Cardcaptor Sakura
| Cardcaptor Sakura | |||
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Cardcaptor Sakura volume 1 manga cover Japanese edition. |
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| カードキャプターさくら (Kādokyaputā Sakura) |
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| Genre | Magical Girl, Romantic comedy, Action | ||
| Manga | |||
| Author | Clamp | ||
| Publisher |  Kodansha |
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| English publisher |    Tokyopop |
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| Demographic | Shōjo | ||
| Magazine | Nakayoshi | ||
| Original run | 1996 – 2000 | ||
| Volumes | 12 | ||
| TV anime | |||
| Director | Morio Asaka | ||
| Studio | Madhouse | ||
| Licensor | Bandai Visual
 IDP |
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| Network | NHK, Animax |
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| Original run | April 7, 1998 – March 21, 2000 | ||
| Episodes | 70 | ||
| Animated film: Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie | |||
| Director | Morio Asaka | ||
| Composer | Takayuki Negishi | ||
| Studio | Madhouse | ||
| Licensor | Bandai Visual
IDP |
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| Released | August 21, 1999 |
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| Runtime | 79 min. | ||
| Animated film: Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card | |||
| Director | Morio Asaka | ||
| Composer | Takayuki Negishi | ||
| Studio | Madhouse | ||
| Licensor | Bandai Visual
IDP |
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| Released | July 15, 2000 |
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| Runtime | 79 min. | ||
| Anime and Manga Portal | |||
Cardcaptor Sakura (カードキャプターさくら Kādokyaputā Sakura?), also known as Card Captor Sakura (with the space) and often abbreviated as CCS, is a magical girl manga series from the well-known all-female artist team CLAMP. Cardcaptor Sakura is published in Japan by Kodansha and was serialized in Nakayoshi. The series consists of twelve volumes. The manga is well-known for its emphasis on the shōjo genre of the series; nearly every page has detailed flowers, bubbles, or sparkles around the main characters. It won the noted Seiun Award for best manga in 2001.
The anime television series (1998-2000) based on the manga consists of 70 half-hour episodes (spread over three seasons), two theatrically released movies, and several specials. The second season of TV series won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize in 1999. Nelvana produced an English dub of the anime series, titled Cardcaptors, which aired in English-speaking countries.[1] An unedited English translation, bearing the original title, Cardcaptor Sakura, was broadcast in its English-language networks by the anime television network Animax. Cardcaptor Sakura has also been released in North America (but not the UK or Australia) on unedited and subtitled DVDs under its original title.
Several characters from Cardcaptor Sakura are reworked for use in another Clamp series, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle. These characters share similar appearances and traits to their Cardcaptor Sakura inspirations, but they are not the same characters, rather alternate universe versions.
Contents |
Plot
The series begins as a simple girls' comic of the magical girl genre. Ten-year-old fourth grader Sakura Kinomoto opens a mysterious book in her father's study and accidentally lets loose the magical Clow Cards. By her ability to open the seal, Sakura is revealed to have special powers, and it becomes her responsibility to retrieve the missing cards.
The task involves finding each card, battling its magical personification, and sealing it away. She is assisted by Cerberus (Keroberos, also known as Kero-chan), the Beast of the Seal assigned to protect the cards, who was asleep when Sakura opened the Clow Book (He was on a "nap" at the time, which lasted some 30 years). Kero, who looks like an animated plush toy throughout most of the series (his "borrowed" form), guides Sakura as she develops her Cardcaptor powers. In the first episode, he presents her with the Key of the Seal, which allows her to fight and capture the Clow Cards.
- Clow Card Arc (クロウカード編 Kurō Kādo-hen?)
The first six volumes of the manga and the first and second seasons of the anime focus on Sakura's attempts to capture the released Clow Cards. Cerberus acts as her guide and mentor throughout the quest, while classmate and best friend Tomoyo Daidouji films her exploits and makes her costumes insisting that she must "wear special clothes for special occasions."
Sakura also competes with Syaoran Li, the descendant of the Clow Cards' creator, Clow Reed, in capturing the Cards. The first half of the series ends after the Final Judgment, in which those who have attempted to capture the Clow Cards are tested by the mysterious Yue for the right to become Master of the Clow.
- Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie (劇場版カードキャプターさくら Gekijōban Kādokyaputā Sakura?)
Occurring between episodes 35 and 36 of the 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively, (or the middle of the 1st season in international releases), the first movie takes Sakura and company to Hong Kong during winter break.
Still in her quest to capture all the Clow Cards, Sakura encounters new challenges, some of which take place in ominous dreams. Sakura must defeat a vengeful sorceress called Madoushi who was rejected by Clow Reed in the past or risk losing her family and friends.
- Sakura Card Arc (さくらカード編 Sakura Kādo-hen?)
The latter six volumes of the manga and third season of the anime introduce several new characters, including the enigmatic Eriol Hiiragizawa. Since Sakura has now become the new Master of the Clow Cards, she must transform them under her own magic into Sakura Cards. At the same time, new strange disturbances are occurring in Tomoeda, which adds further pressure to Sakura's task. Meanwhile, Syaoran falls in love with Sakura and tries to find a way to admit his feelings to her.
- Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card (劇場版カードキャプターさくら 封印されたカード Gekijōban Kādokyaputā Sakura: Fūin Sareta Kādo?)
Occurring after the end of the 3rd season (2nd in international releases), the 2nd movie brings closure to the relationship questions between Sakura and Syaoran, which were left somewhat unanswered in the last episode of the TV series.
