Cardcaptor Sakura – Blu Ray edition

Yep, I decided to upgrade. And I am so glad I did. This was put out by NIS America. So the packaging isn’t quite as spectacular as some of the other releases, but considering everything you get I’m okay with that and it is still quite good. First, the good news. The Blu ray is gorgeous! Sakura has never looked so gorgeous. (Here I’m sounding like Tomoy;)Second, the even better news. Not only does it have the Japanese audio with subtitles, but there is now an official English dub for the unedited version! You no longer have to watch the poor thing which is Cardcaptors if you want to listen to this show in English. I have watched the first three episodes so far, plus samples of all major voices in the series. Here is my verdict. Many of the voices fit perfectly and are similar in spirit to the original Japanese. There are a few voices which I am still getting used to – in particular, Sakura unfortunately. Not sure why. Also, Tomoyo keeps going lower than higher in tone. But overall it still works better than what Pioneer did with the dub. No valley girl tone, and Sakura sounds like a young girl which is good. All the original names are used, which is even better. Based on my memory of the sub, I would say the translation is not exact, but again it is much closer than what Pioneer did with the dub and the original spirit is kept. To top it off, with the Blu Ray set you get a booklet that details info about every episode as told by Tomoyo complete with colored pictures. For fans of this series, this is the definitive edition to get. The blue ray looks wonderful. Still, it is a bit pricey. Fortunately, NIS America is also releasing three DVD sets as well, that also are dual language. Fans of the series and really anyone who has been waiting to get Cardcaptor Sakura, now is the time to get it with these editions. Thank you NIS America for this release!

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Card Captor Sakura Omnibus #4

Yue’s lack of power has been solved at a cost to Sakura’s brother Toya, but things aren’t over yet. The truth finally comes out. We finally find out what Eriol is really up to. Yes, he is causing trouble, but he actually has a pretty good reason for it. Times change. People move on. We also finally find out who is the most important person to Sakura . . . and it isn’t who she thought it was. And guess who stops by to say hi here ate the end?

Once again we have three lovely volumes in one! This includes colored pages, and even the black and white pages are pristine. My old set of Cardcaptor Sakura is getting a bit yellowed, and even a paper novice like me can tell the difference in quality just by touch. So if you missed your chance to get this great series, now is the time! And if you missed your chance to get the artbooks, the colored art included between the four volumes is much of what CLAMP created for this series. If you love CLAMP, is a must have series, and this is the version to get. If you are new to CLAMP, this may be a good place to start, especially if you like lighter stories. Some of CLAMP can get pretty intense and dark.

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Card Captor Sakura Omnibus #3

In this lovely volume, we start the Master of the Clow part of the series, volumes 7-9. Once again we are treated by Dark Horse to lovely color pages, and even the regular pages are on lovely white paper. The artwork is larger than standard manga size so it is quite easy to enjoy! As for the story, you thought it was all over. The cards have all been captured and Sakura is master of the Clow. But new events are happening of a magical nature and of a type Sakura has never faced before – and the Clow Cards are no longer enough! Sakura must now make the Clow Cards into Star Cards using her own power. Just who could be behind these mysterious events? Meanwhile, there are some new transfer students in town . . . Just one more volume after this! Even if you have the old Tokyo Pop version, this new edition is worth having.

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Card Captor Sakura Omnibus #2

In this lovely tome is collected volumes 4-6 of the manga. Once again it is large so it is easy to see all of CLAMP’s gorgeous detail. We also get all the colored pages! Absolutely stunning! Even the regular pages are pristine and white. Amid camp, school plays, oh and the final judgement, we are treated to one of the best mahou shojou manga ever. Everything concludes most satisfactorily, leaving room open for the next part of the manga: Master of the Clow! If you didn’t get Card Captor Sakura the first time, this is the edition to get. We can only hope that Dark Horse releases that part of the story in such wonderful packaging as well. I do have one question though. In doing the character stats on the side, why don’t they tell us which subject the various teachers specialize in?

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Card Captor Sakura Omnibus #1

First, sorry I have been away longer than intended. This is not being written on my computer. My computer has not been happy so I am re-imaging it now. Hopefully that will take care of the problem and we will be back to a “normal” schedule next week, knock on wood.

In the meantime, here is a review of the new Card Captor Sakura omnibus by Dark Horse.

