Episode 48: "Sakura and the Awakened Star Key" or "Unlocking the Key" OR The Joyous Return
Introduction to the Experiment
Episode 47
Episode 48 (the first attempt)
Episode 48: Sakura and the Awakened Star Key (Card Captor Sakura) or Unlocking the Key (Cardcaptors)
Baseline Version: English Cardcaptors
So, it's still raining in Reddington and only in Reddington. Sakura is up early and moping about how her Key won't work. As Sakura contemplates her Key, Tori shows up and remarks that she's up. As Tori sits to have breakfast, Sakura remembers that Kero told her that he needs to speak to Yueh. After Sakura awkwardly tries to figure out some way to get Tori to get Julian to come over, Tori suggests that if there was something good to eat, he'd come. So Sakura agrees to make something and Tori agrees to invite him over. After this, Kero sits in Sakura's room, looking at the floating Sakura-ified Book of Clow, and says something cryptic and vague about the presence he felt.
At school, Sakura thinks some more about how it won't stop raining and how she already caught all of the Clow Cards. The Japanese version includes a scene with Sakura's friends talking about the rain and Yamazaki telling a tall tale but it's cut in the English version. As Sakura contemplates, Eli hands her a flower, imploring her to cheer up. Sakura thanks Eli for his thoughtful gesture and he heads over to the flower vase to put the rest of the flowers away. The Japanese version has Li totally freak out, run over, and loudly greet Sakura good morning. The English version jumps straight to the following moment, with Li scowling at Eli's benignly smiling face. At this point, Madison comes in and after some brief conversation, this scene ends.
Later on, Sakura and Li stand under a porch, presumably after Sakura has just explained to Li what happened with her wand the night before. In the English version, Li acknowledges that the wand won't work and then remarks that he thought he had felt something strange, especially with the weather. Sakura adds that Kero sensed something too but he couldn't say what it was. She then wonders what it could be since she has all of the Clow Cards. Li explains that there are forces more powerful than the Clow Cards. Sakura asks why she can't sense it. Li explains that whoever or whatever it is might not want to be found and probably has more power than either of them do. If that's the case, then Sakura acknowledges that she'll need his help. The Japanese version is similar to this except Li is a little more vague and Sakura doesn't ask for his help. In any case, Tori and Julian happen to see Sakura and Li hanging out, which makes Tori and Julian pause. After acknowledging that the two kids are hanging out (the English version actually has Julian remark that "she does spend a lot of time with him"), Tori starts to say something to Julian but is interrupted by Ruby pouncing on him. Apparently Tori's teacher really wants those papers Julian and he are holding. So, Tori takes the rest of the papers and off he goes, leaving Ruby and Julian alone together. In the English version, Ruby's voice suddenly drops and she asks if Julian remembers her. Julian looks shocked but doesn't reply. Ruby concludes that "this" will be easier than she thought. In the Japanese version, her voice dropping, Akizuki remarks that Yukito doesn't know. Yukito doesn't answer but looks shocked. She then says that she'll take "him" then. In any case, she runs off.
On her way home, Sakura contemplates what Li and she discussed until Eli shows up. The two walk home together. Sakura thanks Eli for the flower and Eli asks her if she's better now. Sakura admits that she's not perfectly alright but she is better. Eli hopes that the rain will stop soon in the English version while Eriol discusses where the flower came from in the Japanese version. The Japanese version has them discuss the possibility of Sakura coming to Eriol's house someday but this conversation is skipped in the English version. In any case, they have to part ways and as Eli walks to his home, Sakura thinks about how nice Eli is.
After Julian, Tori, and Sakura finish their meal, Tori decides to head out (his reasons vary depending on the version) and Julian decides to stay behind to help clean up. As Tori leaves, Julian notes that it's still raining and Tori mutters that it's because it's not a normal rain. Julian is taken aback and Tori tries to quickly forget that slip-up ever happened. When Tori leaves, Kero flies down and makes Yueh take his true form. In the English version, Kero chastizes Yueh for not speaking to him for a week, to which Yueh explains that he can't waste his energy changing into his true form so it better be important. In the Japanese version, Kero remarks that Yueh is grumpy, to which he replies that it's cumbersome to have your true form and your disguise have different personalities. In any case, they head over to the kitchen and freak Sakura out.
