List of Cardcaptor Sakura characters
This article covers the major characters of Clamp's manga Cardcaptor Sakura and its respective anime and movies. The manga and anime focused on 10-year Japanese schoolgirl Sakura Kinomoto who finds the magical Clow Book in her father's basement study, accidentally unleashing the magical Clow Cards loose across her hometown Tomoeda. Dubbed the Cardcaptor by the cards' guardian Cerberus (better known as Kero-chan), Sakura must wield the Clow Staff to capture the card spirits and turn them back into cards for her use. Sakura is aided by her best friend Tomoyo Daidouji, who creates battle costumes for her as well as videotaping her ventures as Cardcaptor; and later by Syaoran Li, a Chinese boy who is a direct descendant of the Clow Cards' creator Clow Reed. The anime also introduced a fourth companion, Meiling Li, Syaoran's cousin and fiancee. The rest of the characters are mostly oblivious to Sakura's magical life, aside from her brother Toya who has his own magical powers, and later Eriol Hiiragizawa, who is a reincarnated Clow Reed.
The anime was dubbed into English by Nelvana under the title of Cardcaptors, with most of the character names changed to English ones with the exception of Sakura (her name repronounced though), Meiling, Cerberus (also repronounced as "Keroberos" based on the Japanese pronunciation of his name), Yue and Clow Reed. Omni Productions has produced an English dub of their own for Animax Asia. However, unlike Nelvana's dub, Omni's dub is uncut and far more faithfully closer to the original Japanese version.
A great deal of the characters reappear as alternate selves in Clamp's other series, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle and Xxxholic. Only Sakura appears as her original self in brief cameos in Tsubasa, interacting briefly with her parallel selves.
Main characters
Sakura Kinomoto
Sakura Kinomoto (木之本 さくら Kinomoto Sakura) is the titular ten-year-old protagonist and the eponymous heroine of Cardcaptor Sakura. Named after the Japanese word for "cherry blossom". Her "invincible spell," "Everything will surely be all right" ("Zettai daijoubu da yo"), has carried her through innumerable trials and obstacles as she masters her magical skills. Her most defining character traits is her unyielding determination, caring nature and loyalty to her friends. Sakura is portrayed as an perceptively sweet, extremely energetic and cheerful character who is well-loved, pretty, cheerful, cute and at times a naïve, clumsy, and clueless . Sakura is athletically gifted and skilled in sports at school, being an excellent runner and called the "best baton twirler in school" by her friends.[1] She hates math and is openly phasmophobic. She has a big brother that is a chick magnet. Sakura maintains a crush on Yukito Tsukishiro for most of the manga and anime, but when she finally confesses to Yukito, she is gently rejected and she realizes that she loved him because of his resemblance to her father. Soon after, Sakura develops similar feelings towards Syaoran, although she doesn't realize them until he confesses. In the Dub they never gave the parts when she started calling Li "Syaoran"- as of episode 57 of the third season.
She becomes the entitled Cardcaptor by guardian beast Kerberus after accidentally opening and releasing the Clow Cards from the Clow Book. Aided by Kerberus, her best friend and cousin Tomoyo Daidouji, and later Syaoran, Sakura successfully captures all the cards and is named the new Clow Mistress by the cards' second guardian Yue (Yukito's true form).[2] In the second half of the manga and anime, Sakura must use the power of her own star to transform the Clow Cards into Sakura Cards, or else the cards would lose their powers.
For all Japanese-language productions of the anime (including movies, audio CDs, and video games), Sakura is voiced by Sakura Tange. For English-language productions where Sakura is renamed Sakura Avalon, she is voiced by Carly McKillip through Cardcaptors and Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie dubbed by Nelvana. She is voiced in the second movie by Kari Wahlgren. She is voiced by Andrea Kwan in Animax's English dub version.
Cerberus
Cerberus (ケルベロス Keruberosu), nicknamed Kero by Sakura, is the appointed guardian of the book which holds the Clow Cards. He is one of two magical creatures created by Clow Reed along with the Clow Cards. Before his death, Clow appointed Kero as the one to select the potential candidate to be the next master of the cards, Cerberus himself, and his "brother" and fellow guardian, Yue. After Sakura accidentally releases the cards, Cerberus chooses her to be the candidate and teaches her the basics of capturing the cards. Throughout the series, he displays an extensive knowledge of mysticism. After Sakura passes the Final Judgment to become the Clow Cards master, Cerberus remains with her as a friend, companion, adviser, and protector when new threats appear.
Having spent a lengthy amount of time in the book while it was in Osaka, Cerberus speaks with a pointed Osakan-accent.[3] He tends to be bossy, demanding, egotistical and gluttonous, but clearly displays his affection for Sakura, especially if she is hurt or in danger. He becomes very fond of video games, and is addicted to sweets.[3] Cerberus spends most of his time in a "temporary" or "false form": a small figure resembling an orange stuffed animal with wings.[3] Unlike Yue, Cerberus' magical powers are like the sun, and thus largely self-sustaining, and he is subsequently not as dependent on his master's power to support his life as is Yue. However, his master must have control of the Firey and Earthy cards in order to power his true form, a large-winged mountain lion. In the anime adaptation, the Light card is changed to the Earthy card to delay his obtaining his true form.[3] Cerberus' name is taken from the Greek mythological figure, Cerberus, a large three-headed beast who was assigned to guard the gates of Hades. In the bilingual Kodansha version of the manga, the name for Cerberus' borrowed form is Cero.
