What is the significance of asking the world about "Cardcaptor Sakura" figures now?

In 2015 AD, "Cardcaptor Sakura" (hereinafter abbreviated as "CC Sakura") will be made into a figure. I felt that the timing was really good and that it was very significant. First of all, I would like to emphasize that at the time the anime was broadcast, it was a title that greatly moved the hearts of girls in real time and carved something important.

Just in the second half of 2014, as a part-time lecturer, I had a class called "Manga and Anime Theory" for the Department of Child Education at Seitoku University (Women's University). And I received a request from a student for the "Magical Girl" episode. "Don't start with 'Sally the Wizard', please start with 'Cardcaptor Sakura'. This is a special work," he insisted. The purpose of the class is to convey history and culture, so I couldn't focus on "CC Sakura", but it left a strong impression on me.

She who is 20 years of age before and after, as much preschool or elementary school lower grades and back calculation, should have met. Then, Sakura-chan, Tomoyo-chan tried to even imagine kana ...... was empathy I like being in really.
Then I heard soon the story of this figure, but the Assuming, I thought or not to really appeal to just the first half of 20s girls. Verge to get away to the society or the like to release the stress of just relieved, if become a commodity like feel something, maybe there is a greater sense of more than just "figure of the beautiful girl anime" If not, I thought to do that.

From the original manga, anime aired, until it is engraved in the hearts of fans

Let's make sure that here in the basic data basis. CLAMP teacher of the original manga, serialized in the monthly "good friend" (Kodansha) from June 1996 to August 2000. Anime is broadcast by NHK BS2. From April 7, 1998 to December 29, on the air the first phase of the 35 episodes first is, until the end of March from the beginning of the year is a rest period. The second phase will start from April 6, 1999. In the play, up to the fifth grade of elementary school Sakura we welcomed the new semester, and 11 episodes until June 22, 1999 will be on the air. From April 6, 1999, NHK Educational TV (now: E Tele) but re-broadcast of the first phase of the start, will continue to acquire terrestrial therefore even greater number of viewers. The 35 + 11 = 46 episodes are in the current is called the "Crow Card Edition", a story will celebrate that the Last Judgment and the climax of the card collection, the completion of the once.

Immediately after that, on August 21st during summer vacation, the first movie "Cardcaptor The Movie" was released. This was just the winter break setting between the 1st and 2nd season. Then, on September 7, 1999, when the popularity increased, the "Sakura Card Edition" started in response to the support of the fans. With all 24 episodes until March 21, 2000, it will be completed. As the finale, the second The Movie "The Sealed Card" was released during the summer vacation on July 15, 2000, and in conjunction with the end of the original manga serialization, the curtain came to a close.

Important point, on-air at the time of the season and the season in the play, that still has synchro reality of time towards the cartoon series last. "Living Sakura and her friends and myself together, both grew up feeling like" was born, it may do so. The fact that there is a growth, welcome to an end someday. Completion is I think it was no doubt regrettable, but I think that it has been engraved on the heart as unforgettable works only struck neatly period.

Features of "CC Sakura" seen from the behind-the-scenes at the time of the animation production

Next, let's discuss animation video. Animation is, international as well such as the popularity of violence action movie "Ninja Scroll", Madhouse is in charge, known for hard style realistic and say either. Since the animator is also common, core high technique of catchy and precise style of painting and the action is, I think that was also reflected in the force of reality and the card game of the world in the "CC Sakura". Mr. Yoshiaki Kawajiri, who directed the "ShishiHyoe" is also, indeed certain dance is widely because they are responsible for the character design in the Madhouse anime "Azuki-chan" of Kodansha original · NHK production of the previous, series of this context also is interesting place.

Kumiko Takahashi is the character designer and animation director for CC Sakura. In recent years, I've been working on "Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn" and so on, but I think the big appeal is that despite the elegant, beautiful and sharp lines, there's a powerful core to it--I think this overlaps with Sakura Kinomoto's image. CLAMP's art style is unique, and while there are various processes involved in animating a character in a virtual space while being conscious of the 3D, the processing of Kumiko Takahashi's character may also be a guideline for this time's three-dimensionalization. yeah. And the series composition that supports the story is Mr. Nanase Okawa of the original author CLAMP, so it was a perfect transition from the original to the animation.

