"Usagi Learns her Lesson: Becoming a Star is Hard Work" is the 7th episode of the 1st season of the Sailor Moon anime and the 7th episode overall. It aired in Japan on April 25, 1992. The DiC English dub title for this episode is "So You Want to Be a Superstar" and it aired in Canada on August 31, 1995, and then in North America on September 14, 1995.
Summary[]
Usagi and Naru both dream of becoming stars like Mikan Shiritori, a graduate from their school. When the girls hear that Mikan is holding a talent contest, they see their chance to achieve stardom.
Plot[]
Usagi is late for school as usual, but stops to stare at a poster of an upcoming superstar. Naru runs past her, and reminds her they need to get going. When they arrive, they talk with Umino and several girls about the new superstar, Mikan Shiratori. Umino declares the next superstar from their school should be Usagi, to the other girl's annoyances.
Mikan signs autographs outside as Jadeite decides he can use Mikan to gather energy for the Dark Kingdom. Back at Usagi’s house, Naru suggests promoting themselves with a song to become the next superstars. As the two sing “Moonlight Densetsu“, Shingo enters and accuses them of making his ears bleed before slamming the door. Usagi then steps on Naru's foot, and messes up the performance, which causes them to argue. They declare each other rivals, and that they would each do better than the other.
After Naru storms out, Usagi sees a talent show promoted on television and decides on a pet performance. She makes Luna her partner, while Naru pairs up with Umino and has him dress as a woman.
Mikan is ambushed in the shower by the Youma Derella, who submerges her in an icy substance that emits from her mouth. Derella then steals her identity, transforming into her. Later, the fake Mikan and Jadeite announce a talent contest, hypnotising the audience into entering.
At school Naru and some friends talk about the newly announced contest. Usagi decides to enter, and Naru declares that she's going to win. On the way to the auditions, Luna protests against participating and comments Usagi has way more important things to focus on now she’s a guardian. Usagi runs away crying, when she comes across Mamoru who makes fun of her plan to participate in the contest. She decides not to participate after all, and goes home instead.
Naru and Umino perform together and both go on to the next round. Mikan announces those moving forward are going to be performing live at the Shan-Shan Plaza next Sunday, and to practice until then.
Next morning at school, Usagi has trouble getting into the class room as the chairs and desks are stacked up against the doors to make room for the students. The class is practicing performing and roleplaying as celebrities, as well as signing pretend autographs. This continues to lunch, where Naru and Umino practice outside to the students. Luna comments people are unusually neglecting their daily activities all over town to stop and perform as if they’re stars.
Sunday at Shan-Shan Plaza, Derella opens the curtains to the illusion of an audience to the contestants. She brainwashes them with a disco ball, and drains the energy from everyone while they're performing on stage, including Naru and Umino. When Usagi comes across Derella who’s in her true form, she runs away in the bathrooms terrified of facing her. Luna demands she has to transform into Sailor Moon in order to save everyone. Sailor Moon enters the room, closing the curtains and appearing on stage to confront her. Derella transforms and chases Sailor Moon through the stacks of chairs. Eventually Derella locates and freezes Sailor Moon’s body, though the ice is shattered by an appearance of Tuxedo Mask. As Derella tries to attack him, Sailor Moon destroys her with Moon Tiara Action, returning all the energy back to the performers.
International Dub Titles[]
- Brazilian Portuguese: O longo e sinuoso caminho para o estrelato ("The Long Winding Road to Stardom")
- European Portuguese: O longo caminho para a fama ("The Long Road to Fame")
- European Spanish: Camino hacia el Estrellato ("Road to Stardom")
- French:
- TV: Une étoile est née ("A Star Is Born")
- DVD: Usagi Demande Pardon ! La célébrité, Une Voie Difficile. ("Usagi Beg Your Pardon! Fame, a Difficult Path.")
- German: Ein Star wird geboren ("A Star is Born")
- Hungarian: Csillag született ("Star was Born")
- Latin America Spanish: El largo y sinuoso camino al estrellato ("The Long and Winding Road to Stardom")
- Polish: Długa droga do gwiazd ("The Long Road To The Stars")
Changes[]
Changes From the Manga[]
Dub Changes[]
- When Sailor Moon destroys Derella in the English dub, she says "Moon Tiara Vaporize!" instead of "Moon Tiara Magic". Sailor Moon also says "I banish you to the Negaverse!" when she destroys Derella. This is one of the two times death is referred to as "banishment to the Negaverse". The other is when Queen Beryl is destroyed.
- In the English dub, instead of singing Moonlight Legend, Naru (Molly) and Usagi (Serena) sing the english version of the theme.
- The German dub removed all references to Cinderella and replaced them with references to Snow White.
- A few parts of the scene where Derella attacked Mikan Shiratori in the shower were cut in the French dub.
- Shan-Shan Plaza is renamed to "Southside Auditorium" in the original English dub.
First Appearances[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This episode features the second time Sailor Moon's tiara is clearly shown hitting the enemy it destroys.
- Naru's act, first with Usagi and later with Umino, involved a performance of "Moonlight Legend".
- The plot is similar to Chapter 4 of Codename: Sailor V; the difference being that in that plot, the Youma was the idol rather than an imposter.