In the anime adaptation, his false form is voiced by Aya Hisakawa, while his hidden form is voiced by Masaya Onosaka. In the English release of the anime adaptation, his name is spelled Kerberos. His false form is voiced by Matt Hill with a New York accent, and Richard Newman voices his true form, though the accent is not as distinct. In the second film, he is voiced by Wendee Lee and Dave Wittenberg, in his respective forms. J.D. Considine of The New York Times said that in Cardcaptors Kero changes "from cute sidekick (think talking plush toy) to hectoring adviser (think Danny DeVito's Louie from Taxi)".[4]
Cerberus appears in Episode 44 of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle in his borrowed form,[5] although in the parallel world he dwells in it appears to be his singular body. Cerberus (using "Kero-chan" as a nickname) guards the Country of Kero, and has a prophetic dream of Syaoran, Sakura, Fai, Kurogane and Mokona, the protagonists of Tsubasa, arriving in his world and recruits Mokona to climb up a mountain to retrieve one of Sakura's memory feathers which shrinks down the protagonists in size. Aya Hisakawa reprised her role as Cerberus for this character appearance.
Tomoyo Daidouji
Tomoyo Daidouji (大道寺 知世 Daidōji Tomoyo) is the best friend and primary assistant of the series' protagonist, Sakura Kinomoto, and her second cousin on their mother's sides. The daughter of the president of Daidōji Toy Company, Sonomi Daidōji,[6] Tomoyo lives a life of wealth and is watched over by a team of female bodyguards.[7] She has access to a variety of prototype technological gadgets from her mother's company, and supplies Sakura and Cerberus with different communication devices throughout the series. Her most defining character traits is her integrity and selflessness towards Sakura. She is depicted as being mature, hard-working, highly motivated, compassionate, intelligent, meticulous; giving her a unique air of refinement amongst the cast. She regularly speaks using more formal verb conjugations and expressions than normally seen in elementary students. She is artistically gifted and is a talented cinematographer, seamstress and vocalist, and is shown performing in various school events; in the anime, her musical ability causes her to be targeted by both the Voice and Song cards. When needed, Tomoyo can exhibit considerable perceptiveness, cunning and resourcefulness, which was most prominently displayed in The Sealed Card film.
Tomoyo is notable for her obsession with recording every single detail of Sakura's life on video as much as possible, much to Sakura's discomfort. When she learns of Sakura's new role as a Cardcaptor, she insists that Sakura must wear "special outfits" and begins providing Sakura with the various "magical girl" costumes she wears during her captures, as well as accompanying her on magical (and non-magical) endeavors to record the events with her video camera. These "art projects" seems to be more to Tomoyo's personal benefit and enjoyment than it is to Sakura's. Tomoyo faithfully keeps Sakura's new identity secret and often covers for her in times of need. In the manga, some scenes give the appearance that Tomoyo has a crush on Sakura's brother Toya; however, according to Volume 1 of Clamp No Kiseki: The Ultimate Collection, and an interview in the Cardcaptor Sakura Memorial Book, this was an error caused by one of the finishing artists not being aware that CLAMP intended for Tomoyo to have romantic feelings for Sakura.[8] Instead, she encourages Sakura's love of Yukito, and later becomes Syaoran's confidante when he begins to fall in love with Sakura.
In the English adaptation Cardcaptors, Tomoyo's name is changed to Madison Taylor. J.D. Considine of The New York Times stated:
"A United States audience would have a hard enough time accepting the deference and politeness of Sakura's best friend, Tomoyo, as merely a sign of good breeding. But her intense devotion to Sakura -- sewing elaborate costumes for each Clow Card chase, documenting Sakura's successes on video, assuring Sakura that she "really likes" her -- verges on the creepy. No wonder the American version simply paints Madison (the Tomoyo character) as a video obsessive who sees Sakura's adventures as mere camera fodder."[4]
Although not the actual character, two of Tomoyo's alternate forms make an appearance in Card Captor Sakura's spiritual successor Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, three in the animated version.
In the anime adaptation, the character is voiced by Junko Iwao. In Cardcaptors, she is voiced by Maggie Blue O'Hara. In the English dub of Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card, her voice is supplied by Michelle Ruff.
Syaoran Li
Syaoran Li (李 小狼 Ri Shaoran, Chinese Pinyin: Lǐ Xiǎoláng) is a member of the Li-clan, whom are distant relatives of Clow Reed, the creator of the Clow Cards. As such, he believes that he should be the one to inherit the Clow Cards and tries to capture the cards for himself. As the series progresses, Syaoran comes to respect Sakura and becomes her friend and ally. He eventually falls in love with her, though she is slow to realize it due to her own feelings for Yukito.
Initially, Syaoran has a crush on Yukito (the attraction to him was because of the high moon power inside of Yukito). Only later, at the beginning of the third season of the Cardcaptor series, does Syaoran begin to fall in love with Sakura, and make his feelings visible to viewers.[9] In the manga, Syaoran begins to develop feelings for Sakura around the time of the Erase card's capture. After Yukito rejects Sakura's feelings, Syaoran comforts her even though Sakura still oblivious about his feelings towards her. Near the second-half of the series, Syaoran confesses his feelings to Sakura. With Sakura now undisputed master of the cards, he decides to return to Hong Kong. At the end of the series, he returns from Hong Kong a few months later to visit his old school. In the anime adaptation, Syaoran manages to catch several cards by playing a major role in helping Sakura seal them. He is allowed to attempt the final judgment but fails. Syaoran is shown to have similar powers to Sakura, such as sensing Clow Cards and magical auras, is a skilled martial artist, and wields a sword which he can use to cast spells when equipped with incantation papers. He can also use a device dubbed a "lasenboard" in Cardcaptors,[10] which can detect and direct him to magical entities. A running gag is Kero calling him "kid". In the Dub as well for Sakura, Syaoran never told his feelings towards Sakura as he did in episode 69, one episode before the finale.
In the English Cardcaptors adaptation, he is renamed Li Showron and he is introduced in the first episode, as the male lead. He is also called a "Cardcaptor".
