Within the realms of mahou shoujo is Card Captor Sakura, an anime that tells the story of the young ten-year old girl, Kinomoto Sakura. Sakura (who has the most adorable voice, Tange Sakura) is a very cute ten-year old, in fourth grade at Tomoeda Elementary School. Fluffy brown hair and amazingly bright green eyes, the show opens up in episode one with her having a dream. In her dream (which you will eventually see more of as the show continues) someone is calling her… but whom? And on this note, you enter her life. Although her mother died seven years earlier, she has an older brother, Kinomoto Touya, who is a sophomore in high school, and a father, Kinomoto Fujitaka. One of the great joys in Sakura's life is her brother's best friend, Tsukishiro Yukito. She's a talented cheerleader and an athletic, talented little girl. Her best friend is Daidouji Tomoyo, a pretty girl whose greatest happiness in life is watching Sakura. When Sakura comes home from school one day, a mysterious noise in her father's study (he's an archaeologist) draws her, and she opens a book with The Clow written on it in fancy English. Finding a pack of cards inside, she picks one up and tries to sound out the English word. Upon triumphantly reading the word, Windy, a tremendous gale blows around her - and blows all the cards away. Now, it is Sakura's mission (however unwilling she may be) to capture all the cards (they wreak havoc on the world) and seal them away. The Guardian of the Clow, Keroberos (a little winged yellow animal that looks like a stuffed toy, who speaks with an Osaka accent) accidentally fell asleep, and he will nag Sakura until she's done her job.
Although some elements of this show are sometimes repetitive, it's amazing how original this show continues to be. Although Sakura usually picks up a new card every episode, each episode is unique and wonderful in its own way. Each card does something new and strange, affecting people that she cares for, and each episode has its own, unique plot. Filled to the brim with underlying plots and different emotions of all of the characters, this anime is something incredibly unique. This plot does not even solely revolve around Sakura capturing the cards. Going into all the aspects of her normal life, it has her brilliant, shining love for Yukito, her determination to capture (and at the beginning, not capture) the Clow Cards, and the twists and turns of plot lines that happened long before Sakura was even born.
Filled to the brim with wonderful characters, I'd have to say the only character that honestly isn't really developed well is Meiling, a character that appears around episode 19. [She's an anime only character, though.] Sakura truly blossoms throughout the show, showing the world what a beautiful, caring person she is. She's simply a darling, and no one in the world can dislike Sakura. Only ten years old, and she's told to save the world - and she gets over her fears (despite the fact that she gets attacked by everything from a giant bird to a little pink elfish thing) and strengthens her determination to capture all of the Clow Cards. All the characters in this show are intricately intertwined with Sakura's life - her brother, who sees everything, Tomoyo, who literally watches Sakura all of the time (with a video camcorder, too), and Li Syaoran, a Chinese boy from Hong Kong who came to take the Clow Cards from Sakura - and instead ended up helping her.
There are some problematic aspects of the show, of course - some more controversial than others. For some odd reason, they seem to really focus on teacher-student romantic relationships, which I don't approve of at all. It's bad enough for a teacher to date a middle school student, but elementary? There are, in the entire 70-episode run of the show, three different teacher-student relationships - two of which consist of an adult to a ten-year old. Another aspect - not actually a problem - is the fact that there are many implications and explicit expressing of homosexual relationships in the show. There are a lot, and although this may not necessarily be a problem, it does have the tendency to make some people uncomfortable. They skirted around the issue fairly well, in episodes 1-46 - but in those episodes it's much lighter than what it's supposed to be in certain later episodes and the corresponding manga.
However, this show is wonderfully developed, and anyone who watches it simply can't help but fall in love with Sakura. There are so many intricate plotlines through this show, there is something for almost anyone to find and enjoy. Interestingly enough, there are several things you see in episode one for all of five seconds - and become interesting key plot moments in the last battle. This story never gets bored me, and it's always interesting, funny, and darling. It does have dark sides to it, and you can't help but admire Sakura for the childishly daring way she braves anything dangerous. (Except for ghosts, but that's Touya's fault.) One of the best parts about this show is how every episode really matters - each time she catches a card, she will usually use it again. Adding a funny twist to it, the card's names are actually in English. Anyone should watch this show - I actually thought it was sort of boring and slow, but after a few episodes, I fell into its world amazingly quickly. This is not an action-action-action show - it does have battles and the like, but it's about everything in Sakura's life, from world disasters to what to do when you like this guy. One of my favorite anime, everyone should watch Card Captor Sakura.
