In March, the powerful yet personable Captain Marvel captured the hearts of both longtime superhero fans and casual watchers alike. Grossing $153 million on opening weekend, Captain Marvel captivated audiences with her goofy and lovable personality, her resolution to do the right thing even if it’s against the status quo, and of course her awe-inspiring powers. As the first female-led Marvel movie, Captain Marvel has been an achievement for women who want to be able to see themselves as characters with depth and multifaceted personalities. A similar character fulfilled this demand for an empowered female character nearly two decades ago across the world: Sailor Moon. While the Japanese animated show was primarily targeted towards children, Sailor Moon and Captain Marvel are both prime examples of female superhero characters that have deep and relatable personalities, as opposed to one-dimensional female characters that exist for the plot and development of male characters.
Captain Marvel and Sailor Moon are both alike mainly in the way that they are flawed characters, yet their flaws are what make them unique and give them the drive and motivation to succeed. For instance, in Captain Marvel, Carol is told her whole life from a young age that she should give up when faced with difficulty, usually by the male authority figures in her life. However, when faced with difficulties combined with misogyny, Carol resolves to keep trying not only to prove those who doubt her wrong, but to prove to herself that she is good enough to achieve her dreams. Men in Carol’s life had constantly put her down, from the times when she was bullied by men as a young girl to when she was taunted and discriminated against by men when she was training to be in the Air Force. While at first Carol’s tendency to mess up and make mistakes may initially seem like a character flaw, at the end of the movie it is revealed that her endurance to keep persevering after making a mistake is her true strength. Similarly, Sailor Moon’s personality flaw is that she is too sensitive and caring to make a good superhero; she cries when she is hurt or in danger, easily gets her feelings hurt by criticism, and has too much to lose by loving too much. Throughout the series, Sailor Moon is often made fun of for being a “crybaby,” both by the male villains she fights as a superhero and by men she encounters in civilian life. However, Sailor Moon turns her sensitivity and love into her strengths when it comes to fights. Sailor Moon always puts her friends first out of love and is willing to die to save them. She also uses her sensitive and caring nature to reach out to her opponents and gain understanding of their motivations and help them instead of resorting to violence.
Overall, Captain Marvel and Sailor Moon are both iconic role models for girls and women. They both represent flawed and unique individuals who are able to make their weaknesses their strengths. Unlike male superheroes, female audiences are able to relate when female superheroes push past the difficulties of both external sexism and internal conflicts to pursue their goals and protect humanity.
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