Sailor Moon: How Hotaru Tomoe's Backstory Differs in Each Anime Series

Over the years, Sailor Moon has garnered much success and popularity among fans. Two anime series have been released, with the original one from the 1990s containing more episodes and taking more liberties for the sake of character development. The more recent one, on the other hand, Sailor Moon Crystal, had its plot move faster due to staying more faithful to the manga series.

While both series show their arcs in a relatively similar fashion, they actually play out quite differently, and Hotaru Tomoe's -- the civilian form of Sailor Saturn -- backstory is no exception to that. Either way, however, her story is not a happy one to tell.

Hotaru Was Forced to Become a Host for Mistress 9

Hotaru lived a fairly normal life up until the freak accident that happened while she was with her father, Souichi Tomoe, in his lab. In Sailor Moon Crystal, she is shown living with both her parents before her mother dies in a fire caused by a bad storm. Hotaru is about to die as well, but Souichi saves her life by planting a Daimon known as Mistress 9 inside her body as ordered by Pharaoh 90, the leader of the Death Busters.

In the '90s anime, however, Hotaru's mother was already deceased before the incident. Hotaru dies instead, but not in the accident. Rather, her death is caused by the eruption that occurs when Germatoid, another Daimon, and Pharaoh 90 show up at the lab. Out of desperation to save her, Souichi agrees to their terms to bring her back to life. Pharaoh 90 is also the one responsible for making Hotaru the host of Mistress 9 instead of Souichi.

Hotaru's Body Changed in Different Ways

In addition to turning her into Mistress 9's vessel, Souichi also saves Hotaru's life by altering her body with cyborg parts. Not wanting anyone else to find out about this, Hotaru continues to wear the long-sleeved version of her school uniform, even during the summer weather. Outside of school, she conceals her body with mostly dark colors. On top of that, Mistress 9 being in her body causes Hotaru to have mysterious seizures.

By contrast, Hotaru is not made into a cyborg in the '90s anime. However, she continues to wear all dark clothing while not in school. In addition, she continues to have seizures, with the amulet that's given to her by her father seemingly keeping these at bay.

Hotaru Was Ostracized at School

Up until she met Chibiusa, Hotaru is not shown to have any friends. At school, she is often bullied by her classmates for her illness, as well as not wearing the summer version of her uniform when the weather calls for it. Her naturally shy and introverted nature also doesn't help with this.

Unlike her Crystal counterpart, Hotaru is aware that someone else is living inside her in the original anime. Mistress 9 has a larger role in causing Hotaru's peers to shun her, as she sometimes has dramatic mood changes that can't be explained. Hotaru also possesses healing powers, which unfortunately only adds to the bullying she receives on a daily basis.

Hotaru's Father Was a Different Person

Prior to the accident, Souichi's obsession with the possibility of alien life forms and inhumane experiments causes him to be expelled from the scientific community he was a part of. He is looked even more down upon when he takes his experiments to Hotaru to make her a cyborg. To add insult to injury, he has no problem with planting a Daimon Egg inside Hotaru's body, since it means obtaining more power for himself in return.

In the first anime, on the other hand, Souichi is shown to be more loving and fatherly toward Hotaru. This is proven to be true when he pleads for Pharaoh 90 to save Hotaru's life in the accident. He even professes to not care about what happens to him, as long as his daughter is safe. Although Souichi is unaware of what's to come, he undoubtedly cares for Hotaru more than he does for himself.