Like the 1st movie, the 2nd movie does not follow or adapt from any events depicted in the manga and, therefore, closes the anime series in a different manner. Syaoran has already admitted his feelings to Sakura, but she has yet to answer him. Chances become good when Syaoran visits Tomoeda from Hong Kong over the summer and participates in a school play with Sakura during the Nadeshiko Festival. However, Sakura has more issues challenging her than finding the right moment to confess to Syaoran. A strange force begins stealing the Sakura Cards and erasing portions of Tomoeda. Sakura soon encounters a mysterious Clow Card called The Nothing, the antithesis of the 52 Sakura Cards with as much negative power as all their positive powers combined.
Characters and cards
While several characters can be considered main characters due to their importance to the plot, Sakura Kinomoto is the protagonist of the story. Other characters who have supporting roles often have recurring appearances in the story.
Media
Manga
The manga was translated into English by Tokyopop (Formerly Mixx). Characters kept their Japanese names in the translated manga, however Yukito's nickname, Yuki, which is used by only Toya in the original version, is used by the entire cast in the English version. Plotwise, the manga is mostly unchanged from the original.
The earlier edition of the first six volumes were flipped to read left to right, while the later six volumes, released under the name Cardcaptor Sakura: Master of the Clow, read the original right-to-left way. The original six volumes were later re-released in the original right-to-left format with the same cover style as the latter six volumes.
Kodansha also published bilingual editions of the manga to help Japanese children learn English. Kodansha stopped publishing the editions when it was found that English-speakers in North America imported Kodansha's translations ahead of Tokyopop's releases and did not buy Tokyopop's releases. Therefore, only Tokyopop has all of the volumes translated.
The North American translation is imported to Australia by Madman Entertainment.
Anime
- See also: List of Cardcaptor Sakura episodes
Cardcaptor Sakura was adapted into an anime television series, which was animated by Madhouse and directed by Morio Asaka. The character designer and chief animation director for the series was Kumiko Takahashi. It premiered on NHK from April 8, 1998 and finished airing on March 21, 2000.
CLAMP were fully involved in the project, with head writer Nanase Ōkawa writing and composing the series' screenplay and Mokona Apapa overseeing the costumes and card designs. In addition to this, the anime featured 34 more Clow Cards than the original manga series, taking the total number of cards from 19 to 53.
Cardcaptor Sakura was adapted into English by Nelvana and brought to the United States and other English-speaking countries under the name Cardcaptors.
The anime television network, Animax, aired an uncensored English translation and dub of the complete Cardcaptor Sakura series, entitled under its actual name Cardcaptor Sakura, featuring their own English dubbing team, and staying faithful to the original, retaining all of the original names, plot and dialogue, for broadcast across its English-language networks in Southeast Asia[2][3] and South Asia.[4][5]
Video games
The series has been adapted into multiple video games, developed for Game Boy, PlayStation, WonderSwan, Dreamcast, Game Boy Advance and PlayStation 2. All games have been released in Japan only. The games were made by several companies like MTO, Arika, Bandai, Sega, TDK and NHK, and as well as a dōjin soft.
- Cardcaptor Sakura: Itsumo Sakura-chan to Issho!
- Animetic Story Game 1: Cardcaptor Sakura[6][7]
- Cardcaptor Sakura: Sakura to Fushigi na Clow Cards
- Cardcaptor Sakura: Clow Card Magic
- Tetris with Cardcaptor Sakura: Eternal Heart
- Cardcaptor Sakura: Tomoe Shougakkou Daiundoukai
- Cardcaptor Sakura: Tomoyo no Video Taisakusen
- Cardcaptor Sakura: Sakura Card de Mini-Game
- Cardcaptor Sakura: Sakura Card-hen Sakura Card to Tomodachi
- Cardcaptor Sakura: Sakura-Chan to Asobo!
There is also a well known dōjin fighting game called Card Hunter Sakura 2. There was no first installment of this. The dojin circle who created the dōjin soft was called DK Soft.
Books
In 2000, Kodansha published the Clow Card Fortune Book. Written by CLAMP, it contains information on how to use the Clow Cards like Tarot or Oracle cards. The book is now out of print in Japan and was never licensed for an English release.[8]
CLAMP has also created the Cardcaptor Sakura Memorial Book, a 152 page book containing various illustrations, character designs and as well as merchandise from the series.[9]
Reception
The manga won the Seiun Award for Best Manga in 2001, and the anime won the Animage Grand Prix award for best anime in 1999.
References
- ↑ Poitras, Gilles (2001). Anime Essentials: Every Thing a Fan Needs to Know. Stone Bridge Press. pp. 27. ISBN 1-880656-53-1.
- ↑ Animax Asia's Page for their Cardcaptor Sakura (Season One) Dub
- ↑ Animax Asia's Page for their Cardcaptor Sakura (Season Two - Last Two Seasons) Dub
- ↑ Animax South Asia's Page for their Cardcaptor Sakura (Season One) Dub
- ↑ Animax South Asia's Page for their Cardcaptor Sakura (Season Two - Last Two Seasons) Dub
- ↑ This game is often mis-titled as "Anime Chick" instead of "Animetic", an easy mistake to make when translating the katakana (アニメチック?).
- ↑ See IGN's page on the game, which lists the correct translation there.
- ↑ "Cardcaptor Sakura Fortune Book".
- ↑ "Cardcaptor Sakura Memorial Book".
External links
- Official NHK Cardcaptor Sakura website (Japanese)
- Official Nelvana Cardcaptors website
- Making Anime A Little Safer For Americans
- Cardcaptor Sakura (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
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