Being a Madhouse work, it should come as no surprise that Cardcaptor Sakura's animation is top-notch from beginning to end. This especially adds an extra dimension to the scenes involving the Clow Cards, breathing life into the cards' various magical abilities in ways that few anime hoped to do at the time of the show's airing.
As one of the anime that pioneered the magical girl genre, and preceding two decades of deconstructions, reconstructions, and everything in between, Cardcaptor Sakura understandably plays many of the genre's tropes straight, resulting in a more stripped-down, uncomplicated narrative. So is there a point in watching it if one has already seen anime like Madoka Magica or Yuki Yuna is a Hero, which seek to flip the magical girl's tale on its head, and provide a more complex, nuanced retelling of one such story? The answer is yes. Though Sakura does little in the way of reinventing the "magical girl," it still has plenty to offer in the way of story, and plenty of heart and charm for viewers to fall in love with.
As it mainly revolves around elementary school children, the bulk of the series' narrative involves growth and discovery, be it emotional, magical (for Sakura and Syaoran), or romantic. Fortunately, the show does a stellar job of depicting the cast's development, making exceptional use of its episodic format, a feat which few anime pull off so effectively. With her triumph over Clow Card after Clow Card, Sakura becomes more confident in her magical abilities, picks up important life lessons along the way, and develops strong bonds with those who choose to lend her a helping hand. Speaking of which, the show also succeeds in fleshing out its supporting cast in terms of characterization, though Sakura does get the lion's share of focus.
The primary reason Sakura manages to be such an enjoyable ride is the likeability of its cast. From enthusiastic, happy-go-lucky Sakura to her jovial, soft-spoken best friend, Tomoyo, and even more obscure characters like their classmate whose hobby is making up ridiculous stories for the purpose of scaring/amazing his unsuspecting peers. Almost every character has their role in the story, be it a personal arc that spans all 70 episodes or simple, light-hearted antics to provide some comedic relief, and few outstay their welcome.
Besides Sakura's growth as a person and Cardcaptor, the most fundamental development that occurs throughout the narrative is that of the relationship between Sakura and Syaoran. When Syaoran transfers into Sakura's class, the two engage in a sort of rivalry, seeing as both are after the Clow Cards, but with time, as they get to know each other and eventually begin working together to reach their common goal, a bond of deep trust begins to form between the two. Unlike countless other anime where relationships between a male and female character progress at a glacial pace, Sakura and Syaoran are quite honest about their feelings, and as a result, a satisfying transformation in the way they interact with one another unfolds before the viewer.
The only stand-out in an otherwise appealing and well-developed cast is Yukito, who functions as a Mary Sue, especially in the first half of the series. Unfortunately bland, forgettable, yet adored by many, a lot of scenes involving Yukito towards the beginning of the show are quite annoying, and consist of little more than Sakura or Syaoran fawning over him. This changes as the story progresses, and there is actually a reason behind his character's shortcomings as laid out in the second half of the show. Regardless, Yukito still sticks out as a sore thumb in an otherwise strong line-up of characters.
Whether or not you will enjoy Cardcaptor Sakura comes down almost entirely to preference. This being a show targeted towards children, there isn't much in terms of darkness or intensity to appease viewers who are mainly into that kind of thing. The themes tackled here are distinctly more light-hearted and geared towards children than those in media produced for mature audiences. That is not to say that the issues presented aren't handled with maturity and emotional depth, but it is a factor to consider nonetheless.
Another dealbreaker for some may be the monster of the week format which makes up the show's backbone. The majority of episodes in Sakura involve Sakura and her friends coming across some sort of trouble, finding a way to stop the Clow Card behind it, and then collecting it. It may seem formulaic, but rest assured, the show fits in plenty of fun moments and character development in between. Though the episodic structure is modified a bit in the last quarter or so, the "antagonist" behind all of the chaos Sakura faces is made clear to the viewer from the beginning, and watching Sakura and co. fail to realize who it is, even though it's so painfully obvious, can be quite frustrating to watch.
All in all, those who enjoy neither light-hearted shows nor the episodic format should steer clear of this entry. For those who have no problem with either aspect, a memorable experience loaded with heart, charm and capable character writing awaits.
To reiterate, Cardcaptor Sakura is no Madoka Magica and may come off as archaic and unsophisticated to those looking for something of the sort. Instead, this is a simply enjoyable experience which keeps you watching by getting you attached to the characters involved rather than by throwing twist after twist at you. As one of the trailblazers of the magical girl genre, there is still just as much to love about Sakura as there was two decades ago. Using its simple formula to great effect, the show stands as a shining example of how to pack in character development, light action, intriguing lore, and messages about growing up and believing in yourself, all while maintaining a whimsical, light-hearted vibe throughout.
