History Manga / CardcaptorSakura

** CLAMP takes full advantage of this trope in this series. Not only with the mission clothes (not even one is used more than one time!), Sakura's everyday clothes and accessories are numerous too, and while they repeat from time to time, they usually changed every season. You could think that CLAMP would take a break by letting Sakura and her friends use school uniforms more often, but even the school wardrobe was much more varied than in most anime and manga series, with different types of uniforms for Spring and Winter, coats, hats, P.E., swimsuits, special uniforms for sports competitions, [[PomPomGirl two different cheerleader uniforms]] (one for practices and one for competitions)... heck, the school even had special clothes specific for some school trips! (And most of these come in both girl and boy versions.)

** In interviews, CLAMP deliberately approached the UnlimitedWardrobe trope for Sakura to make her, as both a character and a MagicalGirl, stand out among other characters in the genre who are limited to either one uniform or the same uniform with touch-ups, a la ''Franchise/SailorMoon'', especially since unlike most magical girls Sakura doesn't have a TransformationSequence that changes her outfit.

The anime was dubbed by Creator/{{Nelvana}} and Creator/TheOceanGroup as ''Cardcaptors'', airing in the US on ''Creator/KidsWB'' with much {{Bowdlerization}} in the process.[[labelnote:*]]Most of which [[ScrewedByTheNetwork was actually done by Kids' WB!]], [[MisBlamed not Nelvana]].[[/labelnote]] The US version changed many details and even the episode order to shoehorn deuteragonist Syaoran Li into a co-protagonist slot with Sakura in an attempt to make the show appeal more towards the young boy demographic that become the block's top priority thanks to ''[[Anime/PokemonTheSeries Pokemon]]''. This version even aired on ''Creator/Toonami'' for about two weeks in order to promote the series' upcoming second season. The Canadian and UK releases kept the original episode order while Australia and New Zealand used the Japanese credits, which undid some of the meddling. An alternate dub from Omni Productions aired on Animax stations around the world.

One of Creator/{{CLAMP}}'s most iconic manga series, it was adapted into a seventy-episode anime and two movies, which [[AdaptationExpansion added a lot of new elements in the process]]. Alongside ''Manga/SailorMoon'', it is widely considered to be a TropeCodifier for the MagicalGirl genre, and its influence remains nigh-universal, particularly in Japan.

The anime was dubbed by Creator/{{Nelvana}} and Creator/TheOceanGroup as ''Cardcaptors'' with much {{Bowdlerization}} in the process.[[labelnote:*]]Most of which [[ScrewedByTheNetwork was actually done by Kids WB!]], [[MisBlamed not Nelvana]].[[/labelnote]] The US version changed many details and even episode order to shoehorn secondary protagonist Syaoran Li into the ''main'' character slot (as a co-protagonist with Sakura) in an attempt to make the show appeal more towards young boys. The Canadian and UK releases kept the original episode order while Australia and New Zealand used the Japanese credits, which undid some of the meddling. An alternate dub from Omni Productions aired on Animax stations around the world.

* LighterAndSofter: This perhaps one of the most light-hearted CLAMP works, lacking the violence and tragedy elements present in other works like ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'' and ''Manga/{{X 1999}}''.

* MadeOfIron: Most of the time, no one gets even slightly injured. Not even after being buried under tidal waves, falling from just about any height (even landing hard on some occasions), rocked by gigantic earthquakes, hit by explosions of antimatter type magic, repeatedly slammed into walls and even steel girders, pierced by razor sharp crystal shards, almost drowned by huge water spouts, surrounded by raging fires and so on. But the worst offender is when Sakura is not even scratched after being hit and sent flying by a fast moving roller coaster.

* NighInvulnerability: Most of the time, no one gets even slightly injured. Not even after being buried under tidal waves, falling from just about any height (even landing hard on some occasions), rocked by gigantic earthquakes, hit by explosions of antimatter type magic, repeatedly slammed into walls and even steel girders, pierced by razor sharp crystal shards, almost drowned by huge water spouts, surrounded by raging fires and so on. But the worst offender is when Sakura is not even scratched after being hit and sent flying by a fast moving roller coaster.

