Episode 36: "Sakura and the Snowy New School Term" or "Stormy Weather"
Introduction to the Experiment
Episode 35
The First Movie
Episode 36: Sakura and the Snowy New School Term (Card Captor Sakura) or Stormy Weather (Cardcaptors)
This is the start of the second season of Card Captor Sakura and I thought I would do something a little different. I noticed when I was doing the first season that the design of this experiment was flawed. By watching the original version first and the dubbed version second, it may have created some skewed results. In particular, I often noted that the English version would feel "jumpy" because of cuts. But was it jumpy because of bad cuts or because I knew a scene was supposed to go there and noticed its absence? Also, in the other direction, when the English version would change or omit details, was it still maintaining a coherent plot or was my brain, filled with the information I got from the Japanese version, filling in the blanks?
Also, by doing it the way I had been doing it, there is the implication that the Japanese version is the "right way" and the English version is, in a way, a "student" that is forced to mimic it as best it can, in the same way that a student musician tries to match the notes played on a professional recording. Considering that I've felt the English version did some episodes above and beyond the Japanese version, that's an unfair assumption.
So, like in American football, I decided it would be fair if I switched the order of watching the episodes. So, for this season, I will be watching the English Cardcaptors first and the Japanese Card Captor Sakura second. Also, I will be using the English version as a baseline for the summaries (names and all), using the Japanese version of events and names when it significantly differs.
With that in mind, enjoy the rest of the experiment!
Sakura is having her CN Tower dream again. This time, she can nearly see the face of the woman standing on the tower. In the Japanese version, Sakura actually realizes that it's Ms. Mizuki. Finally, she wakes up and Kero scolds her for sleeping through her alarm, reminding her that it's the start of the new semester (the Japanese version says it's the start of the new school year and that Sakura is now a fifth grader. It's not clear whether this is the case for English Sakura). Kero then begins to nag her about how she hasn't captured any Cards lately and how Li was probably up three hours beforehand, practicing his magic. Sakura explains that she can't capture any Cards if there aren't any around. Kero and Sakura then flashback to the capture of the Sleep and Wood Card. The Japanese version has Kero scold her for sleeping in but instead has Kero look at the Cards and remark about how many she caught during spring break. Kero and Sakura then discuss how she is starting fifth grade. Sakura then heads to breakfast to talk to her family about the new school year. Sakura's class doesn't change with the grade, they just move up together, so Tomoyo is still in Sakura's class. Toya, now a twelfth grader, does have new classmates but he's still with Yukito, much to Sakura's delight. The two children then see their father off, since he's going on a business trip. The English version cuts the breakfast scene and goes straight to Sakura and Tori heading to school. Apparently, Tori couldn't wait for Sakura because he has to set up the chemistry lab. They meet Julian, who is without a bicycle because he got a flat tire. Since Tori is late, Julian offers to walk with Sakura and catch up later. As they walk, Julian gives Sakura a wrapped present as a belated birthday present, telling her that he thinks it is something she will need. Sakura is delighted. At school, all of the children are wondering who their new teacher will be. It turns out to be Ms. Mackenzie who happily greets them as "fifth graders". As she talks, Sakura keeps flashing back to her dream. In the English version, Meilin whispers to Madison that Li and her don't trust Ms. Mackenzie while in the Japanese version, Sakura goes all gushy, and Meilin asks Tomoyo what's going on with Sakura. Tomoyo explains that she's in her "dreamy" state. Anyway, for one reason or another, Ms. Mackenzie decides that the class is going to head outside. As the student prepare to go, Ms. Mackenzie says to Sakura that they're having unusual weather and that she should keep her eyes open. In the Japanese version, she says that there is a lot of pretty things falling and they should go out before it piles up. Either way, Sakura notices that it's snowing. Back home, Sakura opens her present. It's a wristwatch and this delights Sakura immensely, who swears never to take it off. In the Japanese version, this is followed by a gushing scene and then by Kero talking about how her new teacher seems to be extremely powerful and her