Up in Sakura's room, Sakura tries to be a good hostess to Yueh but finds out that he doesn't eat. In the English version, Sakura asks how that can be since Julian eats so much. Kero explains that, in his human form, food gives Julian energy but Yueh gets his energy from the moon. In the Japanese version, Sakura remarks that Kero likes sweets. Kero explains that he can eat according to his needs. In any case, Kero asks for either more milk or seconds, depending on the version, to get Sakura out of the room. In the English version, Yueh asks why he asked to see him. Kero remarks that it isn't over for Sakura and then asks if he senses "it". Yueh replies that he does sense that a great power has settled in the area. Kero remarks that Clow Reed never told them what to expect after the Final Judgement. Kero transforms into his true form and continues on to say, regarding what he sensed the other day, they'll have to be on their guard to protect Sakura. Yueh agrees. Kero then huffs that he wishes that they knew what they were dealing with.
In the Japanese version, Yueh remarks that Kero got rid of Sakura on purpose. Kero admits that he's not sure if what he is thinking is correct (so presumably doesn't want her to hear what his theory is in order not to freak her out unnecessarily). Kero asks Yueh what he thinks of this rain. Yueh says he thinks someone is making it fall. Kero agrees but asks who exactly is making the rain fall. Kero then transforms. Essentially, Kero's theory is someone Yueh and he both know is behind this.
In any case, at this point, Sakura returns and is freaked out by Kero taking on his true form.
Next up is another visit to the playground to combat the rainstorm. In the English version, Sakura just pouts at her useless Key and asks Yueh if he thinks Clow is behind this. Yueh doesn't think so and Sakura asks why. The Japanese version has Sakura leave the care of Tomoyo in Kero's hands and then Yueh and her chitchat about whether Yukito can remember what happens to Yueh and vice versa. At this point, the rainstorm starts attacking them. Yueh picks Sakura up and flies off to protect her but eventually the rain hits him and he's down. Sakura tries the Key: nope, still not working. The rain then goes after Madison and Kero. Kero manages to protect Madison but his fireball reflects back at him. Eventually, some force causes Kero to be unable to move and one of the rain columns sucks Sakura up into the sky.
Either version varies on how the events plays but they essentially follow this course: Sakura is upset that she's in the water tunnel, everyone else gets sucked up a water tunnel too, Sakura makes the connection that she use the power of her Star to make the wand work, and the wand activates, freeing from her water tunnel.
Down on the ground, Sakura tries the Firey Card but it doesn't work. She figures out that she needs to change the Firey Card since both the book and wand are different now. This finally works and the Firey Card is now a different type of Firey Card. With the new Firey Card, she frees her friends and stops the rainstorm. Once they are safe, after Sakura tries to tell them about the changed Card, she faints.
Unbeknownst to the group, three shadowy figures are floating in the air and comment on how impressive it was that Sakura changed the Card but can she change them all?
Some kind soul has started posting Cardcaptors on youtube again. However, to cause the least amount of trouble, I will not be linking to them so you'll just have to believe me.
I'm baaack! I hope all of you have been taking care of yourselves over the past three years. A lot has changed on my end so let's get started.
I really like the English title because of its punchiness (although the Japanese title isn't bad).
There were some cut scenes but most of these were trimming the fat. I found when watching the Japanese version that it would drag out scenes far longer than they needed to be. I felt like there was a lot of "comment-pause-reaction-pause-comment" abuse going on.
Of course, not all scenes were "fat" but does cutting them hurt the episode? I'm forced to say "not really". For example, was the conversation between Sakura and Yueh a nice bit of characterization? Yes, it was. Did I need it? No, I didn't (especially since it went just a little too long for my attention span). So, some of the scenes that were cut I acknowledge were cute little moments but I honestly didn't miss them when I was watching the English version.