In Japanese media, Syaoran is voiced by Motoko Kumai. Syaoran is voiced by Rhys Huber during the Clow Cards arc and the first movie, by Jordan Kilik in the Sakura Cards arc, and by Mona Marshall in the second movie, and by Candace Moore in Animax's English dub adaptation.
Although Syaoran does not appear in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, his design was used as a base for its protagonist with same name.
Yue
Yue (月, Chinese Pinyin: Yuè) is the one of two Guardians of the Clow Cards, along with Cerberus. His name, which is written in kanji rather than hiragana is the Mandarin Chinese word for "moon". Whereas Cerebus is the elector of the new Clow Card Master, Yue is the judge who is allowed to test the candidate for their worthiness. He spends most of the series in his temporary form, Yukito Tsukishiro, who initially has no memory or knowledge of his other self. Unlike Cerberus, Yue's powers are heavily dependent on the power of his master. Sakura's power is not yet strong enough to sustain him after he awakens, particularly after she begins transforming the Clow Cards into Sakura Cards. Yue's growing need for power is reflected in Yukito's ravenous appetite and later constant sleeping. Similarly, the deficit affects Yue himself in instances such as the blatant failure of his magic which causes he and Sakura to fall out of the sky during one of Eriol's synthesized 'situations'. Eventually, Sakura's brother Toya reveals that he knows Yue and Yukito are not human and gives his power to Yue to sustain his existence so he does not lose Yukito.
Though not "human or male", Yue has the appearance of a beautiful young man with long, silver, braided hair, silver-purple feline eyes, and a pair of white angel wings which he uses for flight. Yue sports a white suit and spats-like coverings on his feet. His personality is depicted as serious and aloof in contrast to Yukito's, and while Yukito is fond of Sakura, Yue is reluctant to accept her. As the series progress, he comes to respond to Sakura's request that rather than being his master, she just wants to be his friend. Yue has jurisdiction over the elements wind and water, though he is stated by Cerberus to have control over other cards, including the Wood.
In the anime television series, Yue is voiced by Megumi Ogata in Japanese and Samuel Vincent in English. In the English dub of the second anime film, his voice is provided by Steve Staley.
Secondary characters
Toya Kinomoto
Toya Kinomoto (木之本 桃矢 Kinomoto Tōya) is Sakura's older brother. Though he teases her frequently, he cares a great deal for her and works to protect her. He is fully aware of what she is doing as a Cardcaptor, and regularly takes on several part-time jobs that put him in a position to be nearby when she is working on capturing a card. He also initially dislikes Syaoran, knowing that one day Syaoran will "take her away" from him. Toya possesses several magical powers, including the ability to see ghosts and other non-humans, the ability to sense when Sakura is in danger, and mild precognition. He has an extremely close relationship with his best friend Yukito, despite knowing he is the alter-ego of Yue. To save them both, he eventually gives all of his magical powers to Yue, making him promise to protect Sakura in his stead as well as himself (and, by extension, Yukito).[11]
In the Japanese anime adaptation, Toya is voiced by Tomokazu Seki. In the Animax English adaptation, his name is romanized as "Touya". In the English manga his name is spelled "Toya". In the English adaptation Cardcaptors his name is changed to Tori Avalon, his romantic relationship with Yukito is removed, and he is voiced by Tony Sampson. In the English dub of the second film, Kirk Thornton takes over the voicing role.
Yukito Tsukishiro
Yukito Tsukishiro (月城 雪兎 Tsukishiro Yukito) (nicknamed 'Yuki' by Toya, and 'Yuki-usagi' by Kerberus) is the best friend of Sakura's older brother, Toya, and the human alter-ego of the Clow Card guardian, Yue. Though he is certainly Yue's temporary form, he is referenced several times by other characters (including Eriol and Yue himself) as being simultaneously a completely separate "heart" from Yue's. As Yukito, he displays a kind and gentle nature, and at the start of the series, Sakura has a crush on him. When she eventually confesses her feelings, he gently rejects her noting that the one he "likes best" is Toya. For most of the series, Yukito is unaware of Yue's existence, though he maintains an enormous appetite for food in an unconscious attempt to give Yue power. Yue's existence is revealed to the other characters after all of the Clow Cards are collected, and Toya states he knew of Yue's existence all along and was just waiting for Yukito to notice himself.
Once Sakura collects all of the cards, Yue begins needing greater power as her magic isn't strong enough to sustain him. Subconsciously, Yukito begins eating even more to try to compensate, but it is not enough and he starts sleeping constantly, even while standing, and eventually finds his body fading away altogether. Once Toya gives his magical energy to Yue to sustain them, Yukito begins to grow aware of Yue's existence and that the grandparents he thought he lived with didn't exist. It is suggested that he came into existence shortly before he met Toya, to be near the future new guardian of the Clow Cards. Eriol tells Yue that while he (and Clow) did know Sakura would be the future master of the cards, that Yukito had deviated from his vision by falling in love with Toya instead of Sakura.
In the Japanese anime adaptations Yukito is voiced by Megumi Ogata. In Cardcaptors, Yukito's name is changed to Julian Star, his relationship with Toya is removed, and he is voiced by Samuel Vincent. In the English dub of the second movie, he is voiced by Steve Staley.