power is blocking his ability to sense where the Cards are. Anyway, Sakura prepares dinner and Tori comes home, soaking wet from all the snow. The snow is now 3 feet high. Later that night, Sakura talks to Madison about the snow and concludes it's a Clow Card. So, it's off to Penguin Park. After Sakura gets stuck in the snow, Li and Meilin show up, with Li explaining that it's the Snow Card. Sakura wonders why Li and Meilin are able to stand on the snow and it's because of magic. Li reminds Sakura about her Float Card and tells her to use that. While using Float, Sakura, Li, and Kero discuss how neither Li nor Sakura sensed the Snow Card. Of course, Sakura realizes, she should have after talking to Ms. Mackenzie since she mentioned the weather. This alarms Li and Kero because that meant that Ms. Mackenzie probably sensed it. Sakura defends her, arguing that Ms. Mackenzie might be trying to help them (in the Japanese version, she just says she's nice). Anyway, the Snow Card starts creating a blizzard so Li and Sakura have to fly away from Madison and Meilin. After an extended flying sequence, in which Li tries summoning fire at the Snow Card and it doesn't work, Sakura notices that her wristwatch is missing. This angers her so they stop at Ms. Mackenzie's temple and she sics the Firey Card at it. This works and she seals the Snow Card. But Sakura is still upset about losing the wristwatch that Julian gave her. In the Japanese version, she actually breaks down and cries and is inconsolable until Li promises to help her find her wristwatch. This cheers her up slightly. The English version skips that part and goes straight to the part when Ms. Mackenzie shows up. Luckily, she found Sakura's wristwatch and gives it to her. She then tells the two children to go home. Sakura is delighted while Li looks at her retreating back suspiciously.
Wanna see it?
Cardcaptors Episode 36: Part 1/3
Cardcaptors Episode 36: Part 2/3
Cardcaptors Episode 36: Part 3/3
Card Captor Sakura Episode 36: Part 1/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKyC-LuZfD4
Card Captor Sakura Episode 36: Part 2/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbxmadjnwH0
Card Captor Sakura Episode 36: Part 3/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4deQbBuz_I
Alright, so this is the first episode under the new reviewing format and I'm kind of regretting deciding to use the English version as the summary because so much was changed. As for the episode itself, I spent most of it being confused so it was hard to enjoy what was going on. And if I'm remembering correctly, I don't think Sakura was a fifth grader until she had caught all of the Clow Cards in the manga. Why do you keep accelerating things, Japanese producers?
Card Tally
Sakura: Windy, Fly, Shadow, Watery, Rain, Wood, Jump, Illusion, Silence, Thunder, Sword, Flower, Shield, Power, Mist, Float, Erase, Glow, Move, Fight, Loop, Sleep, Song, Little, Mirror, Maze, Shot, Sweet, Big, Create, Change, Firey, Arrow, Snow
Current number: 34
Li: Time, Storm, Return, Dash, Freeze
Current number: 5
Okay, who was in charge of the English title this time? No "Let It Snow" or "Slippery Slope" or "Snowbound" or "Blizzard Blitz" or anything like that? I mean, the Japanese title is kind of limp but at least it has something to do with snow! Japanese title wins this time.
Wow, this is why I had to change formats. While I was watching the English version, I was so lost because of the cuts. Of course, the Japanese version isn't much better but there were whole scenes cut that, for a change, had a lot of important information that I needed. And even bits of scenes were cut and these bits either added something to the story or made it flow better. The one that is coming to mind is Sakura's total meltdown about losing the watch and how Li tries to comfort her. It's a sweet scene and shows some character development on Li's part (especially since he had just had a jealous fit about the watch a few scenes earlier). It was a shame to see it go. Sure, Li got to be a little more impressed with Sakura's capturing skills but he didn't get to show that he really would have helped her out with the watch thing. Not only that, but it creates a plothole because one minute, they're on that Shinto shrine gate with Kero and the next, they're on the ground without Kero! Admittedly, I didn't notice the random teleportation until I watched it again (to verify something for the summary) but still!
Furthermore, most of these scenes did not drag or have anything objectionable in them. No one acted gay, no one had a long extended sequence of gushiness (gushiness, yes. Extended, no), information that made the story make sense was in there. Sure, there were a few moments (Rika mooning over Mr. Terada was a merciful snip, thank you) but for the most part, these cuts were really unnecessary.
