Series: Card Captors

Availability: Saturdays at 8:30 on Kids’ WB, check local listings

Episode(s) reviewed: CC#1: Sakura’s Rival.

WOW!! What a year it has been for anime in the United States. Granted, the year that saw theatrical releases of Mononoke-hime and X, the video releases of Castle of Cagliostro, Magic Knight Rayearth, and Slayers Try, and the television releases of Tenchi Muyo (which Aint It Cool News is pushing on its site), Digimon, and Gundam Wing, also was plagued with a second season of Pokemon, the Sailor Moon S season and the forgettable Flint: the Time Detective. And it was also the year of CLAMP’s American Adventure, with Magic Knight Rayearth 1 & 2 appearing on video, X appearing in theaters, and arrival of the Clover, Magic Knight Rayearth 2, and Card Captor Sakura manga.

The latest installment of CLAMP’s big year in the States is the North American Television Premiere of Card Captors, based upon the popular series Card Captor Sakura. In both series, Sakura must chase down Clow Cards containing “elemental” forces that will tear apart the world if they are not captured and placed inside the Clow, the magical book from which the cards escaped. However, Card Captors received the Sailor Moon treatment, giving the show a more English feel. Fortunately for CLAMP fans and purists, Pioneer is releasing a subtitled version of Card Captor Sakura this September.

As mentioned, Card Captors has received a cultural washing. While this is usually problematic, Nelvana is not releasing this for otaku, but for 6-14 year olds. Thus Card Captors begins on Card Captor Sakura’s 8th episode, because kids apparently wanted to see more of Li Shaolan (Showran in CC). The names were also changed. While Sakura and Li keep their names (although pronunciations differ), other characters had their names changed because Nelvana believed that the Japanese names would be too difficult for children to pronounce (a good point, IMHO, and something CLAMP has dealt with in Magic Knight Rayearth). I admire the fact that Nelvana, by choosing names such as Madison, Julian, Tory, and Aiden, gives the series less of an American feel and more of an international feel. But, at the same time, the dialogue can feel valley-girlish at times.

One noteworthy thing about the credits is that you can see Nelvana’s inexperience in dubbing anime in the fact that they actually credit their voice actors with their parts. The new kid did something right from the start, something that the other distributors should pay attention to.

The dubbing of Card Captors is mostly good. The voices fit, and they sound natural, unlike many American dubs. Unfortunately, the girls’ voices, especially Madison’s, sound like girls of 13, not 10, years of age. And Kero’s voice does not make him as cute as he was in the Japanese version. These minor flaws aside, this dub makes the show come alive in ways that Pioneer and Viz dubs have not. In hindsight, this is to be expected from Nelvana, who has had more experience releasing animation than the American anime distributors.

While I praise Nelvana for their excellent dub, I am more ambivalent about the music. I like the guitar riffs that decorate the soundtrack. In fact, the background songs are both fitting to the on screen events and pleasant to listen to. Unfortuantely, you have to suffer through the Pokemon-style opening credits. And “suffer” is the operative word. This is a shame, because the Card Captor Sakura opening is cute and catchy. I still remember (and sing) parts of it months after the last CCS episode I saw. However, after this review, I’m looking to put a stake though the heart of the musical director of Card Captors. Of course, this will have to wait until I hunt down the Japanese music director of Sailor Moon S.

Animation and color is both fluid and eye-catching, something to be expected from a CLAMP related project. The character designs, while being classic CLAMP, distinguish themselves from the designs in other CLAMP series, such as Magic Knight Rayearth, Clamp School, and X. In fact, this has the best designs I’ve seen in a CLAMP project. And Card Captors does not devolve into chibi-mode, a relief after watching Magic Knight Rayearth. Card Captors easily beats Pokemon. But then again, is that saying much?

Kid’s WB is looking for a ratings replacement for Pokemon, which I’m pleased to report, is slipping in its ratings. Card Captors has the chance to do so, but not if otaku do not overcome their obsessive nit-picking. Unfortunately, because if its overt magical nature, Card Captors will be a target for morality groups and religious conservatives. Which is a shame, because they will be missing a wonderful series. I’d almost go as far to say that it would be an otaku’s duty to watch Card Captors, especially if the spectre of boycott is raised. Besides, we have the best of both worlds with this release, a good television dub and forthcoming sub. It’s enough to make Sailor Moon fans jealous.

Just be glad you do not live at my house. Otherwise, you would have seen Card Captors #1 six times already.

The Final Verdict: Watch Card Captors or I’ll shoot this cabbit. Seriously, don’t miss this series.