%%% "It's Creator/{{CLAMP}}." is not context.
%%* {{Bishounen}}:

* CostumePorn: Besides the many marvelous outfits Sakura goes Cardcapturing in, even her everyday clothes have flair. See UnlimitedWardrobe for more details. [[OverlyLongGag And remember everyone]] it's Creator/{{CLAMP}}!

%%* DebutQueue

** In the manga, [[spoiler:Clow's mother is Syaoran's great, great, [...] grandmother. Sakura's father is one of Clow Reed's reincarnations. Put this all together and Sakura and Syaoran are actually veritable cousins, or possibly even half-siblings, depending on how you look at the reincarnation aspect of family trees. This being [[OverlyLongGag CLAMP]], one must wonder whether or not this was deliberate.]]

* NightAndDayDuo: The Clow Cards [[SolarAndLunar fall under either 'sun' or 'moon' domains]], and are "led" by Sakura's two magical companions: the fire-breathing lion Kerberos (sun) and the mysteriously beautiful humanoid Yue (moon). Their designs reflect this as well, with Kerberos being golden and Yue having a white and blue color scheme. In particular, the Light and Dark card spirits, who are [[LesYay so closely intertwined]] that they request to be sealed together.

%% * SiblingYinYang: Played literally with Kerberos and Yue.

%% * SideStoryBonusArt: Tons and tons of it. What do you expect? Its Creator/{{CLAMP}}!

%% * SlapSlapKiss: Chiharu and Yamazaki.

%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample * {{Soaperizing}}

%% * StabTheSky

* SubordinateExcuse: A ''lot'' of the fans think [[HoYay Yue felt this way towards Clow]].

%%* SwissArmyTears

%%* TarotMotifs

** Although, Sakura's cries of "HOE?" [[http://yourimg.in/f/83cx7x.jpg can make it look like she's calling out for a gardening tool]] to those who don't understand that the "e" is supposed to be pronounced.

* WhiteHairBlackHeart: Yue is a rare variety that starts off antagonistic but eventually grows to care for Sakura once he accepts that she's [[HoYay not Clow]], but doesn't have to be.

* CastFullOfGay: The series' key characters are all LGBTQ+ in some capacity. Sakura is pan, Tomoyo is lesbian, Touya and Syaoran are both bi, Yukito is gay, and Nakuru/Ruby Moon is genderless.

* [[{{Fainting}} Anemia Faint]]:
** Used in abandon for ShipTease most prominently throughout Season 3. As Sakura drains herself by creating her own cards, she usually faints from the best possible position to [[{{Squee}} fall into Syaoran.]] LuminescentBlush ensues. And Yukito repeatedly fainting for Touya to catch him. Eventually it starts going the other way after Touya gives Yue his powers.
** Episode 27 -- the first time Sakura hugs Syaoran. Already completely exhausted, the shock of it proves too much for the poor kid.
** The Dream Card Episode.

* {{False Start}}s: Most of the second half of the manga and Season 3 of the anime is about Syaoran trying to work up the nerve for a LoveConfession and something interrupting. ''The Sealed Card'' likewise but from Sakura's side.

** Sakura's naivete and {{Moe}}-aspects. [[TastesLikeDiabetes Sometimes a bit too much.]] To play on Syaoran's own Flanderization, she also became a bit more [[GenkiGirl perky and over affectionate]].

