Film

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal the Movie Part 1

Name: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal the Movie Part 1
Genre: Animation, Action, Fantasy
Released: 2021
Cast: Kotono Mitsuishi, Misato Fukuen, Hisako Kanemoto, Rina Sato, Ami Koshimizu

Urban fantasy

A lavishly animated Sailor Moon film that picks up after Crystal's TV run, blending magical girl spectacle with genuinely eerie atmosphere. Mamoru vanishes under supernatural circumstances, and the Sailor Guardians must penetrate a haunting circus mystery. For longtime fans and newcomers alike—it's accessible but rewards familiarity, visually stunning throughout.

TMDb rating

4.0

If you liked this

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica2011

Another magical girl show that transforms the genre into something darker and more psychologically complex. Same DNA of cute uniforms concealing genuine stakes and beautiful animation punctuating horrifying moments.

But It's relentlessly bleak in ways Eternal never attempts, and the twist in episode 3 divides viewers hard. Much shorter (12 episodes) but emotionally heavier.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train2020

A similarly gorgeous anime film that expands a TV series into cinema-scale action and emotion. Both prioritize animation quality and character moments over plot convenience, creating stakes that feel real.

But Set in a completely different universe, so you'd need to know Demon Slayer's world. Less whimsical than Eternal—harder-edged, with different genre DNA.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train poster

Revolutionary Girl Utena1997

A surreal magical girl series that plays with symbolism and darkness in ways that influenced everything after it, including Eternal's circus setting. Utterly unique visual language and philosophical depth.

But Late 90s TV animation shows its age, and the symbolism gets so abstract that plot recedes into background. Also only 39 episodes across a strange broadcast schedule.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal the Movie Part 1

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Paprika2006

Both feature a dark threat that operates through dreams and the subconscious, beautiful heroines fighting to save a compromised man, and animation that prioritizes aesthetic wonder over logical plot progression.

A surreal, dreamlike film where a mysterious threat infiltrates reality and nightmares become visible. Like Eternal, it's about protecting someone lost to an incomprehensible force, but told through gorgeous, hallucinatory imagery that unmoors you from linear storytelling.

But Deliberately confusing and non-narrative. If you need plot clarity and character arcs spelled out, this will frustrate you deeply—it's impressionistic rather than explanatory.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Rebellion-2013

A magical girl film sequel that doubles down on visual spectacle and psychological horror. Shows how anime films can expand and reframe a story in ways TV never could, much like Eternal does.

But Assumes complete familiarity with the TV series and becomes increasingly surreal. The ending is divisive and leaves major plot threads unresolved for years.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Rebellion- poster

Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie1999

An older magical girl film that demonstrates the template: team of guardians, mysterious threat, beautiful animation, genuine emotional stakes. Sakura's optimism balances darkness similarly to Eternal.

But Year 2000 animation quality varies, and it's relatively straightforward plot-wise compared to modern takes. Feels a bit slight by contemporary standards.

Kill la Kill2013

A wild, visually inventive action show that celebrates transformation sequences and color like Eternal does. Same director as Utena—maximalist animation that makes every frame sing.

But Extremely fanservice-heavy, which derails the story for some viewers. Also aggressively weird in a way that feels alienating if you want straightforward narrative.

Nana2005

A shoujo drama that proves anime films can handle character work and emotional subtlety. Different genre entirely, but similar commitment to making you care about the ensemble cast.

But Assumes knowledge of a manga that was never completed, ending on an unresolved cliffhanger. Also distinctly adult-focused where Eternal aims younger.

Promare2019

A dazzling action anime film where vivid color and kinetic movement create spectacle from pure animation craft. Proves modern anime can be purely gorgeous without sacrificing emotional core.

But Plot is almost secondary to visual style, which thrills some viewers and frustrates others. Completely unrelated universe means you're going purely for aesthetics and action.

Boogiepop Phantom2000

Both feature a core team bound by supernatural bonds, a mysterious illness afflicting a beloved character, and a sense that the real world conceals something far stranger beneath.

A Gothic supernatural thriller where shadowy organizations and curses drive the plot, and the Guardians-like ensemble must navigate a world where good and evil blur. Darker and more adult than Eternal but built on the same foundation of trusted allies protecting each other.

But It's deliberately paced slow, sometimes to the point of glacial. Also wraps up incomplete, leaving major threads hanging because the manga source material stalled.