Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card (Clear Card-hen) Review

Recently I finished and reviewed the original Cardcaptor Sakura series and said I would do the recent Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card next. Well I finished it so I will review it now! Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, also known as Clear Card-hen in Japanese, was a 2016 manga that is still ongoing following as a sequel to the original Cardcaptor Sakura manga written by the wonderful manga artists, CLAMP. In 2017 we got the 27-minute OVA that was where we left off on the original Cardcaptor Sakura manga and our first look into Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card. Recently in 2018, Madhouse Inc. released a the 22-episode Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card anime. Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card follows the events of the manga more closely than the original TV anime series but still acts as a sequel to both the anime and manga. I was really looking forward to this anime and I liked it overall. After almost 20 years we get to see more with Cardcaptor Sakura.

Summary
With all of the Clow Cards recaptured and changed into her own Sakura Cards, Sakura Kinomoto now enters her first year at Tomoeda Middle School. After her initial day of classes, Sakura reunites with her love Syaoran Li, who informs that he is permanently moving back to Tomoeda. Much to her surprise, it even turns out that Syaoan will attend the same school and it seems as if Sakura's life is heading in all the right directions.
However, when Sakura goes to sleep, she encounters in her dreams a mysterious cloaked figure and finds herself surrounded by transparent cards. Waking up in fear, Sakura is shocked to see her dream has come true, with the Sakura Cards having turned clear. Continued dreamlike encounters with the unknown enemy and her gaining a new magical key sets the stage for Sakura's latest adventure!

My Thoughts
After the original CCS we get a sequel to see how the story progresses and where everything goes. CLAMP and Madhouse have both come a long way and we get some pretty great art in Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card that is modernized for 2018. Additionally, in the English dub we get Monica Rial and Jason Liebrecht from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle reprising their roles as Sakura and Syaoran. It has a similar story with collecting new cards but with new elements in the mix. Like I said in my previous review on CCS we have many of the same lovable characters along with some new ones. What I particularly like is that we can see the progression and maturity of our characters, mainly Sakura and Syaoran. Speaking of them we see how the relationship with our OTP progresses even more. We get some great moments between Sakura and Syaoran as a couple and even still I like most people just can't enough of these two as a couple. We are kind of left off with a cliffhanger in the end which made me curious. So I would've liked to see more of this anime, probably a movie like the original CCS or another series in the future, however, the manga is still ongoing so I will probably read the manga to find out how the Cardcaptor Sakura series goes on even more.

My Conclusion
I would give Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card 4.5/5 stars or a 9/10 score. I liked the anime and it was nice edition to the original classic Cardcaptor Sakura series. Like the original it was romantic and unique with some new elements added. The only thing is that I would've liked to see more added to the series like a movie or another season as I like most fans just can't get enough so I probably read the manga. Next I will be watching and reviewing another magical girl romance anime, Mermaid Melody and later Nanatsuiro Drops, so stay tuned!

Cardcaptor Sakura Review

As may have read in my other reviews of magical girl anime and Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles, that I would watch and review Cardcaptor Sakura and Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Arc. Well I finished the original series so I will now review it. Cardcaptor Sakura also known as CCS or Cardcaptors in English, started as a 12-volume 1996 manga written by CLAMP. If they sound familiar it's because they are a great group of manga artists known for works such as Magic Knight Rayearth, Angelic Layer, Chobits, xxxHolic, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, and Kobato. Then it was made into a 70-episode 1998 anime series by Madhouse. Additionally, there are three specials and two movies: The Movie (1999), and The Sealed Card (2000). Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, which I previously reviewed, features characters of similar looks and the same names with a similar story. Also, Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card which came out recently continues the story but I will review that separately. There is an English dub for the original series but it sucks because they censor things out which pretty much changes the story (except for the 2nd Movie) so I watched the subbed version and would strongly recommend watching the subbed version for everyone else. Cardcaptor Sakura is a magical girl romance anime that has some coming-of-age conepts in it as well. Because I'm a grown man who works out, played hockey, and listens to rock music, I'm embarrassed about reviewing this girly magical girl anime but it's not the first review on a girly anime I'm embarrassed about reviewing (and liking) and it won't be the last, so I got nothing to lose! Cardcaptor Sakura was a very popular classic magical girl anime winning the Animage Grand Prix for best anime in 1999 and is still very well liked today. I believe it and CCS is fantastic and probably one of CLAMP's best works. Oh yeah I will be talking about the ending and the second movie so...

