The appeal and reviews of the movie "Cardcaptor Sakura": A moving film that fans must see

Cardcaptor Sakura the Movie - Gekijyoban Cardcaptor Sakura

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

August 21, 1999 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Shochiku

■ Eirin Number

115634

■Frequencies

80 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

CLAMP

■ Director

Morio Asaka

■ Production

Animation Production: Madhouse Production: Bandai Visual / Gelty / Madhouse

■Works

©CLAMP, ST, Kodansha/Bandai Visual, Madhouse

■ Story

It's winter break for Sakura and her friends. Sakura and Tomoyo have no plans, but in a lottery held at the general store Twin Bell, Sakura wins a special trip to Hong Kong. Sakura invites Yukito to take her place in place of her father, Fujitaka, who is unable to come, and Sakura travels to Hong Kong with Toya and Tomoyo.
Sakura is happy to be reunited with Syaoran and Meiling, whose hometown is Hong Kong, but she begins having dreams about a mysterious wizard...
The sealed Clow Card is the Arrow.

■Explanation

The film attracted an audience of over 500,000 people. It won the Theater Division of the 4th Kobe Animation Award. It was shown alongside "CLOVER."

■ Main staff

・Original work: CLAMP
・Director: Morio Asaka ・Character design: Kumiko Takahashi ・Scriptwriter: Nanase Okawa ・Guest character design, costume design: CLAMP
・Animation Directors: Kunihiko Sakurai, Kumiko Takahashi, Hitoshi Ueda ・Art Director: Katsufumi Hariu ・Color Design: Madoka Katsunuma ・Director of Photography: Hisao Shirai ・Music: Takayuki Negishi ・Sound Director: Masafumi Mima ・Producers: Kazuhiko Ikeguchi, Tatsuya Ono ・Animation Production: Madhouse ・Production: Bandai Visual, Sheltie, Madhouse

■ Theme songs and music

・TM
"In this faraway town"
Lyrics by Naomi Minatani Composition by Naomi Minatani Arrangement by Yuji Toriyama Vocals by Naomi Minatani

Detailed evaluation and recommendation

Story and Characters

Cardcaptor Sakura the Movie begins with a simple premise: Sakura and her friends go on a trip to Hong Kong during winter break. The story unfolds after Sakura has a lucky win at a lottery held at Twin Bells. This trip marks the start of a new adventure for Sakura and serves as an important stage for her growth.

In Hong Kong, Sakura is reunited with Syaoran and Meiling and shares her joy. But the story doesn't end there. Sakura begins to have dreams of a mysterious mage and faces a new challenge from the Clow Cards. This dream is a key element in Sakura's courage and determination as she faces a fear she has never experienced before.

Sakura's character is given even more depth in this film. Her purity and strength, combined with the exotic cityscape of Hong Kong, leave a strong impression on viewers. Her relationship with Syaoran also deepens, and the film depicts the moment when their bond becomes even stronger. Meiling's presence is also important, and the scene where her cheerfulness intersects with Sakura's kindness is heartwarming.

Visuals and animation

The film's visuals are faithful to CLAMP's distinctive style. Character design is by Kumiko Takahashi, and the addition of guest character and costume design by CLAMP further enhances the beauty and individuality of the characters. In particular, the depiction of Hong Kong's streets and landscapes exudes a realistic yet fantastical atmosphere, thanks to the work of color designer Madoka Katsunuma and art director Katsufumi Hariu.

MADHOUSE, the studio in charge of animation, has fully demonstrated its technical and expressive capabilities. The meticulous drawings by animation directors Kunihiko Sakurai, Kumiko Takahashi, and Hitoshi Ueda capture Sakura's movements and expressions in minute detail, allowing the viewer to empathize with her. In addition, the camerawork by cinematographer Hisao Shirai brings out the tension and beauty of the story to the fullest.

Music and Sound

The music is by Takayuki Negishi and is an important element in supporting Sakura's adventure and growth. In particular, the theme song "Toi Kono Machi de" (In a Faraway Town) features Naomi Minatani's beautiful voice and lyrics, which seem to symbolize Sakura's journey of the heart. This song not only directly expresses Sakura's emotions, but also deeply moves the viewer.

Sound director Masafumi Mima paid particular attention to the placement of sound effects and background music, creating sound effects that match the development of the story. In particular, sound effects that heighten tension in the Clow Card scenes are used effectively, drawing the viewer in.

Recognition and Awards

"Cardcaptor Sakura the Movie" was a huge success, drawing in over 500,000 viewers. It also won the Theater Division of the 4th Kobe Animation Awards, receiving high praise for its artistic and entertainment value. Along with "CLOVER," which was shown at the same time, it continues to be loved by many fans.

Recommendation

This movie is highly recommended not only for CLAMP fans, but also for people who like anime and fantasy works. Sakura's growth and adventure, as well as the story of friendship and love, will deeply move and delight the viewer. In addition, the beautiful visuals and music will provide visual and auditory satisfaction. This is a must-see, especially for those who like episodes themed around winter vacation and travel.

Moreover, this movie can be enjoyed by the whole family. Sakura's purity and courage will have a positive influence on children, and Sakura's growth will also inspire adults to reexamine their own lives. Overall, Cardcaptor Sakura the Movie combines a heartwarming story, beautiful visuals, and moving music to make it a film not to be missed.