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カードキャプターさくら [Cardcaptor Sakura] #12
Cardcaptor Sakura: Master of the Clow, Vol. 6
Capturing Cards was only the beginning...
Once upon a magic night, an English sorcerer mixed Western wizardry with Eastern enchantments to create a magical deck of cards called the Clow Cards. These cards were hidden inside a dusty old book for decades, their powers virtually wasted. Then one fateful day, a young girl named Sakura Kinomoto discovered the book in her father's library. When she opened it, however, the Clow Cards were gone--and so was life as she knew it. The book's magical guardian, Cerberus, declared Sakura the Cardcaptor, and after many exciting adventures, she finally retrieved all of the cards. Now Sakura has earned the title Master of the Clow.
Eriol Hiiragazawa, the source of power behind Sakura's recent trials, is returning to England. The ordeals that Sakura had to endure since capturing the Clow Cards enabled her to fully realize her magical potential, and now that Clow's mystery has been revealed and his heir determined, the Cardcaptor's journey is over. So why is it that Sakura still feels empty? When Li Syaoran announces that he must return to Hong Kong, Sakura must come to terms with her feelings before she loses her friend forever. Up until now, Sakura relied on the power of her star to guide her. For this, her final adventure, she must trust in the power of her heart.
Once upon a magic night, an English sorcerer mixed Western wizardry with Eastern enchantments to create a magical deck of cards called the Clow Cards. These cards were hidden inside a dusty old book for decades, their powers virtually wasted. Then one fateful day, a young girl named Sakura Kinomoto discovered the book in her father's library. When she opened it, however, the Clow Cards were gone--and so was life as she knew it. The book's magical guardian, Cerberus, declared Sakura the Cardcaptor, and after many exciting adventures, she finally retrieved all of the cards. Now Sakura has earned the title Master of the Clow.
Eriol Hiiragazawa, the source of power behind Sakura's recent trials, is returning to England. The ordeals that Sakura had to endure since capturing the Clow Cards enabled her to fully realize her magical potential, and now that Clow's mystery has been revealed and his heir determined, the Cardcaptor's journey is over. So why is it that Sakura still feels empty? When Li Syaoran announces that he must return to Hong Kong, Sakura must come to terms with her feelings before she loses her friend forever. Up until now, Sakura relied on the power of her star to guide her. For this, her final adventure, she must trust in the power of her heart.
183 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2000
6 people are currently reading
644 people want to read
About the author
Clamp
744 books3,138 followersŌkawa Nanase 大川七瀬
[born: 2 May 1967; Ōsaka, bloodtype: A]
Mokona Apapa もこなあぱぱ
[born: 16 Jun 1968, Kyōto; bloodtype: A]
Nekoi Mick 猫井みっく
[born: 21 Jan 1969, Kyōto; bloodtype: O]
Igarashi Satsuki 五十嵐さつき
[born: 8 Feb 1969, Kyōto; bloodtype: A]
CLAMP originally began in 1989 as a twelve-member dōjinshi circle, but by 1990, the circle had diminished from twelve to seven. Of the remaining seven, Tamayo Akiyama, Sei Nanao, and Leeza Sei left the group during the production of the RG Veda manga. Other former members of CLAMP also included Soushi Hishika, O-Kyon, Kazue Nakamori, Yuzuru Inoue and Shinya Ōmi. Currently, there are four members in the group.
In 2004, CLAMP's 15th anniversary as a mangaka group, the members changed their names from Nanase Ohkawa, Mokona Apapa, Mick Nekoi, and Satsuki Igarashi to Ageha Ohkawa, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi and Satsuki Igarashi (her name is pronounced the same, but written with different characters) respectively. The August 2004 issue of Newtype USA, a magazine specializing in events of the anime and manga subcultures, reported that the members of CLAMP simply wanted to try out new names. In a later interview with Ohkawa, it was revealed that initially Mokona wanted to drop her surname because it sounded too immature for her liking, while Nekoi disliked people commenting that her name was the same as Mick Jagger's. Ohkawa and Igarashi, wanting to go with the flow of Nekoi's and Mokona's name changes, changed their names as well.
In 2006, they made their first USA public debut at Anime Expo in Anaheim, California. They were well received at the convention, with 6,000 fans in attendance at their panel.
