-
In the American dub of Sailor Moon S, Tenou Haruka and Kaiou Michiru were made into cousins instead of their very obvious romantic relationship. This is due to the "moral values" of the United States which is unaccepting of homosexual relationships (see, for example, the results in the 2004 election pertaining to legalization of same-sex marriages). Cloverway Inc., the North American branch of Toei Animation (the original company to animate Sailor Moon in Japan) found it best not to include the lesbianism of these two characters as the series was being targeted at young American girls. Had young American girls been exposed to homosexuality in a cartoon parents would surely object, (see "Postcards from Buster" for an example...). Unfortunately, since Haruka (Amara in the American dub) and Michiru (Michelle in the American dub) were made cousins, and certain scenes depicting their affection for one another were not cut, it reads more as incest -- which one would think would be more objectionable than a lesbian relationship.
As such, Haruka and Michiru as they were intended to be are not cousins, and it is very unfortunate that in the translation of the show their love for one another was denied them.
<- Back