You know what I didn't need? Two flashbacks of Card captures. I knew that a lot had been cut once they started whipping out the Card capture flashbacks. I understand the Sleep Card flashback, since she has trouble waking up, but why bring up the Wood Card? What did the Wood Card have to do with anything? Why not show a Card that Li captured since Kero had just been saying how much Li is going to beat them since Sakura just overslept for, like, ten minutes?
Speaking of Kero, what was up with him in this episode in the English version? My God, he was a total jerk this entire episode! What was going on with him? It was nonstop nagging from him in the opening scene. Why won't you get up with your alarm? Why won't you capture Cards? Why won't you wear that shirt your auntie sent you so boys will like you? Seriously, God! Shut up, Kero!
While we're on the topic of dubs, apparently Rhys Huber is still with us. His voice unbroke kind of which makes me wonder when they did the movie. Unless the cast list at the end of the episode is lying to me.
Anything good? Well, Ms. Mackenzie continues to be awesome and liked her mysterious weather warning better than the original. Sakura's English voice actress does a wonderful job in this episode and I really liked her portrayal of Sakura's anger at the Snow Card when she loses the watch. I also liked how she reacted to the watch when she opened it ("I'll never take it off!") rather than just silence and squealing like in the Japanese version. Although it made me wonder if they're adding the crush on Julian back in. Who knows? And there were a few line changes and jokes here and there but nothing really stands out.
Already, enough of the English version, let's talk about the Japanese version. The Japanese version got new opening and ending themes. The new opening song is pretty good and once I hear it a few more times (I don't skip the music, by the way, when I watch the episodes), I'm sure it'll grow on me. The actual opening animation I'm not too fond of. Sakura's outfit is pretty hideous and there are kind of creepy shots of the camera focusing on her bloomers that kind of unsettled me. But on the plus side, Li finally gets to appear for about two seconds. Don't worry, no one else besides Sakura gets to appear for longer than that. Oh, and Sakura's dad is out of the opening sequence. Ah, that is the way with fathers and daughters. A father is the most important man in his daughter's life until she finds love. Then he loses her forever. *melodramatic sigh* As for the ending sequence, the song I'm not too fond of. The tune is pretty slow and the lyrics aren't very inspiring. The animation is lovely though but I do wonder why one shot is of Sakura vaccuuming. I just thought that was strange.
As for my next topic, I guess I could have put it under plot holes but it's not really a plot hole, just a weird decision by the producers. As you may recall, the last episode was set during Christmas and the movie was set during winter break. In the English version, the last episode was set during winter and the movie was during spring break but that's besides the point right now. So why does this episode start in April? Did nothing happen in January, February, and March? Why couldn't she capture Cards then? Was the season premier in April so they had to go forward a few months? I don't understand the rationale. At least, once I watched the Japanese version, I know that the school year starts in April so I was less confused by it suddenly being spring but this made the English version impossible to follow because I kept going, "Wasn't it just winter? Why are there cherry blossoms in January? Is this stock footage? WHAT'S GOING ON?!" (At least this might explain why the movie is set during the spring break in the English version). At least the Japanese version has them explain that Sakura is starting a new school year but the English version never says one way or the other so it's super confusing. As for the Japanese version, I'm just confused as to why we skipped three months.
Also, Kero says that she has captured Cards during the spring break but one of those Cards looks like the Float Card. She caught that ages ago! What's Kero going on about? I hope they're going to tell us what she's captured because it'll mess up my list! I know, that's petty, but still!
You know, I can't think of any plot holes besides the time skip. Yay?
Edit: Not really a plot hole but why does Fujitaka use an honorific (he calls her Nadeshiko-san) for his dead wife? The couple was married for at least ten years before she died. They never dropped the honorifics? To clarify, a lack of honorific means intimacy so people who are very close, such as a married couple, would not use an honorific, especially not -san which is pretty formal (it's like Mister or Miss/Mrs).
In conclusion, because of the massive and unnecessary cuts, I judge these episodes to be...
