is a 2000 Japanese
anime
is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, (a term derived from a shortening of ...
film directed by
Morio Asaka
is a Japanese storyboard artist and director.
After graduating Osaka Designers' College, Asaka entered Madhouse. He was inspired to become a director by '' Phoenix: Yamato Chapter'' and made his debut as an episode director in episode 40 of ''Y ...
and written by
Nanase Ōkawa, with animation produced by
Madhouse. The film is a sequel and finale to the anime television series adaptation of
Clamp's ''
Cardcaptor Sakura
, abbreviated as ''CCS'', is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by the manga group Clamp. Serialized monthly in the ''shōjo'' manga magazine ''Nakayoshi'' from May 1996 to June 2000, it was also published in 12 ''tankōbon'' ...
'', and is the second feature-length film based on the series. The film follows
Sakura Kinomoto
is the main protagonist and title character of Clamp (manga artists), Clamp's manga series ''Cardcaptor Sakura''. In the English anime adaptation by Nelvana of the series, ''Cardcaptors'' is known as Sakura Avalon, though her surname was changed ...
as she faces the final Clow Card alongside her friends and allies, and comes to terms with her romantic feelings for
Syaoran Li.
The film won the Feature Film Award at the 2000
Animation Kobe
The was an event established by Kobe in 1996 to promote anime and other visual media. The were given annually until 2015 by Kobe and the Organising Committee to creators and creations.
Event
Animation Kobe has been held annually in Kobe since ...
. It was released on DVD in 2003. It received a
limited theatrical release
__FORCETOC__
Limited theatrical release is a film distribution strategy of releasing a new film in a few theaters across a country, typically art house theaters in major metropolitan markets. Since 1994, a limited theatrical release in the Unite ...
for the first time in the US on January 31, 2018.
Discotek Media
Discotek Media is an American entertainment company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, focused on distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series.
Formed in 2005, Discotek primarily focuses on licensing retro titles fr ...
released the film for the first time on high definition
Blu-ray
The Blu-ray Disc (BD), often known simply as Blu-ray, is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released on June 20, 2006 worldwide. It is designed to supersede the DVD format, and capable of st ...
in North America on July 31, 2018. It was followed by ''
Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card'' in 2018.
Plot
Eriol Hiiragizawa's house is demolished to make way for a new amusement park in Tomoeda, activating a Clow Card, the Nothing, hidden underneath the house. After the park is built, she hides in its clock tower and begins secretly stealing the Sakura Cards from
Sakura Kinomoto
is the main protagonist and title character of Clamp (manga artists), Clamp's manga series ''Cardcaptor Sakura''. In the English anime adaptation by Nelvana of the series, ''Cardcaptors'' is known as Sakura Avalon, though her surname was changed ...
. Sakura faces her own challenges, having the leading role in a play her school is putting on as part of Tomoeda's annual festival, and her own feelings towards her friend
Syaoran Li, who confessed to her before returning to
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...
. Sakura and her best friend
Tomoyo Daidoji visit the amusement park, where Sakura senses a magical aura. Running into the park, she bumps into Syaoran and
Meiling Li, returning for a visit planned by Tomoyo and Meiling to get Sakura to confess to Syaoran.
Over the next few days, Sakura and her friends rehearse the play, and although Sakura repeatedly attempts to confess to Syaoran, she is interrupted each time. At the same time, they also notice that several locations and items in Tomoeda are disappearing. While out at an amusement park, Sakura and Syaoran witness one of the Sakura Cards vanishing and chase it to a hall of mirrors, where they encounter the Nothing, who steals several more of Sakura's cards.
Sakura and Kero are contacted by Eriol from England, who explains the Nothing was created to balance the positive magic of the Clow Cards with Sakura's own negative magic. The Nothing was released due to Sakura changing the cards' power from Clow Reed's to her own, resulting in a part of Tomoeda being erased every time the Nothing steals a card. Eriol warns Sakura that when she seals the Nothing card, her greatest feeling at the time, namely her love for Syaoran, will be erased as payment. Sakura informs Syaoran, but he concludes the sacrifice is their only option. Sakura runs off in tears but is consoled by
Yue, the second guardian of the cards and Yukito's true form. During another rehearsal, the Nothing attacks the school, injuring Takashi Yamazaki who was to play the lead role opposite Sakura, so Syaoran steps in.
