2:19 p.m. - Saturday, May. 23, 2009
Tsubasa Resevoir Chronicles Review 8/10
Okay today I'm giving a review about Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles. When I first heard about this anime, it was described to me as "Syaoran's side of the story" from Cardcaptor sakura. When others heard about it, some people thought it would be like Cardcaptor Sakura but all the kids would be older. Well, in a sense, it LOOKS like they grew older, but it is in fact an entirely different story. My sis also got me into this, as i was skeptical about it. But it turned out to be enjoyable in it's own right. So im going to review the story, the characters, the music, the design, the content/messages, and the reception.
The following anime is shonen, or meant to target a young male audience.*
Story-The story is about Syaoran, son to an archeologist who died and friend to the princess of Clow Country Sakura. One day, Fei Wong, a crazy rival of Clow Reed (the famous magician in all of Clamp's newest work), steals Sakura's feathers, which hold her great magical powers. As a result, she loses her memories (which is also common in CLAMP's works). Syaoran, so she won't forget him, as they are childhood friends and secret "lovers," embarks on a journey to regain her feathers. Throughout the journey, they travel to different worlds, and meet people who look like them, but act nothing like them, causing difficulties to arise (symbolic to the nature of Tsubasa versus Cardcaptor Sakura, the characters look alike but aren't alike). The story is pretty good. Of course, the manga is different from the anime. One world change could alter the story from manga to anime, so it was inevitable. The story is not a plain one, or common one. Maybe common of Clamp, but it's definitely unique and rare...actually I find it to ba a lot like Kingdom Hearts, with more weird and mirror-like worlds, where the worlds all resemble each other in some way. It's a rather interesting story. and like all of Clamp's work, each episode is a story all it's own.
characters-Of course, my favorite character has always been Syaoran in Cardcaptor Sakura, and it's cool to see his side of the story. But don't think of them the same. Syaoran is totally different from the Syaoran of Cardcaptor Sakura, though it is claimed they act alike. Syaoran in Tsubasa is NICER and SWEETER. He's also perfect, like Sakura. The backgrounds are totally different, as instead he is son to Fujitaka the archeologists, though he is only adopted. The character development throughout the story is twisted, and twists and turns until you are confused who is who and what is what. Just remember: Syaoran is Syaoran, Fye is Fye, Sakura is Sakura, and Kurogane is Kurogane. And thats it. Also, one thing to note, the stories of XXXHolic and Cardcaptor Sakura connect, so you'll see characters from both intertwine, especially because they are traveling worlds. Though I loved Syaoran in Cardcaptor Sakura, I find that my favorite characters in Tsubasa are Kurogane and Fye, because they are so funny! The only character I have to complain about is Sakura. Why'd they have to make her so weak? Of course, it's because she doesn't have her feathers, but she's so helpless! She's too "Princess-y" and it gets annoying sometimes. The childhood friend is overwhelmingly sweet! I do like Sakura in Tokyo Revelations because she actually is strong, but that was never in the manga, so we're stuck with a weak Sakura. I guess going from a powerful Sakura in Cardcaptor Sakura to a weak and helpless damsel in distress Sakura is hard for me to adjust.
music-Great, fabulous, and enchanting. Definitely gets you in the mood of things. I really love it! I want the whole soundtrack. It's so dark, and yet epic, and yet sweet at times. There's so much variety! It's great.
design-Dis proportioned bodies like in Holic are in this anime. Like I said it is common in new age animes. It is very new age. Skinny bodies. And also dramatic colors like dark purples, sunset and autumn colors. It is very dramatic. So different from old age anime.
content/messages-The content behind Tsubasa is based off of Clow Reed's magic. Clow Reed is at the heart of XXXHolic, Tsubasa, and Cardcaptor Sakura. Many people claim that he represents CLAMP and their magic with stories. Clow Reed is a famous magician who has never appeared in any of the animes as an ongoing character. The animes show his face, how he sounds, and he's gone. That's because everyone of them claims he's either dead or disappeared from the face of the earth. Only Cardcaptor Sakura has had one whole episode of his personality. Clow Reed is the strongest sorcerer, and one of the only ones who created his own magic. He also created a secret place/power of his own. Clow Country and the Clow book seem related in that way. Yuko, who is claimed to be the only woman "accepted" by him, holds tremendous power within her that can be said to be equal to Clow. Clow is at the heart of the story, and the cause of all problems in all the stories, but is never around to fix it. He is like the main character who never showed up. The main message is that the heart is the thing we know least of ourselves, and that nothing is coincidence if we follow our heart's past. Very deep and epic.
reception-You can say it has been received well. It is one of Clamp's most well-known work. It is extraordinarily adventurous, never boring, and has music that keeps you awake the whole time. However, many old-time clamp fans who have been looking for a continuation for Cardcaptor Sakura may have been slightly disappointed. None of the characters act like the ones of CCS. And that's the whole message. The whole point. One can look exactly the same as someone else, and have a different "soul," like identical twins, like me and my sis. So many people were mad and said they didn't like it because it wasn't like Cardcaptor Sakura. Well you want to know what I have to say about that? Shut up. Why? Because no anime will be like another. Tsubasa is a whole different story, with all-new characters. Otherwise it'd be called Cardcaptor Sakura. Don't compare the two animes, look at it in it's own right and see the charm in it. Personally, I see the good in this that was not in CCS, and the good in CCS that wasn't in Tsubasa. My sister claimed that even IF Sakura and syaoran had grown up in CCS, it would be no different from Tsubasa personality. But the reason i see differently is because of their history and background. History and background is everything on how a person acts. So he would still act different.
Well, I recommend you watch this as well. It is really good. I really enjoyed it. It took me a while to finish compared to the others, but it's not too long.
~Over and Out~