The anime was dubbed by Creator/{{Nelvana}} and Creator/TheOceanGroup as ''Cardcaptors'' with much {{Bowdlerization}} in the process[[labelnote:*]]Most of which [[ScrewedByTheNetwork was actually done by Kids WB!]], [[MisBlamed not Nelvana]].[[/labelnote]]. The US version changed many details and even episode order to shoehorn secondary protagonist Syaoran Li into the ''main'' character slot (as a co-protagonist with Sakura) in an attempt to make the show appeal more towards young boys. The Canadian and UK releases kept the original episode order while Australia and New Zealand used the Japanese credits, which undid some of the meddling. An alternate dub from Omni Productions aired on Animax stations around the world.

It has [[TheWikiRule its own wiki]] [[http://ccs.wikia.com/wiki/Cardcaptor_Sakura_Wiki here]].

* EmpathicWeapon: The cards. But Mirror really takes that UpToEleven.

** Meiling is an anime-exclusive character. Wei and the rest of Syaoran's family get more time as well.
* AdaptationPersonalityChange: Generally, characters in the Nelvana English dub tend to display more attitude than in the original Japanese. For instance, Sakura is more of a tomboy, with a low-pitched voice to match, and is even fairly snarky at times. Kero sounds and acts like Mushu from ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}''. Madison, as Tomoyo is known in the dub, has ValleyGirl traits to her (though still being a model student).

** This is also an interesting case in that not only are there many events that didn't appear in the source material, but even those events that did appear in the manga were almost always retold, keeping the fundamentals the same but reordering them, changing the locations, etc. Example: in both versions, Windy is the first card Sakura acquires, but whereas the manga has her capturing Woody next (off-screen) and then Jump, the anime has her capture Fly second. [[note]]The Fly encounter itself is a good example of this too. In the manga, Sakura first encounters it at school, then at home, failing to capture it each time, then finally at home again, where she captures it by figuring out that it's just injured and agitated. The anime just has her encounter it at home on her first night of being a Cardcaptor, and she captures it by restraining it with Windy - something she tried in the manga, for that matter, but which didn't work because Fly is another Wind elemental card.[[/note]]
** Syaoran's characterization in the anime doesn't support the manga type of ending - he doesn't live alone and is essentially a mature kid looked after by Wei with his family members showing up. In the manga, he is a loner, there's only a passing reference to his family and he's practically a fully independent adult in a child's body. [[spoiler: And a bunch of formalities and work in the manga (details never mentioned) is replaced by the ability to make vacation visits in the anime]].

* PrecisionFStrike: In the seventh episode, a child at the museum who turns out to be important to the plot of the episode curses at whatever's been messing up a certain painting before lunging at it—and getting blown back in time a few seconds for the effort.

** [[spoiler:Ruby moon is the more expressive and outgoing Red Oni to her fellow guardian Spinel Sun's quiet and calm Blue Oni.]].

* StarPower: The whole second series is about Sakura having to transfer the Clow Cards from their old energy source (The Sun and the Moon, which her predecessor used) over to her power source - the power of her star.

** Tomoyo seems to be one to her own ''mother'' Sonomi, compared with Sakura. Sonomi was obsessed with Nadeshiko when they were younger, and seems to have transferred her affection to Nadeshiko's daughter. Despite [[ParentsAsPeople barely having time for her own family,]] Sonomi manages to make time to attend Sakura's school sporting events and even chaperone her on vacation. Anytime they're on screen together Sonomi fusses over Sakura and practically ignores Tomoyo[[note]]This may be an ObserverEffect or UnreliableNarrator; since Sakura is the main character, there'd be no point in Sonomi being in the scene if not to interact with her[[/note]]. Tomoyo even tells Sakura at one point that Sonomi grows Tomoyo's hair long and styles it like Nadeshiko's in order to remember her. At least one scene in the anime depicts Tomoyo with Sonomi, who has arrived home in worry after hearing she has fallen suddenly sick ([[spoiler: though she actually lost her voice due to a Clow Card]]) and is shown doting over her in a similar manner as Sakura, even babying her a little. This does at least give the idea of how loving she is to her daughter by normality, which we don't get to see because the series is from Sakura's POV and not Tomoyo's. Add to that Sakura herself is extremely protective and kind towards Tomoyo, maybe she doesn't have it quite so bad.

