Becoming an Idol: Minako’s Ambition

Template:Infobox anime"Aim to be an Idol! Minako's Ambition" is the ninth episode of the Stars season of the Sailor Moon anime and the 175th of the overall series. It first aired in Japan on May 25, 1996.

Summary

Minako decides to be Three Lights' assistant, that way she'll have an easier time reaching her own goal of becoming an idol, or so she thinks.

Plot

In Juuban school, Minako is carrying through a plan: She'll talk in private to Seiya and Usagi, hidden in some bushes, will take a few pictures of the two of them. That way, and only looking at the photos taken, it seems that both Minako and Seiya are dating. They are finally talking and Minako says that she feel something in her eye; Seiya checks it and Usagi starts carelessly taking pictures but she's finally busted by him, who calls her "dumpling head".

At the Fruits Parlor Crown, Ami and Makoto look at Usagi's pictures. There are a good amount of them, but all have bad quality. However Usagi's not concerned about them, and instead talk about what Minako's been doing lately: Taking photos with every Three Lights member. This leaves the four girls with one question: Who is her friend's favourite?. She arrives at the cafe at that moment and tells them about a new and more realistic plan: becoming Three Lights' assistant. None of the girls can believe what she's saying but then she explains it: Because they are very busy celebrities, she can't freely talk to them, despite they assist the same class, but if she becomes their assistant, they'd spend so much time together that the boy will eventually fall for her and she'll also be known in the music field. She suddenly leaves because she's to go with the band. After her leaving, Ami notices Usagi's not there anymore.

Chuuko Nezu is at Ginga TV looking for a new target. On a magazine she finds someone who call her attention: Saki Itabashi, a young professional photographer. Galaxia calls out for her, and she tells her that a new target's been found.

The Three Lights are in the middle of a vowel cleaning session and Minako is watching them. Usagi approaches her and soon a girl with a big photo camera shows up taking pictures of the three boys. Minako tells her to stop, because it's restricted, but this girl doesn't listen and leaves.

The next day, after a autograph session, the boys go to the band's room, and they find Itabashi in it. She introduces herself and says that she's taking some pictures to a special series called "Revealed Three Lights", so she'll have to spend some time with them.

A new journey is almost finishing and the Three Lights have been working really hard to get Itabashi's needed pictures; Usagi was there too but she got hungry and left. The session finally ends and Minako proposes to get something to eat, but the photographer interrupts her and says that she still needs more photos. They start arguing and Itabashi says that she is a professional and as such, she needs to make sacrifices, even if it means no eating. The Three Lights finally accepts to the photographer's request, but Minako feels very concerned about Saki's words.

Once the session is truly over Saki leaves the studio and she's intercepted by Sailor Iron Mouse. Minako sees how the evil senshi steals her Star Seed, so she transforms.

Usagi is eating riceballs when she sees both Venus and Iron Mouse fighting. Without overthinking she transforms too. 

Sailor Venus uses Venus Love and Beauty Shock, but Iron Mouse dodges it easily. However, when Sailor Moon shows up she decides to leave. At that moment Itabashi transforms in Sailor Gekisha and the phage attacks the two senshi with its Shutter Chance attack, leaving Venus with serious wounds.

At that moment, the Sailor Starlights shows up and Sailor Star Healer stuns the phage using Star Sensitive Inferno. Sailor Moon takes advantage of this and heals the phage with Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss. After that she attempts to talk with the Starlights, but they leave as soon as possible. Sailor Moon wonders if they are whether allies or enemies.

The four girls are again at the cafe. Ami asks what happened to Minako's plan and Usagi says that she's given up on it. Soon Minako joins them with news: Instead of being a band's assistant, she'll be doing auditions to become a music idol, and she quickly leaves the fruits parlor crown.

Changes

Changes From the Manga

• This episode's events never happened in the manga.
• The first time Sailor Star Healer used her signature attack, she used it to kill Sailor Iron Mouse.

First Appearances

Attacks

• Star Sensitive Inferno

Trivia

• This was the first episode written by Atsushi Maekawa.
• Most civilian victims had their Star Seed coming out from their heads, but Itabashi's came out from her chest.
• It was one of the few times Seiya called Usagi "Dumpling head". Usually, he called her only "Dumpling".
• The background music for "Venus Crystal Power, Make Up" was used for the last time in this episode.

Gallery

Seiya discovers Usagi taking pictures.

Minako feeds Yaten his lunch, although he's sleeping

Three Lights photography session

Saki Itabashi

Sailor Gekisha.jpg

Saki's Phage form: Sailor Gekisha

Template:NavEpAnime