Meiling Li
Meiling Li (李 苺鈴 Ri Meirin, Chinese Pinyin: Lǐ Méilíng) is a character that appears only in the anime adaptation of Cardcaptor Sakura. Introduced in episode 20, she is a very impulsive and overconfident girl, as well as Syaoran Li's cousin and fiancée. As children living in Hong Kong, they both trained in martial arts under the tutelage of Wang Wei. One night her pet bird escaped from its cage, and the normally quiet and withdrawn Syaoran told her not to cry, then left. After spending hours in the rain, he returned with the bird and Meiling was both grateful and touched. From that day, she devoted herself to him, eventually declaring that she liked Syaoran above all others and, reasoning that he liked her as well, she declared them to be engaged. At the same time, she promised that if he found someone he liked more than her, he would tell her and she would release him from the promise.[12]
In coming to Tokyo, Meiling intends to help Syaoran gather the Clow Cards, and actively dislikes Sakura. As the series progresses, Meiling develops a grudging respect for Sakura that turns into a good friendship by the time Meiling returns to Hong Kong in episode 43 by her mother due to her unknown reason. During her initial visit, Meiling seemed to recognize that Syaoran was falling in love with Sakura, but it wasn't until she briefly returned in episode 60 that she acknowledges and accepts Sakura as the person Syaoran loves. Wanting to keep her promise, Syaoran attempts to tell her that he loves Sakura, but Meiling interrupts and tells him that she knows because he is now calling Sakura by her first name, something he only does for his sisters and her. She releases Syaoran from their promise, then quickly leaves. Meiling spends the night at Tomoyo Daidōji's house and releases all of her frustration by crying without burdening Syaoran. At the end of the episode, Meiling returns home and is not seen again in the main series. She returns in the second movie, with Syaoran, to see her old friends. A running gag is Kero calling her "brat".
Unlike Syaoran, Meiling has no magical abilities, relying solely on her physical fighting abilities and a healthy dose of pride. Her lack of powers and tendency to leap before thinking, however, results in her hindering more than helping Syaoran in most battles against the cards. She challenges The Fight card in episode 20, and was nearly badly wounded and had to be rescued by Syaoran. Recognizing that she was being a burden, Meiling grew upset and lashed out at Syaoran. However, she was then able to be an aid to him while fighting The Twin card, as their years of practicing martial arts together enables them to match the card's synchronized fighting style.
The character of Meiling is voiced by Yukana Nogami. In the English adaptation Cardcaptors her name is changed to Meilin Rae and her relationship with Syaoran is changed from cousins to childhood friends. She is voiced by Nicole Oliver. In the English dub of the second movie, she is voiced by Julie Maddalena.
Kaho Mizuki
Kaho Mizuki (観月 歌帆 Mizuki Kaho) is a shrine maiden and the daughter of the priest at the Tsukimine Shrine. She first appears in the series as a new substitute teacher at Tomoeda Elementary School for the math class of Sakura Kinomoto and Syaoran Li. While Sakura instantly likes the teacher and feels a connection with her, Syaoran is distrustful and believes she is up to no good.
When Sakura, Syaoran, Meiling and Tomoyo are trapped by the Maze card, Kaho uses a mysterious bell to break through Maze's walls allowing Sakura to capture it. After this incident, the readers learn that Sakura's older brother Toya dated Kaho when she was his junior high school teacher and that they broke up when Kaho left to study in England. Before she left, she told them that when they met again, they would be in love with different people which he acknowledges is now true.
After meeting her, Cerberus incorrectly believes that Kaho is the false form of his fellow guardian Yue, which is later shown to actually be Yukito Tsukishiro. Kaho's role is to use the bell left at her family's shrine to give Sakura another chance when she is unable to defeat Yue out of fear of hurting him. The bell changes Sakura's staff into a new staff containing her own power of the stars and gives her the power to use the cards to defeat Yue. After fulfilling this duty, she returns to England. During the third season of the series, she is primarily "seen" through providing a steady, but oftentimes enigmatic exchange of letters with Sakura over the mysterious attacks. After Eriol Hiiragizawa reveals the truth behind the attacks, they learn that Kaho had met Eriol three years before Sakura discovered the Book of the Clow. As they leave for England, Kaho and Eriol confirm their feelings for one another and vow to remain together. In the anime, Kaho is last seen in the second film expressing concern for Sakura and her friends due to the incidents with the final card.
In the anime series, Kaho is voiced by Emi Shinohara. In the English adaptation Cardcaptors, her name is changed to Layla MacKenzie and she is voiced by Linda Rae Jurgens. She is voiced by Philece Sampler in the English adaptation of the second movie.
Eriol Hiragizawa
Eriol Hiragizawa (柊沢 エリオル Hiiragizawa Erioru) is the principal antagonist in the second half of the series, commonly called the Master of the Clow arc. The reincarnation of Clow Reed, Eriol has both Clow's memories and all of his magic power. He has a magical staff similar to Clow Reed's, can restrain Clow's creations Yue and Cerberus, and has created his own similar pair of guardians: Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun. He moves from England to transfer to Tomoeda Elementary school after Sakura Kinomoto passed the Last Judgement and became the official master of the cards. He is depicted as a quiet, mature boy while at school, though he also shows a mischievous side when he regularly joins classmate Takashi Yamazaki in weaving complex lies about the history of objects, places, and events. While seeming a normal student to Sakura, Syaoran Li is suspicious of him, mainly due to that Eriol is overly nice to Sakura which makes Syaoran jealous. It is soon shown that Yue and Cerberus are able to detect his magical signature as being Clow's, and Eriol must erase Yue's memories of encountering him after he is accidentally seen by him.
Eriol came to Japan in order to aid Sakura and force her to use her own magical powers to convert the Clow Cards into Sakura cards. This is necessary as the cards take their magical energy from their master, but until Sakura converted them, they could not use her magic and were slowly dying. The guardian Yue also was suffering the same fate, forcing Sakura's brother to "feed" him all of his magical power to prevent Yue, and his false form Yukito, from dying.
