Episode 34 of the anime, the first-season chapter where the Moon Princess mystery finally resolves. Tuxedo Mask and Zoisite duel over the Rainbow Crystals at the Star Tower, Usagi is dragged into the fight, and her tears crystallize into the Silver Crystal, unveiling her true identity.
Main Characters (3)
Summary
Compelled to answer Zoisite's challenge, Mamoru squares off against him for the Rainbow Crystals, and Usagi is pulled into the confrontation without meaning to be.
Key Events
The newest guardian, Sailor Venus, turns out to be a schoolgirl named Minako Aino. Barred by Queen Beryl from killing Tuxedo Mask, Zoisite instead dares him to a duel for the crystals. Usagi trails Mamoru toward the Star Tower after his unexpected kindness leaves her suspicious, and Zoisite ushers the pair straight to the dueling ground. Both men set their crystals down, but Kunzite snatches them away before the match can begin, enraging Mamoru.
Zoisite tries to burn Usagi and Mamoru inside an elevator, defying Beryl's command to spare Tuxedo Mask, which forces Usagi to become Sailor Moon in front of him. Once they escape, Mamoru admits he is Tuxedo Mask. Goaded into resuming the fight under a promise of fairness, he is instead stabbed from behind by a crystal spear. A distraught Usagi begins to cry, and her tears pull the merged Rainbow Crystals together into the Silver Crystal, marking her as the long-sought Moon Princess.
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Notes
The episode adapts Act 8 and the opening of Act 9 with several changes. In the manga, Venus arrives as Sailor V and the presumed princess, Kunzite rather than Zoisite lures the guardians to the tower, no one baits Tuxedo Mask into a duel, and Kunzite delivers the mortal wound. The crystal there forms from Sailor Moon's tears alone and only attaches to the Moon Stick during the later fight against Metalia, and the setting is Tokyo Tower.
The DiC dub trimmed the impalement and the pastel montage for younger audiences, and swapped the transformation song Illusionary Silver Crystal for My Only Love, while Mexico's dub swapped in a song titled Resplandeciente Cristal de Plata. Princess Serenity and the Silver Crystal both debut here. This is the only episode in the series to show Mamoru transforming on screen, and the first since episode 2 in which Usagi skips her opening self-introduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in "The Shining Silver Crystal: The Moon Princess Appears"?
In this first-season episode, Tuxedo Mask duels Zoisite over the Rainbow Crystals at the Star Tower, and Usagi is pulled into the fight. Her tears crystallize into the Silver Crystal, revealing her true identity as the Moon Princess.
How does Usagi discover she is Princess Serenity?
Usagi discovers her identity when Zoisite stabs Mamoru from behind during their duel. Grief stricken by his wound, her tears pull the merged Rainbow Crystals together into the Silver Crystal, marking her as the long-sought Moon Princess.
How does Mamoru reveal he is Tuxedo Mask?
After Zoisite traps Usagi and Mamoru in a burning elevator, forcing Usagi to transform into Sailor Moon in front of him, the two escape and Mamoru admits that he is Tuxedo Mask.
Who is Sailor Venus revealed to be in this episode?
This episode reveals that the newest guardian, Sailor Venus, is a schoolgirl named Minako Aino.
How does this episode differ from the manga version of the story?
In the manga, Sailor Venus arrives as Sailor V and the presumed princess, Kunzite rather than Zoisite lures the guardians to the tower and delivers the fatal blow to Tuxedo Mask, and the Silver Crystal forms from Sailor Moon's tears alone, only later attaching to the Moon Stick during the fight against Metalia.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on The Shining Silver Crystal: The Moon Princess Appears? The Sailor Moon Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Sailor Moon anime series, manga, and official materials. Sailor Moon was created by Naoko Takeuchi, published by Kodansha, and animated by Toei Animation. All rights to Sailor Moon and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byNaoko Takeuchi
- Published byKodansha
- Animated byToei Animation
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Toei Animation and Kodansha.
- Game pages: official box art, credited to the game's respective publishers.
- Manga chapter pages: volume covers, credited to Kodansha and Naoko Takeuchi.
Official resources:
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