Episode 13: "Sakura and the Elephant's Test of Strength" or "Power's Ploy"
Introduction to the Experiment
Episode 12
Episode 13: Sakura and the Elephant's Test of Strength (Card Captor Sakura) or Power's Ploy (Cardcaptors)
The episode opens with us in the park with the penguin slide (the English version identifies this park as residing within the local zoo but it's clearly the park that Sakura always winds up at but whatever). Something is stomping through the park, leaving huge dents in the ground. The next morning, on the news, it turns out that the giant penguin slide or "King Penguin" has been completely turned upside down. Sakura thinks it may be a Clow Card. Anyway, Sakura is going on a class trip to the zoo. On her way to school, she runs into Yukito and they pass by the park and see the upside down slide. Sakura cannot sense a Clow Card. Her class is told to observe an animal based on the groups they were placed in in the Japanese version while in the English version they are told to pick an animal to observe and take a picture. Sakura and her gaggle of gal pals are going to observe the elephant. Before doing so, they discuss the mystery surrounding what happened to King Penguin and Sakura runs to the elephants because they suppose that it's a ghost and she doesn't like ghosts. The girls discuss how strong and smart elephants are, more so in the English version than in the Japanese version. Meanwhile, Li, Yamazaki, and three other nameless boys are observing a sloth. In the Japanese version, Li wonders if the sloth will live up to its name and Yamazaki tells a lie about how sloths are actually quite fast, which psychs Li up for some amazing feats from the sloth (the other three boys Greek Chorus about how Yamazaki always tells ridiculous lies but at least someone always seems gullible enough to believe). In the English version, Li whines about how Zachary's choice for the subject of their group's picture isn't going to do anything but Zachary insists that Li shouldn't "judge a book by its cover" which leads Li to conclude that perhaps by observation, he'll learn something and maybe it'll be worth it. Anyway, as they are observing their animals, the ground shakes. Sakura thinks it's a Clow Card and Tomoyo tells her to tell Kero. Sakura can't because Kero's at home. Except he's actually not; he snuck into Sakura's bag. Anyway, the ground shakes again and the animals start escaping from their now smashed cages. Everyone starts to panic and run around. Eventually, Sakura, Tomoyo, Li, and Kero run toward the source of the Clow Card energy (Li is not with them but it's clearly where he's going). The Clow Card is harassing the elephants and Kero finally realizes it's the Power Card. So, Kero tells Sakura to challenge it against her because it loves showing off. So, it starts chasing Sakura around. Kero tells her that she has to think of a contest. Sakura picks tug of war. So, the Power Card decides to show itself: it's a cutesy widdle girl about half of Sakura's size. Anyway, so Sakura and the Power Card start having their contest and Sakura is clearly losing. Then the elephant decides to help her. She's still losing. Meanwhile, Li is standing in a tree, observing this. He activates the Time Card and freezes time. He hops down, takes the rope out of Power Card's hands, and hops back into the tree before unfreezing time. The rope out of Power Card's hands, everyone falls down and Sakura is the winner. Sakura seals Power Card after thanking the elephants for their help. In the Japanese version, Li observes this moment and then wonders if the sloth had decided to do anything yet. In the English version, Li observes this moment and concludes that Sakura is going to need more strength. After all this, the next day, Sakura runs after Tomoyo, asking if the picture she's holding is from the other day. It is and Sakura makes Tomoyo promise that she won't show it to anyone. However, Yukito comes by and asks what the picture is. The wind picks up and he ends up seeing the picture. Tomoyo claims it's a photoshopped photograph and then we see that it's Sakura lifting King Penguin, presumably using the Power Card and setting it to rights.
Don't believe me?