Sakura does not become aware that Eriol is causing all of the magical disasters that are forcing her to convert the cards until near the end of the series when Eriol reveals himself to her. He puts the city to sleep and challenges Sakura to convert the last two cards, the Dark and the Light, which must be changed together. After Sakura successfully does so, he then tells her that she is now more powerful than Clow Reed and asks her to perform one final task for him: to divide his own magical power between himself and her father Fujitaka—the other reincarnation of Clow Reed—so that Eriol will no longer be the most powerful magician in the world. He then takes Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo, Yue, and Cerberus to his home where he explains why he had to give her a reason to convert the cards, as her doing so without a need could have been dangerous for Sakura.
Eriol's true age is unknown, as he used his magic to halt his aging process to remain the same physical age as Sakura. He is romantically involved with Kaho Mizuki, whom he originally sent from England to aid Sakura in the Final Judgment and who offers Sakura support through letters during the second arc. At the end of the manga series, she returns with him to England, and in the second anime movie, they are shown together when Sakura calls for advice, though their love is never confessed like in the manga, only hinted at indirectly.
In the anime series, Eriol is the sole reincarnation of Clow Reed, with all of the elements from the manga regarding Fujitaka's relation to Clow and inheriting of half of his powers removed. The final explanation at Eriol's house is also shifted slightly so it takes place the day after the final battle, rather than immediately after, and it is done because Sakura seeks him out rather than him giving an invitation.
The character of Eriol is voiced by Nozomu Sasaki. In the Cardcaptors English adaptation, his name is changed to Eli Moon and he is voiced by Bill Switzer. In the English dub of the second film, his voice is supplied by Johnny Yong Bosch.
Spinel Sun
Spinel Sun (スピネル・サン Supineru San) is the cat-like magical guardian created by Eriol Hiiragizawa as a counterpart to Clow Reed's original guardian Kerberus. Spinel Sun's true form is a butterfly-winged black panther with cat-like ears, while his false form is similar to a small winged cat. Nicknamed Suppi by Ruby Moon, Spinel Sun spends most of his time reading and projects a calm demeanor. Ruby Moon often teases him that he needs to have more fun. During the series, he mostly remains out of sight of the main characters, except when he once runs into Cerberus in his false form (though this encounter is exclusive to the anime). Fortunately for him, Cerberus doesn't suspect anything and instead declares Spinel Sun a monster and feeds him sweets, not realizing that the sweets would turn him into a hyperactive eating machine. Cerberus does not learn his true identity until just before the final battle where the two cats face one another. Initially, Spinel Sun appears to have the upper hand, however Cerberus' greater determination to protect Sakura enables him to defeat him.
In the anime adaptation, he is voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi in his true form, and by Yumi Tōma in his false form. In the second Cardcaptor Sakura movie, his false form briefly appears and is voiced by Philece Sampler. In the English adaptation Cardcaptors, his name is changed to Spinner Sun and both forms are voiced by Colin Murdock.
Ruby Moon
Ruby Moon (ルビー・ムーン Rubī Mūn) is one of two magical guardians created by Eriol Hiiragizawa. The counterpart to the original guardian Yue. When Eriol transfers to Tomoeda Elementary, Ruby Moon created a false form named Nakuru Akizuki (秋月 奈久留 Akizuki Nakuru) and enrolls in Seijou High School, entering the same class as Toya Kinomoto, Sakura's brother, and Yukito Tsukishiro, the false form of Yue who is unaware of his true nature. Her true form resembles a human-sized fairy that performs ruby-based attacks. As Akizuki, she acts as a general annoyance, deliberately interfering every time Toya tries to talk to Yukito about the latter's dwindling energy. She claims she wants to consume Toya's energy herself, though it is never stated that she actually has a need for it nor why she couldn't simply steal it. When Toya is finally able to speak with Yue and give him all of his magical energy to sustain Yue's life, Akizuki gives up her pursuit. In the final battle, Ruby Moon battles Yue and initially appears to be winning. However, Yue is able to get past her due to Yue's greater determination and desire to protect Sakura.
In the anime adaptation, Ruby Moon is voiced by Ryōka Yuzuki. In the English adaptation, Cardcaptors, both her true form and false form is called Ruby Moon and she is voiced by Willow Johnson.
Clow Reed
Clow Reed (クロウ・リード Kurō Rīdo) is the magician who originally created the Clow Cards, and their magical guardians Cerberus and Yue. He is the only Clamp-created character to appear in more than (and not an alternative universe version), and as of between Cardcaptor Sakura, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle and xxxHolic, at least 9 characters are known to be directly related to him.
Born of an English father and a Chinese mother, Clow created a new type of magic that blended both Eastern and Western magical elements. His plan was to hand down the magic to people who would use and protect it while meeting all of the qualifications. However, few people could learn his brand of magic. The character of Clow is only seen in flash backs, as he has long been dead before the series starts. Few details are revealed about his character, personality, or life; however, it is known that despite his benevolence he seems to have been quite eccentric, having created such cards as The Flower, The Bubble and The Change solely for his own amusement and convenience.
When Clow knew he was about to die, he chose his then unborn descendant, Sakura Kinomoto, to become the new guardian of the cards and the new master of Yue and Cerberus. Clow's magical ability allowed him to foresee most of the future and plan many of the situations that would enable Sakura to succeed in taking full possession of the Clow Cards. Likewise, he created Yue and Cerberus to specifically serve as Sakura's companions, and deliberately made the sealing wand pink, reflecting that its future user would be a young girl. He also split his soul into two reincarnations, Eriol Hiiragizawa who had all of his memories and magic he possessed, and Fujitaka Kinomoto, Sakura's father. In the anime adaptation, Clow does not split his soul, instead passing on his memories, soul and powers to Eriol exclusively.
