The Key to a Successful Spin Off is Keeping...

DrTempo

Well-Known Member
#1
Well, this idea has gained some respect at Spacebattles, so I'm gonna let you guys have a crack at it, and see what you think.
Original post:
Well, I'm a big fan of "Key to a Successful Interview," that famous fic by the Ero-Sennin that puts a fresh spin on the Ranma 1/2 mythos. After noticing the cameo by Ami Mizuno in chapter 8 of that fic, I got to thinking....What if the basic formula of "Key to a Successful Interview" was applied to Sailor Moon?

The specific tropes applied are:
Up To Eleven: Natch. Sailor Moon and co. be better fighters(but would still cause a lot of destruction.)
One of Us: One of the things that makes Ranma and co. different from the usual portrayals, this'd be applied to the Senshi as well.
Specifically:
Usagi: She'd be a big Magical Girl fan; Cutey Honey is her idol, with Sakura from "Cardcaptor Sakura" a close second. This makes Usagi genre savvy, making her a bit more experienced in terms of fighting youma(AKA, she knows how to better handle situations.) In fact, she actually complains about having a tiara as her weapon, wanting to try and change its shape(this refers to the Possessed Senshi thread at TFF, where Usagi did just this.)
Ami: Ami loves anime and games that have a deep story and deep strategy; she loves Evangelion and Shin Megami Tensei, for example. She has always had a secret fantasy of being a strong hero; in fact, she actually drew a picture similar to (this pic)to show this fantasy of hers; this'd be one of many nods to real world fandom; another example is that Ami is a major fan of "Nobody Dies."
Rei: She does love shoujo fics, but is more of a casual fan(but still argues with Usagi over manga.)
Makoto: Being the tomboy she is, she loves shonen stuff, especially Naruto and Dragon Ball Z; her favorite fanmanga is "Dragonball Multiverse."
Minako: Her time in England introduced her to Doctor Who, and she loves that series.
..Of course,

Crazy Awesome: Again, obvious. Usagi and co. would be a bit more actiony, and this does cause property destruction.
Darker and Edgier: Much like "Interview", there're times where balck comedy and vulgarity'd be there.
Rule of Funny/Cool: Much like "Interview", the fic'd run on these rules.
Took a Level in Badass: The Senshi'd be a bit more badass, but OF COURSE the villains'd step it up, too.


...Ero-Sennin himself gave the OK for this kind of project; however, I am sure I couldn't pull it off if I tried to write it.

Here's the original idea as sent to him on The Fanfiction Forum:

Quote:
After reading Key to a Successful Interview, and notciing the Sialor Merucry caemo, along with reading the Possessed Senshi story.. It got me thinking..What if the forumla used for Key to a Successful Interview was applied to Sailor Moon?

Examples:
Usagi'd be magical girl Genre Savvy, being a big fan of said genre.
Ami'd be a bit more otaku-ish, prefering anime that stimulate the mind(Eva being a prime example; Ami'd also enjoy the Shin Megami Tensei games for their interesting plot and strategic combat).
Makoto'd be a major shonen fan...

Of course, this'd lead to plenty of Rule of Cool, Rule of Funny, and other moments. If this takes place in the same universe as Key to a Successful Interview does, the events of the fics could be mentioned(for example, Ami commenting of Shampoo's reign of terror, or Akane becoming a Senshi fan after seeing one of their badass moments.)




I have a ton of stuff on my plate, so I'd never be able to write it myself. However, I will give you my full blessing and permission to use the setting of Interview as you see fit. Just be sure to ask me about any Ranma characters you might borrow.?
Anonguy's snippet:
Seeing Usagi is a fan of Cardcaptor Sakura (coming into existence three years after Sailor Moon), I'll assume a sliding timescale.

Hanging lampshades and making jokes about it is fine in moderation, before you start becoming obnoxious. So let's see... due to Genre Savvy, Usagi's first meeting with Luna should go different, due to recognizing the magical animal mascot. A PreCure and CCS shout out wouldn't hurt...