First of all, let’s talk about the size. We are talking about three volumes in one here. And this book isn’t just larger depth wise. It is also taller and wider than a normal manga is. We are treated not just with a beautiful colored cover, but there are numerous colored pages inside, including a whole bunch at the very end as a bonus! And lets talk about the pages themselves. The colored pages are on photo-quality paper. The non-colored pages are of a high quality and a pristine white. The Japanese sound effects and asides are still included but they all include English translations now. As for the story itself, it is very well done – still recognizable as the Card Captor Sakura we know and love. It is at least as nice a translation (not being able to actually translate it myself) to read as the second translation done by Tokyopop, maybe even better. (I am still on the first volume^^;) In short, if you haven’t gotten Card Captor Sakura yet, now is the time to do so since Dark Horse has now provided what may well be the definitive edition. And even if you do have Card Captor Sakura already, you will be very tempted by this gorgeous version.

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Card Captor Sakura: Master of the Clow

If anything, I like this part of the manga better than the first part. I suspect it is because of the developing relationship between Sakura and Syaoran. Still, Sakura must first deal with magical threats that the Clow Cards can’t deal with it. Sakura learns to change the cards with her magic, though this takes a toll especially at first. Meanwhile, because Sakura doesn’t have enough magic Yue starts to disappear . . . We have several new transfer students, Eirol for Sakura’s class and Nakuru for Toya’s class, and Tomoyo is on scene to document it all^^; And as always, there is CLAMP’s gorgeous artwork to enjoy:) One note to those who have only seen the anime, the manga does the ending better, though the end result is basically the same. Highly recommended for those who enjoyed the anime, those who enjoy CLAMP, and those who like magical girls with a story that focuses on relationships.

Final rating: 5/5 because it doesn’t get any better than this!

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Card Captor Sakura Manga

Ah, back to the second manga I ever read (the first being Sailor Moon). You have the same basic premise. Sakura finds a mysterious book in her father’s library one day and when she opens it, a bunch of cards fly out. Then a little guy that looks like a stuffed animal, yep Kero, comes out and tells Sakura those cards are the Clow cards and they are magical in nature and can cause lots of havoc if not recaptured. Tomoyo, Sakura’s best friend, helps Sakura by providing costumes, documenting all card capturing activities, and moral support. Then a boy, Li Syaoran, arrives wanting to capture the cards himself! Finally when Sakura and Syaoran have started not being so antagonistic, a new teacher arrives . . .

Yeah the story is the same as the anime, but there are some benefits to reading the manga. Some of the editions come with colored pages and cards. You also get to enjoy directly CLAMP’s gorgeous artwork, which is both prettier and in some cases funnier than in the anime (not the animator’s fault, we are talking about CLAMP here!). Because there are far fewer cards to be captured, the pace is quicker. Not that I mind slow paces at all, but you can tell CLAMP did this pace for a reason. If you have enjoyed the anime or if you have enjoyed other CLAMP manga or if you just enjoy cute shoujo manga with sweet characters and a plot that is deeper than many, I highly recommend reading Card Captor Sakura for yourself.

My rating: 5/5 because Tomoyo is right – Sakura is just too cute!!!!

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Card Captor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card

Sorry I wasn’t able to post this yesterday. I have lots of screencaps to make up for it^^;

So this movie starts out with a construction scene. It seems Eirol’s old house is getting torn down. Tomoyo is having fun filming Sakura using her cards. She even got Kero and Yue in on it. (Kero, I can see, but I don’t know how she talked Yue into it.) Sakrua admits to Tomoyo that Syaoran confessed his feelings to her, but she hasn’t replied yet.

The next day, Sakura rushes off to school. It is summer, but her class is putting on a play for the cultural festival. Skaura is playing the princess and Yamazaki is the prince. After practice, she and Tomoyo pass by the construction area. It seems that a new amusement park is being built. But Sakura senses something strange. When she runs in its direction, who should she run into but Syaoran! He and Meiling are on summer break too, and Tomoyo and Meiling are conspiring to get Syaoran and Sakura together. They go so far as to get them to have dinner alone at Sakura’s house. Only one problem. They keep getting interrupted, first by Kero, and then by Toya and Yuki! Toya in particular is not happy to see Syaoran. That night, after our heroes are asleep, a Sakrua Card flies off.

For the next several days, Meiling and Syaoran follow Sakura and Tomoyo to their practices. Several things around town seem to be missing, though. After one practice, they run into Toya and Yuki. Since Toya scared Sakura, Yuki makes him by ice cream for everyone. Sakura admits to Yuki she found the one she likes. Several more Cards disappear.

One day, there is no practice, so everyone goes to the amusement park. Tomoyo and Meiling try to get Sakua and Syaroan alone again, especially on the ferris wheel. But just as Sakura is about to confess her feelings, they both feel the presence of a Clow Card again. Running off to find it, they find a Card that looks like a girl, but she takes several more Cards before vanishing.