Card Captor Sakura: Episode 13 (All)
Cardcaptors: Episode 13 Part 1/3
Cardcaptors: Episode 13 Part 2/3
Cardcaptors: Episode 13 Part 3/3
This episode made me all nostagic for the annual trip to the city zoo my school made my classes go to. The zoo we went to had a regular, normal zoo (like what you see in the episode) but also a reproduction of the tropical rainforest inside a large building. It was always one of the highlights of the school year. But that has nothing to do with this episode, does it? Once the card actually starts attacking, the episode picked up but until then I was like, "Man, I wish I could go to the zoo again. I loved the zoo!"
Card Tally
Sakura: Windy, Fly, Shadow, Watery, Rain, Wood, Jump, Illusion, Silence, Thunder, Sword, Flower, Shield, Power
Current number: 14
Li: Time
Current number: 1
Again, I like the English title. The Japanese title is just way too long and I like the alliteration of the English title.
There isn't a whole lot that is changed from one version to the next. As always, there are cuts and they are usually cut for a good reason. Some notables include Yukito's first scene which goes on way too long so cutting the boring bit was nice. They even left in the important bits that actually had to do with the plot! And, as always, they cut out Rika and Mr. Terada being all boyfriend/girlfriend. There is a totally random and unnecessary scene where Rika brings Mr. Terada a lunch that she made for him. It's pointless and weird and so I'm glad it's gone.
There were a change made that I didn't quite get: Why did they keep emphasizing that the park was at the zoo? It's not at the zoo because it's clearly the same park they keep going to that's in town. Because heaven forbid everything isn't connected?
Speaking of things that don't make sense: What kind of child is happy about "meatloaf sandwiches"? Can you even make meatloaf sandwiches? Dude, get her a freaking pizza or something. What kind of Gary Stu father are you, serving her meatloaf sandwiches for her field trip?! And another thing, don't you think that Tomoyo/Madison, the photographer extraordinaire, would realize that her hand is covering the flash of her camera? Never mind that it's implied that she used the school camera to take that picture of Sakura lifting the slide.
Anyway, beyond that, the only major change is Li. Just Li, this entire episode. He acts completely different depending on the version you watch.
On one hand, Japanese Li is funnier than English Li. The voice actress playing Li in the Japanese version just makes him so unbearably cute and innocent about the sloth that it makes me grin. But it's also not very much in character. Seriously, Li must have been inhaling some paint fumes at his current residence because he usually isn't this way. Although the scene where the boys detail every time the sloth moves is hysterically funny (this is cut in the English version).
On the other hand, English Li is more in character but slightly less endearing. But his lines make way more sense than the lines given to him in Japanese. Seriously, Japanese Li's line about how the sloth might be doing something now after the capture of the Power Card made me smack my forehead in sheer "what the hell"ness. English Li has more brain cells intact than Japanese Li: he realizes that Zachary tells tall tales and he acknowledges that the capture of the Power Card actually just happened instead of prattling on about the sloth. Although, that gong sound right before he delivers the "you're going to need more strength" line? Not needed whatsoever. But it's not like English Li is a raging brat either. After awhile, he gets to appreciate the merit of photographing the sloth. It's just that he isn't single-mindedly obsessed about it like in the Japanese version.
I also liked how Li actually says what he needs done in order to use the Time Card. I just think it makes the scene flow better than Li being practically mute the whole time. I never quite got how the Cards are supposed to know what to do in the Japanese version.
So, I'm torn. I like both versions for different reasons. I guess I like English Li just a teeny bit more because it makes him a little more intelligent than the Japanese Li.
I don't quite get, in either version, why Li doesn't get there as quickly as the others. Presumably, he can sense the Clow Cards too so why didn't he show up? Was he just standing there in that tree, watching Sakura struggle for awhile before deciding to do something? Oh, by the way, he technically defeated the Power Card (since he was able to outwit it) but, you know, the Cards make no sense so he doesn't get this one.
Differentiating between these two episodes is a difficult task. Very little is changed and what is changed is either relatively minor or equal but different to the original episode layout. Since I keep wavering back and forth, in conclusion, I judge these episodes to be...
