Post by Sailor Venus on May 26, 2005 23:10:37 GMT -5
What do you think about when Sailor Venus pops out onto the screen? A friendly, outgoing, blonde, ditzy, girl? A typical blonde? A carbon copy of Usagi, even though Minako fans claim she's "different" (but don't really explain how)?
Well, I think most people don't understand how Minako is different from Usagi. And this ignorance of who Minako really is...turns into...well...apathy. Who cares about Usagi #2?
But, in this post, I would like to tell everyone just who Minako is.
---------------Minako, Before Meeting Usagi---------------
In nature, Minako is very much alike Usagi. Minako is fun loving, rather ditzy, clumsy, and boy crazy...But, what's different about them?
While both Usagi and Minako are outgoing, Usagi is successful and Minako is not.
Prior to Usagi, Minako did not have any real friends. Why? Well, none of the Inner Senshi had any real friends. It was just more obvious for Ami, Rei, and Makoto.
In the R movie, all the senshi get flashbacks of how they were lonely. Its very obvious for Ami (the 'snotty' bookworm), Rei (the 'weird' psychic) and Makoto (the 'big bully'). Minako's flashback, never really made sense (at least for me...until now).
"Aino-san really doesn't get along with us"
"She says she always has something to do"
Notice this: Minako had people to "talk to" but she never had friends. They never "got along". Minako had a different kind of loneliness. Minako tried to have friends by herself, but she failed.
Unlike Usagi, who had many friends and was happy before she became a senshi, Minako like all of the Inner Senshi was sad and lonely. Minako's difference from Ami, Rei, and Makoto was that, sadly, she had an outgoing nature. This probably made the pain worse when Minako realized that despite her attempts, she still did not have friends.
What attempts am I talking about? When interacting with her previous classmates she would be extremely silly and extremely happy when she's not.
Because, Minako when defensive, always tries to act goofier and happier than she is.
In some sense, she tries to act like Usagi. Moreso.
In Episode 100, when Minako is considering giving up being a Sailor Senshi, she confronts her problems by being extremely...Usagi-like. During a study session, she talks a lot, talks loudly (as a defensive reaction) She even pulls Usagi from her sleep and starts telling her about the Sailor V manga. She laughs a lot...but its all really fake.
---------------Minako's Dream: To Be an Idol---------------
Also, do you know Minako's dream? To be an idol? I...embarassingly have the same dream. Why? Because like Minako, I was outgoing and friendly, but it never really "worked out" for me. Sure, I have people I can talk to during classes, but I don't have any friends to really tell any of my problems to. Well, I can tell you that, at least for me, being an idol means being loved by many. Being an idol means people look up to you and admire you, people love you. Although I know its stupid, I assume that Minako feels the same way. She wants to be an idol because she wants to be loved.
Ironic isn't it? The Senshi of Love, failing at love and failing at true friends.
---------------A side point I want to make: Sailor V---------------
I almost think of Minako as an unsuccessful version of Usagi. (If you read a Tale of Two Cities, compare this to Carton and Darnay). Minako and Usagi "started out the same". But Minako failed at friends and at love...while Usagi succeeded.
Although she's probably not like this in the manga or anime. Just think about this point I want to make:
Takeuchi started with Codename Wa Sailor V and poured her heart into the Minako character, perfecting it and such, because Takeuchi anticipated Sailor V to be her only Sailor manga.
But then...she left it. She almost "stole" the spotlight from Sailor V and put it on Sailor Moon. She made Sailor V, the one that was supposed to be the star, a secondary charcter. In fact, Sailor V became the DECOY for Sailor Moon. The fake.
So next time people say that Minako and Usagi are exactly alike...politely correct them. Please.
Well, I think most people don't understand how Minako is different from Usagi. And this ignorance of who Minako really is...turns into...well...apathy. Who cares about Usagi #2?
But, in this post, I would like to tell everyone just who Minako is.
---------------Minako, Before Meeting Usagi---------------
In nature, Minako is very much alike Usagi. Minako is fun loving, rather ditzy, clumsy, and boy crazy...But, what's different about them?
While both Usagi and Minako are outgoing, Usagi is successful and Minako is not.
Prior to Usagi, Minako did not have any real friends. Why? Well, none of the Inner Senshi had any real friends. It was just more obvious for Ami, Rei, and Makoto.
In the R movie, all the senshi get flashbacks of how they were lonely. Its very obvious for Ami (the 'snotty' bookworm), Rei (the 'weird' psychic) and Makoto (the 'big bully'). Minako's flashback, never really made sense (at least for me...until now).
"Aino-san really doesn't get along with us"
"She says she always has something to do"
Notice this: Minako had people to "talk to" but she never had friends. They never "got along". Minako had a different kind of loneliness. Minako tried to have friends by herself, but she failed.
Unlike Usagi, who had many friends and was happy before she became a senshi, Minako like all of the Inner Senshi was sad and lonely. Minako's difference from Ami, Rei, and Makoto was that, sadly, she had an outgoing nature. This probably made the pain worse when Minako realized that despite her attempts, she still did not have friends.
What attempts am I talking about? When interacting with her previous classmates she would be extremely silly and extremely happy when she's not.
Because, Minako when defensive, always tries to act goofier and happier than she is.
In some sense, she tries to act like Usagi. Moreso.
In Episode 100, when Minako is considering giving up being a Sailor Senshi, she confronts her problems by being extremely...Usagi-like. During a study session, she talks a lot, talks loudly (as a defensive reaction) She even pulls Usagi from her sleep and starts telling her about the Sailor V manga. She laughs a lot...but its all really fake.
---------------Minako's Dream: To Be an Idol---------------
Also, do you know Minako's dream? To be an idol? I...embarassingly have the same dream. Why? Because like Minako, I was outgoing and friendly, but it never really "worked out" for me. Sure, I have people I can talk to during classes, but I don't have any friends to really tell any of my problems to. Well, I can tell you that, at least for me, being an idol means being loved by many. Being an idol means people look up to you and admire you, people love you. Although I know its stupid, I assume that Minako feels the same way. She wants to be an idol because she wants to be loved.
Ironic isn't it? The Senshi of Love, failing at love and failing at true friends.
---------------A side point I want to make: Sailor V---------------
I almost think of Minako as an unsuccessful version of Usagi. (If you read a Tale of Two Cities, compare this to Carton and Darnay). Minako and Usagi "started out the same". But Minako failed at friends and at love...while Usagi succeeded.
Although she's probably not like this in the manga or anime. Just think about this point I want to make:
Takeuchi started with Codename Wa Sailor V and poured her heart into the Minako character, perfecting it and such, because Takeuchi anticipated Sailor V to be her only Sailor manga.
But then...she left it. She almost "stole" the spotlight from Sailor V and put it on Sailor Moon. She made Sailor V, the one that was supposed to be the star, a secondary charcter. In fact, Sailor V became the DECOY for Sailor Moon. The fake.
So next time people say that Minako and Usagi are exactly alike...politely correct them. Please.