One cut scene that deserved it though was Sakura flashing back to a moment that had just happened when she remembers that she just changed the Card. Yes, Sakura, we know because we just saw it!
Most of the most significant changes happened with Yueh and Kero interactions and Sakura realizing how to activate the Key.
Let's start with Yueh and Kero. I personally feel that Yueh and Kero's interactions feel more natural in the English version. I've already talked about how much I prefer the delivery of the English voice actors but even their dialogue makes more sense. Thinking on it, I think it's more the line changes that Yueh gets that helps. One that stands out in particular is the change from "I hate having different personalities" to "it drains power to change back and forth". First of all, changing back and forth draining him makes a lot of sense (why doesn't Yueh just stay in his natural form?). Second of all, it makes him seem a lot less like than an annoying grump and more like a magical being.
The biggest change is how Yueh and Kero view the situation. I don't really get why Kero can't tell Sakura about his theory in the Japanese version. Again, what is it with Kero not telling Sakura important information in advance? So, I prefer that Kero and Yueh acknowledge that they don't know what's going on either in the English version and they are frustrated about it. This makes more sense and more dramatic as a storytelling technique because unlike before, this is not part of some ultimate test (until one of Kero's weird line changes -- I'll get to that) as far as Kero and Yueh are aware. With the Japanese version (I know the ending but still...), it's pretty obvious that Kero thinks it's Clow.
On the flipside, it is interesting that the English version explicitly has Yueh say that he doesn't think it's Clow, which is an interesting line change considering that in the original version, Kero and Yueh seem to think it's Clow.
But... although I like the new way of Kero and Yueh reading the situation, Kero's weird line change when Sakura activates the Key gets to me. In the original Japanese version, when Sakura starts using the power of her Star and the new circles appear, Yueh and Kero are flabbergasted at the new circles since they have never seen these before. This makes sense because they didn't know that this is supposed to happen. However, in the English version, where Yueh and Kero have no idea what is happening, Yueh wants to go help her (um, how? Aren't you trapped in the water tunnel?), Kero remarks that he mustn't because she must discover her power on her own. Huh?! This isn't a return to Third Episode!Kero where he just assigns random tests for her to complete just to be a jerk, is it? Why would Kero assume that Sakura had to make new circles?
This brings us to Sakura figuring out that she needs to make new circles. In the Japanese version, after powering up with the... power of... not wanting her friends to die, Sakura remembers with an audio flashback that Clow Reed pretty much told her the answer to the issue earlier: the staff uses the power of stars now. In the English version, after the same power up, Sakura seems to realize on her own that she has been "saying the wrong words". When it works, the Japanese Sakura takes a really long time to realize that the Firey Card needs to change too while English Sakura figures it out much more quickly.
I have to admit that I prefer the English version of this moment. What I like about it is, if Sakura is truly supposed to be the Master of these Cards and she is supposed to have this great power, then, for me, it is much more satisfying for her to "know" what she needs to do rather than just flail about. Japanese Sakura seems really lucky, English Sakura seems to be finally tapping into an inner source of magical power rather than relying on the power of the Cards. This is not to say that the Japanese version is bad, because it's not bad, but I just really preferred how the English version handled it.
In other news, I finally figured out why I don't like Eriol's Japanese voice. Eriol sounds a little too much like the late Michael Jackson for my tastes while Eli sounds a little more natural.
I also was a little disappointed that the moment where Sakura learns Yueh doesn't eat even though Kero does is changed from the original manga. In the manga version of this scene, Kero admits that he eats because he enjoys eating, not necessarily because he needs it. Sakura then realizes that means that Sakura has been feeding Kero for months essentially for his own amusement. It's a funny moment and I was sad that they went with the wimpy reaction from Sakura.
Only one major plothole and it happens a lot in anime: It's clear that the water tunnels are full of water so how come everyone can open their mouths and talk without any issues? And related to this, another reason I prefer the English version of this scene is because Japanese Sakura takes so long that everyone would have drowned by the time she was ready.
In conclusion, although this one was very close to call, with the changes made to the Kero and Yueh scenes and snappier pace, I judge these episodes to be...