[born: 2 May 1967; Ōsaka, bloodtype: A]
Mokona Apapa もこなあぱぱ
[born: 16 Jun 1968, Kyōto; bloodtype: A]
Nekoi Mick 猫井みっく
[born: 21 Jan 1969, Kyōto; bloodtype: O]
Igarashi Satsuki 五十嵐さつき
[born: 8 Feb 1969, Kyōto; bloodtype: A]
CLAMP originally began in 1989 as a twelve-member dōjinshi circle, but by 1990, the circle had diminished from twelve to seven. Of the remaining seven, Tamayo Akiyama, Sei Nanao, and Leeza Sei left the group during the production of the RG Veda manga. Other former members of CLAMP also included Soushi Hishika, O-Kyon, Kazue Nakamori, Yuzuru Inoue and Shinya Ōmi. Currently, there are four members in the group.
In 2004, CLAMP's 15th anniversary as a mangaka group, the members changed their names from Nanase Ohkawa, Mokona Apapa, Mick Nekoi, and Satsuki Igarashi to Ageha Ohkawa, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi and Satsuki Igarashi (her name is pronounced the same, but written with different characters) respectively. The August 2004 issue of Newtype USA, a magazine specializing in events of the anime and manga subcultures, reported that the members of CLAMP simply wanted to try out new names. In a later interview with Ohkawa, it was revealed that initially Mokona wanted to drop her surname because it sounded too immature for her liking, while Nekoi disliked people commenting that her name was the same as Mick Jagger's. Ohkawa and Igarashi, wanting to go with the flow of Nekoi's and Mokona's name changes, changed their names as well.
In 2006, they made their first USA public debut at Anime Expo in Anaheim, California. They were well received at the convention, with 6,000 fans in attendance at their panel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
October 19, 2012
It's 3 AM and I can't stop crying. I dearly loved the anime so much, and I wanted to re-live my childhood days so I watched the last episode last Tuesday, I think. It left me crying so hard and think about the cliffhanger!!! Sometimes, I cry because I want the old anime s back
It brought me to read the manga. I didn't expected too many changes, but after its last volume, I was so grateful for the different ending. At least, it's more satisfying compared to the ending of the anime. Maybe I'll watch the movie too.
My eyes are tired from crying over whole last volume. I think my head aches too. God, I look awful. Re-reading this might come handy for torturing myself (Not in a negative way ok?)
"I ship it, and I ship it until I die and if there's life after that I'll ship it then"
-Revised quote of Jace Wayland from City of Ashes
MY FIRST AND FOREVER OTP
It brought me to read the manga. I didn't expected too many changes, but after its last volume, I was so grateful for the different ending. At least, it's more satisfying compared to the ending of the anime. Maybe I'll watch the movie too.
My eyes are tired from crying over whole last volume. I think my head aches too. God, I look awful. Re-reading this might come handy for torturing myself (Not in a negative way ok?)
"I ship it, and I ship it until I die and if there's life after that I'll ship it then"
-Revised quote of Jace Wayland from City of Ashes
MY FIRST AND FOREVER OTP
January 18, 2019
And now I'm crying 😭 this series was just so precious and beautiful and wonderful and magical ❤️❤️❤️
July 27, 2025
Nel mio approccio da squilibrato alla lettura, dopo anni sono tornato ai manga.
Non ho più il cervello per i romanzi: li guardo, ne sento il fascino, ma l'idea di raccogliere l'energia necessaria ad affrontarli è sufficiente per farmi scappare via. Vale sia per le cose più serie che per quelle meno impegnative.
I manga, invece, nella maggior parte dei casi hanno questo aspetto tutto sommato innocente. Una storyline complessa, sì, ma diluita su più volumi, a loro volta suddivisi in più capitoli. Illustrati, per giunta!
C'è qualcosa, in loro, di estremamente comodo - forse il loro essere facilmente afferrabili e riponibili alla fine di una lunga e calda giornata lavorativa.
Così ho compilato una breve lista di titoli, in modo abbastanza casuale, da recuperare - cose nuove, cose su cui volevo tornare dopo anni dalla prima fruizione sotto forma di anime da ragazzino, cose facili e cose complesse.
In questi giorni di ferie dove ho pensato troppo e mi sono lasciato prendere dai miei soliti malumori, è scattato il bisogno di una robina facile e... Kawaii?
Da qui questo shoujo, per cui ovviamente non rientro nel target.
La questione delle carte - che sono un po' dei tarocchi magici - mi ha sempre affascinato, fin da quei pomeriggi passati a guardare Italia 1.