Worried, Sakura tells Kero when she gets home about what happened. And then who should call but Eirol from England. He apologizes that he didn’t remember earlier, but there is one last Clow Card that not even the guardians know about. The Clow Cards are all positive, meaning they do something. This Card is negative to balance them out. this new card is the Emptiness and erases things. Hence, why things have been disappearing around town. Only it is as powerful as all the other Cards combined. Since the other Cards are now all Sakura Cards and Eirol’s old house has been disturbed, it has been unsealed. Sakura can change it to a Sakura Card and reseal it, but Eirol says the price will be someones (probably Sakura) most precious feelings. This is all Eirol can say before being cut off by the Emptiness.

When Sakura tells Syaoran this the next day, Syaoran says they may have no choice but to give up their most precious feelings to save the town, which upsets Sakura a ton. She runs into Yuki, who takes her aside. When Sakura has trouble telling what’s going on, Yue appears, who encourages her.

Sakura is still worried the next day. Tomoyo and Meiling try to cheer her up, when more Cards disappear. And this time things start disappearing at school too. Sakura uses Sleep so no one will notice, but that Card ends up disappearing too. When everyone wakes up, it turns out Yamazaki has hurt his arm when he fell asleep. Terada-sensei is about to cancel the show, but  he insists Syaoran takes his place.

And so the show goes on with Syaoran playing the prince. Actually, it follows real life in a way in the way the princess struggles telling the prince her feelings. Unfortunately, the Emptiness strikes again, taking away many more cards. Everyone disappears except Syaoran, Sakura, Meilling, Tomoyo, Yue, and Kero. Before going off, Tomoyo insists on new costumes, but this time she gives a reason. It is her way of making sure they come back alright.

The Emptiness takes even more Cards, even though Sakura tries to stop this with Windy, and now Meiling and Tomoyo are gone. But now Yue and Kero know where the Emptiness is hiding: at the new amusement park.

Emptiness attacks, and Sakura uses Jump to get out of the way on some high tracks. So Emptiness sends a train to knock her off. Sakura stops this momentarily with Time, but she can’t hold it. Luckily, Kero saves her. Yue and then Kero both try to take on the Emptiness, but both disappear. Syaoran realizes that this Card relies on Clow’s magic, but he doesn’t use Clow’s magic. So he goes after the Emptiness and actually makes her flinch. Too bad she knocks him off the ferris wheel. Sakura is quite upset and goes after the Emptiness with Fly until it gets taken. She then uses Shield to protect herself from falling rubble. That is the last Card, and it gets taken too. Thankfully, Syaoran is okay, though a little worse for ware. The Emptiness says how she was all alone away from everyone (the other Cards) and how lonely she was. But Sakura says real friendship isn’t forced. At this, all the Cards are freed and the Emptiness is devastated. But Sakura says she can join the others. She changes the Emptiness into a Sakura Card, but he magic backlashes onto Syaoran. Sakura fears his most important feeling (of her) has been taken away. This, however, gives her the courage to finally confess her feelings. And Syaoran still returns them. The one Card Sakrua made herself, now holds the Emptiness, but is now the Hope, and it protected Syaoran from the backlash. Everything goes back to normal, everyone returns, and Sakura and Syaoran live happily ever after!

But this is not quite the end. There is still Kero’s Special afterwards.

Eirol, Tomoyo, and Syaoran are over at Sakura’s place for tea. But this special really features Kero and Suppie. Sakura leaves them some takoyoaki in her bedroom. Suupie at first isn’t sure about this, but after one bite he is convinced. However, when they get to the last one, they start arguing about who should get it. And mayhem ensues, especially once the takoyaki gets knocked out the window. Things get even crazier when it gets exchanged with Yamazaki’s bouncy ball that looks exactly like takoyaki. Kero manages to grab a toy car, but Suppie eats some cake and goes into hyper spitting death beams mode. Eventually, the rubber ball gets exchanged back with the takoyaki (makes you wonder about exactly how many stories of Yamazaki are actually true). The doughy part around the octopus inside breaks off . . . and then falls into another octopus treat that uses octopus pieces. Suppie and Kero return despondent. Sakura arrives with more takoyaki, so all is well again. Especially since Suppie is to worn out to notice anything! Kero does leave him the last piece, though^^;

And thus ends Card Captor Sakura! Next up for detailed episode summaries, Ronin Warriors, also known as Yoroiden Samurai Troopers. Yes it’s retro. It’s also my first anime. Which is why I keep going back to it:) Look forward to it starting next week!

