Throwback Thursday | Cardcaptor Sakura – I Don’t Remember That…

WAIT! MINTY IS BACK WITH -ANOTHER- NOT REAL PEOPLE STUFFS POST?! Yes~ You should know it was inevitable since I wrote about the new Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card anime! So I’m back!

In my Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card post, I mentioned that I was kind of confused since I didn’t really remember alot of info regarding the original. Apparently I wasn’t the only one though, because Marc and Loha couldn’t recall much either. You can’t really blame us though, since it has been nearly 20 years since the original show aired. I just only remembered that I adored the series and could recall a few things. However, I was still lost because I was afraid that I might have been confusing myself with info from CLAMP’s other series, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles. That one basically has many of the seemingly same characters, but they’re from different circumstances and universes/realities. It’s confusing, but I’ll probably talk about that series in a future post. Anyway, because of that I decided to start re-watching the original Cardcaptor Sakura series! I will say that there were alot of things I definitely DON’T remember. Some of the things I learned basically corrupted the innocent childhood that I remembered… I definitely don’t remember those things at all! More on that later…

Me after remembering Cardcaptor Sakura to be such a pure and innocent story…only to learn things that shattered my poor and innocent childhood…

Cardcaptor Sakura is not only an incredibly successful shoujo series, but it’s also definitely one of the most iconic series of the 1990s! I can even argue that Cardcaptor Sakura is one of the top most iconic magical girls of all time. Again, the manga was originally published between 1996-2000. The anime itself aired between 1998-2000 with 70 episodes. There were also two anime films as well.

PLOT
9 year old Kinamoto Sakura finds a mysterious book and accidentally releases a magical set of cards called the Clow Cards. These cards were created by a powerful magician named Clow Reed. Each card has a unique and special ability that takes an alternate form when activated. Kerberos (Cerberus and aka Kero), the guardian of the Clow Cards, emerges from the book. He gives her the task of retrieving the cards. And so begins Sakura’s adventures as a cardcaptor as she must find, defeat, and seal the cards.

I said it in the Clear Card post, but Sakura is really amazing. She is an incredibly young heroine, being only 9 at the start of the series. She’s a very sweet, energetic, athletic, and caring girl. She worries more about those she loves than she does about herself. Now she’s a magical girl that’s tasked with capturing all these cards. It’s definitely alot for such a young kid. I had an 11 year old cousin who couldn’t even put together a kraft slice cheese sandwich. So yeah, I think Sakura is just really amazing and a great role model.

Kero-chan, or Keroberos (Cerberus), is one of the guardians of the Clow Book. He’s a big ol’ lion, but his borrowed form is a cute little lion cub plushy. He speaks in the Osaka dialect. He can be quite bossy, demanding, and a total glutton. However, he really does care for Sakura. He’s quite smart and knowledgeable on many things. He also gets along quite well with Daidouji Tomoyo and is always excited for the costumes she has prepared. Kero-chan is definitely one of my most favorite characters! Also, he was indeed on the Clow Book (I’m directing that to you, Loha!).

 

Daidouji Tomoyo is Sakura’s best friend. Not only is she really rich and mature for her age, Tomoyo is also incredibly selfless. She really cares for Sakura and hella supportive. Tomoyo is always filming Sakura and makes hundreds of elaborate costumes for Sakura. She isn’t taken aback by Sakura’s new identity as a Cardcaptor and keeps it a secret. She often helps cover for Sakura too. She’s definitely over the top at times, but it shows that’s she’s a great source of support.

Li Syaoran is a member of the Li clan of sorcerers from Hong Kong. He’s initially an antagonist, however he starts to develop feelings for Sakura. He later becomes her boyfriend. Initially, he’s a bit of a jerk and brat. He later mellows out though.

I also just loved the songs~ They’re very late 1990s/early 2000s, but so cute and fun! I definitely had a moment of nostalgia when they came up! The first opening and ending are definitely my favorites!

The ending is so upbeat and fun~ Plus Kero-chan!!!~

I’m still in the process of re-watching the original Cardcaptor Sakura series and re-reading the manga, but it’s been super enjoyable so far~ It really does take me back to my childhood! It’s a fairly cute and wholesome series!

So who else doesn’t remember much of the original Cardcaptor Sakura series and needs a little cheat sheet to watch the Clear Card Arc? Have no fear, Minty’s got you. I watched a bunch of episodes and read up on all the characters. There will be spoilers. You’re welcome to take a look. Otherwise, there’s no need to keep reading~ But do tell me if you remember Cardcaptor Sakura and what your favorite thing about it was!

[WARNING: Spoilers Ahead – May or may not corrupt your innocent childhood]

Minty’s Cardcaptor Sakura Brief (and Hella Basic) Refresher Cheat Sheet
Making it just brief enough where you can recognize things while watching the Clear Card anime….Doing the bare minimum because I’m a lazy piece of garbage…

Kinomoto Sakura
She’s inititally 9 years old at the start of the original Cardcaptor Sakura series. She’s around 12 by the Clear Card arc. Clow Reed is her distant ancestor, hence why she has an affinity for magic and to use the Clow Cards. She excels at activities like gymnastics. She has a crush on Yukito at first, however ends up developing feelings for Syaoran. Syaoran and Sakura are currently dating.

