Anime Hajime Impressions: Benkyou – Cardcaptor Sakura Episodes 56 to 60

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 51 to 55 Recap

In terms of story and progression, not a whole hell lot of anything happened in the last five episodes. We did get a bunch of character details, the most memorable being Sakura’s father and great-grandfather reconnecting.

This series was also becoming the Syaoran-loves-Sakura show. It was charming to see Syaoran struggle to come to terms with his feelings, but we have come a long way from the magical battles of the Clow Card story arc.

Aside from that, there isn’t much I can say here. Although the last batch of episodes was fun and interesting to watch, I could have easily skipped and not lost anything.

Episode 56

Japanese Title: さくらと大ケロのお菓子な出会い
Romaji Title: Sakura to Kero no Okashina Deai
English Title: Sakura, Kero, and the Sweet Meeting

Episode Summary

Sakura is getting ready for her school’s bazaar. Kero is overjoyed to hear that all sorts of sweets will be available during the event and is determined to go.

During the festivities, there are a lot of people running around and having a good time. At her class’ café, Sakura happily waits on Yukito and Touya. However, Touya can’t shake an odd feeling. He doesn’t know it, but he senses the presence of the mysterious Eriol.

Outside, Kero is joyfully indulging his sweet tooth. Also lurking around is Spinel, the guardian created by Eriol. Without warning, Kero and Spinel run into each other. But instead of tension, Kero is happy to meet another spirit like himself and insists Spinel join him for some cake.

This turns out to be a horrible idea.

The moment a grain of sugar touches Spinel’s tongue, he goes into a sweet-driven rampage, eating all the junk food in sight.

Kero eventually calms the ragging Spinel, but not before the bazaar is left in ruins. And before Kero can ensure his innocence, Spinel is rescued by an unseen Eriol. Thus, an enraged Sakura only sees Kero surrounded by the utter mess.

Principle Characters

Episode 57

Japanese Title: さくらと小狼とエルベーター
Romaji Title: Sakura to Syaoran to Erebeta
English Title: Sakura, Syaoran, and the Elevator

Episode Summary

While at his place, Syaoran laments over his inability to get Sakura out of his mind.

At school, Sakura gets tickets to a local Teddy Bear café, and she invites Tomoyo, Eriol, and Syaoran. The group decides to head there after school. Before that, though, Syaoran runs into Yukito, and the two spend a few minutes talking. Sakura is brought up.

Upon leaving Yukito, Syaoran admits to himself that he has feelings for Sakura.

Later, at the Teddy Bear café, Eriol “lets slip” Syaoran bought a bear as a present for someone. An embarrassed Syaoran runs off, followed by a worried Sakura.

Far enough from the group, Syaoran and Sakura get on the elevator together. With the two Cardcaptors in place, a scheming Eriol springs his trap.

Syaoran and Sakura art stuck.

As time keeps passing, the elevator finally begins to move. However, the walls vanish into an empty void, and Sakura falls in. A distraught Syaoran calls out Sakura’s name, but he need not have worried. Sakura, using her magic, effortlessly makes it back to Syaoran.

Seeing what he was hoping for, Eriol releases the spell, and the Cardcaptors escape.

Despite the situation they were in, Sakura was happy that Syaoran was worried about her.

Principal Characters

Episode 58

Japanese Title: さくらと二人の大ピンチ
Romaji Title: Sakura to Futari no Dai Pinchi
English Title: Sakura and Double Trouble

Episode Summary

Sakura, Kero (in his true form), Yue, and Syaoran search for the source of the strange Clow magic. Finding nothing, the group calls it a night.

Back at Sakura’s home, neither Kero nor Yue can change back into their usual selves. Not sure what else to do, Sakura successfully sneaks the two guardians into her room.

As luck would have it, the next day is Sunday and Sakura has the house to herself. She uses this time to learn more about Kero and Yue’s relationship with the wizard Clow.

Eventually, Sakura realizes she can use her Sheild Card to block the magic preventing Kero and Yue’s transformation. The two return to normal and Sakura now has a better idea of who Clow is to her friends.

As a side note: This is the episode where I realized that Eriol probably isn’t a threat. Instead of acting like a villain, he is more like an annoying nuisance.

Principal Characters

Episode 59

Japanese Title: さくらと知世とボールの罠
Romaji Title: Sakura to Tomoyo to Boru no Wana
English Title: Sakura, Tomoyo, and the Ball Trap

Episode Summary

During PE class, Eriol manages to pass Syaoran a warning (sorry, I couldn’t catch what it was he said). Later, Eriol meets Yukito, and the former forces the latter into his Yue form. A stunned guardian looks at Eriol and calls him Clow before falling under a sleep spell.

Later in the day, Sakura and Syaoran head over to Tomoyo’s house. While Sakura is trying on the clothes Tomoyo made for her, the other two start talking about Syaoran’s feelings towards their friend. Tomoyo convinces Syaoran to say something, but before he can, he and Sakura sense the presence of Clow.

Following the trail, Sakura, Syaoran, and Tomoyo find their way to their school. While exploring, they come across an odd basketball. Without warning, the ball goes berzerk and leads the team into an empty classroom. When they try to leave, they realize they had been tricked.

The school’s layout has become randomized. Every time a door opens, it leads to a different place.

The Cardcaptors is separated from Tomoyo. A worried Sakura is on the verge of breaking down, but Syaoran brings her back. The two successfully located their friend and break the spell on the school.

The episode ends with Syaoran being interrupted in his confession to Sakura.

Principal Characters

Episode 60

Japanese Title: さくらと大切なお友達
Romaji Title: Sakura to Taisetsu na Otomodachi
English Title: Sakura and the Precious Friend

Episode Summary

The day after the basketball incident, Tomoyo and Syaoran discuss the failed confession to Sakura. Eventually, the topic of Meiling comes up. According to Syaoran, he plans to see her again during the winter vacation. However, at that moment, Meiling herself shows up.

The entire class is thrilled to see their friend again, but Meiling is only back in Japan for the day. With such little time, she, Sakura, Syaoran, and Tomoyo make plans to hang out together after school.

While walking, the group is suddenly attacked by a bunch of park statues. With the efforts of the Cardcaptors and Meiling’s martial arts training, they quickly prevail. It is here when Meiling sees how much closer Syaoran and Sakura have become.

Back at the Li residence, Meiling confronts Syaoran about what she saw. Although Meiling realizes that Syaoran has chosen Sakura over her, it still hurts. That night, Meiling heads over to Tomoyo’s house and lets out all her frustration.

The next day, Meiling says good-bye to Syaoran before heading back to Hong Kong. Despite the pain of it, Meiling decides to support Syaoran’s feelings.

Principal Characters

Thoughts and Impressions

Sakura took a bit of a backseat in these episodes. The focus was clearly on Syaoran’s emerging feelings towards the Cardcaptor. I suppose there needs to be something since there is no building sense of a coming battle; Eriol’s agenda appears much less sinister as it once did.

That said, we are coming to the end of this series. Therefore, I can only think something is going to break soon.

In the meantime, I am curious to learn how Sakura will react when she finds out about Syaoran; she is the only one who hasn’t realized what is going on.

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 61 to 65.