Editing Sailor Moon (character) (section)

==Characterization==
Usagi is first introduced as living the life of a normal teenage [[student|schoolgirl]] in 20th century Tokyo. Although well-meaning, she is an underachieving, accident-prone [[wikt:crybaby|crybaby]]. One day, Usagi encounters a mysterious cat with a crescent moon on its forehead, who later reveals herself to be [[Luna (Sailor Moon)|Luna]], a [[Wise old man|mentor archetype]] who introduces Usagi to her new heroic role. Luna gives Usagi a magical brooch and explains how to use it to transform into Sailor Moon, the Guardian of Love and Justice; she tells Usagi that she is a Sailor Guardian who must fight for peace and find her reincarnated comrades, the Sailor Guardians, to locate and protect their charge, the Moon Princess and the mysterious and powerful Silver Crystal, from the forces of evil. Usagi is a reluctant heroine at first,<ref name="Grigsby">{{cite journal|last1=Grigsby|first1=Mary|title=Sailormoon: Manga (Comics) and Anime (Cartoon) Superheroine Meets Barbie: Global Entertainment Commodity Comes to the United States|journal=The Journal of Popular Culture|date=June 1998|volume=32|issue=1|pages=59–80|doi=10.1111/j.0022-3840.1998.3201_59.x|quote=substantially undermine the [[Agency (philosophy)|agency]] of the character}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Allison|first1=Anne|title=A Challenge to Hollywood? Japanese Character Goods Hit the US|journal=Japanese Studies|date=4 August 2010|volume=20|issue=1|pages=67–88|doi=10.1080/10371390050009075|s2cid=145517443}}</ref> but grows more confident and mature over time. She eventually discovers that she is the reincarnation of the Moon Princess, Princess Serenity, from the ancient civilization known as Silver Millennium, and the bearer of the Silver Crystal. She also learns that her lover from her past life, Prince Endymion of Earth, has been reincarnated in the present as well as the hero Tuxedo Mask, and seeks to reunite with him. As Sailor Moon, she sets out with her comrades to fight the villains from her [[Reincarnation|past life]] and to protect the Earth using the legendary Silver Crystal. This provides most of the conflict, romance, and drama in both the manga and the anime.

[[File:Usagi Manga.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Usagi in her school uniform, as drawn by [[Naoko Takeuchi]]]]

As a civilian, Usagi lives in [[Azabu-Jūban|Azabu Jūban]] with her mother, [[List of Sailor Moon characters#Ikuko Tsukino|Ikuko Tsukino]]; her father, [[List of Sailor Moon characters#Kenji Tsukino|Kenji Tsukino]]; and her brother, [[List of Sailor Moon characters#Shingo Tsukino|Shingo Tsukino]]; these names reflect those of [[Naoko Takeuchi]]'s real-life family members.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Naoko|first1=Takeuchi|title=Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Vol. 4|date=1993|publisher=[[Kodansha|Kōdansha]]|location=Tokyo|isbn=4061787535}}{{Page needed|date=April 2016}}</ref> Usagi and her fellow Guardians have diverse backgrounds, and balance their responsibilities as superheroines with their current lives.

Though Tuxedo Mask's identity is initially hidden from her, his civilian identity is eventually revealed to be Mamoru Chiba, who is later revealed to also be the reincarnation of Princess Serenity's star-crossed lover, Prince Endymion. Finally reunited in the present, Usagi and he become romantically involved. Mamoru and Usagi's relationship is a significant part of Usagi's personal life, as well as the series as a whole. Mamoru and Usagi date for a long time in the series and the love they share helps her through many challenges. In various adaptations of the series, the two eventually marry, and major plot lines involve discovering that she will become a "Sovereign of the Earth", known as Neo-Queen Serenity, by the 30th century, and give birth to her future daughter, [[Chibiusa]].

Usagi is a glutton, particularly for sweet foods and they easily distract her; the [[manga]] lists one of her favorite foods as cake. She also loves playing [[video games]] and reading manga. Her favorite subject is listed as [[Family and consumer science|home economics]]. She is said to dislike carrots, and is a poor student in both English and mathematics. She is [[Dental phobia|afraid of dentist]]s, [[Fear of ghosts|ghosts]], and [[Astraphobia|thunder and lightning]], and her greatest dream is to someday be a [[bride]].<ref name="vol 10">{{cite book|last1=Naoko|first1=Takeuchi|title=Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Vol. 10|date=1995|publisher=[[Kodansha|Kodansha Comics]]|location=Tokyo|isbn=406178806X}}{{page needed|date=November 2019}}</ref> She later becomes a member of the Manga Drawing Club at her school,<ref name="act35">{{cite book|last1=Naoko|first1=Takeuchi|title=Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Vol. 12|date=1995|publisher=[[Kodansha|Kodansha Comics]]|location=Tokyo|isbn=4061788140}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=April 2016}} She stands {{height|cm=150}} tall,<ref name="animeI">{{cite book|last1=Naoko|first1=Takeuchi|title=Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon|date=1993|publisher=[[Kodansha|Kodansha Comics]]|isbn=4061777343}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=April 2016}} though her height relative to other characters varies from different design models used in various adaptations.

