The Secret Files of Codename Sailor V

1991 ~ Just one year before Sailormoon started there existed a tale about a courageous Sailor Senshi in training. A soldier that would capture the imaginations and hearts of millions across Japan, France and China,

The one and only... Codename Sailor V.

The series would prove to be so popular, that by the time the third issue had hit store shelves, creator Naoko Takeuchi had already been asked to write another series, adding to the already growing cast, but centered on a team of Sailor Senshi, rather than just one heroine.

This would be one of many concept art drawings made be the manga-ka, before the finished product (Sailormoon) would be produced:

Initially, Sailors V and Moon were slated to be the same young woman, with Artemis (first drawn as a girl) as sole guardian. But Naoko Takeuchi had greater plans, and soon Sailor Moon with her guardian Luna, would take on a life of her own before being joined by Artemis (officially a boy in all manga issues) and his partner Sailor V, now christened Sailor Venus. The rest as they say, is history.

Or is it?

The Codename Sailor V manga initially ran for one whole year, then in 1992 the series came out sporadically alongside the Bishojo Senshi Sailormoon series, until both manga titles' dramatic end in 1997.

Though the Codename Sailor V series never officially had it's own anime or video game outside of the fictitious world of the manga and Sailormoon anime, the series was strong enough that it could have had more merchandise on it's own. Most fans outside of Japan have never truly been initiated into the spastic world protagonist Minako Aino knew. That was of course until now...

The following is a spoiler filled guide to Codename Sailor V. If you would like to see what you're missing, please purchase the manga in English, legally, using the pocket store below:

Select your destination below, to learn about the life of this mysterious and cheerful warrior:

Throughout the Codename Sailor V series, you can find cameos of the main Sailor Senshi and even Naru!
The following are a list of pages from the reprint manga/US release where you can find Sailormoon cameos, not counting the ads in the back for upcoming volumes.

Codename Sailor V Vol. 1:

Vol. 2: Page 46: Motoki Furuhata from Sailormoon greets Minako at the Crown Game Center. He appears again on pages 49, 51, 52, 54 and 58. This is actually his true, first appearance in the series, as his character pre-dates the cast of Sailormoon.

Vol. 5: Page 158: Usagi Tsukino and Naru Osaka are seen just passing Minako. Usagi wants to try the new Sailor V game.

Vol. 6: Page 175: Naru is pulling Usagi away from the new Cyber Warrior Luga display. Motoki appears on pages 176, 177, 178, and 179. Rei Hino appears on page 180, sensing that something is wrong, but being pulled away by her classmates.

Vol.8: Vivian mentions Kunzite on page 247.

Codename Sailor V Vol. 2:

First color page is Codename Sailor V, but if you turn it, there’s a full cast shot, which has Naru, Motoki, Usagi, Rei, Ami and Makoto.

Vol. 9: Page 8: Motoki appears in a bubble above Minako’s head.

Vol. 12: Page 121 there is a silhouette of "Coattail Mask" and "Linda'. Coattail Mask looks like Tuxedo Mask, while Linda looks like Sailor Moon, but with very short hair, in two odangoes. (Hotaru's hair length) From page 122 to the end of this issue, Artemis is reminded of Luna when he sees Luna-chan. (Wan-Wan) On page 127, there is a silhouette of Makoto, an adult Hotaru, Rei, Ami, Usagi, Chibiusa, Minako (sans bow), Setsuna, Michiru and Haruka. The silhouette is supposed to be for the manga Aurora Wedding, Minako's favorite manga about 10 sisters who run a bridal shop by day and are Sailor Warriors by night. Linda (the one designated for Marie-sama) is the last sister to marry and retire. (This implies that before Aurora ends, even the Chibiusa-alike has married. ^.^;;) Page 134 Usagi and Naru are looking at wedding dresses.

Vol. 15: Page 220, Motoki is trying to fix the Sailor V doll catcher game Minako broke. Page 222 Ami is in the background, looking upset. 233, Ami is seen wishing her mother well on her conference trip. Page 237, Minako is seen wearing double-odangoes as a princess of the 30^th Century. Hmm…Pages 231, 245, 251 Minako starts to get a vision of Princess Serenity, but mistakes it for Ace.

Vol. 16: The full cast picture is reprinted, clearer and in black and white on pages 258-259. Page 263, Sailor V has a vision of Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury joining her. Page 266 Sailor V remarks that the crumbling set reminds her of trying to save a long ago kingdom. Page 268 Minako has a sudden image of Princess Serenity. Pages 270-271 Minako can see Princess Serenity, Luna, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter and herself as Sailor Venus. Page 273 Sailor Venus can see Princess Serenity again. Pages 276-278 Ace and Minako remember the Silver Millennium, the Four Generals, Prince Endymion and Princess Serenity. Page 286, Makoto is getting off of the train Minako and Artemis are on.

Toei Animation originally only wanted to animate Sailor V for an OVA, but they later decided that if there were four other Senshi beside her, each with a different costume, they could market the series just as Super Sentai had been. Though the new formula worked, one can only wonder how a complete Codename Sailor V series would look. The very idea was even used for Sailormoon episode 21.