Different, with the English Cardcaptors being the superior!
Episode 49
Episode 47
Episode 48 (the first attempt)
Episode 48: Sakura and the Awakened Star Key (Card Captor Sakura) or Unlocking the Key (Cardcaptors)
Baseline Version: English Cardcaptors
So, it's still raining in Reddington and only in Reddington. Sakura is up early and moping about how her Key won't work. As Sakura contemplates her Key, Tori shows up and remarks that she's up. As Tori sits to have breakfast, Sakura remembers that Kero told her that he needs to speak to Yueh. After Sakura awkwardly tries to figure out some way to get Tori to get Julian to come over, Tori suggests that if there was something good to eat, he'd come. So Sakura agrees to make something and Tori agrees to invite him over. After this, Kero sits in Sakura's room, looking at the floating Sakura-ified Book of Clow, and says something cryptic and vague about the presence he felt.
At school, Sakura thinks some more about how it won't stop raining and how she already caught all of the Clow Cards. The Japanese version includes a scene with Sakura's friends talking about the rain and Yamazaki telling a tall tale but it's cut in the English version. As Sakura contemplates, Eli hands her a flower, imploring her to cheer up. Sakura thanks Eli for his thoughtful gesture and he heads over to the flower vase to put the rest of the flowers away. The Japanese version has Li totally freak out, run over, and loudly greet Sakura good morning. The English version jumps straight to the following moment, with Li scowling at Eli's benignly smiling face. At this point, Madison comes in and after some brief conversation, this scene ends.
Later on, Sakura and Li stand under a porch, presumably after Sakura has just explained to Li what happened with her wand the night before. In the English version, Li acknowledges that the wand won't work and then remarks that he thought he had felt something strange, especially with the weather. Sakura adds that Kero sensed something too but he couldn't say what it was. She then wonders what it could be since she has all of the Clow Cards. Li explains that there are forces more powerful than the Clow Cards. Sakura asks why she can't sense it. Li explains that whoever or whatever it is might not want to be found and probably has more power than either of them do. If that's the case, then Sakura acknowledges that she'll need his help. The Japanese version is similar to this except Li is a little more vague and Sakura doesn't ask for his help. In any case, Tori and Julian happen to see Sakura and Li hanging out, which makes Tori and Julian pause. After acknowledging that the two kids are hanging out (the English version actually has Julian remark that "she does spend a lot of time with him"), Tori starts to say something to Julian but is interrupted by Ruby pouncing on him. Apparently Tori's teacher really wants those papers Julian and he are holding. So, Tori takes the rest of the papers and off he goes, leaving Ruby and Julian alone together. In the English version, Ruby's voice suddenly drops and she asks if Julian remembers her. Julian looks shocked but doesn't reply. Ruby concludes that "this" will be easier than she thought. In the Japanese version, her voice dropping, Akizuki remarks that Yukito doesn't know. Yukito doesn't answer but looks shocked. She then says that she'll take "him" then. In any case, she runs off.
On her way home, Sakura contemplates what Li and she discussed until Eli shows up. The two walk home together. Sakura thanks Eli for the flower and Eli asks her if she's better now. Sakura admits that she's not perfectly alright but she is better. Eli hopes that the rain will stop soon in the English version while Eriol discusses where the flower came from in the Japanese version. The Japanese version has them discuss the possibility of Sakura coming to Eriol's house someday but this conversation is skipped in the English version. In any case, they have to part ways and as Eli walks to his home, Sakura thinks about how nice Eli is.
After Julian, Tori, and Sakura finish their meal, Tori decides to head out (his reasons vary depending on the version) and Julian decides to stay behind to help clean up. As Tori leaves, Julian notes that it's still raining and Tori mutters that it's because it's not a normal rain. Julian is taken aback and Tori tries to quickly forget that slip-up ever happened. When Tori leaves, Kero flies down and makes Yueh take his true form. In the English version, Kero chastizes Yueh for not speaking to him for a week, to which Yueh explains that he can't waste his energy changing into his true form so it better be important. In the Japanese version, Kero remarks that Yueh is grumpy, to which he replies that it's cumbersome to have your true form and your disguise have different personalities. In any case, they head over to the kitchen and freak Sakura out.
