Sailor Moon’s enduring popularity owes much to DIC Entertainment's English dub airing on Cartoon Network's Toonami block from 1998 to 2001. The dub is notorious for its censorship of death, queer content, Japanese names, and cultural elements like driving on the left. Many episodes were trimmed or edited with new animation to disguise objectionable scenes, while some were simply left undubbed and cut entirely. Episode #20, “The Summer, the Beach, Youth, and Ghosts”, is among the rare episodes banned from Toonami’s lineup, but it's actually one of the series’ most charming side adventures.

Naoko Takeuchi’s Sailor Moon is intricately crafted, brimming with references to Greco-Roman mythology, astrology, haute couture, Japanese folklore, and even her own background in chemistry. In the series, Usagi Tsukino, the reincarnation of the Moon Princess, transforms into Sailor Moon alongside her friends, the Sailor Guardians, to protect Earth from evil. For young American audiences, Toonami’s airing of Sailor Moon was a first taste of anime, and the unfamiliar cultural elements called for adjustments at the time. But today, Sailor Moon is iconic worldwide, and the once-banned episode is available on streaming platforms, making it a perfect Halloween treat.

Sailor Moon Encounters A Different Kind of Monster

Sailor Moon Meets Hotel Transylvania

Usagi, Ami, and Rei set out for a weekend of training at the beach. They arrive at a scenic beach only to discover that their lodging is a spooky mansion seemingly occupied by a vampire, a werewolf, and a Frankenstein's monster. A young girl named Sakiko also lives there with her strict father, who uses hypnosis to exploit her psychic abilities. As the Sailor Guardians try to dispel the mansion’s negative energy, they face an apparition immune to their powers. Sakiko ultimately breaks free from her father’s influence and destroys the ghost.

Many omitted episodes from Sailor Moon's first season are filler, cut to introduce the other Guardians sooner. Given its Summer setting but Halloween-style monsters, it’s unsurprising that this odd episode was skipped. However, in Japan, supernatural occurrences are often linked to August’s Obon festival, honoring ancestral spirits, and aligning well with the ghostly theme. Despite the Sailor Guardians’ presence, the episode focuses more on the trio of monsters and Sakiko’s struggle with her father. The plot doesn’t affect the season’s continuity and lacks direct ties to the primary villain, Queen Beryl, making it an easily cut standalone story.

The Episode is Finally Available for Streaming

Hulu is Home to Viz Media's Updated English Dub

Fortunately, Viz Media’s 2014 redub restored all 200 episodes of Sailor Moon, including “The Summer, the Beach, Youth, and Ghosts.” This once-missing episode is more lighthearted than frightening, featuring a comedic yet heartwarming story. Usagi, Ami, and Rei’s chemistry shines as Rei and Usagi’s sisterly squabbles bubble over with tension, while Sakiko’s journey is both tragic and touching. The monstrous trio provides much-needed comedic relief to balance Sakiko’s family drama, as Usagi misinterprets their kind deeds as frightening attempts on her life. They’re revealed to be regular people, in costumes supposedly, and Usagi realizes she’s judged them too hastily.

Toonami remains a staple 27 years after its debut, recently reviving its Retro Anime Block and introducing new shows like Invincible Fighting Girl, premiering November 2nd. Viz Media’s complete 2014 Sailor Moon dub, including all previously cut episodes, is now available for streaming on Hulu and physical media. For longtime fans who missed out on the fifth and final season of the show, Sailor Moon Sailor Stars, due to licensing issues, the fifth season is also dubbed in English now, offering American audiences the entire series for the first time.