Daidouji Tomoyo
Sakura’s best friend. She’s a rich little lady. She’s elegant, selfless, mature. and sweet. Super loyal and always has Sakura’s back. She provides Sakura with her Cardcaptor battle costumes, and matching ones for Kero-chan. She also provides little gadgets and things from her mom’s company. Tomoyo always has a camera is always filming something (usually Sakura). Tomoyo is actually loves Sakura, but only wishes for Sakura’s happiness. Hence why she fully supports Sakura x Syaoran. Her mother is Sakura’s mom’s cousin. It’s more obvious in the manga, but Tomoyo bears a bit of a resemblance to Sakura’s mom, Nadeshiko. That’s why Sonomi, Tomoyo’s mom, had her grow out her hair. Sonomi was in love with Nadeshiko. She is pretty salty towards Sakura’s dad for having stolen Nadeshiko.

Li Syaoran
A member of the Li clan of sorcerers from Hong Kong. He starts off as a brat and a jerk, as well as an antagonist. He later becomes Sakura’s friend and boyfriend. Clow Reed is his ancestor.

Kinomoto Toya
Sakura’s brother. He’s 17 at the beginning of the series. He doesn’t let on that he’s aware of Sakura being a cardcaptor. He tries to help when he can. He has some spiritual power and extrasensory perception. He has been able to see and communicate with spirits and things; Including their mother’s spirit. His best friend is Yukito. He previously dated Kaho Mizuki for a short time when he was in junior high. He seems to have mutual feelings towards Yukito. He basically sacrificed his power to save Yukito/Yue.

Li Meiling
Syaoran’s cousin. She’s also a descendant of Clow Reed. She’s pretty immature. She cares deeply for Syaoran and declared herself engaged to him. She initially sees and treats Sakura as a rival, however changes to a valued friend.

Clow Reed
He was known as the greatest magician of all time, and is the creater of the Clow Cards. He also created the guardians of the Clow Book, Cerberus (Keroberos aka Kero-chan) and Yue. He’s Syaoran and Sakura’s ancestor. He was of of European and Asian heritage.

Kero-chan
Formally Kerberos, or Cerberus, he is one of the guardians of the Clow Book. He’s a big lion, but his borrowed form is a cute little plushy of a lion cub. He acts as a selector, choosing the candidates to be the next Master of the Clow.

Keroberos and Yue

Yue/Yukito
The other guardian of the Clow Book. Yue is Chinese for “moon”. He acts as the judge, seeing who is to test the candidate. Unlike Kero, his power is heavily dependent on his master. He’s cold and aloof, but has a kind heart. Yue was very close with Clow Reed. He had a hard time accepting his new master, but eventually sees her as a dear friend. His temporary form is Yukito, Toya’s best friend. Yukito is in love with Toya.

Kaho Mizuki
She’s about 35 years old. She’s a shrine maiden and descendant of Clow Reed. She first appears as Sakura’s math teacher. She was Toya’s student teacher when he was in junior high. They dated for a year and broke up when she went to study abroad in England. She secretly does everything she can to assist Eriol in his mission to transform the cards into Sakura Cards (cards under Sakura’s own strength). They are currently lovers…

Hiiragazawa Eriol
Eriol appears to be 13, but his actual age is unknown. It seems he’s around Sakura’s father’s age. However, he halted his aging in order to get closer to Sakura. He is the reincarnation of Clow Reed. He insists he is not Clow Reed, but just has his memories. He and Kaho Mizuki are a thing.

Spinel Sun
He looks like a small black cat with butterfly wings. His true appearance is more like a panther with enlarged wings. He’s one of Eriol’s guardians and designed to be Kero-chan’s counterpart.

Kinomoto Fujitaka
Sakura and Toya’s dad. He’s about 36 and is a university professor. He loves his family very dearly. He was a student teacher when he met Nadeshiko. She was his student at the time and they got married when she was 16. Despite his wife passing away at the age of 27, he’s grateful for the 11 years they spent together. In the manga he’s technically half the reincarnation of Clow Reed’s soul. However, he has no magical abilities. After Eriol’s final confrontation with Sakura, he asks her to help split half of his magical powers to her dad. He gains the affinity to see spirits, and is able to see his wife’s spirit.

Excuse me, Mizuki and Fujitaka….but….

That’s no-no…

So yeah….I definitely don’t remember this series having some serious pedo shit…. Especially Kaho Mizuki. A grown woman dating her JUNIOR HIGH student?? Let’s not even get started with how creepier it seems that she has something going on with a 13 year old looking boy (Eriol). I mean yes, these characters and relationships are supposed to be seen as sweet and pure….but the fact is that in real life this would be a definite no, no. My poor and innocent childhood….

Seriously though…