Non mi ricordavo nulla della trama, che è un susseguirsi ben scandito di sfide e boss, né dei personaggi.
Tutto molto carino, anche se alcuni aspetti tradiscono i quasi 30 anni di questo manga.
Se sicuramente all'epoca tutta questa queerness (personaggi omosessuali, altri che vivono tra i generi, relazioni affettive non canoniche), deve essere stata alquanto rivoluzionaria, molte delle posizioni espresse sul ruolo della donna fanno un po' drizzare i capelli. Come anche, se non soprattutto, l'insistente ritornare di relazioni amorose tra bambini e adulti - in alcuni casi ricondotte al "ok, ma questa è una fantasia, sono troppo grande per te" e altre, purtroppo, no.
Fa strano pensare che, in effetti, questo manga si rivolgeva a bambine.
Quindi boh. Mi ha fatto compagnia, ma alcune cose davvero no, non promuoviamole mai più.
Non ho più il cervello per i romanzi: li guardo, ne sento il fascino, ma l'idea di raccogliere l'energia necessaria ad affrontarli è sufficiente per farmi scappare via. Vale sia per le cose più serie che per quelle meno impegnative.
I manga, invece, nella maggior parte dei casi hanno questo aspetto tutto sommato innocente. Una storyline complessa, sì, ma diluita su più volumi, a loro volta suddivisi in più capitoli. Illustrati, per giunta!
C'è qualcosa, in loro, di estremamente comodo - forse il loro essere facilmente afferrabili e riponibili alla fine di una lunga e calda giornata lavorativa.
Così ho compilato una breve lista di titoli, in modo abbastanza casuale, da recuperare - cose nuove, cose su cui volevo tornare dopo anni dalla prima fruizione sotto forma di anime da ragazzino, cose facili e cose complesse.
In questi giorni di ferie dove ho pensato troppo e mi sono lasciato prendere dai miei soliti malumori, è scattato il bisogno di una robina facile e... Kawaii?
Da qui questo shoujo, per cui ovviamente non rientro nel target.
La questione delle carte - che sono un po' dei tarocchi magici - mi ha sempre affascinato, fin da quei pomeriggi passati a guardare Italia 1.
Non mi ricordavo nulla della trama, che è un susseguirsi ben scandito di sfide e boss, né dei personaggi.
Tutto molto carino, anche se alcuni aspetti tradiscono i quasi 30 anni di questo manga.
Se sicuramente all'epoca tutta questa queerness (personaggi omosessuali, altri che vivono tra i generi, relazioni affettive non canoniche), deve essere stata alquanto rivoluzionaria, molte delle posizioni espresse sul ruolo della donna fanno un po' drizzare i capelli. Come anche, se non soprattutto, l'insistente ritornare di relazioni amorose tra bambini e adulti - in alcuni casi ricondotte al "ok, ma questa è una fantasia, sono troppo grande per te" e altre, purtroppo, no.
Fa strano pensare che, in effetti, questo manga si rivolgeva a bambine.
Quindi boh. Mi ha fatto compagnia, ma alcune cose davvero no, non promuoviamole mai più.
Read
April 16, 2022Por fin la terminé!!! Siento que tenía que leer esto sí o sí. No podía quedarme con los pocos recuerdos que tengo del anime de cuando era niña.
September 12, 2020
20 millones de estrellas para este manga! 😭 En verdad no me esperaba el encuentro con Nadeshiko, todo fue demasiado tierno. Luego las amigas de Sakura, en diferentes momentos, el llanto, pucha... hay demasiadas cosas lindas en este manga.
Creo que no importa lo que escriba o lo que leas en este u otros reviews, me ha encantado y las palabras quedan cortas 🥰 Definitivamente este será siempre mi anime y manga favorito. ✨💖✨
Creo que no importa lo que escriba o lo que leas en este u otros reviews, me ha encantado y las palabras quedan cortas 🥰 Definitivamente este será siempre mi anime y manga favorito. ✨💖✨
January 26, 2020
Qué ternurita tierna *_* muy bonito final para una historia tan dulce (aunque haya momentos que Pedobear aprobaría, cosa que voy a dejar pasar).
No esperaba que y me tomó con la guardia completamente baja.
Espero que los cabos semi sueltos que quedaron se retomen en Clear Card Hen. Hace falta más Sakura, menos mal que volvió :)
No esperaba que y me tomó con la guardia completamente baja.