Up in Sakura's room, Sakura tries to be a good hostess to Yueh but finds out that he doesn't eat. In the English version, Sakura asks how that can be since Julian eats so much. Kero explains that, in his human form, food gives Julian energy but Yueh gets his energy from the moon. In the Japanese version, Sakura remarks that Kero likes sweets. Kero explains that he can eat according to his needs. In any case, Kero asks for either more milk or seconds, depending on the version, to get Sakura out of the room. In the English version, Yueh asks why he asked to see him. Kero remarks that it isn't over for Sakura and then asks if he senses "it". Yueh replies that he does sense that a great power has settled in the area. Kero remarks that Clow Reed never told them what to expect after the Final Judgement. Kero transforms into his true form and continues on to say, regarding what he sensed the other day, they'll have to be on their guard to protect Sakura. Yueh agrees. Kero then huffs that he wishes that they knew what they were dealing with.
In the Japanese version, Yueh remarks that Kero got rid of Sakura on purpose. Kero admits that he's not sure if what he is thinking is correct (so presumably doesn't want her to hear what his theory is in order not to freak her out unnecessarily). Kero asks Yueh what he thinks of this rain. Yueh says he thinks someone is making it fall. Kero agrees but asks who exactly is making the rain fall. Kero then transforms. Essentially, Kero's theory is someone Yueh and he both know is behind this.
In any case, at this point, Sakura returns and is freaked out by Kero taking on his true form.
Next up is another visit to the playground to combat the rainstorm. In the English version, Sakura just pouts at her useless Key and asks Yueh if he thinks Clow is behind this. Yueh doesn't think so and Sakura asks why. The Japanese version has Sakura leave the care of Tomoyo in Kero's hands and then Yueh and her chitchat about whether Yukito can remember what happens to Yueh and vice versa. At this point, the rainstorm starts attacking them. Yueh picks Sakura up and flies off to protect her but eventually the rain hits him and he's down. Sakura tries the Key: nope, still not working. The rain then goes after Madison and Kero. Kero manages to protect Madison but his fireball reflects back at him. Eventually, some force causes Kero to be unable to move and one of the rain columns sucks Sakura up into the sky.
Either version varies on how the events plays but they essentially follow this course: Sakura is upset that she's in the water tunnel, everyone else gets sucked up a water tunnel too, Sakura makes the connection that she use the power of her Star to make the wand work, and the wand activates, freeing from her water tunnel.
Down on the ground, Sakura tries the Firey Card but it doesn't work. She figures out that she needs to change the Firey Card since both the book and wand are different now. This finally works and the Firey Card is now a different type of Firey Card. With the new Firey Card, she frees her friends and stops the rainstorm. Once they are safe, after Sakura tries to tell them about the changed Card, she faints.
Unbeknownst to the group, three shadowy figures are floating in the air and comment on how impressive it was that Sakura changed the Card but can she change them all?
Some kind soul has started posting Cardcaptors on youtube again. However, to cause the least amount of trouble, I will not be linking to them so you'll just have to believe me.
I'm baaack! I hope all of you have been taking care of yourselves over the past three years. A lot has changed on my end so let's get started.
I really like the English title because of its punchiness (although the Japanese title isn't bad).
There were some cut scenes but most of these were trimming the fat. I found when watching the Japanese version that it would drag out scenes far longer than they needed to be. I felt like there was a lot of "comment-pause-reaction-pause-comment" abuse going on.
Of course, not all scenes were "fat" but does cutting them hurt the episode? I'm forced to say "not really". For example, was the conversation between Sakura and Yueh a nice bit of characterization? Yes, it was. Did I need it? No, I didn't (especially since it went just a little too long for my attention span). So, some of the scenes that were cut I acknowledge were cute little moments but I honestly didn't miss them when I was watching the English version.
One cut scene that deserved it though was Sakura flashing back to a moment that had just happened when she remembers that she just changed the Card. Yes, Sakura, we know because we just saw it!