Speaking of "CC Sakura", due to the setting that Tomoyo-chan has been prepared for the shooting, it is characterized by changing every costume. This would have been pretty much the production basis. Since the cartoon character is a mass of encoding, in fact, one of the characters also clothes. Because might seem to someone else and change the clothes, consistency also wearing what clothes can be seen that it is the cherry blossoms, we support the bottom is quite advanced technology. Color designation also very since one by one wearing. First place regular in the anime are wearing much the same clothes, to some circumstances that the diversion of as BANK, paint to be passed to the outsourcing in the cell finish (paint) is an advantage (because of heavy bottles of paint) but set a fine, etc. because of the circumstances, the field in the sober place where invisible should was difficult.

But on the contrary, by carefully doing that, I was convinced this time that the freshness of the renewed "promise" of the magical girl story was born, and finally the drama was born with a sense of exhilaration. Sometimes, in the second The Movie, in the scene where Tomoyo encourages her by telling her that she has kept all the costumes she made, so she can return home safely, the costume changes so far are not just a new challenge, but also a feeling. I understand that it will come to fruition in the expression of This was the accumulation that only a long-term series can do, and it was a crying thing.

Director, Morio Asaka at the time rookie. It wields the arm in the popular TV series "Chihayafuru" even in recent years. Directed the sensibility swaying of the girl in the "CC Sakura" In very fresh sensibility in ambitious video technique, we have a variety of challenges. For example, precise magic square, with the Perth added to the 2D rotation to complex shapes drawn on the computer output. Those transmitted light imaging is transferred to the film of Risumasuku. So we have taken a real light out even subtle fluctuations and air impression, differences in taste just a little bit and digital processing. "Magic square to round rotation" has become a staple of representation is now, but would be the first stage.

In fact, "CC Sakura" is the work falls on the last phase of the analog animation was produced in the cell and the film. The pale colors with goods in pastel tick feels glossy, because that. All the colors that have been expressed in the paint the light source calculated by the cut, we have to devise a changing polite color. You become the shade of a lonely feeling If it rains, in the scene, which is confined to the elevator, the contrast between light and darkness to illuminate the character becomes the complexity of the representation of the double suicide. Tricks to achieve this in a separate application of paint was the stunning craftsmanship.

You can't see it in your heart, but in animation, you can show it through the video. Movement is especially important. For example, in the video "Flying in the sky by shaking off gravity", you can convey the feeling of liberation in the timing and direction of the picture. Another big advantage of anime is that it doesn't look too unnatural even if you stack dramatic item that are effective. I think that the images such as ripples and flying feathers that express the shaking of the heart have a great influence on the later animation.

The video was filling of these subtleties is, NHK has been produced in high-definition that has been led. Since the HD production is the increase in terrestrial digital-friendly, such about 2006, is quite pioneering. When the HD remastered for the TV series Blu-ray, became a remarkably beautiful state than the other works of the same era, because that. Asaka become a digital production from the next work "Galaxy Angel" of the director, now the technique was it what has become the "Lost Technology" - also complete form in its final phase, is not that often seen in the "CC Sakura" .

The colors that leave an impression even when made into figures are reproduced, and item such as cards and magic squares are successfully applied to the package, so I think there are many points that fans will be satisfied with.

Historical background of the television broadcast. The foresight of the "CC Sakura"?

Let's also touch on the era when it was broadcast. Just before that, in 1997, the movie Princess Mononoke, billed as Hayao Miyazaki's last film, broke box office records. Next, "Evangelion: The Movie" became a hit and became the pinnacle of social phenomena. Overseas, director Mamoru Oshii's "GHOST IN THE SHELL" hit the charts the previous year, and the movie "The Matrix" will be produced as a result. In addition, the Pikachu boom expanded with the start of the anime adaptation of "Pocket Monsters," and in 1998 the The Movie became a big hit not only in Japan but also overseas.
In other words, "Cardcaptor Sakura" was made into an anime at a time when the world of anime, and the perceptions and views of people around the world, were undergoing major economic, cultural, and artistic changes.

