Card Captor Sakura

Genre: Shoujo / Magical Girl
General Audience
1998-2000. Madhouse. CLAMP/Koudansha/NHK/NEP21

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Cover Description:
Curiosity is a part of any 10-year-old's life, but Sakura just broke the seal on a magical book and released all of the mischievous spirits imprisoned on the cards inside! Kero, the Guardian of the Clow Cards is horrified to find all of the cards gone and tells Sakura she must become the Cardcaptor and retrieve the spirits before they work their mischief in the world...

(70 episodes)

Has a very cool concept but it is for children >>> by firesenshi

At the end of each Cardcaptor Sakura episode, there is a special by Kero-chan called Omikase where he explains some parts of the episode. Although this is normal for most anime, of which CCS is not an exception, this just confirms that this is really an anime for elementary-school children. There is even a sample of artworks by children drawing kawaii Kero-chan after the program.

But that doesn't mean adults won't enjoy this. The concept is quite good in fact! As it seems, most of Japan's mangaka are fond of tarot cards-even Hitomi of Tenkuu no Escaflowne used this predominantly. You'll see how those cool magical aspects of each card is shown here. Each card even has its own personality! It's like those story books you read where you see a kid befriend spirits with different powers and some spirits are nice and some are mischievous, and still end up to be your friend! Well, here they're like that-with a twist. Sakura has to employ certain tactics to catch those cards using whatever cards she has. A nice concept of strategy and not just eye candy effects like other children's anime. You'll see a shift in the plot in the later scenes aside from this being 'card of the day.'

Of course, this is done by CLAMP. Their artwork is always good! This one is for children so they lessened the detail in the magical scenes and costumes, which are their signatures. Art for children's anime is usually straightforward and simple since it is for kids. That is one of the reasons they lessened the detail in the art of Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon from Naoko Takeuchi's mangas.

But that is my problem too, you see. I'm not a kid and although as immature as I am, equally loving so many kiddie anime, there are episodes here that just don't appeal to me. Sakura, just like any normal elementary school kid in Japan, goes out with her friends, buys stuff and little toys. Understandable, of course, but I just can't seem to find those appealing now. There are only two card captors here. You will like Sakura's partner, Li. Touya Kinomoto, Sakura's brother looks bishounen, but he is basically just supporting cast. I can't understand Tomoyo's, Sakura's best friend, fascination for her. I really can't. I do think Kero-chan is cute. But all in all, there's just no character that ended up as my favorite.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 9; Story 9; Characters 7; Sounds 5