Espero que los cabos semi sueltos que quedaron se retomen en Clear Card Hen. Hace falta más Sakura, menos mal que volvió :)
February 17, 2018
This manga was so cute♡
November 23, 2025
3,75 ⭐️
Das war die erste Manga-Reihe, die ich damals als Kind gelesen habe (und auch die einzige, die ich je vollständig fertig gelesen habe).
Ich habe meine Büchersammlung vor Jahren für einen Umzug ausgemistet und das seitdem sehr bereut, einfach weil dadurch viele Erinnerungen und Sentimentalität verloren gegangen sind. Auch Card Captor Sakura hatte ich dabei weggeben.
Viele dieser verlorenen Bücher habe ich im Laufe der Zeit nach und nach wieder gekauft — und zu meinem Geburtstag dieses Jahr hat mir mein Freund CCS vollständig auf Ebay gekauft. Ich habe die gesamte Serie innerhalb von drei Tagen verschlungen und mich total ins Volksschulalter zurückversetzt gefühlt. Ja, an vielen Stellen merkt man, dass manche Aspekte von CCS heute nicht mehr wirklich akzeptabel sind (obwohl die MEHRFACHEN Lehrer-Schüler-Beziehungen auch vor 20 Jahren schon abscheulich gewesen sein sollten — aber ich verzeihe meinem kindlichem Ich mal, das damals nicht wirklich verstanden zu haben). Trotzdem hatte ich seit Langem nicht mehr so viel Vergnügen beim Lesen.
Die Nostalgie hat mich richtig gepackt. CCS war tatsächlich wohl die erste richtige Liebesgeschichte, die ich je gelesen habe, und ja, auch dieses Mal musste ich am Ende ein paar Tränen vergießen. Auch der Fakt, dass das Manga vieles in Sachen Queerness und Gender einbezieht, ist gerade für das Alter dieser Serie wirklich toll. Alles in allem habe ich es so genossen, wieder mal in diesen Kindheitserinnerungen schwelgen zu können — und am meisten haben mir natürlich wieder die unglaublichen Outfits gefallen (Shoutout an mein Girl Tomoyo!) 🥰🥰
Das war die erste Manga-Reihe, die ich damals als Kind gelesen habe (und auch die einzige, die ich je vollständig fertig gelesen habe).
Ich habe meine Büchersammlung vor Jahren für einen Umzug ausgemistet und das seitdem sehr bereut, einfach weil dadurch viele Erinnerungen und Sentimentalität verloren gegangen sind. Auch Card Captor Sakura hatte ich dabei weggeben.
Viele dieser verlorenen Bücher habe ich im Laufe der Zeit nach und nach wieder gekauft — und zu meinem Geburtstag dieses Jahr hat mir mein Freund CCS vollständig auf Ebay gekauft. Ich habe die gesamte Serie innerhalb von drei Tagen verschlungen und mich total ins Volksschulalter zurückversetzt gefühlt. Ja, an vielen Stellen merkt man, dass manche Aspekte von CCS heute nicht mehr wirklich akzeptabel sind (obwohl die MEHRFACHEN Lehrer-Schüler-Beziehungen auch vor 20 Jahren schon abscheulich gewesen sein sollten — aber ich verzeihe meinem kindlichem Ich mal, das damals nicht wirklich verstanden zu haben). Trotzdem hatte ich seit Langem nicht mehr so viel Vergnügen beim Lesen.
Die Nostalgie hat mich richtig gepackt. CCS war tatsächlich wohl die erste richtige Liebesgeschichte, die ich je gelesen habe, und ja, auch dieses Mal musste ich am Ende ein paar Tränen vergießen. Auch der Fakt, dass das Manga vieles in Sachen Queerness und Gender einbezieht, ist gerade für das Alter dieser Serie wirklich toll. Alles in allem habe ich es so genossen, wieder mal in diesen Kindheitserinnerungen schwelgen zu können — und am meisten haben mir natürlich wieder die unglaublichen Outfits gefallen (Shoutout an mein Girl Tomoyo!) 🥰🥰
June 14, 2022
Potrzebuję kolejnych tomów 😭 to było tak urocze
February 2, 2021
El premio al mejor personaje hasta ahora es Touya, se robo mi corazón. En todos los contextos y con cada relación (familiares, sociales, pareja) es simplemente asombroso, lo admiro de verdad. Que personaje tan increíble <3
September 7, 2013
This is the first manga that led me into Clamp's world and also one of my most apppreciated ones. Though some of my perspective on the content and meaning of this manga have changed, it still remains as a beautiful work of art to me, from the drawing styles of the author to the concept and the meaning of the world that Sakura lives in. Many complains that this manga is dull because there are actually no devils, no one of the bad side.But I consider this world as an ideal place for mankind; as a background, it builds up the brilliant characteristics of every characters in the story. Its purity is what marks its place in my mind.
