Continuing from where I left off yesterday from CLAMP Chronicle I, let’s go into 2 more of CLAMP’s original work turned anime in this article.

Recap –

1. Magic Knight Rayearth (Released 1994)
2. CLAMP School Detectives (Released 1995)

Cardcaptor Sakura (Released 1998)

This is one of the earliest anime I got attached to almost a decade ago, and it still remains one of my all-time favourite alongside Ranma 1/2. Possibly CLAMP’s most successful work, it’s still pretty popular even now. This evidence can be seen in one of CLAMP’s latest work, Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE and xxxHolic.

Kinomoto Sakura is the chosen heir of the magical Clow Cards, created by the most powerful sorcerer of all times, Clow Reed. Clow Reed had an interesting background. His mother was a magician specialized in magic found in the Eastern world while his father was a sorcerer who specialized in Western magic. Clow Reed combined these two magic together, creating a new hybrid only he could use with the power of the Moon.

When Clow died 500 years before the series began, he had already predicted Sakura as his successor and made all necessary arrangements to help Sakura in her task of collecting the Clow Cards.

Of course, not even Clow Reed is perfect and there were some things beyond his calculation. One of such is Li Syaoran, a descendant of Clow on his mother’s side of the family tree.

Sakura, Kero-chan (who is really Kerberos, the Beast of the Seal), Syaoran and Mei Ling (an anime only character) hunts down the scattered Clow Cards, more often than not helping each other out, despite the fact that Syaoran initially viewed Sakura as a rival in becoming the new master of the cards. And Sakura’s best friend, Tomoyo, always makes sure Sakura have something different to wear each episode as they leave in search of Clow Cards.

The Judge, Yue, who is the other guardian of the Clow Cards besides Kerberos only made an appearance after all the cards that were scattered had been gathered once more. His role, as his title suggests, is to test and pass judgment on those who wish to become the new master of the cards. Unlike Kerberos, Yue is rather anti-social and serious.

A total of 70 episodes with 2 movies, and the 2nd movie is set after the series and serves as the true ending for Cardcaptor Sakura, finishing what episode 70 left hanging. While some parts differs from the manga, I still enjoyed every episode and have found no complaints on how the story went in the anime 😀

Great theme songs and music as well, especially the 3rd opening, Platinum.

Grab Cardcaptor Sakura

Angelic Layer (Released 2001)

Suzuhara Misaki recently moved to live with her aunt in the city, where she discovered Angelic Layer, the hottest game in the market. Angelic Layer involves controlling a doll, called an Angel, through the power of thought. Players, called Deus, use a special helmet which can project their thoughts to move Angels on the playing field, called a Layer (hence, Angelic Layer).

Misaki first witnessed the battle of the reigning Angelic Layer champion with her doll, Athena and instantly felt attracted to play the game. A mysterious… or rather, suspicious looking man in a lab coat approached her and began teaching her about Angelic Layer. Later on it was revealed that the man is really Mihara “Icchan” Ichiro, the genius behind the game and an acquaintance of Misaki’s mother, also known as the champion of Angelic Layer.

I actually prefer how the story went in the anime more than the manga for most parts, except for the ending and coupling. The ones in the manga were much better if you asked me 😀

Other than the above, the rest of the storyline were just great. The were more battles which were in greater details than in the manga, making it much more interesting.

The battles on the layers between the different dolls being brought to life is nicely executed. Those who thinks that this anime is too feminine (with dolls and all) will think twice once they’ve seen the actions during a fight between two Angels. It usually gets pretty intense 😀

Grab Angelic Layer

Coming Next…

An unfinished series (for the manga) which I never got around to watching, and one of CLAMP’s funniest work, which is also related to one of the series in this article…

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Note: A list of links for the entire CLAMP Chronicle series can be found at the end of this post.

CLAMP is one of my favourite mangaka group and I always try not to miss any of their work whether manga or anime. CLAMP have at least 15 different manga titles created by them and have done illustration for various novels and manga as well. Among all these, some were turned into OAVs or movies and a few more was made into anime series.

I’ll be highlighting CLAMP’s original works which were turned into anime series in this 4-part article. Only anime series based off CLAMP’s original works will be featured. I won’t go into those that were made into OAVs or movies unless they have a full series along with it.

These are arranged chronologically from the time they began to air, from the oldest to the latest.

Magic Knight Rayearth (Released 1994)

Magic Knight Rayearth is about 3 girls, Hikaru, Umi and Fuu, from different schools and backgrounds who just happened to be at the right place and the right time together. While the 3 schools were on a field trip to Tokyo Tower, a mysterious force transported the 3 girls into a different world.

They later discovered that they were chosen as the legendary Magic Knights of Cephiro, the world which they were summoned to. In order to bring peace back to the land, and to rescue the Princess Emeraude, the Magic Knights had to first seek out the ancient Rune Gods; Rayearth, Celese and Windam.

What’s interesting about these Rune Gods is that they are actually living mechas which can be piloted by the Magic Knights. Because they are living, magical mechas, they are able to offer advice and use magic.

The real fun actually begins after the Emeraude/Zagato arc, during the invasion of Cephiro in season 2. The Chizeta Princess’ Djinns and Lady Aska’s giant Sang Yun were just to fun to watch in battle. (Beware of the Djinn laugh, I know a few people who became addicted to it… scary… You hath been warned… lol)

Overall, the anime was quite nicely done, except for the ending, which I preferred for the one in the manga. The anime chose not to show the truth behind Cephiro’s pillar system and the true identity of the fluffy and lovable Mokona.

Grab Magic Knight Rayearth

Clamp School Detectives (Released 1995)

The CLAMP School is featured in many other of CLAMP’s works, and the CLAMP School Detectives (a.k.a Clamp Gakuen Tanteidan) is founded by the youngest son of Imonoyama Zaibatsu, founder of Clamp School.

Elementary School Board President, Imonoyama Nokuru, along with fellow Elementary School Board Secretary, Suoh Takamura and Treasurer, Akira Ijyuin, formed the CLAMP School Detective after aiding an elder lady in distress.

The bunch of elementary school geniuses goes around the campus and out, seeking to help out any and all ladies who are in need of help. There are also some cameo appearances by the CLAMP School Defenders, the Duklyon team. The 20 Masks later on also spawned a spinof prequel to the series but was never animated.

While it’s kind of disturbing to see elementary school students getting together with kindergarten students in a relationship, the series is rather fun and interesting to watch. There really isn’t a grand plot involved, but there are some arcs that span across several episodes, which aren’t bad at all.

My favourite arc would probably be the 20 Masks thief arc, although his get-up reminds me of Tuxedo Mask… Ugh… I don’t want to remember him.

Grab CLAMP School Detectives

Coming up next…

A couple of CLAMP’s top works and one of them happened to be one of my all-time favourite…

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