurt the eyes to look at it. Honestly that's not just sloppy in a way where you actually have to actively look for it to look for, it's just plain ugly. We are not in the 80s anymore... With such a big name as Toei, the company should be ashamed of themselves to approve this. But I guess that is what you get with low funding.
Let's move on...
Characters and Practical Performance
While Act 22 kept to Sailor Moon Crystal's usual style of following the manga equivalent very closely, the difference this time lay in many a small addition which in their sum managed to give this episode the extra push, this anime had been sorely lacking lately (or more like most of the time).
The important scene of this act clearly is Usagi's recovery of strength and the rescue of Mercury, Mars and Jupiter in the process. This was already one of the stronger points of the manga arc and for once the team of Sailor Moon Crystal managed to capture this pivotal moment very well. In fact for once I dare say this sequence looked much better animated than it did on paper.
The scenes flowed well together and while still keeping to the predetermined order were not just merely a panel to frame adaption but instead adapted nicely to the actual medium of anime to work very well. Considering how often I have criticized exactly that as one of the main problems with this anime, it deserves to be mentioned. The Senshi all got to fire of an attack as well and there was actual much more of a confrontation before the eventual escape here than in the manga.
The important thing this sequence had, which Sailor Moon Crystal in its stoic attempt to keep exactly to the source material more often than not lacks, is: Heart. There was actually feeling conveyed here which went beyond just going through the motions (or the manga script). For one of the few times Sailor Moon Crystal felt like its own anime here and not just an animated manga.
I would disagree with Rebecca here that Venus' aggravation at being left behind is an (un-)intentional poke at the author/producer's expense... First of I don't personally find Crystal's team capable of that. It would pretty much be like admitting how much they suck at making things better if it is apparently such a problem (and let's admit, Venus' inactivity in this arc IS a problem). Also the line is almost the same in the manga, so Takeuchi would have to be poking fun at her own work... at which point she would have had no knowledge of Crystal ever existing or turning out like this. Again, I find that unlikely.
Conclusion
Perhaps one of the strongest episodes since the beginning of the arc and Ami's character part. While once again Sailor Moon Crystal did not stir very far from the source materials, it managed to produce an anime episode for once. An anime episode with some heart in it. Normally THIS should be the norm and not something to celebrate over but at this point, I am grateful for just about anything.
Rating: 4/5
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