Different, with the Japanese Card Captor Sakura being the superior!
Episode 37
Episode 35
The First Movie
Episode 36: Sakura and the Snowy New School Term (Card Captor Sakura) or Stormy Weather (Cardcaptors)
This is the start of the second season of Card Captor Sakura and I thought I would do something a little different. I noticed when I was doing the first season that the design of this experiment was flawed. By watching the original version first and the dubbed version second, it may have created some skewed results. In particular, I often noted that the English version would feel "jumpy" because of cuts. But was it jumpy because of bad cuts or because I knew a scene was supposed to go there and noticed its absence? Also, in the other direction, when the English version would change or omit details, was it still maintaining a coherent plot or was my brain, filled with the information I got from the Japanese version, filling in the blanks?
Also, by doing it the way I had been doing it, there is the implication that the Japanese version is the "right way" and the English version is, in a way, a "student" that is forced to mimic it as best it can, in the same way that a student musician tries to match the notes played on a professional recording. Considering that I've felt the English version did some episodes above and beyond the Japanese version, that's an unfair assumption.
So, like in American football, I decided it would be fair if I switched the order of watching the episodes. So, for this season, I will be watching the English Cardcaptors first and the Japanese Card Captor Sakura second. Also, I will be using the English version as a baseline for the summaries (names and all), using the Japanese version of events and names when it significantly differs.
With that in mind, enjoy the rest of the experiment!
Sakura is having her CN Tower dream again. This time, she can nearly see the face of the woman standing on the tower. In the Japanese version, Sakura actually realizes that it's Ms. Mizuki. Finally, she wakes up and Kero scolds her for sleeping through her alarm, reminding her that it's the start of the new semester (the Japanese version says it's the start of the new school year and that Sakura is now a fifth grader. It's not clear whether this is the case for English Sakura). Kero then begins to nag her about how she hasn't captured any Cards lately and how Li was probably up three hours beforehand, practicing his magic. Sakura explains that she can't capture any Cards if there aren't any around. Kero and Sakura then flashback to the capture of the Sleep and Wood Card. The Japanese version has Kero scold her for sleeping in but instead has Kero look at the Cards and remark about how many she caught during spring break. Kero and Sakura then discuss how she is starting fifth grade. Sakura then heads to breakfast to talk to her family about the new school year. Sakura's class doesn't change with the grade, they just move up together, so Tomoyo is still in Sakura's class. Toya, now a twelfth grader, does have new classmates but he's still with Yukito, much to Sakura's delight. The two children then see their father off, since he's going on a business trip. The English version cuts the breakfast scene and goes straight to Sakura and Tori heading to school. Apparently, Tori couldn't wait for Sakura because he has to set up the chemistry lab. They meet Julian, who is without a bicycle because he got a flat tire. Since Tori is late, Julian offers to walk with Sakura and catch up later. As they walk, Julian gives Sakura a wrapped present as a belated birthday present, telling her that he thinks it is something she will need. Sakura is delighted. At school, all of the children are wondering who their new teacher will be. It turns out to be Ms. Mackenzie who happily greets them as "fifth graders". As she talks, Sakura keeps flashing back to her dream. In the English version, Meilin whispers to Madison that Li and her don't trust Ms. Mackenzie while in the Japanese version, Sakura goes all gushy, and Meilin asks Tomoyo what's going on with Sakura. Tomoyo explains that she's in her "dreamy" state. Anyway, for one reason or another, Ms. Mackenzie decides that the class is going to head outside. As the student prepare to go, Ms. Mackenzie says to Sakura that they're having unusual weather and that she should keep her eyes open. In the Japanese version, she says that there is a lot of pretty things falling and they should go out before it piles up. Either way, Sakura notices that it's snowing. Back home, Sakura opens her present. It's a wristwatch and this delights Sakura immensely, who swears never to take it off. In the Japanese version, this is followed by a gushing scene and then by Kero talking about how her new teacher seems to be extremely powerful and her power is blocking