Cardcaptor Sakura

Mangaka: CLAMP
Pub. Date: 1996
# of Vols.: 12

TV Series: 1998 (70 Episodes)
Movie 1
Movie 2: The Sealed Card
Tomoyo's Video Diaries

Kinomoto Sakura finds the Book of Clow in her basement. She opens it and unwittingly unleashes the deck of magic cards created by the magician Clow Reed. With the seal broken the guardian of the Clow wakes, Kerberus, and dubs her the master of the Clow Cards until the Final Judgement before Yue. The cards are all based on elements and such, and the series incorporates a smooth mix of both Eastern and Western magic traditions. To add to the punch, a descendent of Clow Reed arrives from Hong Kong intent on taking the cards from Sakura by collecting them first.

The last part of the series deals with Sakura having passed Yue's test and now tested by Eriol (half of the reincarnation of Clow Reed) so that she can come fully into her magic and transform the cards to Sakura Cards bearing her own symbol.

The series is very light and sweet, focused more on cuteness, friendship, and first loves than anything else. An important note on CLAMP's series is that like Magic Knight Rayearth, CCS too while part of the genre also steps away from the genre. In this case it is to poke the audience in the ribs a bit at the mahou shoujo staples: costumes, the sidekick, etc. For example, Sakura does not have a transformation, instead her best friend, Tomoyo, on learning Sakura has a magical destiny exclaims how wonderful it is and that she must be properly dressed and she, Tomoyo, will see to it. So Tomoyo designs costume after costume for Sakura (a new one each episode and movie), both to see her friend in cute attire and of course to live up to the image of a true magical girl.

Notes for this series can be found here.

Magical Companions
Kerberos-guardian of the Clow Book and Cards, lion
Yue-the other winged, human-like guardian, hidden inside Yukito

Magical Phrase
Release!

Magical Items
Book of Clow
Key of Clow
Sealing Wand
Clow Cards
Sakura Cards