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Summary

Sakura Kinomoto is a 10-year-old fourth grader, until one day, she stumbles upon a mysterious book containing a set of cards. Unfortunately, she has little time to divine what the cards mean because she accidentally stirs up a magical gust of wind and unintentionally scatters the cards all over the world. Suddenly she awakened from the boo, the Beast of the Seal, Keroberos (nicknamed Kero-chan), tells Sakura that she has released the mystical Clow Cards created by the sorcerer Clow Reed. Each of the cards possess powers, and because they like acting independently, Clow sealed all the Cards within a book. Now that the Cards a set free, they pose a grave danger upon the world, and it is up to Sakura to prevent the Cards from causing a catastrophe!

Appointing Sakura the title of "the Cardcaptor"  and granting her the Sealed Key, Keroberos tasks her with finding and recapturing all the Cards. Alongside her are her best friend Tomoyo Daidouji and rival, friend, and eventual love interest, Syaoran Li. With Kero-chan's guidance, Sakura must learn to balance her new secret duty with everyday troubles of a young girl involving love, family, and school, all while she takes flight on her magical adventures.

The Sealed Card (Fuuin Sareta Card)
During the Summer holidays, Sakura and her class are preparing to present a play at the annual Nadeshiko Festival. The unexpected arrival of Syaoran (and Meiling) give Sakura the courage to finally reciprocate her feelings. But as the cards begin to disappear one by one, Sakura discovers a single card still remains. One with power equal to all hers... It is during this summer that Sakura faces her final battle.

My Thoughts
Words alone cannot describe how amazing Cardcaptor Sakura was as a classic magical girl romance anime. While it has similar qualities to other magical girl anime it is very unique in it's own way. While I liked the artwork and designs, the characters and story is what truly makes Cardcaptor Sakura memorizing. Each of the characters are truly interesting and lovable in their own unique way. There is some great character development as well. What I really love is the way the story progresses as we Sakura mature and grow along with the other characters like Syaoran and Meiling. Along with the main plot of Sakura capturing the clow cards we also get some good subplots, mostly love stories and the progression of relationships throughout the series. Overall, it was a very enjoyable anime. While I liked Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle I enjoyed Cardcaptor Sakura more mainly because of its ending.

The Sealed Card (Fuuin Sareta Card) (********SPOILER ALERT********)
I love it when a series ends with a movie and The Sealed Card (Fuuin Sareta Card) did a fantastic job of ending the classic original series (I know Clear Card came out recently). Here we know that Syaoran has finally confessed his love to Sakura and as he and Meiling are visiting we see Sakura trying to do the same in return. The movie just had a rush of emotions and the ending to the sealed card really gives you the best feelings about the fate of our main characters. Sakura confesses her feelings toward Syaoran thinking Syaoran has forgotten her. Syaoran then replies he loves her too. The town is restored and Sakura leaps across the clock tower with her "I love you" confession into Syaoran's arms. The movie cuts to the credits but a movie poster released shows Sakura made the jump. The endings for CLAMP series are usually great (with exceptions). The manga ends with Sakura confessing before Syaoran moves away. Syaoran returns to Tomoeda later and Sakura reunites with him saying they will be "together forever." I cannot describe how satisfying that was for me I also l mentioned Cardcaptor Sakura in My Endings Rant as a great ending. It was so good I had to watch it again to take it all in.

Couples/Relationships/Shippings
Probably the one thing everyone loves in the series are the romances and love stories we get from CCS. We see Sakura and Tomoyo's friendship and how they are best friends who are like sisters with one another. Tomoyo supports Sakura along as well as Sakura's friends particularly Syaoran. Along with the main Sakura and Syaoran romance, we also get a few love triangles. Also, we see Sakura (and Syaoran) having a simple innocent crush on Yukito but they eventually have stronger feelings for each other. Meiling likes Syaoran and is a rival for Sakura, but eventually Meiling comes to terms and realizes Syaoran likes Sakura the most. Finally, our best #1 OTP Sakura and Sayoran. While they start off as rivals at first, we see their relationship progress. Syaoran seems as a cold emotionless rival for Sakura at first, but begins to warm up as Sakura's warmth, sweetness, kindness, and soft feelings bring out Syaoran's soft sweet side. Sakura doesn't notice at first but after Syaoran confesses, she is unsure of her feelings for him at first but realizes she loves him too and eventually returns his confession. In the Clear Card Arc we will get plenty more moments of love. Sakura's cute, Syaoran's cute (according to fangirls) and together they are probably the most adorable couple as I mentioned in my 2017 and 2018 Valentines Day posts. I've never met a single person that hated them as a couple and I like most people just can't get enough of this couple. While a few of us did wish they kissed, keep in mind they are at most 13 years old so they'll have plenty of time. If they did kiss it would probably be the greatest event to happen in the history of anime apart from them getting married.

