"Cardcaptor Sakura" (1998) TV series 1998-2000

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

listopad 1998 (Italy)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Expect the Unexpected

Plot:

Sakura was a normal fourth-grader until she stumbled upon the book of Clow Cards in her father's library...

Plot Keywords:

Manga | Magic | Friendship | Father Daughter Relationship | Chosen One

Cast

Sakura Tange	...	Sakura Kinomoto / ... (70 episodes, 1998-2000)
Junko Iwao	...	The Song / ... (49 episodes, 1998-1999)
Aya Hisakawa	...	Kero-chan (49 episodes, 1998-1999)
Tomokazu Seki	...	Touya Kinomoto (48 episodes, 1998-1999)
Megumi Ogata	...	Yue / ... (48 episodes, 1998-1999)
Motoko Kumai	...	Shaoran Li (36 episodes, 1998-1999)
Hideyuki Tanaka	...	Fujitaka Kinomoto (32 episodes, 1998-1999)
Tomoko Kawakami	...	Rika Sasaki (31 episodes, 1998-1999)
Miwa Matsumoto	...	Chiharu Mihara (31 episodes, 1998-1999)
Emi Motoi	...	Naoko Yanagisawa (30 episodes, 1998-1999)

Runtime:

Argentina:30 min | Japan:30 min (70 episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Certification:

USA:TV-Y7 (edited dubbed version) | Brazil:Livre | USA:Unrated (uncensored version) | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Germany:6

Company:

Clamp

Trivia:

Successful sales of the uncut DVDs helped spawn a market for more shoujo (girl-themed) anime.

Goofs:

Plot holes: In episode 36 Sakura calls in Firery to melt all the snow. Melting that amount would flood the entire city.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tsubasa: Toukyou Bakuro (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Tobira wo Akete

A whole lot more than just a treat for fans...

CLAMP has captured the hearts of fans worldwide with this movie.

I will say this: As the first of two Card Captor Sakura movies, this film is, of course, much more enjoyable to one who is familiar with the television series. And since most fans of the series will have seen this (and loved it), I guess the only people who will take the time to read this comment are casual anime fans who are curious about the show.

There is a lot of entertainment to be found even for those who aren't acquainted with the show. While this film probably isn't the best way to become acquainted with the wonderful characters of CLAMP's Card Captor Sakura, it does exemplify everything that makes CCS one of the most beloved manga/anime series around. Also, and to a lesser extent (as this movie is often more serious than the anime), it gives you a bit of a window into the themes and nature of the television show.

The story is simple enough: the magical girl Sakura wins, not by chance, tickets to go to Hong Kong. Her best friend Tomoyo, brother Touya and his best friend Yukito accompany her. Once there, though, it becomes evident that there was a purpose for her to win that contest... Someone or something isn't normal in Hong Kong... Her "rival" Syaoran and his cousin Meiling join Sakura as she faces mysterious forces.

What makes it worth watching is its execution. While I can't speak from the perspective of a non-CCS fan, I can't think of any reason not to recommend this film, really.

For those skeptical of the whole concept of CCS, I suggest that you don't write this off as another girl's movie. True, it does follow the happenings of a girl who is gifted with magical powers, but as is evident from the heartfelt screen-writing, beautiful art, above-average use of transitions (for an anime film, anyway) and intelligent way it builds up scenes, this movie is truly labor of love.