Why do the senshi get a manicure before they get gloves?


In the anime series _Sailor Moon_ (or, _Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon_ ) the
senshi have a unique _henshin_ , or transformation sequence. Especially later
on, these are animated with the senshi receiving a manicure before the
transformation sequence begins.

Here's Sailor Mercury (Mizuno Ami) starting her henshin sequence by raising
her hand:

![mercury-star-power](https://i.stack.imgur.com/h98CV.jpg)

Then she gets her manicure and her star wand transformation pen activates:

![star wand](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BDvg1.jpg)

As you can see, her nails are clearly blue in the second screencapture. Yet,
at the end of her henshin sequence, she's clearly sporting gloves:

![henshin-complete](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Ikx1T.jpg)

So: **Why do the Senshi receive a manicure before putting on gloves?**




There is an official answer to this. Takeuchi Naoko, the mangaka seems to have
made this decision, not the animation staff. She points out the characters'
nail polish in the _Settei Shiryoushuu_ (Materials Collection) art book, and
on the Sailor Mercury page she shows her own 8-frame [frame-by-frame
sketch](https://i.stack.imgur.com/E2NTa.png)1 of Sailor Mercury's
transformation sequence, including the frame which includes her comment (fan
translation from the original Japanese): "6. 'Make Up!' Next, she covers her
face with her hands, and her nails become instantly manicured, shining bright
blue."

In Takeuchi's early concept art for the characters (also shown in the same
artbook), [neither Sailor Mercury nor Sailor Mars wore
gloves](https://i.stack.imgur.com/geirU.jpg)2 as part of their sailor soldier
uniforms so, in their cases, their manicures would have always been showing
(whereas Moon, Jupiter, and Venus were originally gloved).

The fact that Takeuchi wanted to highlight make-up in the series is the reason
that the characters use the phrase "Make Up!" - which was apparently important
enough to be specifically mentioned in the Sailor Moon Crystal opening theme
song "MOON PRIDE" by Momoiro Clover Z.

1 Source:
<http://gallery.missdream.org/albums/scanlation_smoon/smoon_materialscollection/materials007.png>  
2 Source:
<http://gallery.missdream.org/albums/scanlation_smoon/smoon_materialscollection/materials002.png>