Syaoran Li is also an indirect descendant of Clow's Chinese lineage. Because of this, Syaoran does not use Clow's style of magic but still sets off to collect the Clow Cards, becoming Sakura's rival in the process. In the manga, because of the physical split by Clow into Eriol and Fujitaka, Syaoran and Sakura are indirectly related, confirmed with Eriol calling Syaoran "My cute descendant".
In the first anime film, the "Madoushi (魔導師 Madōshi, literally Sorceress)", the spirit of a woman who had fought bitterly with Clow about the appropriate use of magic, is introduced. Even after her death, she attempted to continue the feud by embedding her spirit in a book and waits for Clow Reed. After Sakura accidentally releases her, the sorceress refuses to believe Clow is dead and attacks Sakura and her friends for trying to trick her. When Sakura is able to convince her that Clow has gone, the spirit realizes that she had truly loved Clow rather than hating him as she believed and passed on once accepting his death.
In the anime adaptation and the film, he is voiced by Kazuo Hayashi. In the English adaptation, Cardcaptors, he is voiced by Dale Wilson. Clow Reed also appeared in two additional CLAMP works, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle and xxxHolic, where he has another descendant named Fei-Wang Reed and worked with the Dimensional Witch Yūko Ichihara in arranging the series of events in the former series.
Tertiary characters
Fujitaka Kinomoto
Fujitaka Kinomoto (木之本 藤隆 Kinomoto Fujitaka) is the father of titular character, Sakura Kinomoto, and a reincarnation of the Clow Cards' creator, Clow Reed. A busy professor of archaeology at Towa University, Fujitaka is a kind and caring father. He met his late wife Nadeshiko while doing his first year as a teacher at her high school. Nadeshiko had climbed a tree to return a baby bird to its nest, but fell out of the tree, landing on Fujitaka. Upon seeing her, he stated that "an angel has fallen from the sky." They fell in love and married when she was sixteen. Though Nadeshiko died seven years before the start of the series, Fujitaka is shown to still be very much in love with her and devoted to her memory. He keeps a picture of her in the dining room, changing it each morning.
Little is initially said about Fujitaka's family or past. During the second half of the series, it is revealed that when Clow Reed divided his soul (seeking to no longer be the most powerful magician in the world), he split it into two halves. One of these halves became Eriol Hiiragizawa, holding all of Clow's magic and memories, and the other being Fujitaka, who has no magic of his own, but fathered the one who would inherit the cards. It is stated that Fujitaka has no magical powers of his own, but he is also unaffected by other Clow's magic, such as the Eriol's sleep spell. At the end of the series, Eriol gives half of his magic to Fujitaka. This enables Fujitaka to finally see the spirit of Nadeshiko, who has been watching over her family since her death.
In the anime adaptation, Fujitaka's role as the other half of Clow Reed's reincarnation is completely removed as is his immunity to Eriol's magic and he is never able to see Nadeshiko's spirit. He is voiced by Hideyuki Tanaka. In the Cardcaptors English adaptation, his name is changed to Aiden Avalon and he is voiced by Brian Drummond. In the English dub of the second movie, he is voiced by Michael McConnohie.
Sonomi Daidouji
Sonomi Daidouji (大道寺 園美 Daidōji Sonomi) is the mother of titular character Sakura's best friend Tomoyo Daidouji, and the first cousin of Sakura's late mother Nadeshiko Kinomoto. She is rarely seen in the series, but is said to be a wealthy woman and the President of a large toy corporation. She greatly loved her cousin Nadeshiko, and disapproved of her marriage to Fujitaka, later blaming Fujitaka for Nadeshiko's death at a young age. During the marriage, it is implied that Nadeshiko was at least partially cut off from her family. Sonomi has Tomoyo keep her hair long because it reminds her of Nadeshiko.
After meeting Sakura for the first time, Sonomi realizes that Nadeshiko had lived a happy life and is able to come to terms with the marriage. At times, she still treats Fujitaka as a "rival" competing to love Nadeshiko more, but she also helps him pass on gifts from Sakura to her grandfather and to arrange for Sakura to meet her great-grandfather while on a family vacation. Sonomi shows great affection for Sakura, wanting to join her and Tomoyo whenever Sakura comes over to visit.
In the Cardcaptors English adaptation, her name is changed to Samantha Taylor and her declaration of love for Nadeshiko is modified to a purely familiar love rather than a romantic love.
Sonomi is voiced by Miki Itō in anime series. She is voiced by Venus Terzo in Cardcaptors and by Wendee Lee in the English dub of the second movie.
Nadeshiko Kinomoto
Nadeshiko Kinomoto (木之本 撫子 Kinomoto Nadeshiko) is Sakura and Toya's mother and Fujitaka's late wife. She worked as a model from her teens up until her death. She was sixteen when she met Fujitaka when he worked as a student teacher at her high school. She met Fujitaka when she climbed a tree to rescue a bird nest and accidentally fell, and landed on him as he saved her from getting hurt. He then remarked, "l had thought an angel fell from the sky". With those words, she fell in love with him. Soon after, against the wishes of her family, they got married despite their nine-year age gap (he was 25, she was 16). She died from an unnamed illness when Sakura was three. Because she was 27 when she died and Sakura was three and Toya was ten, it is likely that she gave birth to Toya at 17. Although she has died, she is still very much remembered and loved by her family; Fujitaka keeps her picture in the family room and Sakura never fails to greet her photo every morning. She appears occasionally as a spirit and is seen only by Toya (and Eriol).
Nadeshiko is voiced by Yūko Minaguchi in anime series. In the Cardcaptors English adaption, her name is changed to Natasha Avalon and she is voiced by Janyse Jaud.