Off-hand note [rant]
Has anyone heard of Card Captors? This is the infamous dub of Card Captor Sakura to American TV. Airing on Kid's! WB!, this show is nothing like the original at all. Anyone who says that the dub is true to the original is either shockingly ignorant or amazingly dumb. I actually watched the dub before I watched the original, and I had a good enough memory to recall certain lines when I was watching CCS - and I actually thought the dub was rather humorous and not that bad. I then watched more of the original, and more of the dub - and I was beyond horrified. The translators didn't dub Card Captor Sakura, they mutilated it. Changing it from a sweet, funny, bright show about a young girl destined for the Clow Cards, it became about "Both Sakura and Syaoran vying for the Clow Cards." I love Syaoran, he's one of my favorite characters - but the show isn't about him! Actually, I heard that the translators called shoujo anime sexist. Considering that there are many shows today not called sexist for targeting just one sex, I believe they were insane. Originally intended for ages 13 and above, Card Captors is for 7+. I'm putting this in here mainly because I want to warn you - never watch the dub. [Information on translators and other hacked stuff: credit to belldandy.net (no longer online).]
[ Heavy *SPOILERS* ahead ]
[ TV - Sakura Card Arc - Episodes 47-70 ]
Kinomoto Sakura, the new Mistress of the Clow Cards, is settling into her normal life. Summer vacation is ending, Kero-chan is still eating too much food, and Tomoyo still obsesses over Sakura (just without being able to videotape card captures). However, another obstacle appears before Sakura - when an unnatural storm (meaning, created by magic) hovers above her neighborhood, Sakura is unable to use the Clow Cards. For the oddest reason, the cards won't respond to her call; they seem dead to her touch. This arc is about Sakura's abrupt quest to change her old Clow Cards to Sakura Cards, which she can use with her own brand of magic. All this coincides with the arrival of a new transfer student, a boy from England named Hiiragizawa Eriol, someone who annoys Syaoran and impresses the girls.
Definitely a more complicated arc, this shows all the downfalls of Sakura having power so young. Dealing with Yukito's conflict with Yue, changing the cards, trying to figure out what's going on, and the problems that Syaoran has with Sakura, this arc has half a dozen different plotlines intertwining together. [It's considerably less complicated than the manga, but if you never read the manga, it fits fine. If you did, then you can just point out little connections that you don't really need to know.] Complicated and dangerous, this arc finishes itself in episode sixty-nine. Episode Seventy is the extra tidbit that kicks off Movie Two, Card Captor Sakura: The Sealed Card.
Sakura has considerably grown up through this arc, especially if you remember how much more childish she was in episode one. These eleven year olds are really mature; I certainly didn't have half the grace Sakura did when I was that age. [Editor's note: You still don't…] Syaoran is more controlled, perceptive, and more mature, while Sakura is braver, less dense about romance, and an intelligent Mistress of Cards. Tomoyo and Touya, ever sacrificing, really come through in some points of the show. Even Meiling, the infamous character that never existed in the manga, has grown up a lot, with an episode that focuses especially on her (making that a grand total of two). You can't help but love Sakura; you can't help but love Syaoran; heck, you have to love everyone, even the 'evil' characters.
The Sakura Card Arc is more original, complicated, and even more precious than the first season that made the season so dear to us. Few plotlines are forgotten; Sakura's family, unbeknownst to her, has made up, due to her unknowing pushing of various buttons. Everything in this arc proves why everyone loves Card Captor Sakura so much; it's just a fantastic show.
[ Movie 1]
If this has a title, I'm not entirely positive as to what it is. Either way, this movie takes place in the Clow Card Arc, after Li Meiling arrives and before Sakura and Syaoran have caught all the cards. Opening up with a magnificent capture of the Arrow card (which is never seen in the show; I don't even remember her changing it), this movie starts around the beginning of her school's winter vacation. Winning a drawing, Kinomoto Sakura receives a trip for four to Hong Kong. Since her father is on a business trip, she takes her older brother, Touya, his best friend (and her long-time crush) Tsukishiro Yukito, and her own best friend, Daidouji Tomoyo. Thrilled to be at Hong Kong (a very nostalgic place for Keroberos, the 'stuffed animal' of a guardian), Sakura is told that Clow Reed would often say, "There are no coincidences in this world. There is only the inevitable." Going by that creed, it would mean Sakura did not win that drawing by chance - she was summoned to Hong Kong. By who? Most likely, the lady in her dreams who is calling for her through water…
Like the show itself, this movie doesn't move particularly fast in the beginning - the opening is quick and action-packed, and then it slows down to the usual pace the show uses. Sweet, funny, and filled with some of Sakura's best 'hannyaan' and 'hooe' moments, this movie is delightful to watch. Some of the designs are sharper (at least, as far as I could tell), mostly because this isn't the more low-budget show, and a movie, instead. There were some parts of this movie that I loved looking at so much, I re-watched at least three times before continuing with the movie. Certain scenes are so incredibly dramatic, you couldn't help but gaze in awe.