November 3, 2022
Alright, this is not going to take long at all.
I actually think this is one of those times where the anime is better than the manga.
There were so many frustrating things in this series. Some of the relationships were creepy and just plain not ok, the story didn't feel like it made sense, "big reveals" felt more like letdowns, and this last volume was useless.
I'm actually so annoyed.
I actually think this is one of those times where the anime is better than the manga.
There were so many frustrating things in this series. Some of the relationships were creepy and just plain not ok, the story didn't feel like it made sense, "big reveals" felt more like letdowns, and this last volume was useless.
I'm actually so annoyed.
November 9, 2023
4.75
Not me fangirleando por un romance de niños de 10 años JSKDJKJDS pero es que :c que tiernooos.
No le pongo 5 estrellas porque wtf Eriol y la maestra(? pinshes CLAMP.
CLAMP SUELTEN A LOS NIÑOS!
Tremendo Time Skip que se mandaron JSKDJKSD pasaron como 6 años.
Ahora...por qué Clow Reed creó las cartas en primer lugar? ¿Cual es el objetivo de las cartas aparte de ser lindas?
Not me fangirleando por un romance de niños de 10 años JSKDJKJDS pero es que :c que tiernooos.
No le pongo 5 estrellas porque wtf Eriol y la maestra(? pinshes CLAMP.
CLAMP SUELTEN A LOS NIÑOS!
Tremendo Time Skip que se mandaron JSKDJKSD pasaron como 6 años.
Ahora...por qué Clow Reed creó las cartas en primer lugar? ¿Cual es el objetivo de las cartas aparte de ser lindas?
June 1, 2014
Thank you, CLAMP, for making a story that would be so touching to me in my younger years, and even now throughout a second read. Beautiful artwork and story. Who doesn't hope for Sakura and Syaoran? LOOOVE
July 27, 2015
The end is the best. I love how Syaoran changed through the volumes. His drawing changed too. He is kinder, softer, more mature. I love the way he looks at Sakura. The ending was so beautiful. I just wish there was a happy ending for Tomoyo too.
June 11, 2017
Yeah, this is the ending I want for this series. Yup.
March 3, 2020
Series manga leídas: ''Card Captor Sakura'', de CLAMP. Ediciones Glénat España. 12 tomos. Magical girls, fantasía, poderes, cómic, aventuras, acción, romances varios, LGBT...
Otro manga comprado nada más salir al mercado español.
Una serie de televisión muy divertida y muy bien adaptada.
Unos dibujos encantadores, más infantiles, y a la vez maduros; ya que nos encontramos con una trama de bondad y maldad, y por otro lado también relaciones LGBT, con lo cual, no es sólo para niños. Un trazo delicado, detallado, totalmente recomendado para los amantes de los disfraces...
Las autoras CLAMP son un grupo de mangakas que crean historias varias, y de las que llegué a tener colecciones completas...
Nos encontramos con que tenemos audiencia de todo tipo, animales fantásticos que pueden hablar incluidos. Un día a día cargado de normalidad que se transforma; así como la protagonista con sus fantásticos trajes por temática..., en algo totalmente insospechado para el viandante común.
Unas cartas que tienen vida propia y a veces son pillinas, y otras... algo más.
¿Has cazado con Sakura y sus amigos?
***Versión leída Glénat española.
Otro manga comprado nada más salir al mercado español.
Una serie de televisión muy divertida y muy bien adaptada.
Unos dibujos encantadores, más infantiles, y a la vez maduros; ya que nos encontramos con una trama de bondad y maldad, y por otro lado también relaciones LGBT, con lo cual, no es sólo para niños. Un trazo delicado, detallado, totalmente recomendado para los amantes de los disfraces...
Las autoras CLAMP son un grupo de mangakas que crean historias varias, y de las que llegué a tener colecciones completas...