his ability to sense where the Cards are. Anyway, Sakura prepares dinner and Tori comes home, soaking wet from all the snow. The snow is now 3 feet high. Later that night, Sakura talks to Madison about the snow and concludes it's a Clow Card. So, it's off to Penguin Park. After Sakura gets stuck in the snow, Li and Meilin show up, with Li explaining that it's the Snow Card. Sakura wonders why Li and Meilin are able to stand on the snow and it's because of magic. Li reminds Sakura about her Float Card and tells her to use that. While using Float, Sakura, Li, and Kero discuss how neither Li nor Sakura sensed the Snow Card. Of course, Sakura realizes, she should have after talking to Ms. Mackenzie since she mentioned the weather. This alarms Li and Kero because that meant that Ms. Mackenzie probably sensed it. Sakura defends her, arguing that Ms. Mackenzie might be trying to help them (in the Japanese version, she just says she's nice). Anyway, the Snow Card starts creating a blizzard so Li and Sakura have to fly away from Madison and Meilin. After an extended flying sequence, in which Li tries summoning fire at the Snow Card and it doesn't work, Sakura notices that her wristwatch is missing. This angers her so they stop at Ms. Mackenzie's temple and she sics the Firey Card at it. This works and she seals the Snow Card. But Sakura is still upset about losing the wristwatch that Julian gave her. In the Japanese version, she actually breaks down and cries and is inconsolable until Li promises to help her find her wristwatch. This cheers her up slightly. The English version skips that part and goes straight to the part when Ms. Mackenzie shows up. Luckily, she found Sakura's wristwatch and gives it to her. She then tells the two children to go home. Sakura is delighted while Li looks at her retreating back suspiciously.
Wanna see it?
Cardcaptors Episode 36: Part 1/3
Click to viewCardcaptors Episode 36: Part 2/3
Cardcaptors Episode 36: Part 3/3
Card Captor Sakura Episode 36: Part 1/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKyC-LuZfD4
Card Captor Sakura Episode 36: Part 2/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbxmadjnwH0
Card Captor Sakura Episode 36: Part 3/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4deQbBuz_I
Alright, so this is the first episode under the new reviewing format and I'm kind of regretting deciding to use the English version as the summary because so much was changed. As for the episode itself, I spent most of it being confused so it was hard to enjoy what was going on. And if I'm remembering correctly, I don't think Sakura was a fifth grader until she had caught all of the Clow Cards in the manga. Why do you keep accelerating things, Japanese producers?
Card Tally
Sakura: Windy, Fly, Shadow, Watery, Rain, Wood, Jump, Illusion, Silence, Thunder, Sword, Flower, Shield, Power, Mist, Float, Erase, Glow, Move, Fight, Loop, Sleep, Song, Little, Mirror, Maze, Shot, Sweet, Big, Create, Change, Firey, Arrow, Snow
Current number: 34
Li: Time, Storm, Return, Dash, Freeze
Current number: 5
Okay, who was in charge of the English title this time? No "Let It Snow" or "Slippery Slope" or "Snowbound" or "Blizzard Blitz" or anything like that? I mean, the Japanese title is kind of limp but at least it has something to do with snow! Japanese title wins this time.
Wow, this is why I had to change formats. While I was watching the English version, I was so lost because of the cuts. Of course, the Japanese version isn't much better but there were whole scenes cut that, for a change, had a lot of important information that I needed. And even bits of scenes were cut and these bits either added something to the story or made it flow better. The one that is coming to mind is Sakura's total meltdown about losing the watch and how Li tries to comfort her. It's a sweet scene and shows some character development on Li's part (especially since he had just had a jealous fit about the watch a few scenes earlier). It was a shame to see it go. Sure, Li got to be a little more impressed with Sakura's capturing skills but he didn't get to show that he really would have helped her out with the watch thing. Not only that, but it creates a plothole because one minute, they're on that Shinto shrine gate with Kero and the next, they're on the ground without Kero! Admittedly, I didn't notice the random teleportation until I watched it again (to verify something for the summary) but still!
Furthermore, most of these scenes did not drag or have anything objectionable in them. No one acted gay, no one had a long extended sequence of gushiness (gushiness, yes. Extended, no), information that made the story make sense was in there. Sure, there were a few moments (Rika mooning over Mr. Terada was a merciful snip, thank you) but for the most part, these cuts were really unnecessary.