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Card Captor Sakura Specials

Today we introduce the three Sakura Video Diaries, presented by none other than our own Tomoyo-chan! Okay, so they are more fun than serious and about five minutes each, but there’s nothing wrong with that:)

The first one features Tomoyo and Sakura, with Kero assisting. Tomoyo is determinedly taping Sakura in various interesting poses and costumes, and then tries to get Sakura to sing a song. That part doesn’t work so well. And Kero mimicking Yukito’s voice behind a life-size cut out of him is hilarious, and Sakura’s reaction is even funnier! As for what this is all about, it is not just a music video. This is Tomoyo’s opening to her (at that point) thirty five episodes she wants to show to the world of Sakura’s exploits! Sound familiar anyone? And as a special treat, we get to see the first opening again, this time with the voice actress doing the singing! It does make you wonder, though. Does Tomoyo have video cameras scattered at strategic places to capture Sakura in all her glory even if Tomoyo isn’t around?

The second one looks like the same scene as the third ending, only Kero is tied up in Sakura’s room to keep him out of the kitchen, and Eirol is over to help with the cooking. The only problem is that cupcakes keep disappearing. It seems Eirol magically let Kero out and Kero is on the hunt for sweets! After Eirol leaves, Tomoyo and Sakura set up a trap by placing a cake in the oven and hiding. Too bad for Kero, there are now two eye witnesses and Tomoyo’s video camera is rolling! Sakura uses the move and illusion cards to help her trap Kero! Eirol naturally knew this would happen and is amused^^;

The third film features Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo, and Meiling. Yamazaki has been telling stories again: this time about a blue mail box. Much to our hero’s surprise, there is a blue mail box. Meiling things Yamazaki’s eyes open when he tells the truth. It is true that usually his eyes look closed. They look in Sakura’s photo album to confirm this. Why is Yamazaki in all those pictures? Tomoyo had been taping when Yamazaki told the story earlier, and in the film, he indeed does have his eyes open. Yamazaki and Chiharu pass by, and Yamazaki is still talking about the blue mail box. He says those who send love letters from such a box will stay in love forever. Yamazaki has his eyes  open as he says this. Sakura, Syaoran, and Meiling are quite excited at this thought, though for different reasons. Tomoyo is quite amused. It turns out, however, that Chiharu stepped on Yamazaki’s foot which is what actually caused Yamazaki to open his eyes!

I’m sorry I don’t have screencaps for today. The video format was not the right type. However, plan on plenty on Friday when I review the second movie!

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Card Captor Sakura #67 & #68

Sorry about missing yesterday. I was a bit under the weather. To make up for it, here are two episodes.

The first episode is: Sakura, Syaoran and the Tsukimine Shrine.

Thanks to Syaoran in the previous episode, Sakura is back to her normal cheerful self, and Sakura wants to properly thank him. So Sakura invites him to go to a festival with her the next weekend. Sakura has more than that in mind, however, which causes her to loose some sleep – very worrying to Syaoran. Plenty of blushing by Syaroan in this episode, by the way:) When the big day arrives, Sakura is ready with the second part of her thank you gift for Syaoran: a home made scarf. Tomoyo has of course been invited as well (what a great chance to film Sakura!) as well as Toya and Yukito. Inviting Yukito is Sakura’s way of letting him know she is fine now and accepts what he told her. Yukito is equally worried about Toya being tired and being startled by Sakura. But Toya says not to worry about it. Toya is more worried about Syaoran, given his interest in Sakura. Sakura does a fortune reading at the moon pond and sees a mysterious figure at the center of Clow’s magic circle. Eirol ends up interfering again by bringing a horse in a picture to life. When Woody doesn’t work, Sakura and Syaroan double team the horse, Syaoran with wind spirits to knock it in the pool and Sakura finishes it off with the Thunder Card. Unfortunately, during the fight, the electric lines were cut. So the festival won’t end, Sakura then uses the Glow Card to provide light for the party.

The second episode is: Sakura, the Past and Clow Reed.

Eirol sends a letter to someone. He then decides to torment Sakura with miniature snow men. Sakura turns the tables, though, when she uses the Snow Card. One note, there seems to have been a barrier which prevented Yue from getting close. Sakura, however, is worried about what is happening and also about being able to fill Clow’s shoes so to speak. With Kero’s permission, she decides to use the Return Card to speak with Clow herself. She makes a pinkie promise with Syaoran to be careful. She indeeds does see Clow with Kero and Yue. Only Clow sees her, though. Clow assures Sakura that she can be her self. Sakura also sees Clow’s last day. Yue especially is upset by this and doesn’t want a new master. When Sakura returns and reports, she remembers that the house she saw Clow in looked like Eirol’s house. But neither Kero or Yue remember being there. Why? More interference from Clow. Eirol makes his appearance, finally showing his real self, much to the surprise of everyone else. What does Eirol, aka Clow Reed, really want?

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