An imaginative mixture of adventure, charm, and emotional warmth made Cardcaptor Sakura a big hit in both Japan and America. In contrast to the one-note and often bratty girls in American animation, ten-year-old Sakura Kinomoto is a good-natured but never saccharine character who learns and grows from her magical experiences. A cheerful 4th grader, she lives with her older brother Toya and her widowed father, a professor of archeology. Sakura dislikes math and Toya's teasing, and nurtures a crush on his friend Yukito. When she opens a mysterious book in her father's study, glowing forms fly into the night. Kero, the winged, toy-like creature from the book's cover, explains that she has released the magical cards created by the sorcerer, Clow Reed. Despite her protests, Kero insists that Sakura must become a Cardcaptor and retrieve them before they work mischief on the world. As she pursues various Cards, Sakura's best friend Tomoyo videotapes her adventures. Shaoran Li, a student from Hong Kong related to Clow Reed, initially challenges Sakura's right to the Cards. As they move from reluctant allies to friends, the relationship is complicated by Shaoran’s loudmouth cousin Meilin. Toya, who "sees things other people can't," keeps a watchful eye the magical goings-on. Sakura wins increasingly powerful Cards, but is haunted by a recurring dream in which she battles an unseen foe atop Tokyo Tower. Meilin returns to Hong Kong, allowing the partnership between Sakura and Shaoran develop smoothly. When Sakura captures the last Card, she faces the confrontation she saw in her dreams. Losing this battle would have dire consequences. But Sakura proves herself worthy to become the new master of the Cards: the timid girl of the first episodes has discovered reserves of inner strength she didn't know she possessed. The arrival of Eriol, who is somehow linked to Clow Reed, produces new troubles for Sakura and her friends, just as Shaoran is coming to grips with the awkward realization that he likes Sakura. The interplay of personal moments and the increasingly ominous plot keeps this extremely popular "magical girl" series moving smoothly through the two and half seasons included in this collection. (Note: this series is rated "13 and Older," but appropriate for viewers three years younger. The popular Cardcaptors series heavily edits this original series for a much younger audience.) --Charles Solomon
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