“Cherry Blossom Season is such a happy time of year for everyone! So how dare you show up and try to wreck it! What? My tiara is till not working?! Ahh! Now I can't even transform and fight! Well I guess that's it. Bye guys! Right, like it's gonna be that easy. Anyway! In the Name of the Moon, I'll punish you!”
— Usagi Tsukino
(DiC Episode: "Cherry Blossom Time")
What was supposed to be a cheerful picnic at the Cherry Blossom sightseeing event turns into an utter travesty when a new Cardian appears and succeeds in neutralizing Sailor Moon's transformation. With her powers gone and her friends in peril, Usagi ends up receiving help from a familiar ghost.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Adaptational Jerkass: Luna in the DiC dub is more critical to Serena for once again getting them into trouble when they're stuck in the void of light, whereas Luna in the original version is more sympathetic to Usagi about her powers failing her.
- Badass in Distress: The Inner Guardians are attacked by the Cherry Blossom Cardian and are fused into her tree to keep them from escaping.
- Big Ball of Violence: Rei forms this with Usagi as payback for making her eat a super spicy sandwich.
- Bland-Name Product: Rei ordered burgers from "RcDonald's.
- The Bus Came Back: Queen Serenity returns to give Usagi a new transformation brooch and a staff of power called the Cutie Moon Rod.
- The Cameo: Kunitachi, the elderly park caretaker from Season 1, is shown taking care of Naru, Umino and Miss Haruna after they were attacked.
- Cherry Blossoms: The episode involves the girls, along with Naru, Umino and Miss Haruna going to the park to see the Cherry Blossoms.
- Continuity Nod: Sailor Moon's tiara still doesn't work and there's an explanation as to why.
- Crazy-Prepared: To endure the cold night while saving his picnic spot, Umino brought a sleeping bag with him.
- Cute and Psycho: Leshy resembles a beautiful Japanese woman, but in truth she's a violent monster who will attack anyone for her masters.
- De-power:
- Sailor Moon's transformation is undone due to Leshy's energy draining influence.
- The Silver Crystal is no longer as powerful as it once was but it will regain it's full potential the more Sailor Moon uses it for good.
- Dub Name Change:
- "Leshy" is named "Racy" in the DiC episode.
- Sailor Moon's new ability "Moon Princess Halation" is named "Moon Scepter Elimination".
- The "Cutie Rod" is named the "Moon Scepter".
- Fetal Position Rebirth: Usagi is shown naked when she awakens in her own mind.
- Food Porn: The girls bring out a variety of delicious meals and snacks that would make any viewer hungry.
- Fire-Breathing Diner: Usagi tricks Rei into eating a sandwich filled with spicy mustard. She even yells out her iconic power as she's breathing fire.
- Freudian Slip: Natsumi accidentally mentions that she only eats energy to Usagi.
- Here We Go Again!: Sailor Moon gets into another argument with Rei for not saving them sooner.
- Hope Bringer: Queen Serenity instructs Sailor Moon to use the Cutie Moon Rod to light the flame of hope that will save the future.
- Hypocrite: Rei teases Usagi for her sloppy looking rice balls, causing Usagi to quickly point out she at least made her lunch while Rei crapped out by bringing fast food.
- I Just Want to Be Normal: Deconstructed. Despite accepting her destiny as Sailor Moon, Usagi still wishes to be a normal girl. This in turn interferes with her powers as she's unable to use them if she still wants to be normal.
- I Was Just Joking: Naru tries to justify her zipping up Umino by claiming it was a joke.
- Instant Costume Change: Both Natsumi and Seijuro turn back into their alien forms by simply going around their respective trees.
- Jerkass Ball: How does Naru repay Umino for saving her and her friends a spot after admitting to have camped outside on a cold night? By zipping him up in his sleeping bag and then ignoring him while she and her entourage set up their food. Umino calls her on it with Naru later apologizing, saying the moment was just too sappy even for her.
- Light Is Not Good: Usagi and Luna are sucked into a void of light made by Leshy.
- Magical Eye: Anyone who looks directly at Leshy's flashing eyes become captured and drained of their energy.
- The Main Characters Do Everything: Miss Haruna acted as a chaperone out of school for some of her students, and the group just happened to only have the Inner Senshi, Naru and Umino, and Natsumi. Glaringly, Minako thanks Haruna for letting her join them even though she attends a different school but Rei, who likewise attends a school separate from Usagi, Ami, and Makoto, doesn't mention it at all.
- Mess on a Plate: Usagi's rice balls look mushed up and chunky.
- Mid-Season Upgrade: Queen Serenity restores Usagi's ability to transform into Sailor Moon along with a new finishing move called Moon Princess Halation.
- Mood Whiplash: The last scene is wholesome pleasantness as Usagi's friends thank and applaud her for her actions. But then things turn comical when Rei snarks that she took her time in saving them, resulting in another tongue sticking competition. But then things turn sincere when Usagi sees the ghost of Queen Serenity and thanks her for her help.
- Nightmare Face: Leshy's true face resembles a monstrous feline.
- Petal Power: The Cherry Blossom Cardian uses flower petals to either attack people or steal their energy.
- Picnic Episode: The girls set up an elaborate picnic with all types of food as they watch the cherry blossom trees.
- Plant Person: Leshy's dormant form is a cherry blossom tree. When she attacks, she summons roots to travel or entrap her victims.
- Reflexive Response: Miss Haruna allows the kids to wander the park on their own while calling it their "free period hour".
- Say My Name: Usagi's friends scream her name when she's being sucked into a void of light.
- Scream Discretion Shot: The scene cuts to an overview of the trees while Miss Haruna screams in pain from having her energy stolen.
- Stalker with a Crush: Seijuro stalks the park grounds while watching Usagi from a distance.
- Ticket-Line Campout: Umino managed to save a spot for his friends, teacher and Natsumi by camping out the night before.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: Despite the mean prank, Naru makes it up to Umino by offering him a delicious lunchbox made of his favorite foods.
- Transformation Sequence: Usagi gets a new transformation after reciting the phrase "Moon Crystal Power, Make Up!"
- Villain Opening Scene: The Makaiju Aliens start the episode by discussing the upcoming Cherry Blossom event while remembering stories of how their Makaiju Tree once grew beautiful flowers.
- "Queen Serenity, thank you..."
