Anime Hajime Impressions: Benkyou – Cardcaptor Sakura Episodes 11 to 15

Original Run: April 7, 1998 - March 21, 2000
Number of Episodes: 70
Based on the Series Created By: CLAMP

As A Reminder:  Anime Hajime Impressions: Benkyou is not a review series. Anime Hajime’s LofZOdyssey attempts to watch an anime in Japanese with no English subtitles. Therefore, misinterpretations and misunderstandings are possible.

Feel free to leave comments, clarifications, and thoughts in the comments section below.

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Episode 6 to 10 Recap

Sakura continues her quest to collect all the escaped Clow Cards.

After a few successes, Sakura believes she is slowly getting the hang of her role as a Cardcaptor. However, her emerging confidence is soon strained. It turns out there is much more to the story than Sakura could ever have imagined.

Amongst the most significant developments has been the arrival of Syaoran Li, a recent exchange student from Hong Kong. Syaoran is from a family with a long history concerning the Clow Cards and their magic. Thus, Syaoran is none too happy that someone as “unqualified” as Sakura is getting involved with the Clow Cards.

Nevertheless, Sakura refuses to let Syaoran or anyone show her up. Although she may not be as experienced as her rival, Sakura consistently proves to be a first-rate Cardcaptor.

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Episode 11

Japanese Title: さくらと知世と大きなお家
Romaji Title: Sakura to Tomoyo to Ookina Ouchi
English Title: Sakura, Tomoyo, and The Big House 

Episode Summary

Tomoyo invites Sakura over to her house. Although she wants to hang out with her best friend, Tomoyo also has a problem only a Cardcaptor can solve.

Despite their close relationship, Sakura has never been to Tomoyo’s house and is, therefore, shocked to see that it is a gigantic mansion. Before Tomoyo can explain the favor, though, Tomoyo’s mother, Sonomi, meets up with the pair.

The trio heads off to enjoy some cake and tea, leaving a sweet-less and, thus, annoyed Cerberus behind. Once alone, the tiny flying Guardian senses the presence of a Clow Card somewhere in the house.

While enjoying their snacks, Sonomi reminisces about Sakura’s mother, Nadeshiko. Since Nadeshiko died when Sakura was a baby, Sakura knows very little about her and is thrilled to learn as much as she can.

After their conversation with Sonomi, the two girls regroup with Cerberus, who tells them there might be a Clow Card somewhere. Tomoyo confirm this is most likely the case, and its why she called Sakura over. Tomoyo believes a Clow Card has possessed a box containing precious items belonging to both her and her mother. No matter what they do, the box refuses to open.

Once identifying the Sheild Card, Sakura successfully captures the spirit, revealing what is inside the box. For Tomoyo, it is the eraser she got from Sakura the first time they met. For Sonomi, it is a memento from Nadeshiko’s wedding, a bouquet of Nadeshiko’s favorite sakura blossoms.

Principle Characters

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Episode 12

Japanese Title: さくらの終わらない一日
Romaji Title: Sakura no Owaranai Ichinichi
English Title: Sakura’s Never-Ending Day 

Episode Summary

Sakura is nervous because of an up coming test. The night before the exam, as she is settling in for bed, something strange happens at the stroke of midnight; the bells of Sakura’s school’s clock tower begin to ring.

The following day is a bit stressful but passes along uneventfully, test and all. However, at midnight, time starts to flow backward. Sakura wakes up to discover that the previous day has reset, meaning she has to do everything over. Everyone appears to be unaware of what has happened apart from Syaoran, who deduces the work of a Clow Card that has taken up residence in the school’s clock tower.

Sakura gears up and discovers the Time Card. Unfortunately, this is a particularly tricky opponent, and it takes three full resets before Sakura and Syaoran pull off a victory.

Principal Characters

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Episode 13

Japanese Title: さくらとゾウの力くらべ
Romaji Title: Sakura to Zou no Chikara Kurabe
English Title: Sakura and the Elephant’s Test of Strength 

Episode Summary

The episode begins depicting an unseen being recking havoc on a small playground. Whatever the thing is, it has a tremendous amount of strength and lays waste to the park.

Although the news of the destruction is unnerving, Sakura doesn’t think of it too much since she is excited to go on her class’s field trip to the zoo.

However, the day turns frightening when the same unknown being makes an appearance at the zoo. Patrons run for their lives as whatever is causing the damage is also releasing and terrifying the animals. Sakura locates the source of the disturbance at the elephant exhibit and saves the enclosure’s frighten occupants.