Equal!
Episode 14
Episode 12
Episode 13: Sakura and the Elephant's Test of Strength (Card Captor Sakura) or Power's Ploy (Cardcaptors)
The episode opens with us in the park with the penguin slide (the English version identifies this park as residing within the local zoo but it's clearly the park that Sakura always winds up at but whatever). Something is stomping through the park, leaving huge dents in the ground. The next morning, on the news, it turns out that the giant penguin slide or "King Penguin" has been completely turned upside down. Sakura thinks it may be a Clow Card. Anyway, Sakura is going on a class trip to the zoo. On her way to school, she runs into Yukito and they pass by the park and see the upside down slide. Sakura cannot sense a Clow Card. Her class is told to observe an animal based on the groups they were placed in in the Japanese version while in the English version they are told to pick an animal to observe and take a picture. Sakura and her gaggle of gal pals are going to observe the elephant. Before doing so, they discuss the mystery surrounding what happened to King Penguin and Sakura runs to the elephants because they suppose that it's a ghost and she doesn't like ghosts. The girls discuss how strong and smart elephants are, more so in the English version than in the Japanese version. Meanwhile, Li, Yamazaki, and three other nameless boys are observing a sloth. In the Japanese version, Li wonders if the sloth will live up to its name and Yamazaki tells a lie about how sloths are actually quite fast, which psychs Li up for some amazing feats from the sloth (the other three boys Greek Chorus about how Yamazaki always tells ridiculous lies but at least someone always seems gullible enough to believe). In the English version, Li whines about how Zachary's choice for the subject of their group's picture isn't going to do anything but Zachary insists that Li shouldn't "judge a book by its cover" which leads Li to conclude that perhaps by observation, he'll learn something and maybe it'll be worth it. Anyway, as they are observing their animals, the ground shakes. Sakura thinks it's a Clow Card and Tomoyo tells her to tell Kero. Sakura can't because Kero's at home. Except he's actually not; he snuck into Sakura's bag. Anyway, the ground shakes again and the animals start escaping from their now smashed cages. Everyone starts to panic and run around. Eventually, Sakura, Tomoyo, Li, and Kero run toward the source of the Clow Card energy (Li is not with them but it's clearly where he's going). The Clow Card is harassing the elephants and Kero finally realizes it's the Power Card. So, Kero tells Sakura to challenge it against her because it loves showing off. So, it starts chasing Sakura around. Kero tells her that she has to think of a contest. Sakura picks tug of war. So, the Power Card decides to show itself: it's a cutesy widdle girl about half of Sakura's size. Anyway, so Sakura and the Power Card start having their contest and Sakura is clearly losing. Then the elephant decides to help her. She's still losing. Meanwhile, Li is standing in a tree, observing this. He activates the Time Card and freezes time. He hops down, takes the rope out of Power Card's hands, and hops back into the tree before unfreezing time. The rope out of Power Card's hands, everyone falls down and Sakura is the winner. Sakura seals Power Card after thanking the elephants for their help. In the Japanese version, Li observes this moment and then wonders if the sloth had decided to do anything yet. In the English version, Li observes this moment and concludes that Sakura is going to need more strength. After all this, the next day, Sakura runs after Tomoyo, asking if the picture she's holding is from the other day. It is and Sakura makes Tomoyo promise that she won't show it to anyone. However, Yukito comes by and asks what the picture is. The wind picks up and he ends up seeing the picture. Tomoyo claims it's a photoshopped photograph and then we see that it's Sakura lifting King Penguin, presumably using the Power Card and setting it to rights.
Don't believe me?
