Episode 37: "Sakura and Tomoyo's Lost Voice" or "The Show Must Go On"
Introduction to the Experiment
Episode 36
Episode 37: Sakura and Tomoyo's Lost Voice (Card Captor Sakura) or The Show Must Go On (Cardcaptors)
Sakura, Madison, Chelsea, Zachary, Meilin, and Li are having a picnic and are playing with Madison's mother's brand-new karaoke microphone. As Madison sings and Sakura thinks about how awesome Madison is at singing, something shines in the cherry blossoms. At home, Kero complains about how he wasn't able to come with them. Eventually, this leads to a discussion about Kero's true form. Sakura asks him what it's like but his answer is vague. He informs her that once she captures all of the Clow Cards, she'll see it. As she turns away to do something, Kero mutters to himself that she'll meet someone else at that time as well. The next day, it's the end of the school day, and Sakura wants to walk home with Madison after their respective practices but Madison says she can't: the choir is practicing for their school competition and she has an introductory solo so she is staying late. In the English version, it is the same song as the one she was singing during the Song Card capture and during the opening scene while the Japanese version has her sing completely different songs each time. As the two girls part ways, Ms. Mackenzie stops Sakura and asks if Madison was going to practice. Sakura says she is. Ms. Mackenzie that Madison should take care to protect her voice while Ms. Mizuki just says that Tomoyo is having a hard time and Sakura should help her. Anyway, it's cheerleading practice and Sakura, Chelsea, and Nikki talk about Madison's awesome singing and how they're going to watch her practice afterwards. At this point, Julian shows up with Tori, who teases Sakura about her clumsiness with the baton. Eventually, they go back to playing soccer and Sakura, out of excitement, throws her pompoms halfway across the school grounds. She goes to fetch her pompoms and hears Madison singing. She then senses a Clow Card but can't see it although the audience can see a shining ball in the branches above her. The Clow Card shoots through the school and Sakura gives chase only hear the music teacher asking if Madison is all right. It turns out that Madison has completely lost her voice. Madison is picked up by her bodyguards to seek medical attention. That night, Sakura is finished explaining this off camera to Kero and explains that she called but Madison wasn't home/didn't answer (English/Japanese). Kero reaffirms that Sakura sensed a Clow Card so that must be the reason. Kero concludes it's the Voice Card, which steals voices it likes. Sakura then realizes that Madison losing her voice must have been what Ms. Mackenzie meant. Kero remarks that perhaps he should meet this teacher of hers. Meanwhile, at Madison's house, Madison is in bed, looking at her choir book sadly when her mother frantically rushes into the room. She heard about what happened and how the doctors think it's a cold. She says she'll stay home to take care of Madison but Madison writes in a notebook. Her mother hugs her and informs her that she is "not fine". The next day, Madison is absent from school and Sakura is sad. At the end of the day, Sakura is still sad and Li seeks her out, trying to see what is up with her. Later, in a park, after Sakura explains off screen what happened, Sakura says that she has to find that Card and get Madison's voice back or she won't be able to perform for the contest. In the Japanese version, Li offers to help her think and Sakura is very happy about this. This sets off a blush on Li's face and he protests that he just wants to capture Clow Cards. He then jumps up to head to Tomoyo's house with Sakura running after him, telling him he's going the wrong way. The English version has Li suggest upfront that they try looking at Madison's house and perhaps lure the Voice Card back to it. He then jumps up and starts walking away with Sakura following. At Madison's house, Madison doesn't have her voice back. Sakura is upset about this but Madison writes down something encouraging and this steels Sakura's resolve to capture the Card. At this point, Madison's mother enters with tea and cake. Li introduces himself to her and Madison's mother and Sakura start setting the tea and cake up. In the Japanese version, this is followed by Li looking at Sakura just a little too long, which catches Tomoyo's attention. Tomoyo writes to Li: You are always watching over her, aren't you? This sets Li off into "the lady doth protest too much" mode. After this, there is a montage of Li and Sakura thinking in various parts of the room. Eventually, Li asks if Kero said anything else about the Voice Card. Sakura repeats that the Voice Card liked Madison's voice so much that it stole it. Li tries his Lasin Board but that doesn't work. Sakura adds that the Voice Card will continue to steal voices and likes to hide. Sakura is getting distraught and mentions the Song Card in reference to Madison which gives Li an idea. He suggests using the Song Card (which has previously copied Madison's voice) to make the Voice Card think it hasn't taken all of Madison's voice and it will come to get it. Sakura uses the Voice Card and it sings, using Madison's voice. This catches the Voice Card's attention and it comes to Madison's house. With Li's help, she seals it. It returns Madison's voice and everything's okay again. Then it is time for the competition. Madison's classmates (except Sakura) talk about how Madison is such a good singer and how the choir is up next. Backstage, Sakura asks about Madison's voice. She's fine and, in the English version, points out that Sakura and Li make a good team. In the Japanese version, Tomoyo points out that the song she is about to sing is one she wanted Sakura to hear. Anyway, Madison sings her solo and it is great. The Japanese version of the song is about friendship, in case you're curious.
Wanna see it?
Cardcaptors Episode 37: Part 1/3
Cardcaptors Episode 37: Part 2/3
Cardcaptors Episode 37: Part 3/3
Card Captor Sakura Episode 37: Part 1/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl4T0CWClwE
Card Captor Sakura Episode 37: Part 2/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgZIpnrlvTo
Card Captor Sakura Episode 37: Part 3/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3WUDX7H0uA
That "Wings of a Dream" song is now stuck in my head! AAA! Anyway, I couldn't stop giggling during this because I just kept thinking of Gravitation because Shuichi losing his voice is a plot point near the end of the anime. What also made me laugh is that fact that a relatively famous singer named Maaya Sakamoto plays Tomoyo in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle so it would made more sense with that actress rather than this one.