Nos encontramos con que tenemos audiencia de todo tipo, animales fantásticos que pueden hablar incluidos. Un día a día cargado de normalidad que se transforma; así como la protagonista con sus fantásticos trajes por temática..., en algo totalmente insospechado para el viandante común.
Unas cartas que tienen vida propia y a veces son pillinas, y otras... algo más.
¿Has cazado con Sakura y sus amigos?
***Versión leída Glénat española.
March 18, 2022
Ultimamente avevo perso qualsiasi interesse nel leggere. Qualsiasi fumetto iniziassi mi sembrava brutto o ci trovavo 100 difetti. Vista la stampa della nuova edizione (che a proposito non mi piace.. e io ero uno di quelli che, quando l’annunciarono, pensò: “non mi serve, la perfect va ancora bene, ma sicuramente appena la vedo mi innamoro e la prendo, già lo so”… beh per “fortuna” non mi piace) mi è venuta voglia di rileggere l’opera. E niente penso che Sakura abbia una sorta di effetto zen. Non è esente da difetti, anzi 10 anni dopo la prima lettura molte cose mi sono sembrate estremamente forzate e poco approfondite, però sticazzi, ho adorato lo stesso.
January 23, 2018
Han sacado el nuevo anime y no me acordaba casi nada del manga original ^^U Lo lei hace muchooo tiempo atras y decidi re-leerla para refrescar.
Las Clamp son unas de mis autoras favoritas y de vez en cuando re-leo sus obras al tenerlas a mano en la estanteria :3
Sakura es una obra muy bonita y tierna
Las Clamp son unas de mis autoras favoritas y de vez en cuando re-leo sus obras al tenerlas a mano en la estanteria :3
Sakura es una obra muy bonita y tierna
August 21, 2025
"I'm sure I'll be alright!"
I'm not crying, you're crying T__T
Strong flower motifs throughout the series, learning about feelings, beautiful page spreads - this is Shoujo manga at its finest. You can read this arc for what it is, but if you have no prior knowledge of the Clow cards it will require a quick Google overview to get an idea for what is going on.
I'm not crying, you're crying T__T
Strong flower motifs throughout the series, learning about feelings, beautiful page spreads - this is Shoujo manga at its finest. You can read this arc for what it is, but if you have no prior knowledge of the Clow cards it will require a quick Google overview to get an idea for what is going on.
March 31, 2018
He disfrutado taaaanto volviendo a recordar momentos de CC Sakura! Incluso, del final, no recordaba que fuera así, recordaba algun momento distinto... Sin embargo, no deja que me enamore la historia!
No descarto una relectura dentro de unos años, hahaha...
No descarto una relectura dentro de unos años, hahaha...
April 3, 2018
You know.. I'm just glad it's over. With a sweet ending.
December 4, 2019
4,5 stars
October 17, 2022
no i koniec serii 😭 kocham całym serduszkiem
June 12, 2024
Yo soy feliz
August 11, 2025
Aguante el amor, la magia y los osos de peluche hechos a mano
February 29, 2020
2020 Read #269
Reread in 2020
And so it ends sweetly and succinctly, just as I remember — except now Clear Card exists. CLAMP knows how to reel us all back in.
Reread in 2020
And so it ends sweetly and succinctly, just as I remember — except now Clear Card exists. CLAMP knows how to reel us all back in.
December 17, 2025
Recopila los últimos cinco capítulos (cronológicamente 46 a 50), que no cuentan con título ni nombre. Edición especial con 12 cartas dedicadas a los personajes.
October 15, 2025
Review for the complete series
While not as big as similar titles such as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura is definitely a manga household name. Elementary Schooler Sakura finds a book in her father's library which not only proves to be magical but also releases the lion-like creature Kero-chan who tasks her with finding all the magical cards the book once contained. The cards were created by the mightiest magician to have lived - Clow. With each card Sakura adds to her collection, her own magical powers grow.
CLAMP
Cardcaptor Sakura already wins points simply by being a work of CLAMP. The art is as gorgeous as one can expect and it's almost unavoidable to read if one wants to delve into the multiverse these artists have created. It's definitely one of their bigger works, especially as it features the characters that are later featured as the protagonists of CLAMP's crossover work: Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE. Although this manga's art is a tad less intricate and almost simple in the use of screen toning, there's something very light and loveable about it and it's undeniably adorable.