Plot-wise, it certainly isn't the newest idea ever heard of. Spirit of Dead Lady holds ancient grudge against Dead Man. Spirit of Dead Lady calls that Dead Man to her. Obviously, since Man is dead, it doesn't work. Spirit of Dead Lady ends up grabbing our Main Character by mistake. An "Oops" is heard ringing throughout all of Hong Kong. Well, it isn't as bad as it sounds, but the plot certainly is rather generic. Aside from the main plot, though, there are other little sequences in the movie that make it so much more enjoyable. For the one and only time, we meet the rest of Shaoran's family, other than Mei Ling - his four, tall, older, and scary sisters (who completely glomp Sakura-tachi), and his tall, imposing mother (who can do some very scary magic). Being able to see the extended world of Card Captor Sakura added a whole layer of depth to the movie (especially seeing Xiao Lang's terrified reaction to his own mother).
Sakura, for her part, has some character development in this movie, but not as much as one would hope. The climax, when Sakura realizes how all the pieces of the puzzle come together, show the more intelligent side of Sakura, and how empathic she is. Sakura has a habit of feeling everyone's pain, and even the Spirits of Dead Vengeful Ladies are subject to that. This movie was fun, nice, and breezy to watch - a definite plus to any CCS fan.
[ Movie 2: The Sealed Card ]
WARNING: You cannot read this review without being spoiled for the end of the Card Captor Sakura TV series. Turn back now, or forever hold your peace. :P
<SPOILERS [for end of CCS TV]> (Highlight with cursor to read)
- Sakura changed all of the Clow Cards into Sakura cards. Syaoran had confessed to Sakura that he loved her.
- Sakura saw Syaoran off when he went back to Hong Kong, and she took his teddy bear, which signified that she likes him too… but she didn't actually tell him.
- Hiiragizawa Eriol, having finished his mission, went back to England.
</SPOILERS>
In "The Sealed Card", four months have passed since Syaoran went back to Hong Kong, Eriol went back to England, and Sakura started thinking of Syaoran twenty hours out of twenty-four. [Editor's note: Har de har har. :P] Clow Reed's old house has been bulldozed over, and an amusement park is being built over it. This is Sakura's calm world - without Syaoran. Sakura is now in sixth grade (and presumably twelve years old, making that two years since the show started). The movie has two plot lines; the foremost one is that since Sakura never told Syaoran whether or not she likes him, she still needs to do so. Even though it's definitely yes, every time she tries, it somehow doesn't work. (One reason: Touya.) Sakura is definitely in love with Syaoran, but she can't manage to tell him, no matter how many opportunities are presented. Much of this movie is simply watching Sakura and Syaoran stealing gazes at each other. At the same time, there turns out to be one more sealed Clow Card left… hidden underneath Clow Reed's old house. Now that all the Clow Cards have turned into Sakura Cards, that seal has broken. Sealed away from all the others while Sakura's trials were going on, this card has the power to take away things and emotions forever. With equal power to all her fifty-two Sakura Cards, it threatens to erase all she holds dear - tangible and intangible.
Although not a sharp contrast, Sakura looks older than she did in episode seventy. In fact, they all look older - Syaoran looks taller, Tomoyo looks older, and Eriol's voice is deeper than usual (which is amazing, considering how deep it was in the first place). Aside from that, their personalities are virtually the same as they were in episode seventy.
The plot was original, enjoyable, and the twist at the end was incredibly brilliant. It also had the wonderful touch of Card Captor Sakura - the gentle pace that the movie goes at, along with the sweet, elegant touches that are added in every single movement. Sakura still says "Good Morning" to her mother's picture every morning; Touya still is incredibly protective of the most precious thing in the world to him. To get to the point, this is still the wonderful show of Card Captor Sakura that we all love.
This movie was probably made for several reasons. The end of episode seventy was not only a bit abrupt; it almost left you on a mini-cliffhanger. More episodes were definitely needed, but since CCS was done, they made a movie. The movie was already done (or nearly) when the show ended, because a preview for the movie showed at the end of episode seventy. Either way, it was a good idea that worked out well. Unlike most of the episodes of the show, which were taken from the manga, this is a completely anime-only ending. The manga ends very differently, but both have their own darling charm. This movie has some of the best elements of CCS, and none of the bad ones (unless you count slow pace as a minus).
Sakura has changed; not significantly, but she has an open, happy outlook on life with a mature tinge to it that she didn't have through most of the show. At the end of the movie, you're presented with the darling Sakura you met in episode one - just older, wiser, and even more loving than before. Our beloved Li Syaoran, whom we all remember as the easily annoyed rival, has come to a good realization about himself and Sakura. (And, having acted on that epiphany, is waiting. Very nervously.) Li is so much more mature than he used to be, making various comments through out the show that really show how much older he is! This movie is just perfect for showing off all the characters of CCS, from Touya's 'Sister Complex' to Yukito's kind advice to even Tomoyo's costumes (which have a deeper meaning). The second motion picture is the absolute most perfect end to Card Captor Sakura, and a must see for any fan. (Although, it would really bore anyone who wasn't.)