In the manga and anime, Mamoru refers to her as ''[[Dango|odango]]'' (a kind of rice dumpling), based on her distinctive hairstyle. At first, this is always accompanied with the suffix ''{{nbh}}atama'', meaning "head", but this is gradually dropped. Usagi hates the name at first, but it develops into a sign of affection as they become close. Later in the series, [[Sailor Uranus|Haruka Tenō]] and [[Sailor Starlights#Sailor Star Fighter|Kō Seiya]], other important figures in her life, adopt the name as well. Since the term does not always have foreign language equivalents, this moniker is altered in various ways across its many foreign translations and adaptations.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.smuncensored.com/comparison.php?episodeid=101 |title= Episode 101 |work= Sailor Moon Uncensored |access-date= November 27, 2007 |last= Wheeler |first= Robert |author2= Bednarski, Dan |author3= Wood, Tiffany |archive-date= December 7, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191207085805/https://smuncensored.com/comparison.php?episodeid=101 |url-status= live }}</ref>

===Variations===
Usagi's character is different between versions of the series. In the manga, she starts out as a crybaby, but quickly matures and embraces the responsibilities of her role.<ref name="vol1">{{cite book|last1=Takeuchi|first1=Naoko|title=Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Vol. 1|date=1996|publisher=[[Kodansha|Kodansha Comics]]|location=Tokyo|isbn=4061787217}}</ref><ref name="act52">{{cite book|last1=Naoko|first1=Takeuchi|title=Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Vol. 18.|date=1997|publisher=[[Kodansha|Kōdansha]]|location=Tōkyō|isbn=4061788582}}</ref> Regardless of her maturity as a heroine, the manga often portrays Usagi as lazy or unmotivated in applying herself in her civilian life, such as making fun of her tendency to use [[kana|phonetic writing]] instead of more [[kanji|formal script]] or consistently receiving low academic marks.

The [[Sailor Moon (anime)|original anime]] often portrays Usagi as being more childish.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alimonte |first=Michael |date=2017-09-12 |title=15 Things You Never Knew About Sailor Moon (The Character) |url=https://screenrant.com/sailor-moon-serena-usagi-facts-trivia/ |access-date=2023-12-25 |website=ScreenRant |language=en |archive-date=May 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509105146/https://screenrant.com/sailor-moon-serena-usagi-facts-trivia/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She frequently engages in petty squabbles with her friends, usually with [[Sailor Mars|Rei]], and Chibiusa to the point of developing a friendly rivalry with them or sometimes her little brother Shingo with whom Usagi isn’t shown getting along and shares a sibling rivalry with. Though she is likewise depicted as deeply caring of those around her, and even of her enemies. Repeated themes in the series depict Usagi feeling sympathy for villains she encounters, and working to help redeem them. Her clumsiness and other slovenly aspects are often highlighted for comedy purposes, both as a civilian and while fighting her enemies. Characters often comment on the unlikeliness of someone with as many graceless qualities like Usagi being a fierce warrior like Sailor Moon, but her lack of grace is simultaneously described as charming to those around her. Usagi's gregarious personality is often emphasized as bringing people together, including her friends and allies.

In the live-action series, Usagi differs slightly from her manga and anime counterparts. She is more outgoing and extroverted, and makes friends very easily. This immediately puts her personality in conflict with the other Sailor Guardians, each of whom is solitary to some degree. She rarely uses [[Honorific speech in Japanese|formal speech]] with those of her age (though she does with adults), and refers to everyone as "''given name''-chan" (which is very informal and a way of expressing closeness). She teases Ami when Ami continues calling her "Tsukino-san" (a formal way of speaking to classmates), saying that it is like they are not friends.<ref>''Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon'', Act 5.</ref> Every time a new Sailor Guardian appears, Usagi immediately tries to befriend them, even though almost all of them resist. However, Usagi eventually makes the other Sailor Guardians realize that they are stronger together than alone. Usagi also has a habit of forcing her interests on her new friends. This is prominent in her relationship with Rei, where Usagi repeatedly tries to get Rei to sing.{{Citation needed|date=April 2016}}