Yoshiyuki Terada
Yoshiyuki Terada (寺田 良幸 Terada Yoshiyuki) is a teacher at Tomoeda Elementary School. During the series, as the main characters go through fourth grade, and enter the fifth grade, he acts as their home room teacher. He is also shown teaching in other classes, including the physical education classes, and he acts as the chaperon on several school field trips. As the series progresses, it is revealed that he is having a romantic relationship with his student Rika Sasaki. In the manga, they become engaged when he gives her a ring, noting that he hopes it will one day become her wedding ring. Rika gives him a teddy bear she made and named after herself, which legends says will allow them to remain in love forever. Towards the end of the series, when Sakura is unsure of her feelings about Li, the couple is shown having a picnic at a park, with Terada slipping away so Sakura doesn't notice him. During the series, none of the other characters appear to know about the relationship, though when Rika is taken over by the Sword card, Sakura hears her call out "Sensei" (teacher) when she uses the illusion card to show Rika her most beloved.
In the anime adaptation, their relationship is not shown in the same light. Their engagement and more romantic scenes between them are removed, and Rika notes that Terada reminds her of her absentee father. Terada is also shown accepting cakes made by Rika and in accepting the bear and naming it after his "hardest working student." In the Cardcaptors English dub, he is simply called Mr. Terada, and all aspects of the romantic relationship between Terada and Rika are completely removed, with Rika's shyness and reactions to him made to appear to be more of a general fear of men than romantic feelings.
In the anime series, he is voiced by Tōru Furusawa for the first season and first movie, and by Katsuyuki Konishi for the second and third seasons and the second film. In the Cardcaptors dub, he is voiced by Brian Drummond. He is voiced by Steven Jay Blum in the English dub of the second movie.
Rika Sasaki
Rika Sasaki (佐々木 利佳 Sasaki Rika) is a classmate and friend of titular character Sakura Kinomoto. She is considered to be very elegant and mature for her age, though she can also be shy. During the series, she is also shown to be a skilled cook and very good at crafts. During the series, Rika is affected by the Clow Cards several times. Early in the series, she buys a brooch that is actually The Sword card. The card takes her over and causes her to attack Sakura. Sakura is able to stop Rika by using The Illusion card to show her an image of her beloved (or greatest fear in the English dub), allowing Sakura to capture the card. During the second half of the series, she is nearly drowned during a magical trial Eriol Hiiragizawa created to cause Sakura to convert a Clow Card to Sakura Card.
During the series, Rika is shown to be in a romantic relationship with her teacher Yoshiyuki Terada. In the manga series, they are engaged to be married when she is old enough, and they frequently spend time alone together on "dates." In the anime adaptation, the engagement is removed as are many of their dates, however they are still shown to have affection for one another. Rika gives Terada the hand-made teddy bear she made, and he names it after her. In both the manga and anime, when Sakura uses the Illusion card to stop Rika's attacks induced by the Sword card, she calls the image "Sensei" which means "teacher" in Japanese. During the final judgment when Yue shows Sakura a world where everyone has lost their feelings for the one they love the most, Rika is shown handing Terada a paper without her usual blush and shy look.
In the Cardcaptors English adaptation, Rika's name is changed to Rita and all hints of her relationship with Terada are removed. Instead of being a good student, she is depicted as having trouble with her school work and her blushing around Terada is explained away as being embarrassed at having to stay after school so often and that she is afraid of him.
In the original anime series, she is voiced by Tomoko Kawakami. In the English dub of the second film, she is voiced by Stevie Bloch.
Takashi Yamazaki
Takashi Yamazaki (山崎 貴史 Yamazaki Takashi) is a classmate and friend of Sakura Kinomoto and Syaoran Li. He is infamously known for fabricating highly detailed stories on the supposed history of practically any subject, usually whatever Sakura and her friends happening to be discussing. Sakura and Syaoran are often gullible enough to believe the stories, which often provide an element of humour in the series. His stories are primarily interrupted by Chiharu, who physically disciplines him by strangling him until he stops talking and will resort to dragging him away when she proves to be unsuccessful. His storytelling is later supplemented by Eriol, who helps to reinforce the false validity of his stories and whose presence prevents Chiharu from stopping Yamazaki's lies. Notably, Yamazaki's eyes are almost never open, causing Meiling to hypothesize that he only opens his eyes when telling the truth, a hypothesis that is later proven false.
While generally viewed as lighthearted and energetic, Yamazaki can also be sensitive and serious. In the last volume of the manga, when Sakura was down, he leaves the scene in order for Chiharu to talk to Sakura. Chiharu adds that he understands that Sakura needs her guidance and counseling, which is why he left so they could talk rather than stay to tell stories.
Yamazaki is named after film director, Takashi Yamazaki, who is a friend of CLAMP. He is known as Zachary in the English adaptation Cardcaptors and his relationship with Chiharu is written so that they are cousins and her acts of strangling are the result of sibling rivalry. Yamazaki also makes an appearance in Clamp's manga series, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle in Piffle Country as an announcer, where he retains his tendency to fabricate elaborate stories.
In the Japanese version, he is voiced by Issei Miyazaki. He is voiced by Philip Pacaud in the English series, and by Joshua Seth in the second movie.
Chiharu Mihara
Chiharu Mihara (三原 千春 Mihara Chiharu) is one of Sakura Kinomoto's friends and classmates in school. Along with Rika Sasaki and Naoko Yanagisawa, Chiharu often appears alongside Sakura at school and during school events. She is also on the school's cheerleading squad with Sakura. Chiharu's most notable trait is her relationship with Takashi Yamazaki, whom she has known since kindergarten.[13] She is never fooled by his rampant storytelling and is usually driven silence him by comically strangling him, which usually does not prevent him from continuing. Despite the rough-handling, she and Yamazaki actually share a close relationship and it is implied that they care for one another in a more affectionate manner. In the last volume of the series, Chiharu speaks openly about her relationship with Yamazaki when Sakura turns to her for advice on love and true feelings as Sakura reflects on her own relationship with Syaoran.
