Cardcaptor Sakura: Love, Innocence and Magic
Soon, it will be 20 years since the anime adaptation of Cardcaptor Sakura first premiered on TV, and 22 years since the manga hit the shelves in Japan. It will also mark its triumphant return, as an anime adaptation of the new manga, the Clear Card Arc, was announced earlier this year with a release date set for January 2018.
To get ready for it, I finally watched the Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card-hen Prologue OVA that premiered in July of this year. The story works better as an isolated episode than a full movie, so if you haven’t seen it yet you should probably temper your hopes for this one.
What is interesting about the OVA is that it replaces the finale the anime gave us by sticking closer to the original ending set in the manga. So, if like me, you have only watched the anime, you will probably be utterly confused at some of the things that are happening on screen. I would suggest revisiting the last installments of the original manga, or –like I did- Google your way into understanding the plot.
Still, what I found truly surprising about this entry in the Cardcaptor franchise –besides a stunning upgrade in the animation!- is how risk-free it felt after comparing it to the manga.
Warning: light spoilers ahead!
In the manga version of this episode, the story continues its tendency of showing relationships that might be considered taboo with a sympathetic eye. Moments between Rika and Terada, Eriol and Kaho, and Yukito and Toya, are directly connected to Sakura’s ultimate realization about her emotions towards Syaoran.
While Yukito and Toya’s moment is mostly present in the OVA –I guess that has a lot to do with the strong fanbase behind that pairing-, I was surprised to see the other two completely obliterated from the adaptation. To be fair, a moment between Sakura and Chihara was also left out. It’s also very likely that it had a lot to do with timing, plus the passing of one of the seiyuu. Yet, it did spark some concerns in the back of my mind when it comes to the upcoming series.
Cardcaptor Sakura has always been transgressive
Although I won’t worry too much about having a ‘sanitized’ version of the story until I actually see the show, I do think it’s important to take a moment and praise the franchise for its progressive approach to various aspects of its characters.
Those of us who saw the show when we were younger probably remember the inclusion of multiple characters that defied convention. Many concepts were thrown at us without making a big deal about them: homosexuality, bisexuality, arranged marriages, age-gap relationships, underage relationships… and what is wonderful about the story is that it did it with complete neutrality, without praising nor condemning what it was presenting.
In that sense, having a character like Sakura worked perfectly.
If you decide to re-watch the show –which I did last year-, you will probably find yourself being utterly floored –and sometimes frustrated- at how clueless Sakura can be. Sakura is ‘innocence’ incarnate. There is not even a hint of evilness in her, as she is an all-round good girl.
Nowadays, that could be perceived as a hindrance. Most of us would scoff at a character that is too perfect, too nice and too accepting, and we would be tempted to call her a ‘Mary Sue’ or simply labeling her as completely uninteresting –if you have any doubt about it, see the endless threads about how Rey from the new Star Wars trilogy ‘is a Mary Sue’.
Everyone around Sakura is always more aware about things than she is. Her best friend, Tomoyo, her brother, Toya, and even her companion, Kero, can read situations and people easily. Most of the time they can understand things way before she does. Sakura, on the other hand, is constantly learning.
It will be interesting to see how a new generation takes to this aspect of the character. Innocence is not as easy to sell when you have the Internet watching your every move, ready to pass judgment on every action of your hero or heroine.
But, perhaps, Sakura’s innocence is needed in a time like this. Her incorruptibility and willingness to accept everything and everyone as they are, as long as they don’t harm others, could be surprisingly refreshing. Sakura faces darkness not with pessimism or cynicism, but with confidence and love –a theme we saw earlier this year in Wonder Woman.
Although Cardcaptor Sakura deals with a lot of supernatural elements and abilities, Sakura’s true magic is embodied in her “everything will work out”-attitude. It’s an optimistic and timeless message which will hopefully continue to thrive in the new anime.
I hope the people behind the show won’t hold back on presenting challenging concepts to the main character. Otherwise, Sakura’s naivety will lose its charm.
If you have never watched it, I would suggest catching up as much as you can before January rolls around. If you have watched it: how about a marathon?
And to the creators: beyond keeping the story alive, what we want the most is for you to be faithful to the spirit of the characters.
We are counting on you!