Card Captor Sakura: Episode 13 (All)
Click to viewCardcaptors: Episode 13 Part 1/3
Cardcaptors: Episode 13 Part 2/3
Cardcaptors: Episode 13 Part 3/3
This episode made me all nostagic for the annual trip to the city zoo my school made my classes go to. The zoo we went to had a regular, normal zoo (like what you see in the episode) but also a reproduction of the tropical rainforest inside a large building. It was always one of the highlights of the school year. But that has nothing to do with this episode, does it? Once the card actually starts attacking, the episode picked up but until then I was like, "Man, I wish I could go to the zoo again. I loved the zoo!"
Card Tally
Sakura: Windy, Fly, Shadow, Watery, Rain, Wood, Jump, Illusion, Silence, Thunder, Sword, Flower, Shield, Power
Current number: 14
Li: Time
Current number: 1
Again, I like the English title. The Japanese title is just way too long and I like the alliteration of the English title.
There isn't a whole lot that is changed from one version to the next. As always, there are cuts and they are usually cut for a good reason. Some notables include Yukito's first scene which goes on way too long so cutting the boring bit was nice. They even left in the important bits that actually had to do with the plot! And, as always, they cut out Rika and Mr. Terada being all boyfriend/girlfriend. There is a totally random and unnecessary scene where Rika brings Mr. Terada a lunch that she made for him. It's pointless and weird and so I'm glad it's gone.
There were a change made that I didn't quite get: Why did they keep emphasizing that the park was at the zoo? It's not at the zoo because it's clearly the same park they keep going to that's in town. Because heaven forbid everything isn't connected?
Speaking of things that don't make sense: What kind of child is happy about "meatloaf sandwiches"? Can you even make meatloaf sandwiches? Dude, get her a freaking pizza or something. What kind of Gary Stu father are you, serving her meatloaf sandwiches for her field trip?! And another thing, don't you think that Tomoyo/Madison, the photographer extraordinaire, would realize that her hand is covering the flash of her camera? Never mind that it's implied that she used the school camera to take that picture of Sakura lifting the slide.
Anyway, beyond that, the only major change is Li. Just Li, this entire episode. He acts completely different depending on the version you watch.
On one hand, Japanese Li is funnier than English Li. The voice actress playing Li in the Japanese version just makes him so unbearably cute and innocent about the sloth that it makes me grin. But it's also not very much in character. Seriously, Li must have been inhaling some paint fumes at his current residence because he usually isn't this way. Although the scene where the boys detail every time the sloth moves is hysterically funny (this is cut in the English version).
On the other hand, English Li is more in character but slightly less endearing. But his lines make way more sense than the lines given to him in Japanese. Seriously, Japanese Li's line about how the sloth might be doing something now after the capture of the Power Card made me smack my forehead in sheer "what the hell"ness. English Li has more brain cells intact than Japanese Li: he realizes that Zachary tells tall tales and he acknowledges that the capture of the Power Card actually just happened instead of prattling on about the sloth. Although, that gong sound right before he delivers the "you're going to need more strength" line? Not needed whatsoever. But it's not like English Li is a raging brat either. After awhile, he gets to appreciate the merit of photographing the sloth. It's just that he isn't single-mindedly obsessed about it like in the Japanese version.
I also liked how Li actually says what he needs done in order to use the Time Card. I just think it makes the scene flow better than Li being practically mute the whole time. I never quite got how the Cards are supposed to know what to do in the Japanese version.
So, I'm torn. I like both versions for different reasons. I guess I like English Li just a teeny bit more because it makes him a little more intelligent than the Japanese Li.
I don't quite get, in either version, why Li doesn't get there as quickly as the others. Presumably, he can sense the Clow Cards too so why didn't he show up? Was he just standing there in that tree, watching Sakura struggle for awhile before deciding to do something? Oh, by the way, he technically defeated the Power Card (since he was able to outwit it) but, you know, the Cards make no sense so he doesn't get this one.
Differentiating between these two episodes is a difficult task. Very little is changed and what is changed is either relatively minor or equal but different to the original episode layout. Since I keep wavering back and forth, in conclusion, I judge these episodes to be...
Equal!
Episode 14