You know what I didn't need? Two flashbacks of Card captures. I knew that a lot had been cut once they started whipping out the Card capture flashbacks. I understand the Sleep Card flashback, since she has trouble waking up, but why bring up the Wood Card? What did the Wood Card have to do with anything? Why not show a Card that Li captured since Kero had just been saying how much Li is going to beat them since Sakura just overslept for, like, ten minutes?
Speaking of Kero, what was up with him in this episode in the English version? My God, he was a total jerk this entire episode! What was going on with him? It was nonstop nagging from him in the opening scene. Why won't you get up with your alarm? Why won't you capture Cards? Why won't you wear that shirt your auntie sent you so boys will like you? Seriously, God! Shut up, Kero!
While we're on the topic of dubs, apparently Rhys Huber is still with us. His voice unbroke kind of which makes me wonder when they did the movie. Unless the cast list at the end of the episode is lying to me.
Anything good? Well, Ms. Mackenzie continues to be awesome and liked her mysterious weather warning better than the original. Sakura's English voice actress does a wonderful job in this episode and I really liked her portrayal of Sakura's anger at the Snow Card when she loses the watch. I also liked how she reacted to the watch when she opened it ("I'll never take it off!") rather than just silence and squealing like in the Japanese version. Although it made me wonder if they're adding the crush on Julian back in. Who knows? And there were a few line changes and jokes here and there but nothing really stands out.
Already, enough of the English version, let's talk about the Japanese version. The Japanese version got new opening and ending themes. The new opening song is pretty good and once I hear it a few more times (I don't skip the music, by the way, when I watch the episodes), I'm sure it'll grow on me. The actual opening animation I'm not too fond of. Sakura's outfit is pretty hideous and there are kind of creepy shots of the camera focusing on her bloomers that kind of unsettled me. But on the plus side, Li finally gets to appear for about two seconds. Don't worry, no one else besides Sakura gets to appear for longer than that. Oh, and Sakura's dad is out of the opening sequence. Ah, that is the way with fathers and daughters. A father is the most important man in his daughter's life until she finds love. Then he loses her forever. *melodramatic sigh* As for the ending sequence, the song I'm not too fond of. The tune is pretty slow and the lyrics aren't very inspiring. The animation is lovely though but I do wonder why one shot is of Sakura vaccuuming. I just thought that was strange.
As for my next topic, I guess I could have put it under plot holes but it's not really a plot hole, just a weird decision by the producers. As you may recall, the last episode was set during Christmas and the movie was set during winter break. In the English version, the last episode was set during winter and the movie was during spring break but that's besides the point right now. So why does this episode start in April? Did nothing happen in January, February, and March? Why couldn't she capture Cards then? Was the season premier in April so they had to go forward a few months? I don't understand the rationale. At least, once I watched the Japanese version, I know that the school year starts in April so I was less confused by it suddenly being spring but this made the English version impossible to follow because I kept going, "Wasn't it just winter? Why are there cherry blossoms in January? Is this stock footage? WHAT'S GOING ON?!" (At least this might explain why the movie is set during the spring break in the English version). At least the Japanese version has them explain that Sakura is starting a new school year but the English version never says one way or the other so it's super confusing. As for the Japanese version, I'm just confused as to why we skipped three months.
Also, Kero says that she has captured Cards during the spring break but one of those Cards looks like the Float Card. She caught that ages ago! What's Kero going on about? I hope they're going to tell us what she's captured because it'll mess up my list! I know, that's petty, but still!
You know, I can't think of any plot holes besides the time skip. Yay?
Edit: Not really a plot hole but why does Fujitaka use an honorific (he calls her Nadeshiko-san) for his dead wife? The couple was married for at least ten years before she died. They never dropped the honorifics? To clarify, a lack of honorific means intimacy so people who are very close, such as a married couple, would not use an honorific, especially not -san which is pretty formal (it's like Mister or Miss/Mrs).
In conclusion, because of the massive and unnecessary cuts, I judge these episodes to be...
Different, with the Japanese Card Captor Sakura being the superior!
Episode 37