During the play, the Nothing's power spreads and erases many of Sakura's friends and family. Sakura, Syaoran, Kero, and Yue go to the amusement park and battle the Nothing, who erases Kero and Yue. Syaoran attacks her on the Ferris wheel but is caught in her destructive spheres and vanishes. Sakura pursues the Nothing to the clock tower, where she is stripped of her last cards apart from an unnamed card she created with her own magic after Syaoran left for Hong Kong. Sakura learns that the Nothing collected the cards so she would not be alone anymore, but Sakura promises that she will never be isolated again and seals the Nothing. However, the required toll instead comes from Syaoran who tells Sakura he will fall in love with her all over again.
The Nothing and the nameless card fuse into one, becoming the Hope Card as Sakura tearfully confesses to Syaoran. She is shocked when he replies that he feels the same, discovering that the fusion averted the toll. The Nothing's powers are then reversed, reviving Tomoeda and its inhabitants. Sakura springs across the reforming clock tower to Syaoran's arms, together at last.
Cast
Soundtrack
Containing 32 tracks of background instrumental songs and vocal tracks used within the movie, ''Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card Original Soundtrack'' was released in Japan on August 2, 2000 by
Victor Entertainment
, also known as in Japan, is a subsidiary of JVCKenwood that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It is known as JVC Entertainment in countries where Sony Music Ente ...
.
The film's theme song is by . The song was released as a single on July 12, 2000 and peaked at #43 on the
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart
The Oricon Singles Chart is the Japanese music industry-standard singles popularity chart issued daily, weekly, monthly and yearly by Oricon. Chart rankings are based on physical singles' sales. Until 2017, Oricon did not track download sales. In ...
.
Bonus art
Madhouse also brought out several pieces of high quality artwork, postcards and illustrated poster art (including the final scene bonus poster). The Special Edition DVD featured a separate art gallery section along with a booklet and pencil boards. CLAMP also brought out an artbook titled "The complete book of the animated movie Cardcaptor Sakura - The Sealed Card" in October 2000 which also featured interviews with CLAMP and the voice actors for the Cardcaptor Sakura series.
Reception
Ridwan Khan noted that understanding the film required knowledge of ''Cardcaptor Sakuras second season. Chris Beveridge called the movie though "a lot of fun" praising its closure even though saying that at times the plot was repetitive. Beveridge also felt the ''Kero-Chan Theatrical Event''
special
Special or specials may refer to:
Policing
* Specials, Ulster Special Constabulary, the Northern Ireland police force
* Specials, Special Constable, an auxiliary, volunteer, or temporary; police worker or police officer
Literature
* ''Specia ...
was the best extra. Allen Divers of
Anime News Network noted that the English dub was closer to the Japanese than previous English dubs, even with Sakura's trademark expression "Hoe!", and that the voice actors did a great job of matching the emotions of the original Japanese ones. He felt the movie was a satisfying conclusion to the series. Carlos Ross of
THEM Anime Reviews
THEM Anime Reviews, otherwise known as THEM or T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews, is an anime review website that writes about current and past anime in any form, including OVAs and ONAs. The website offers reviews, editorial content and hosts forums.
...
felt that the plot of the film was more substantial than the plot for the first film, and enjoyed the two storylines of Sakura's emotions and the final card. The second ''Cardcaptor Sakura'' movie also won the Feature Film Award at the 2000
Animation Kobe
The was an event established by Kobe in 1996 to promote anime and other visual media. The were given annually until 2015 by Kobe and the Organising Committee to creators and creations.
Event
Animation Kobe has been held annually in Kobe since ...
.
References
External links
''Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card''at
Madhouse
*
*
{{Madhouse films
2000 anime films
2000s children's fantasy films
Cardcaptor Sakura
Discotek Media
Geneon USA
Japanese animated fantasy films
Japanese fantasy adventure films
Japanese magical girl films
Madhouse (company)
Shochiku films