6/4/2005

Tsubasa Chronicle is the kind of show fans usually can only dream about.

Most anime watchers are familiar with CLAMP, the five-woman manga team responsible for such gems as Magic Knight Rayearth, Card Captor Sakura, Chobits, X and more. If you’ve seen pretty much any show based on a CLAMP manga, Tsubasa will absolutely stun you.

Playfully referred to by some fans as “CLAMP’s doujinshi”, the majority of the characters in the manga (and the anime that follows it, which began its run in April 2005) are recurring characters from earlier series – for example, it stars Sakura and Syaoran of Card Captor Sakura, but don’t be fooled by their similarity in looks – the characters’ personalities, though they have some similarities, are completely redesigned for Tsubasa. Expect cameos from most of CLAMPS other work as the series progresses, as well as some interesting convolutions to the “alternate universe” theme. It is directed by Mashita Koichi, and is additionally a crossover with another active manga, xxxHolic.

Tsubasa’s story follows Syaoran, an archaeologist living in the kingdom ruled over by Princess Sakura’s family. When an attack causes Sakura to lose her memories, Syaoran must travel from world to world to gather their lost fragments. He is joined by a mage in hiding and a swordsman banished by his princess, all three of whom must pay a price in order to enlist the help of a witch who can transcend the dimenional barrier.

Official Site (Japanese):
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/tsubasa/

Fansites:
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Fanlisting
Hitsuzen
Rebirth