Usagi: Oh wow, a talking cat! Ooo, ooo! I know what happens next!
Luna: Y-you do?
Usagi: Sure, I'm supposed to look for the Prism Stones! But I'd need a partner for that... Or maybe it's the Jewel Seeds? Hrrmmm...
Luna: I have no idea what you're talking about.
Usagi: And I didn't open a book containing ridiculously powerful magic cards either... This is tougher than I thought.
Luna: I could just tell you.
Usagi: What's the fun in that? Wait, maybe I'm actually a cyborg like Honey-san! USAGI FLASH! Hmm, nothing. Pooh.
Luna: What has the moon princess been reborn into?

Something like that.
Ero-Sennin's contributions:
Here's something that Andrew Joshua Talon and I put together while shooting the shit.


= = =


*That morning started out like any other, she was roused from bed by her loudly mother, hurriedly got ready, and rushed out the door*

Usagi: Ugh...school. Why can't I just watch cartoons all day? Anything I need to learn I can from Kamen Rider.

*Passing a convenient store, she noticed some kids messing with a cat*

Usagi: ... *She stops and stares* Hey, a cat.

Luna: Meow! Meerow!

Kids: Haha, cats suck!

Usagi: *Walks over to the kids and promptly whacks all three with her bookbag* Beat it, you future serial somethingorothers!

Kids: AH! Run! It's that freak Aryan girl!

Usagi: Yes, make way for the homo superior!

*They run for it, leaving the cat behind*

Luna: ...

Usagi: *She looks down at the cat* Huh, a cat with a band-aid on its head. *She picks it up carefully and peels off the band-aid carefully* ...A crescent moon shaped spot, that's not something you see on a cat every day...

Luna: *Stare*

Usagi: *She thinks about her extensive library of magical girl anime* ...You're a magical cat, aren't you?

Luna: ... *blink*

Usagi: Yes! That must be it! And our meeting must be destiny, isn't it?

Luna: ...

Usagi: And I'm really supposed to be a real magical girl, with the power to save everyone's smiles!

Luna: ...

Usagi: Or I'm just a crazy middle schooler talking to a cat. *She notices a crowd of people staring at her*

Luna: ... *Squirms free and scampers off*

People: ...

Usagi: OI! DO I STARE AT YOU WHEN YOU'RE ACTING LIKE A LUNATIC!?

People: ...

Usagi: *Points* Get outta here...

Naru: *Walks over* Usagi? You okay?

Usagi: The nerve of people, honestly...oh, hey Naru!

*A mother and child from the crowd linger as Naru reaches her*

Child: Mommy, the blonde girl is scary!

Mother: Just don't make eye contact...

Naru: Uh, hi Usagi, are you...?

Usagi: *She had heard that* One second. *She gets in the mother and child's faces* OOOOOH EYE CONTAAAAAAAAAAAACT! *She stares flatly at the two* Beat it, you and your snide comments! *She boots the mother in the rear as they hurry off*

Mother: Ahh!

Usagi: *Walks back over to Naru* People these days...

Naru: Usagi, did you take anything out of your parents' medical cabinet today?

Usagi: Nah, not today. My dad's vicodin perscription ran out.

Naru: ... I was joking.

Usagi: So was I.

Naru: *Skeptical look*

Usagi: I do not pop vics! *Haughty sniff* I prefer loritab.

Naru: ... You're still joking, right?

Usagi: ... *Stare* Of course.

Naru: ... Riiight.

*As the two depart, Luna watches from a hiding spot*

Luna: Oh please, oh please do not let it be her...
Ideas for character inteprations(again, courtesy Ero-Sennin):
Usagi: Hyperactive and flippant (if not somewhat psychopathic), she actually is intelligent (occasionally sprouting something she in some way should not know), but does not apply herself because she finds schoolwork tedious. In short, she's got a bit of Tomo Takino in there. Because of a love of Kamen Rider developed a few years back, she at least knows some Karate from lessons taken at a third rate shopping plaza martial arts dojo. As Sailor Moon, she gets very physical with her opponents, resulting often in severe property damage. She expresses dismay at her tiara at first, until she learns that she can perform quite a few VERY mean and nasty tricks with it to kill youma.