Most of the most significant changes happened with Yueh and Kero interactions and Sakura realizing how to activate the Key.
Let's start with Yueh and Kero. I personally feel that Yueh and Kero's interactions feel more natural in the English version. I've already talked about how much I prefer the delivery of the English voice actors but even their dialogue makes more sense. Thinking on it, I think it's more the line changes that Yueh gets that helps. One that stands out in particular is the change from "I hate having different personalities" to "it drains power to change back and forth". First of all, changing back and forth draining him makes a lot of sense (why doesn't Yueh just stay in his natural form?). Second of all, it makes him seem a lot less like than an annoying grump and more like a magical being.
The biggest change is how Yueh and Kero view the situation. I don't really get why Kero can't tell Sakura about his theory in the Japanese version. Again, what is it with Kero not telling Sakura important information in advance? So, I prefer that Kero and Yueh acknowledge that they don't know what's going on either in the English version and they are frustrated about it. This makes more sense and more dramatic as a storytelling technique because unlike before, this is not part of some ultimate test (until one of Kero's weird line changes -- I'll get to that) as far as Kero and Yueh are aware. With the Japanese version (I know the ending but still...), it's pretty obvious that Kero thinks it's Clow.
On the flipside, it is interesting that the English version explicitly has Yueh say that he doesn't think it's Clow, which is an interesting line change considering that in the original version, Kero and Yueh seem to think it's Clow.
But... although I like the new way of Kero and Yueh reading the situation, Kero's weird line change when Sakura activates the Key gets to me. In the original Japanese version, when Sakura starts using the power of her Star and the new circles appear, Yueh and Kero are flabbergasted at the new circles since they have never seen these before. This makes sense because they didn't know that this is supposed to happen. However, in the English version, where Yueh and Kero have no idea what is happening, Yueh wants to go help her (um, how? Aren't you trapped in the water tunnel?), Kero remarks that he mustn't because she must discover her power on her own. Huh?! This isn't a return to Third Episode!Kero where he just assigns random tests for her to complete just to be a jerk, is it? Why would Kero assume that Sakura had to make new circles?
This brings us to Sakura figuring out that she needs to make new circles. In the Japanese version, after powering up with the... power of... not wanting her friends to die, Sakura remembers with an audio flashback that Clow Reed pretty much told her the answer to the issue earlier: the staff uses the power of stars now. In the English version, after the same power up, Sakura seems to realize on her own that she has been "saying the wrong words". When it works, the Japanese Sakura takes a really long time to realize that the Firey Card needs to change too while English Sakura figures it out much more quickly.
I have to admit that I prefer the English version of this moment. What I like about it is, if Sakura is truly supposed to be the Master of these Cards and she is supposed to have this great power, then, for me, it is much more satisfying for her to "know" what she needs to do rather than just flail about. Japanese Sakura seems really lucky, English Sakura seems to be finally tapping into an inner source of magical power rather than relying on the power of the Cards. This is not to say that the Japanese version is bad, because it's not bad, but I just really preferred how the English version handled it.
In other news, I finally figured out why I don't like Eriol's Japanese voice. Eriol sounds a little too much like the late Michael Jackson for my tastes while Eli sounds a little more natural.
I also was a little disappointed that the moment where Sakura learns Yueh doesn't eat even though Kero does is changed from the original manga. In the manga version of this scene, Kero admits that he eats because he enjoys eating, not necessarily because he needs it. Sakura then realizes that means that Sakura has been feeding Kero for months essentially for his own amusement. It's a funny moment and I was sad that they went with the wimpy reaction from Sakura.
Only one major plothole and it happens a lot in anime: It's clear that the water tunnels are full of water so how come everyone can open their mouths and talk without any issues? And related to this, another reason I prefer the English version of this scene is because Japanese Sakura takes so long that everyone would have drowned by the time she was ready.
In conclusion, although this one was very close to call, with the changes made to the Kero and Yueh scenes and snappier pace, I judge these episodes to be...
Different, with the English Cardcaptors being the superior!
Episode 49