In the Name of the Moon Exhibit

A Story of Sailor Moon Fandom

Sailor Moon is an iconic Japanese character whose graphic novels (manga) and animation (anime) are beloved worldwide by generations of fans. Created by Naoko Takeuchi in 1991, the manga was an instant success in Japan, was adapted for anime less than a year later, and was selected by North American media producers as the frontrunner series to launch both genres to the mainstream English-speaking market. This exhibit, featuring the collection of Bird Library’s own Collection’s Lead Librarian Rachel Fox Von Swearingen, includes examples of Sailor Moon merchandise, both licensed and fan-created, that have been released over three decades and three continents from 1991-2021. New fan art and commercially released products feed a consistent consumer demand and remind everyone that Sailor Moon will continue to be a timeless icon in manga and anime fan culture.