Cerberus tells Sakura that she is dealing with the Power Card, a spirit always looking to challenge anyone and anything that possess great strength. As such, Sakura challenges the Card to a tug of war match despite the petite Cardcaptor being at a tremendous disadvantage.

Luckily, the elephant Sakura rescued offers its help. Therefore, with determination (and a bit of cheating courtesy of Syaoran), Sakura triumphs over the Power Card.

Principal Characters

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Episode 14

Japanese Title: さくらと桃矢とシンデレラ
Romaji Title: Sakura to Touya to Cinderella
English Title: Sakura, Touya, and Cinderella 

Episode Summary

It is the Cultural Festival at Touya Kinomoto’s, Sakura’s brother’s, school. Up to this point in the series, we have only seen Touya as a teasing but still responsible older sibling. At school, though, Touya appears to be a bit of a stud and has many admirers. Among them is Touya’s classmate, Youko.

Sakura, Tomoyo, and Syaoran are having fun exploring the school and looking at the displays. The trio then head off to the gym to watch Touya’s class’s production of Cinderella, with Touya playing the titular role. However, as the show progresses, a strange fog begins to envelop the building.

Sakura and Syaoran sense the presence of a Clow Card. But before they can do anything, danger strikes. The fog – a.k.a., the Mist Card – seeps onto the stage and rapidly corrodes the platform Touya and Youko (who is playing the Prince) are standing on, leaving them dangling high above the ground.

The two Cardcaptors succeed in sealing away the spirit and saving Touya and Youko.

At the end of the episode, Youko confesses her feelings to Touya, but he turns her down. Apparently, there is another girl already in Touya’s life.

Principal Characters

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Episode 15

Japanese Title: さくらとケロの大げんか
Romaji Title: Sakura to Kero no Oogenka
English Title: Sakura and Kero’s Big Fight 

The episode begins with Sakura, Cerberus, and Syaoran facing-off against the Storm Card. It is a brutal fight, and Sakura is struggling. Therefore, it is up to Syaoran to deliver the finishing blow. Dejected, Sakura isn’t feeling too well that Syaoran bested her again.

Following the tense battle, Sakura and Cerberus get into a small disagreement. With their nerves already on edge, the exchange turns into a full-on row. The two go to bed on bad terms, and the morning only sees an escalation.

With Sakura at school, Cerberus, in a fit of pettiness, opens up a package he thinks is for Sakura. Discovering chocolates inside, Cerberus greedily eats his fill. Little does he know that the candies are full of liquor. Thus, Cerberus flies off in a drunken stupor.

The Guardian passes out in a trash heap and is discovered the next day by a little girl, Akane. Although Akane appears to be an energetic child, Cerberus is saddened to see that she is often very lonely.

Back at home, Sakura is getting more and more worried since Cerberus has yet to return. Fortunately, Cerberus does manage to get a message out that gives a rough estimate of his location. Sakura sets off immediately.

At Akane’s, a mysterious phenomenon starts up; everything in the house, including Akane, begins to fly. Cerberus recognizes this as the Float Card. He becomes horrorstruck when the spirit then whisks Akane up into the sky.

Fortunately, Sakura shows up in time to save Akane and seal the Card. In gratitude, Akane happily thanks Cerberus and returns him Sakura. The Cardcaptor and the Guardian head home friends again – although they still have their occasional spats.

Principal Characters

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Thoughts and Impressions

There isn’t much to say this time around since not a whole lot happened in these episodes. Don’t’ get me wrong; they were cute, funny, and thoroughly enjoyable. But in terms of a narrative – which there has been extremely little of thus far – things were pretty quiet.

In the past, when long shows like Cardcaptor Sakura have an inactive spell for a few episodes, it has usually meant that something big is on the horizon. Given what this series has done so far, I would be surprised if we’re not talking about something huge in the next post.

Granted, that is both exciting and nerve-racking. Of course, I want to know what will happen, but with that will come many complicated explanations that I might understand. We can only wait and see.

Thanks for following along with me. If you’ve seen this series and feel I am wrong in my descriptions, please let me know in the comments below. I wouldn’t want to put this show in an inaccurate light.

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For Anime Hajime, I’m LofZOdyssey, and I’ll see you next week for Cardcaptor Sakura Episodes 16 to 20.