(1998)
70 episodes + 2 movies

Screenplay : CLAMP Character designs : CLAMP Music : Takayuki Negishi Producers : Akitaro Daichi, Morio Asaka

SUMMARY

Sakura Kinomoto, a 10 year old girl, discovers a mysterious book in the basement of its house. When she opened it, the magic cards came out and went In the outside world. Keroberos, guardian of the book, will assign her the mission to get back all the cards. With her best friend Tomoyo, Sakura will begin a long search to prevent the cards from sowing the disorder in our world. A descendant from the creator of the cards (Clow) will come from Hong-Kong to capture the cards for him. His name is Li Shaolan.

Each episode brings a little further the adventure, with the style of Clamp. What knows Sakura's brother? Who is truly Miss Kaho? And what is the plague threatening the world if Sakura fails its mission?



REVIEW

Card Captor Sakura is first thing a whole shojo. No deaths, no blood, only mystery and adventure with a little romance, of course! It is just enough mixed, I must say that the style does not fall too much on the nerves! Small point to be underlined: the names of the characters were changed for the translation of the anime. Thus, I give the Japanese names to avoid confusion between the English and French versions.

The screenplay is very well assembled, each captured card being useful for the next " hunting ". The spectator tries to guess which card Sakura will use to imprison the following one. A little in the line of Pokémon, Sakura is a play of strategy having an extraordinary visual quality. In fact, the drawings in the anime are as beautiful as those found in the manga.

The characters are particularly well defined. Moreover, the mysteries are well kept and the answers cause some surprise. I loved the last episodes of the first season (6th manga), as well those of the second season finale (12th manga).

To fully appreciate the anime, it is necessary to establish a certain distance with the manga. In the animation, Sakura is a little more fearful, whereas the manga is more explicit on certain ambiguous relations like Tomoyo and Sakura or Touya and Yukito. Moreover, several cards were added in the anime, modifying the order in which the cards appear. Finally, an additional character takes part in the adventure: the cousin of Li Shaolan.

Small criticism on the Sakura Movies. The first proceeds just after the end of the first season. The scenario's not bad, but one could say it is a longer episode of the series. While the second film, which is held after the entire series, is much more in the style of a movie. Sakura must achieve some kind of ultimate search to keep her powers and love. More catchy and also more romantic!!!



French version (for episodes) and Japanese
version with english subtitles (for movies).


Myriel DesTorrents
myriel.destorrents@iquebec.com



Links to learn more about Card Captor Sakura

http://multimania.com/silenek/ (FR et ENG)
http://www.ifrance.com/ProjectCCSLegacy/ (FR)
http://www.sakuraantifoxkid.fr.st/ (FR)

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