Ami: We took DrTempo's idea and the Interview bit and ran with it. She does all of that anime crap, and if it weren't for her schoolwork she'd be a fujoshi who never left her house. Also borrowed was a gag in Sailor Moon Abridged where Ami failed to get into a really good school because of Ryu (Greg), said school being Mugen School. It's as much her fault as it is his for being ejected from the entrance test, but she resents him quite a bit passive-aggressively. She also makes doujinshi books and does artwork and programming for doujin games. As Sailor Mercury, she doesn't mind her lack of offensive capabilities, and together with Usagi devises clever ways to use her "Smoke Screen in a Can" to devious effect.

Rei: She's the weirdo, and after Usagi it's kind of a shock to state it. She has trouble socializing with people because when she was little she discovered she could talk to crows, and that the crows not only listened to her but enjoyed her company immensely. When she's flustered, she tends to blurt things out, and if she's bothered by something she tends to rant about it to the crows. If said rant is about a person in particular...those crows tend to get some payback in Rei's name. When Rei discovered that she could set things on fire...she found herself quite content with being Sailor Mars. However, she expresses a great deal of exasperation at Usagi's manic ways, and Naru's, but that'll be elaborated on when you get to her...

Makoto: She's tall, strong, and knows it. After moving to Azabu she joined Usagi's third rate dojo, and when challenged by Usagi beat the stuffing out of her in thirty seconds flat. Surprisingly, it turns out that Usagi has lasted the longest against any of Makoto's opponents. The most unaltered of the Senshi, the major change comes in that two years prior she tried to be a street vigilante when she realized just how strong she was physically and she was quite successful...until the local Yakuza figured out her identity through her height (and chest) and ratted her out to the police. After spending six months in juvie for a few cases of assault and reckless endangerment, she was released for good behavior and placed under the watch of a parole officer on the Yakuza payroll. Because of those events, she's reluctant to perform any act of heroism in public, less she end up right back in Juvie. Usagi, the perceptive one, figures out that she's a Sailor Senshi not long after Rei becomes Mars, and is the only one of them who does not become a Senshi in the midst of a life or death struggle.

Minako: Talon and I haven't elaborated much with her, but as a joke we went back and forth with the idea that while in England she stumbled onto the Wizarding World and began beating up on no-name Death Eaters...becoming a Superhero figure known as Sailor V that captured the Muggle World's imagination. (And in the tradition of crossing over fanfics, this incarnation of Magical Britain's is HI POWER's.)

Mamoru/Tuxedo Kamen: An eighteen year old orphan with tons of money living in 21st Century Japan? Gee, what do we do with him? Mamoru is an otaku, a handsome, well-kept, and educated otaku, but still one nonetheless. His favorite thing in the world? Magical Girls, when Usagi first meets him, he's buying Resin Kits of Fate and Nanoha. As a result, he's a victim of the moe aesthetic, and like Konata's father in Lucky Star, adores cute things almost creepily so. He does, however, find Usagi to be completely psychotic and annoying as all Hell. As Tuxedo Kamen, however, he not only enjoys Sailor Moon's antics, but he actively enables and joins in with them...much to the dismay of the other Senshi.

Naru: She figures out Usagi is Sailor Moon day one, and decides to be her "Civilian Sidekick" like in most of the Kamen Rider series. Completely in-character at the start, that takes a flying leap off a bridge and onto another in the path of an oncoming train when Usagi lets Naru use the Disguise Pen to infiltrate one of Jadeite's schemes. Naru discovers that the Disguise Pen's power isn't merely smoke and mirrors and becomes quite enamored with the ability to not only change her appearance but (as Usagi quickly found out) gender as well.

Umino: Not much to change here, except that he suffers Mousse's curse of being exceptionally good looking under those hideous glasses, but needs them.

Luna: The straight man through and through; she expresses great dismay at Usagi's methods but does not question the result. Over time she comes to expect her to take the most extreme option, and expresses surprise when she does something sensible for once. The contrast between her flippant behavior and her often brilliant abilities as a Sailor Senshi and leader often leaves her at a loss, and she tends to get on Usagi about it from time to time.
Jonen C's idea:
As an alternative interpretation of Luna (and possibly a good bit of Urban Fantasy appeal, maybe up to and including a minor crossover with Bleach (or specifically: Stray Cat Strut)), consider how she's handled in Sailor Moon CS.