** The Nelvana dub rearranges the plot to accelerate Syaoran's arrival and increase his narrative status as TheRival, making Sakura's quest a competition from the word go--further, it removes most of the romance arc between Sakura and Syaoran, which is the basis of much of the second season. For all intents and purposes, Nelvana's ''Cardcaptors'' is {{Shonen}} with a female lead.

* ADayInTheLimelight: Prominent in the anime. Though Sakura is the main character, most significant cast members get at least one or two spotlight episodes and a healthy amount of screen time otherwise. Syaoran tended to get the lion's share.

** Episode 27 - the first time Sakura hugs Syaoran. Already completely exhausted, the shock of it proves too much for the poor kid.

* ArtShift: When declaring "Suppie" his [[TheRival rival]] in TheMovie, Kero gets animated very exaggeratedly and [[HotBlooded hot-bloodedly]]. This carries over into the next shot with a regular - and nonplussed - Sakura.

** Syaoran and Meilin's perfectly synchronized attack against the Twin Card because of their old school training.

* DependingOnTheArtist: A few elements, but most notable by far was ''Sakura's hair color''. Even among the CLAMP artists, her hair color could vary between strawberry blonde, a light red, a very pale brown and then all the way down to chestnut brown. The anime stuck mostly to a mid-tone brown but could still vary, especially depending on lighting conditions. Fan artists, of course, will happily pick one of the ''many'' published hair colors and run with it and it alone. The 2017 Clear Card anime adaptation, curiously, opts more for the strawberry blonde interpretation - despite the fact that it's meant to be a ''direct sequel'' to the original, stridently brown-haired 1997 show.

* EmotionControl: In the manga, it turns out that magical characters are attracted or repelled by one another based on the sun-based or moon-based magic that they may have--magical polarity becomes the basis of romance or hatred for multiple characters (the only relationship between magical characters that definitively ''isn't'' driven by magic is between Sakura and Syaoran, who overcomes his magical attraction to Yukito and begins pursuing Sakura). The anime [[{{Bowdlerization}} deliberately refused to mention this]].

** There was a special in the anime that Sakura, Mei Ling, Syaoran and Tomoyo wondering about why his eyes are always closed. When they realize he actually opened them earlier in the episode and actually found the thing (a blue mailbox) he had been talking about, they conclude that he only opens his eyes when he tells the truth. [[spoiler: Actually, he only opens them when someone steps on his foot]].

* {{False Start}}s: Most of the second half of the manga and season 3 of the anime is about Syaoran trying to work up the nerve for a LoveConfession and something interrupting. ''The Sealed Card'' likewise but from Sakura's side.

** Often used by Syaoran in early episodes and chapters, who does not refer to Sakura by any actual name. This is ended after her DisneyDeath in ''Sakura, Syaoran and The Elevator' leads him to yell her first name in anguish. Sakura having heard this, asks to continue this trend and to call "Syaoran-kun" by first name in return. Notably Sakura, much to her joy, is discovered to be the only person outside family that Syaoran refers to by first name (or allows the referral of his own). This trait is not present in the English dub, where both characters refer to each other by first name from the beginning.

** In the Japanese, this also applies to Touya and Yue. Both avoid calling (most) other characters by name--likely because it would require them to acknowledge their level of affection for the person in question. Similar to Syaoran, but these two take it a step farther by even avoiding intimate pronouns whenever possible. In Touya's case, it also makes his nicknaming Yukito "Yuki" all the more conspicuous.
* HideYourLesbians: Tomoyo never gets to confess her true feelings to Sakura. This is in stark contrast with Syaoran, who gets ''encouraged'' to do this--[[ShipperOnDeck by Tomoyo, no less.]]
* HitodamaLight: PlayedForLaughs when Kero dons hitodama and a CreepyMonotone when he is particularly annoyed at Sakura - [[BigEater because she got to eat a delicious cake and he didn't]]. [[spoiler:[[MoodWhiplash Then Tomoyo appears behind Sakura and reveals she got him a slice anyway]]]].