The original author, CLAMP, made his debut in 1989 and was about to celebrate his 10th anniversary. It is a group of writers who are close to the readers, and it has the impression that it has a high affinity with the media mix by cutting into the cutting edge both in terms of expression and planning. CLAMP's original "Magic Knight Rayearth" is a serialization of "Nakayoshi" by Kodansha, which is the same as "CC Sakura". The manga was in 1993 and the animation was in 1994. At that time, the hit of the TV anime "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon", which was aired from 1992, renewed the beautiful girl anime and magical girl things, forming a new genre. In the game world, fantasy RPGs and fighting games are booming. The movie "X" (directed by Rintaro) based on CLAMP was also released in August 1996. The animation was produced by Madhouse, and a tremendous psychic battle unfolded in a world view reminiscent of an apocalypse.

Such era property can collectively as the "end of the century." Under last days circumstances "Earth!" Or "mankind is!" Like a macroscopic the extreme last minute of the story is preferred and style that overcome something fighting there were many. However, in the real world will happening Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the sarin gas attack in 1995 .......

Because of that, when I was starting to get a little tired of hard work, "Cardcaptor Sakura" was broadcast on NHK, a nationwide broadcast that can be broadcast in any region, and reached a wide range of Japanese people. It's been a long time since commercial broadcasters stopped repeating (rebroadcasting) anime programs, but NHK is generous with rebroadcasting, and I think that's a good point. I think that the meaning and impact of gradually changing the vector of everyone's mind is immeasurable.

In the genealogy of the "magical girl thing", although the transformation and battle elements are there, they have twisted "CC Sakura" in little by little, more strongly the daily life, cherish Jitsuzuki sense of having a realistic world and contact to have. Even in the battle rather than to annihilate the opponent, directions to purify. Feel nature to heal in the mood, such as cuddling everywhere is the biggest attraction. Among the bundling of "Moe", strongly it is "element to be happy to release the mind", the work which was crystallized it. I feel its importance once again.
When you talk about the "fun" in the evaluation of animation, whether exciting, whether Komu sword and zunk in mind, it is easy to with a problem. Rather, so as to enclose fluffy, hot release to such relaxation specific feeling of happiness - and there there is a very great value, it will be aware of and look back to "CC Sakura". Battle also I'm gorgeous there is also fashion, the center is made up of extremely friendly spirit, yet the nucleus is powerful. So I think it is cry of.

This tendency to emphasize "healing" and "happiness" is a trend that has become stronger in TV anime as a whole since the beginning of the 21st century. In other words, Cardcaptor Sakura played a pioneering role in the 21st century anime.

And age trends of anime creators, the miracle of the "CC Sakura"

Finally, leave note that staff flow specific of. Around 1997, the "Eva" in the hit of "Princess Mononoke", the sub-culture and sociology, such as very animated in a wide range is now a hot topic. As a result, through about from 1998 to 1999, "It's likely to be be something new in animation", it has entered many new talents around at that time college.

In the case of Madhouse, director Tetsuro Araki of "Death Note" and "Attack on Titan", director Ryosuke Nakamura of "Moryo no Kako" and "Aimed School", and producer Yuichiro Saito, who created the studio map with director Mamoru Hosoda, was born in 1976. , If you joined the company after graduating from university, it would be the time of "CC Sakura". Director Sayo Yamamoto of "Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine" should have joined Madhouse a year later. The number of staff credits displayed is not so large, so it is necessary to investigate in detail, but the fact that the excellent staff who started their careers at this time are now the main characters of important works is a reminder of the changes in the times. It's important to know.

When I think about various things comprehensively, I feel something beyond coincidence in the meaning of "CC Sakura as the origin" returning as a symbolic figure, and the good timing. "Cardcaptor Sakura", which makes you feel that kind of "miracle", can be said to be a special one-and-only work.