Basically, Luna (and presumably Artemis) still have their memories in a bit of a fritz, but to a lesser extent, and retain the ability to assume human form, which greatly enhances their ability to do their jobs.

As a further aside, and an extensive shout out, I propose that human form Luna assume the name "Selene Kyle."
My response:
Hmm..That'd be an interesting nod, Jonen C. Also, I was thinking that Luna does mention her swiss cheese memory early on, and Usagi(or Makoto) makes a joke related to Yoruichi from Bleach(again, her brother made her watch a few episodes). Also, the Selene Kyle bit would cue a joke by Ami. Also, a couple of things:

Filler: We all know the SM anime lived on filler; in this fic's universe, the filler shows events that take place between the major manga events.

For example, the one episode that happened between Ami being awakened and Rei being awakened would be mentioned, and Usagi or Ami would make a Chibi Moon joke(in that episode, Usagi briefly ended up as a toddler). Cue a sneeze 1000 years later by a certain pink-haired girl...
"Interview"'s influence: The events of "Interview" would be mentioned in the news during this fic, along with other mentions allowing the readers to know what's going on in Nerima during this fic(basically showing where in "Interview" the events of this fic are occuring alongside.)

For example, after the mentioned adventure above, Ami leaves to attend the Evangelion convention that Ranma and Akane go to in "Interview" chapter 8; thus explaining why Ami and Usagi only had one adventure before Rei was awakened.) This would lead to Ami's POV of that chapter.


Real life fandom mentioning: To help show how otaku these Senshi are, as I suggested, they mention real world fanfic and fancomics; for example, Ami is a big fan of "Nobody Dies", and Makoto reads the fancomic "Dragonball Multiverse."


..As for the Outer Senshi, they'd be closer to their canon versions; they'd have some quirks, but not as bad as the Inners do.
Ero-Sennin's next response:
Making Usagi so genre savvy that she just subverts the stuff she finds gets boring quickly. My aim with Usagi is to apply the right answers to the wrong situations. Youma a problem? KICK THE SHIT OUT OF IT. SMA is easily one of my favorite things ever, it revived my interest in Sailor Moon and is the main reason I'm entertaining this idea beyond your request, Tempo.

Both Ami and Rei's Alt Interpretations are the direct result of SMA, and of the two Rei's my favorite. Rather than being Satanic and mean, her social awkwardness comes off as endearingly adorable in the right circumstances.

Mako-chan liking Shounen fits the bill. She'd be a definite fan of Kamen Rider too, but after scheming with Talon it'd be much funnier if she were a fan of American street level hero types (hence her vigilantism) such as Spider-Man, Batman, and (in a case of direct inspiration) Kick-Ass.

Minako we haven't really gotten to yet beyond the joke, so she's on the back burner. Mamoru though, is just a lulzcow waiting to happen. Especially in the latest scripting me and Talon went through.

Speaking of: If you think the Senshi are bad, the Dark Kingdom is WORSE. You see, they have a very serious problem: Poor logistics and communication. Therefore, Beryl really has only Jadeite's word to go by whenever he comes back and claims "Sailor Moon kicked my ass" and cannot bring herself to believe it. This leads to a very interesting scenario...
 
#2
I suggest a little tweak on Usagi: when she says "Cutie Honey", everybody thinks of Cutie Honey F(which actually aired right after the end of Sailor Stars), and while she does know and did watch the series, she is actually a hardcore fan of the original manga, anime and their sequels, spin-off and cameos(the reason she has Devilman Lady and Violence Jack).
And, of course, her hidden Kekko Kamen, Maboroshi Panty, Henchin Pokoider and Henkini Tamaider collections.

This shows in little subtle ways... most of the time at least. And the possibility Sailor Moon is NOT Usagi's only secret identity.
 

DrTempo

Well-Known Member
#3
ankokudaishogun said:
I suggest a little tweak on Usagi: when she says "Cutie Honey", everybody thinks of Cutie Honey F(which actually aired right after the end of Sailor Stars), and while she does know and did watch the series, she is actually a hardcore fan of the original manga, anime and their sequels, spin-off and cameos(the reason she has Devilman Lady and Violence Jack).
And, of course, her hidden Kekko Kamen, Maboroshi Panty, Henchin Pokoider and Henkini Tamaider collections.