Magical Girl
I've always struggled to view Cardcaptor Sakura as a magical girl manga. It undoubtedly is, but I do find it drops some of this genre's typical tropes - and I mean that in the best way possible. Sakura doesn't actually transform through any magical means. She wears a different 'magical girl' costume for most chapters, but they are all tailored by her best friend Tomoyo and are really just for variety and cuteness (and surely the artists having their fun) rather than any magical process that all other magical girls go through. In fact, all the magic is much more akin to more traditional witches and wizard's and even draws on Chinese mythology. One thing I also really appreciate is that Sakura is just your normal girl who is collecting magical cards to stop them from causing havoc rather than a girl (or group of girls) pitched against an evil force to save the earth from certain doom. It just has a much lighter and appropriate feeling to it.
Characters & Plot
It definitely starts off very episodic, but it has a nice underlying plot that becomes more solid toward the second half of the story. I find myself more invested in the main story rather than the individual episodes in which Sakura finds yet another card. The plot itself is to an equal amount about the mystery behind the cards as well as Sakura's daily life with her family and friends. Unfortunately, if we're purely looking at the plot, I can't deny that I find Cardcaptor Sakura a little boring at times. It is a bit strange because Sakura and the male protagonist Syaoran are among my favourite manga characters. I absolutely adore these two and this series features a lot of other likeable characters such as Kero-chan and Tomoyo. It is, therefore, a little baffling that their plot is sometimes a little underwhelming, though it does not change that this is still a manga I hold dear.
Romance
This is where it gets complicated. CLAMP are known to have rather unconventional romantic couples. And despite Cardcaptor Sakura being one of their most innocent and light-hearted works, I think it is also easily the most controversial romance-wise. As mentioned above, I love Sakura and Syaoran and even more so as a couple. Mind you, these two are about 10 years old and their relationship doesn't develop until very late into the series - an embrace is as far as they get. Yet it's almost that innocent setup that makes them such an adorable couple - it doesn't need to be romance focused for these two to be an exemplary match.
When it comes to homosexual characters, I find that CLAMP has always been ahead of time, though not necessarily in a realistic way. On one hand, it is great that multiple sexualities are included throughout the CLAMP world. On the other hand, it is treated almost too idealistically. Don't get me wrong, equality is important. But there is truth to non-straight persons having to face certain difficulties in daily life that others might not. In Cardcaptor Sakura, as well as most other CLAMP works, the appearance of a homosexual character is almost taken for granted - it sometimes feels as though the whole of it takes place in an ideal parallel world. I believe that both in reality and in other fiction, there's bound to be a character or two who at least consider the situation around a homosexual character. This is probably even more true when one considers that this series is from the 90s.
The only true issue in regards to romance lies with a certain age gap. Mind you, I am not in the least against relationships with age gaps - fiction or reality alike. 10 years, 20 years - where to draw the line? I don't think there is anything wrong with an age gap as long as it's a relationship built on mutual feelings and care rather than an older party taking advantage of a younger one. You can't really choose who you fall in love with and age seems a trivial thing when you truly love someone. In the same sense, I have no issues with certain 'taboo' relationships such as student-teacher, provided again the feelings are genuine and neither party is taken advantage of. I know people in real-life who have loved and married their former teacher - they're just about as happy as any couple I know. A relationship like that brings its difficulties, but in my mind, it really comes down to how it's handled more than anything else.
Now, while I neither mind age gaps nor student-teacher relationships, I do believe there is a certain threshold of how young the younger party can be. Realistically, there's a massive difference between an 8-year-old dating an 18-year-old and a couple of, say, an 18 and 28-year-old. Cardcaptor Sakura blows all caution to the wind and introduces the relationship between the 10-or-so-year-old Rika and her teacher Terada. Now Terada might be as young as 20, which would result in an age gap of about 10 years. I don't see an issue with a 10-year gap, but the fact that Rika is around 10 makes this a really awkward couple. While everything is kept at a perfectly innocent level - there are clear signs that they're staying apart until she is old enough - the fact that Terada is even considering a 10-year-old is just not right. The only thing that makes this readable to me is the fact that none of the young characters, the protagonists Sakura and Syaoran included, behave like the 10-year-olds they're meant to be. I often seem to get this issue when it comes to manga, but most characters appear a good couple of years older to me than they are actually meant to be. I would much rather think of Sakura and co. as 14-year-olds, and that already makes the whole Rika business a tad less of a shocker.
