Designers share legacy of ‘Sailor Moon’ & ‘Yu-Gi-Oh!’ at SAC

From auditions to becoming animation stars

Kazuko Tadano recounted her whirlwind entry into Sailor Moon history, and in 1992, after finding out at the last minute about a character design audition for the anime adaptation of Naoko Takeuchi’s manga, she was given less than 24 hours to submit her work. “I was so stressed,” Tadano laughed, “but I poured my heart into my characters; I wanted them to sparkle with both innocence and determination.” Her designs, which streamlined Takeuchi’s intricate manga art for animation, won over both the author and studio Toei. 

Hiromi Matsushita, seated beside her, interjected with a wry smile, saying “The schedule was insane. We were juggling weekly episodes and deadlines; all while trying to honor Naoko-sensei’s vision.” As the animation director for critical episodes like the series premiere and Episode 21’s meta-commentary on animation studio struggles, Matsushita described 18-hour workdays as routine. “We’d collapse at our desks, wake up to ink smudges on our faces, and do it again. The pressure was crazy, but there was magic in that chaos; like we were channeling the Sailor Guardians’ own battles against time.”

The adaptation faced early challenges, including balancing the manga’s mature themes with a younger audience. Tadano revealed she did her best to take a sensitive approach but without losing the original aesthetic of the characters to preserve the “pure, magical girl essence.” The gamble paid off, and Sailor Moon became a global phenomenon, overshadowing Toei’s other projects at the time and taking priority on their production scheduling. Even Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno praised Tadano’s work, and requested signed designs from her, which obviously was an incredible personal accomplishment for her.  

25 years later, history repeated itself, and when Sailor Moon Eternal and Cosmos films entered production, Toei studio held another audition but this time only as a “formality”. “They only wanted Tadano,” Matsushita interjected with a grin, “Her designs are timeless.”

Rewriting rules for a new generation

The couple’s collaboration extended to the global success of Yu-Gi-Oh! and here, the stakes were different with creator, Kazuki Takahashi requesting a complete stylistic overhaul to target elementary schoolers. “We aged down the characters, simplified the card game mechanics, and removed darker themes,” Matsushita explained. Older fans initially balked at the shift, but the duo’s expressive, energetic designs; blending Tadano’s delicate linework with Matsushita’s dynamic action; eventually won over the hearts of original fans. 

The latest series, Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!!, faced unique challenges. The story sidelined the original protagonist in favor of young twin heroes, Yuhi and Yudias. “Fans were again skeptical, but we focused on making their bond feel real,” Tadano said. The series, initially slated for two years, was extended to three due to its popularity, and concluded this March.

When asked about their most challenging character, Tadano didn’t hesitate: Sailor Venus. “She was too similar to Usagi initially; same hair color, similar personality. I had to tweak her shading and expressions to make her stand out!” She also spoke of her connection to some characters, saying, “Strong, fiery characters inspire me. Ray’s determination mirrors my own during those sleepless nights!” 

Matsushita again chimed in, saying “the chaotic synergy of their partnership is what makes it exciting, we argue over details, but that tension creates magic, and together we are unstoppable.”