This shows in little subtle ways... most of the time at least. And the possibility Sailor Moon is NOT Usagi's only secret identity.
On the one hand, this seems interesting..But let's get Ero-Sennin's opinion on it first.
 
#4
DrTempo said:
Mamoru/Tuxedo Kamen: An eighteen year old orphan with tons of money
Bruce Wayne?

Inappropriately grimdark Kamen could be entertaining. Look to Frank Miller's Batman for appropriate monologue style tips.

Kamen: "Ribs broken... Must distract youma... Left other tux at cleaners..."

Senshi: :blink:

Kamen: "Moon... I'll be watching..." *disappears*

Usagi: "...Kamen no hentai?" :sweat:

Usagi subsequently becomes paranoid about doing her twirly naked lightshow where an unseen Kamen might be watching.
 

Nanya

Well-Known Member
#5
ankokudaishogun said:
(the reason she has Devilman Lady and Violence Jack).
...

Usagi's a Go Nagai fan?

...

She's seen Shin Mazinger Z then?

XD
 
#6
Nanya said:
ankokudaishogun said:
(the reason she has Devilman Lady and Violence Jack).
...

Usagi's a Go Nagai fan?

...

She's seen Shin Mazinger Z then?

XD
Yep. She did hope in a Honey cameo and was disappointed by the lack of it.

also, she finds common ground with Makoto in Jushin Thunder Liger, the wrestler whose persona is based on Nagai's Jushin Liger. That said, Makoto is much more a Pro-Wrestling fan than Usagi.
 

DrTempo

Well-Known Member
#7
Here're some ideas for scenes for people to write snippets of:
Sailor Moon's first transformation and battle
Ami shows Usagi her anime collection(this'd were the author'd establish Ami as a MAJOR otaku; bonus points for putting a reference to that pic I put a link to eariler; in this snip, Ami drew that pic.)
Ami shows Usagi her Rei costume(bonus points for "Nobody Dies" references)
Makoto and Usagi meet
Rei and Usagi meet
Tuxedo Kamen's identity revealed
Naru confronts Usagi about the latter being Sailor Moon
 

The Ero-Sennin

The Eyes of Heaven
Staff member
#8
Entertaining some of the Interview universe perks, for example, having Rei Hino's school being St. Bacchus' and making her an underclassman to Kodachi Kuno.
 

DrTempo

Well-Known Member
#9
The Ero-Sennin said:
Entertaining some of the Interview universe perks, for example, having Rei Hino's school being St. Bacchus' and making her an underclassman to Kodachi Kuno.
I ssecond this..For one, we already have a connection with Sailor Moon in "Interview"(Ami Mizuno allowing Ranma-chan to borrow her costume for one). The main problem is the fact that Sm takes place in Juuban, while Ranma 1/2 is in Nerima...However, I guess St.Bacchus could either be in Juuban, or Rei has to commute to Nerima for school.
EDIT: Ero-Sennin, what else are ya thinking of? Don't forget to post your ideas at the Spacebattles thread for this as well.
 

The Ero-Sennin

The Eyes of Heaven
Staff member
#10
St. Bacchus being in Azabu would work.
 

Anonguy

Well-Known Member
#11
It should be stated for record that Juuban is a neighborhood in Azubu. It is not a city by any stretch.
 

DrTempo

Well-Known Member
#12
Oh..Still, it is considered a "district" of Tokyo. And we all know Tokyo is one big city. We are agreed, then....St.Bacchus is in Juuban. Also, anonguy, feel like trying your luck at one of the scenes I suggested for snippets?