* LoveDodecahedron: Meiling has the hots for her cousin Syaoran, who is at first in love with Yukito - but then so is Sakura, who also has Tomoyo after her, but Yukito sees both of them as siblings, and instead prefers Sakura's brother Touya, whose ex Kaho is in a relationship with [[spoiler:Eriol]], who ''seemed'' (at least, to Syaoran) to like Sakura, who eventually ends up with Syaoran.

* NoblewomansLaugh: Meiling gives these on occasion, usually when appearing triumphant - and often to Sakura.

* {{Meganekko}}: Naoko Yanagisawa.

* FloralThemeNaming: The Kinomotos all have plant-related names: Sakura means "cherry blossom", Touya has "peach" in his name, the "fuji" in Fujitaka means "wisteria", Nadeshiko is a pink variety of dianthus. [[note]] Specifically, ''Dianthus superbus'', the "fringed pink." [[/note]] ''Kinomoto'' itself means ''root of the tree''.

* RapunzelHair: Yue has one of anime's best examples of this. Also, both Syaoran's and Sakura's respective mothers.

* AdultFear:
** If Sakura loses to Yue at the Final Judgment, everyone connected to the cards will lose the memories and feelings tied to the person they love most. It almost happens, too. [[spoiler: Luckily, Kaho Mizuki comes to the rescue with her Shrine Bell, giving Sakura a second chance.]]
** In the episode "Sakura and her Kind Father," while capturing a card Sakura accidentally breaks the laptop containing the research her dad had slaved over for days. The whole scene is played in an actual heartbreaking way, as she realizes this is something she can't fix with magic.
** Some of the cards are merely mischievous and annoying, but others can actually endanger people's lives. In the GrandFinale, [[spoiler: Eriol invokes this deliberately when he puts a sleeping spell ''over all of Tomoeda'' and if Sakura and her guardians lose to him, everyone in their surroundings would almost surely be rendered into a magical sleep '''forever'''.]]

* BadassAdorable:
** Sakura, the card captor, is quite endearing when catching cards and otherwise.

* BigWhat: Kero's reaction to Sakura admitting she accidentally released all the cards in episode 1.
%%%%%%%%%

** In episode 10 the school is buried under an huge amount of cherry blossom petals.

* ClassTrip: A recurring thing in the anime, allowing for Sakura to deal with the Card of the week or even the Trial of the week come season 3.

* ExtremeDoormat: Reconstructed. Sakura is near flawlessly passive and polite to everyone, no matter how much abuse or soul crushing banter they lay onto her. This undying kind streak however always manages to get to those around her, with even the coldest of hearts ultimately becoming loyal friends.

* FreezeFrameBonus: In episode 18, Sakura's bookshelf contains a book by or about--of all people--''Che Guevara''. She's 10, by the way.

* GenerationXerox:
** Sonomi loved Sakura's mother Nadeshiko, and her daughter Tomoyo follows the trend with Sakura. In both cases it ends up unrequited. It's also averted in the way they react to it though: Sonomi dealt with it by developing a seething hatred for the man Nadeshiko married, thinking of him as the one annoying bug Sonomi couldn't keep away from Nadeshiko. Tomoyo dealt with it by practically ''cheering'' the prospect of Sakura being happy together with Syaoran; Tomoyo's personality, unlike her mother's, was not adversely impacted by rejection.

%%* GiantPoofySleeves:

** Syaoran's very first blush when Sakura hugs him after capturing the Return card. He never quite managed to pull `another one like ''that'' since.

* ThemeTuneExtended: All of the show's original themes had full versions recorded and released on a soundtrack album. Season Two used its full theme during the closing of it's finale.

* TheWorfEffect:

** [[spoiler: Syaoran, when he is thrown aside by Yue in the Final Judgement.]]