The Girl Genius is a Monster: The Brainwashing Cram School of Horror

Template:Infobox anime"The Girl Genius Is a Monster: The Brainwashing Cram School of Horror” is the eighth episode of the first season of Sailor Moon, and the eighth episode overall. The episode first aired in Japan on May 2, 1992. The DiC English dub title for this episode is "Computer School Blues", and the episode first aired in North America on September 15, 1995.

Summary

Usagi befriends Ami Mizuno, the school's smartest girl, who has an IQ over 300. But Luna, who senses an unknown energy coming from Ami, suspects her of being a youma.

Plot

In the Dark Kingdom, Jadeite informs Queen Beryl of his research into the Japanese education system. However, the system in question seems to be making little impact on Usagi, who is dreading her latest test results. While her mother despairs over her poor grades, Luna is frustrated by her lack of commitment in finding the princess.

That night, Luna goes into the Game Center Crown and uses the Sailor V game to speak to an unseen contact. She reports sensing a strange aura around a girl she recently encountered, and suspects she could be one of the enemy. The girl in question is Ami Mizuno, a student in Usagi's school.

When the mock exam results are published the next day, Ami is placed first — not just in the school, but in the whole country. Naru, Umino, Kuri, and other students are loud in their disapproval of her, thinking Ami is stuck-up and arrogant, but Usagi is not so sure. They lower their voices when they see Ami staring at them sadly.

After school, Luna follows Ami and jumps onto her shoulder, still sensing the strange aura. Usagi apologizes to Ami, and wonders if Ami might be able to teach her the secret of her genius. Despite Luna's protests, she decides to befriend her, and takes her to the game center. Ami tries the Sailor V game and is incredibly good at it, even though she has never played it before. She gets the highest score, but hurries away when she realizes she is late for cram school. After she has gone, Motoki finds a floppy disk she dropped, and asks Usagi to return it. Usagi and Luna arrive at the cram school, and discover that the disk is actually the "Crystal Disk" produced by the school, allegedly to boost intelligence. They are about to go inside when Mamoru appears, and asks her if Luna was just talking. Usagi denies it and runs away, but still hasn't returned the disk.

Luna decides to use this opportunity to investigate Ami, and takes the disk to the computer labs at school. There they discover the disk's true purpose: it's a brainwashing program from the Dark Kingdom. Luna declares that there is no doubt about it — Ami must be one of the enemy. They return to the cram school, Crystal Seminar, and Usagi gets inside after using the Disguise Pen to disguise herself as a doctor. She warns the students to get away from the computers, and seeing Ami, transforms into Sailor Moon. But it transpires that Ami's teacher is actually the Youma Garoben, who takes Ami hostage and attacks Sailor Moon, first with razor-sharp test papers and then with the brainwashed students. Meanwhile, she finds that the brainwashing program has no effect on Ami, and decides to kill her. At the same time, Luna sees a symbol appear on Ami's forehead, and recognizes it as the symbol of a Sailor Senshi. She gives Ami a transformation pen and Ami runs from the Youma, transforming into Sailor Mercury. Sailor Mercury uses her signature attack, Sabão Spray, to create a mist that confuses the Youma. Sailor Moon is then able to destroy the monster using Moon Tiara Action. Usagi is relieved to have Ami as her partner, but alas, she is still not forthcoming with the secret of her genius.

Changes

Changes From the Manga

It is based on Manga Chapter Act 2 - Ami, Sailor Mercury
Queen Beryl makes her debut in the Manga and Crystal anime versions of this episode, while in the anime this isn't the first time she has appeared.
In the anime version of this episode, Usagi does not get her Disguise Pen. In the manga, she gets it in this chapter that this episode is based on. Both the manga and anime version she gets the Disguise Pen differently. Manga version, it comes out of the Sailor V arcade machine as a prize for Ami getting the high score. In the anime version, Usagi gets the pen in the filler episode, episode 3.
Ami's transformation pen is obtained differently in both the manga and anime versions. In the manga, it comes out of the Sailor V arcade machine as a prize for getting the high score. In the anime, Luna gives it to her toward the end of the episode during the fight with Garoben.
In the anime, this is the first time Sailor Mercury uses Sabão Spray, while in the manga a cold fog appears the instant Ami transforms but might not actually be an attack.
The Youma has a more monstrous appearance in the anime than in the manga.
Luna didn't confuse Ami as a spy of the Dark Kingdom. She always sensed Ami could be an ally.

Dub Changes

In the English dub, Amy becomes a transfer student from Brighton Academy, while in the original anime, Ami had already been attending Usagi's school. Perhaps supporting this, the actress speaks with a slight British accent.