Yes, I have been on a CLAMP kick lately.
This week I watched the Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles and the Xxxholic movies.
Starting with Tsubasa, the good things first. The animation was more consistent. The opening that re-depicts our heroes visit with Yuuko is absolutely gorgeous. Our heroes stay in character. Having Tomoyo around is always fun. The pace was reasonable.
Unfortunately, this movie is only thirty minutes long. Not enough time to do much more than a normal episode, which is too bad. They could have done something special.
For the Xxxholic, they had an hour to work with, and the results show. That is enough time with good pacing to tell a story worth telling, which is exactly what they did with this movie. It’s summer vacation, but there is no rest for Watanuki as he and Doumeki help Yuuko unravel a mystery behind a reclusive but renowned collector. Some of the dream sequences are quite surreal and interesting.
The best part about the Tsubasa OVA is the fact that it is being done at all since it is an extremely pivotal part of the manga. We also get to see Fai, Kurogani, Kamui, and two Syaorans in action in this second part. When the animation is good, it is great. Unfortunately, it again is not entirely consistent. The pacing is again much better than the two TV seasons in general were. Overall, a definite treat for Tsubasa fans in spite of its flaws.
I have now watched selected episodes of X (also known as X/1999). The animation is gorgeous, there are a bunch of great characters. Some of my favorites were Kamui and Fuma, and Subaru and Seishirou. And Sorata is absolutely hilarious. I will probably never read the manga though. First, the manga was never finished, which is always problematic. Second even in anime form the story is violent, intense, and depressing overall. Still, I am glad to have met these wonderful characters, especially the ones that show up in Tsubasa. Seishirou still being after Kamui and Subaru is very appropriate. I hope we get more of their story in the Tsubasa worlds.
I am now getting the feeling that half of Tsubasa is an excuse for CLAMP to revisit their favorite characters.
Next time, I will talk about the second season of Kyou Kara Maou with perhaps some thoughts on the first season as well.
so first comes the tsubasa 2 seasons , then the ova’s and then the movie? i dunno what to watch in order