My Conclusion
I would give Cardcaptor Sakura 5/5 stars or a 10/10 score. Cardcaptor Sakura was a great classic that I would strongly recommend for anyone who likes, classic anime, magical girls, or romance. It was an enjoyable series that had a unique way of tugging on your heart strings and emotions. I am really looking forward to watching Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, that recently came out in 2018 to see where things go from here. I will also be watching and reviewing some similar magical girl romance anime Mermaid Melody and Nanatsuiro Drops. More girly anime I'm embarrassed to review (and like)!

Kimagure Orange Road Review

As you may recall I reviewed Maison Ikkoku previously and said that I would watch and review Kimagure Orange Road next. Well I just finished Kimagure Orange Road or KOR so I am now going to review it! Kimagure Orange Road started as a 18-volume 1984 manga written by Izumi Matsumoto. In 1985 a 25-minute pilot known as Shonen Jump Special: Kimagure Orange Road came out. Then in 1987 it the 48-episode TV anime series was released by Studio Pierrot. Addtionally, there are also an 8-episode 1989 OVA series and two films, I Want to Return to that Day in 1988, and Summer's Beginning in 1996 which ends the series. I will be reviewing the entire series as a whole. Like Maison Ikkoku, Kimagure Orange Road is also a slice of life, drama, romantic comedy. Maison Ikkoku was very popular and probably the more liked than Kimagure Orange Road. While I did like Maison Ikkoku, I actually liked Kimagure Orange Road even more and I will explain why. On the whole, Kimagure Orange Road as a series was absolutely fantastic and I loved it. Oh yeah I will be talking about the ending so...

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Summary
Kyosuke Kasuga, age 15, moves to a new city and becomes enamored by Madoka Ayukawa, a beautiful girl around his age. Kyosuke also must try to avoid breaking the heart of Hikaru Hiyama, Madoka's best friend who's a year younger than Kyosuke and fell in love with him. Also, just to make things interesting, Kyosuke and his family have various powers (teleportation, psychokinesis, hypnosis, time travel, personality transference) which Kyosuke desperately tries to keep a secret, though some of the other family members have no such qualms against using their powers in public.

I want to Return to that Day (Ano Hi ni Kaeritai)
In the events after the TV series about 3 years later Kyosuke and Madoka are close to graduation. Madoka tells her feelings to Kyosuke and Kyosuke must now decide on the girl he loves.

Summer's Beginning (Soshite, Ano Natsu no Hajimari)
Kyosuke now 19 receives a phone call warning him of oncoming cars but he doesn't listen. He is hit by the car and because of his telepathic abilities is sent three years into the future. His 22 year old self is lost in Bosnia and believed to be dead. Kyosuke must find his 22 year old future self and restore himself, the 19 year old, to his correct time. Along the way he reunites with Hikaru who is now a professional and famous dancer. Madoka is also there, distraught over both Kyosuke, the 22 year old going missing and Kyosuke, the 19 year old, getting hit by the car.

My Thoughts
Kimagure Orange Road was a fantastic 1980s anime series. The art for the anime is pretty good for an 80s series. The music in the anime is excellent and pretty much matches the theme of the anime. There is a very interesting love triangle concept that becomes the main focus of the series along with its coming-of-age concept and both those make it very interesting. To throw something extra, Kyosuke and his family have special powers. I love the characters and each one of them is lovable and unique in their own way. While Maison Ikkoku was more popular, I actually enjoyed Kimagure Orange Road more even though I still like Maison Ikkoku. It's because I liked the characters in Kimagure Orange more, plus I found Kimagure Orange Road a little more interesting and exciting.
I don't really have much to say about the first movie but I'll give my insight to the second movie.

Summer's Beginning (Soshite, Ano Natsu no Hajimari) (*****SPOILER ALERT*****)
I love it when an anime series ends with a movie and most of these ending movies are great. Summer's Beginning (Soshite, Ano Natsu no Hajimari) was no exception and did an excellent job of ending the series. Here we are several years into the future with Kyosuke, Madoka, and Hikaru as adults. It was pretty well made and I love how we get to see our characters maturing and what they look like several years older. Likewise there is definitely more mature content in this than the TV anime series. It was an interesting concept but we get to see how our character's lives have played out and how they have grown. The ending to the movie was great, and more than satisfying for me. After watching it I can assume that Kyosuke and Madoka are married or probably going to get married.

My Conclusion
I would give Kimagure Orange Road 5/5 stars or a 10/10 score. Kimagure Orange Road was a fantastic classic romantic comedy and I would recommend it for anyone who's a fan of classic anime or romantic comedies. It was enjoyable to watch from beginning to end and gives a very interesting perspective on romance, particularly love triangles.