In the English adaptation Cardcaptors, she is known as Chelsea and Yamazaki is written as her cousin to justify the random acts of strangling as sibling rivalry.
In the Japanese version, she is voiced by Miwa Matsumoto. She is voiced by Jocelyne Loewen in the English series, and by Dorothy Elias-Fahn in the second movie.
Naoko Yanagisawa
Naoko Yanagisawa (柳沢 奈緒子 Yanagisawa Naoko) is one of Sakura Kinomoto's classmates and friends in school and often appears at school events with Sakura's other friends, Chiharu and Rika. Despite being bad at gymnastics, she is also a member of the school's cheerleading squad alongside Sakura.
Naoko loves reading various types of stories, especially fantasy stories and ghost stories. While Sakura reacts to scary situations with utmost fear, Naoko reacts with fascination and a brave willingness to explore these mysterious situations further. In the anime, Naoko's love of stories causes trouble when she finds The Create card in the form of a notebook and writes a fantastic story within it, forcing Sakura to defeat Naoko's creations before recovering The Create. When Naoko wakes up the next morning to find her book suddenly missing, she believes she just had a supernatural experience.
According to an interview with Clamp featured in Clamp no Kiseki Volume 2, Naoko was originally supposed to have a long-distance boyfriend but the chapter was ultimately cut from the manga.
She is known as Nikki in the English adaptation Cardcaptors. She is voiced by Emi Motoi in the Japanese anime, Kelly Sheridan in the English series, and by Sherry Lynn in the second movie.
Masaki Amamiya
Masaki Amamiya (雨宮 真嬉 Amamiya Masaki) is the great-grandfather of Sakura Kinomoto on her mother's side. Initially objecting to Nadeshiko's marriage to Fujitaka Kinomoto, he became more accepting upon meeting Sakura and later receiving a gift from her as a form of peace between family members. In the episode, Sakura and the Rainbow of Memories, Sakura doesn't know who he was and they spent a good time together, playing tennis, having tea, Sakura giving him cookies and Masaki giving Sakura the dress her mother wore. Just before leaving, Sakura used the Rain card to make a rainbow for Masaki, prompting him to remember when Nadeshiko had first pointed out a rainbow to him. Sakura discovers the present Masaki left her was the dress she wore at his summer house, although she does not seem to realizes who he actually is despite Cerberus pointing out its origins.
In the anime series, Masaki is voiced by Osamu Saka. In the English dub, Mr. Avalon was portrayed instead as the father of Natasha Avalon, making him the grandfather of Sakura instead of her great-grandfather.
Maki Matsumoto
Maki Matsumoto (松本 真樹 Matsumoto Maki) is a character that appears only in the Cardcaptor Sakura anime adaptation. She first appears in the fifth episode, opening a new gift shop in Tomoeda called Twin Bells following her husband's recent demise and a string of misfortunes. Sakura sees her setting up shop and helps her clean up after some boxes fall over. After the shop opens, Maki has trouble a mysterious stuffed animal that keeps returning to her shop every time someone buys it, resulting in accusations that Maki is stealing it back. Sakura discovers that the stuffed animal is the The Jump card and seals it.[14] Maki later introduces a line of "enchanted cards", which resemble Clow Cards, that grant their owners good luck in certain areas, (i.e. cooking, sports etc.). The Shot is among the cards in the rack, eventually being purchased by Meiling who accidentally causes it to attack Syaoran.[15] Sakura and her classmates shop at Twin Bells regularly. Maki appears throughout the first season of the series and in both films.[16][17][18][19]
In the anime series, Maki is voiced by Kotono Mitsuishi. In the English dub Cardcaptors, her name is changed to Maggie.
References
- ↑ Cardcaptor Sakura, Episode 1 Sakura and the Mysterious Magic Book
- ↑ Cardcaptor Sakura, Episode 46 Sakura and the Final Judgment
- 1 2 3 4 Lew, Kevin; Ovalle, Carlos; Chow, Winnie (December 2008). "Cardcaptor Sakura". Animerica (San Francisco, California: Viz Media) 8 (11): 15. ISSN 1067-0831. OCLC 27130932.
- 1 2 Considine, J.D. "TELEVISION/RADIO; Making Anime A Little Safer For Americans." The New York Times. January 20, 2002. Retrieved on November 10, 2011.
- ↑ Tsubasa Chronicle, Episode 44 Kero-chan and Mokona
- ↑ Cardcaptor Sakura, Episode 10 Sakura and the Sports Day of Flowers
- ↑ Cardcaptor Sakura, Episode 2 Sakura's Wonderful Friend
- ↑ interview printed in Cardcaptor Sakura Memorial Book, published by Nakayoshi.
- ↑ Cardcaptor Sakura, Episode 47 Sakura and the Mysterious Transfer Student
- ↑ Cardcaptors, Episode 9 The Rival
- ↑ Cardcaptor Sakura, Episode 65 Sakura, Yukito, and the Vanishing Power
- ↑ Ep 43
- ↑ "Sakura's Scary Test of Courage" (Episode 17). Cardcaptor Sakura. 1998. CLAMP, NHK.
- ↑ "Sakura, Panda, and a Cute Shop". Cardcaptor Sakura. Season 1. Episode 5.
- ↑ "Sakura and the Enchanted Cards". Cardcaptor Sakura. Season 1. Episode 28.
- ↑ "Sakura's Long Marathon Race". Cardcaptor Sakura. Season 1. Episode 21.
- ↑ "Sakura, Yukito, and the Midday Moon". Cardcaptor Sakura. Season 1. Episode 34.
- ↑ Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie (Motion picture). Bandai Visual.
- ↑ Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card (Motion picture). Bandai Visual.