Interestingly, while Rika and Terada receive a lot of scorn from readers everywhere, there is another very similar couple which is rarely called out. There are clear hints of a budding - and encouraged - romance between yet another 10-year-old pupil and his female teacher. Their age gap is likely similar to that of Rika and Terada's, yet it does not receive nearly as much backlash. It seems people have a bigger issue when the girl is the younger party which frankly is quite unfair - I believe both are equally problematic.
So, coming to an end, Cardcaptor Sakura has its oddities and even boring moments - the romance must really be taken with a grain of salt or a flexible imagination. But it is also an adorable and loveable series with some of my very favourite and memorable characters that I can't help but love.
November 6, 2015
Yesteday I watched for the 2nd time in 10 years the last chapter of Cardcaptor Sakura. So today I decided to read the last volume of the manga. There are a couple of differences, some I liked better in the anime, some I liked better in the manga.
Syaoran tells Sakura he loves her. OMG, he is so sweet! In the anime (at least, in the Spanish version), he tells her he "likes her very much", so to tell her he LOVES her is so cute, and much better.
More about Touya and Yukito. I love this couple so much! They are so sweet together (although I prefer Touya and Yue much more). Touya knows that Sakura loves Syaoran, and what she is doing for him. Even if Touya is a jealous big brother, he helps her. Touya: I love you!
Yamazaki and Chiharu: they are so cute together. In the anime, Yamazaki does not make a single apparition in the last chapter, so I love that in the manga we get to see the lovely couple.
Eriol and Kaho: they barely talk in the anime; however, you can tell they love each other in the manga. Even perceptive Tomoyo can see that. Too bad Eriol is a kid, cause he and Kaho make a wonderful couple. And he is so sweet towards Yue, who loved Clow Reed so much.
Professor Terada and Rika: in the anime, we only notice that Rika has a crush on her teacher. However, in the manga, they meet each other secretly. This is one of the cases where I prefer the anime. The professor is too old and Rika is just a child.
Fujikata: in the anime, we never find out that he is half of the reincarnation of Clow Reed. In the manga, even Sakura can tell the resemblance between both of them. Another thing that to me is so sweet is that at last he is able to see Nadeshiko.
Finally, Sakura's feelings: she realizes that Syaoran is the most important person for her. She even makes a Teddy bear for him, something that she doesn't in the anime. And the ending... awwwww so SWEET! Syaoran finally comes back to Japan to stay with Sakura forever.
I love this manga. I love the anime. And I love all the characters. I would love to see more of Yue and Eriol and Kero in the final episode, because the three of them are my favorites characters. This is a really beautiful and sweet story.
Syaoran tells Sakura he loves her. OMG, he is so sweet! In the anime (at least, in the Spanish version), he tells her he "likes her very much", so to tell her he LOVES her is so cute, and much better.
More about Touya and Yukito. I love this couple so much! They are so sweet together (although I prefer Touya and Yue much more). Touya knows that Sakura loves Syaoran, and what she is doing for him. Even if Touya is a jealous big brother, he helps her. Touya: I love you!
Yamazaki and Chiharu: they are so cute together. In the anime, Yamazaki does not make a single apparition in the last chapter, so I love that in the manga we get to see the lovely couple.
Eriol and Kaho: they barely talk in the anime; however, you can tell they love each other in the manga. Even perceptive Tomoyo can see that. Too bad Eriol is a kid, cause he and Kaho make a wonderful couple. And he is so sweet towards Yue, who loved Clow Reed so much.
Professor Terada and Rika: in the anime, we only notice that Rika has a crush on her teacher. However, in the manga, they meet each other secretly. This is one of the cases where I prefer the anime. The professor is too old and Rika is just a child.
Fujikata: in the anime, we never find out that he is half of the reincarnation of Clow Reed. In the manga, even Sakura can tell the resemblance between both of them. Another thing that to me is so sweet is that at last he is able to see Nadeshiko.
Finally, Sakura's feelings: she realizes that Syaoran is the most important person for her. She even makes a Teddy bear for him, something that she doesn't in the anime. And the ending... awwwww so SWEET! Syaoran finally comes back to Japan to stay with Sakura forever.
I love this manga. I love the anime. And I love all the characters. I would love to see more of Yue and Eriol and Kero in the final episode, because the three of them are my favorites characters. This is a really beautiful and sweet story.
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