EDIT: Two things:
1. Anonguy or ero-Sennin, mind posting this decision on the Spacebattles thread for this? If a link is needed, one shall be provided.
2. I was thnking, as a way to know what's going on in the "Interview" verse, a bombastic shock jock who does the news involing the goings-on in Nerima and Juuban(incidentally, he works in the radio station Usagi has to sneak into early on in the anime, and she saves his life; he's a bit J.Jonah Jameson beforehand involving Sailor Moon, but changes his tune.) He uses jokes, puns, and basically is like "The Daily Show" style comedy(making fun of current events, but a little less taste). This lets us know when something happens(i.e. letting us know where in "Spinoff"'s timeline the Japanese Sino War Arc of "Interview" occurs)
 

The Ero-Sennin

The Eyes of Heaven
Staff member
#13
DrTempo, get on AIM.
 

Char Aznable

Well-Known Member
#14
If I remember correctly, <a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azabu' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Azabu</a> is a district in the <a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minato,_Tokyo' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Minato ward</a>.
 

Anonguy

Well-Known Member
#15
Yes. Juuban is a neighborhood in the Azubu district in Minato ward. The note was to call off the endless "Juuban ward" and talk about it being right next to Nerima, when it isn't.
 

Char Aznable

Well-Known Member
#16
Anonguy said:
Yes. Juuban is a neighborhood in the Azubu district in Minato ward. The note was to call off the endless "Juuban ward" and talk about it being right next to Nerima, when it isn't.
Oh I hate that peice of Fanon. Who's behind it anyway?
 

Anonguy

Well-Known Member
#17
Probably the section that writes the endless stream of Ranma 1/2/Sailor Moon crossovers.
 

EspyLacopa

Well-Known Member
#18
Anonguy said:
Yes. Juuban is a neighborhood in the Azubu district in Minato ward. The note was to call off the endless "Juuban ward" and talk about it being right next to Nerima, when it isn't.
True. Nerima is ~30 km away.
 

DrTempo

Well-Known Member
#19
The Ero-Sennin said:
DrTempo, get on AIM.
Sorry, Ero-Sennin..Not sure I can get on AIM. Sorry. Anyway, another thing that's being discussed at the Spacebattles thread for this is mainly the role of filler(IMO, fillers take place between major manga events) and changes to Chibi-Usa.
Jadeite's fate: After Jadeite loses to the Senshi for the last time, they find him badly injured, and save his life. He goes underground, eventually helping the Senshi.

Chibi-Usa: The spore that most fans aren't fond of would be rescued from the scrappy heap this time. Here at first, she's as annoying as ever.

Until she gets turned into Black Lady.

Eariler on in the story, Usagi and Mamoru learn Chibi-Usa's their daughter(Ami had a DNA test done.), and Usagi's more caring towards Chibi-Usa, allowing her to resist Wiseman's brainwashing enough to become a Mole in the Black Moon group(and she gets cool Riku-style powers.) After she's freed, she returns home, and becomes a Future Badass, learning to fight much like how King Mickey in Kingdom Hearts: Yoda-style jumping with her staff as a weapon. Another possiblity is that the "cure" for her Black Lady state didn't quite work..thus, she's a kid in an adult body(though using a disguise field to not show this.)
Cue arguing about the whole Chibi-Usa aging bit. My response:
As for Chibi-Usa, she matures faster after the DNA test results, and Wiseman tries to pure brainwash her. As for evil powers, basic stuff is what she gets. After she's freed of the brainwashing, she returns home, and from her POV, trains for a while, eventually growing up; she disguises this fact much like Maya Natsume from Tenjo Tenge disguises her power. She's forced to reveal this fact when one of the Witches 5 takes a level in badass, and whoops the Senshi.
In this case, her adult form is her using her full potential(again, referring to Maya Natsume from Tenjo Tenge); she usually stays in child form; she has problems controlling her power in child form(i.e. her attacks failing so much) due to her child form not being able to tap into her full power. She only goes adult when she sees no other choice.
...Then it was mentioned that Chibi-Usa'd just stay in her adult form. My response:
Chibi-Usa has matured enough at this point to know not to abuse it(though there'd be a few scenes where she does go adult just to see what it's like, much like Skuld did when she was temporaily aged up.)
..And as for the Juuban being close to Nerima fanon bit...That's why Rei would take a bus to get to class.
 

The Ero-Sennin

The Eyes of Heaven
Staff member
#20
Stay Tuned: Midnight EST tonight.
 
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