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, Voice
Current number: 35
Li: Time, Storm, Return, Dash, Freeze
Current number: 5
Hm, both of the titles kind of stink. The Japanese one is just kind of there and the English one is a little too hammy. I guess the Japanese one is slightly better.
Nothing major is cut or changed, as you can tell from the summary. One notable change is the song Madison sings. In the English version, she and the Song Card sing one song. Don't get me wrong, I like the "Wings of a Dream" song but are the English producers that lazy? They couldn't write another song for this episode. I mean, they're obsessed with adding insert songs into the dub so why not? Also, it created a plot hole because she sings that song during the picnic and then later, when Sakura asks if Chelsea has heard the song, she says she hasn't. Um, yes, you did. It was yesterday. You were there with Sakura. Never mind the fact that Madison and her choir is still competing with the same song for over a year now! I was in choirs and bands and we changed our songs every semester: Winter and Spring concert. Also, during the concert scene, the choir never actually sings in the English version. I much preferred the song used in the Japanese version and the choral arrangement used. I really thought the English producers could have tried harder. Another thing that was weird was Madison pointing that her mother was coming. Considering that Madison and her mother have a better relationship in the English version, I found this surprising: I just assumed her mother would be there. But Madison brings it up as if this is unusual. Then again, her mother is a workaholic so maybe it is surprising even if they do have tea parties and vacation together.
Li coming over to the heterosexual side of things was trimmed as well. Two moments in particular is in the park, when he has a blush attack after he suggests that he help Sakura and she oh so happy for his help, and during the tea scene, when Tomoyo is all "I saw you looking" and he is all "No, I wasn't!". Oh, and there is a blushing moment during the opening picnic but that was really minor. On one hand, those scenes were cute and I liked them. On the other hand, when I was watching the English version, I didn't even notice anything amiss. I did notice, however, Madison saying that Sakura and Li make a "great team". Tomoyo doesn't even bring Li up (she says that Sakura got her voice back when it was Li's idea). Maybe it was a concession because, after reflection, there are some good reasons why the moments may have been cut.
1. Li blushing in the park was preceded and followed by Sakura being weepy. The English version tends to discourage showing Sakura to be a crybaby unless they absolutely have to. Also, why have Li explicitly state he is going to help? What, were we expected to think that Li would go, "Wow, that sucks about Tomoyo. Hope you find that Voice Card before I do! See ya!" and walk off? Come on, we know he's going to help, why not just cut to the chase?
2. Maybe they wanted to avoid the secret message because of the Japanese writing? This is harder to buy because they did a pretty good job of getting around it by having the scene never focus on it and having people read it. On the other hand, how would that message be read aloud? Unless Li "thought" it to the audience but the English version tends to only give Sakura that privilege. Or Li could simply not read it and just have Li react, leaving the audience to wonder "What did Madison write?!" Of course, if they had done that, I would be writing "Why didn't they read the message aloud? I needed that information to understand what was going on!"
So, one half of me is lamenting the loss of cute scenes while the other half of me admits that I didn't even miss them the first time I watched it.
Speaking of Sakura being weepy, they cut a lot of Sakura crying. One scene that they cut was near the end, when Tomoyo gets her voice back. When Madison gets her voice back, she simply speaks and Sakura is glad, end of scene. The Japanese version has Sakura bawl her eyes out and run into Tomoyo's arms. That scene was so over the top and Narmish that I actually burst out laughing. Sakura, Tomoyo lost her voice for a little over a day, she didn't nearly die of throat cancer. Chill out!
One kept scene that surprised me was Sakura's scene with Julian. Not only was this scene kept but Tori brought up the crush issue by saying that Sakura gets clumsy around "a certain someone". The Japanese version just has Toya tease her about her rock-hard head so I was surprised by this. Tori hasn't referenced the crush since the pilot! Are they bringing the crush back? I wish the English producers would make up their minds!
Speaking of changing things, did they forget about how Li is captain of the drill team? Then why is he going to soccer practice in the English version? Of course, he could do both but he's not like Meilin, who transferred here and will live here: Li came for the Cards, not to build a new life in Reddington. So he shouldn't be wasting time playing sports when there are Cards to catch. They had a wonderful opportunity to do some continuity and they blew it. I told you we would never hear about the drill team again.
And Ms. Mackenzie continues to rock. I loved her prediction this time while the Japanese version was unbelievably vague and lame. The English one makes one think, "Wow! Ms. Mackenzie does know about the Clow Cards!" while the Japanese one makes one think, "Wow! Was she just referencing the contest, the Clow Card, some sort of home situation, or what?"
The English cast needs to work on one-inch voices, though. Especially Matt Hill. Seriously, Sakura is not more than three feet away and Kero is going on about the other person she'll meet without any change in volume. She can still hear you! Oh, and what was up with the granny doing the announcement for the contest? Who was that?
All right, plot holes.
1. Okay, seriously, no one in that entire town has a better singing voice than Tomoyo? I find that hard to believe.
2. Not that I expect doctors to conclude "magic" as a reason for illness, but why did they conclude a cold? Tomoyo literally could not talk, she wasn't hoarse. Furthermore, she had no other symptoms of a cold. Why did no one argue stress?
3. Was it really wise to have, essentially, a private conversation on a notebook when the subject of conversation is sitting right there? Because Tomoyo making that statement to Li about "always watching her" was kind of risky with Sakura sitting close by.
4. Why doesn't Tomoyo's mother hear first the Song Card singing with Tomoyo's voice and then Sakura running around after the Voice Card? Are the walls soundproof?
5. How does Sakura get from backstage to her seat so fast? Never mind that, why was she allowed backstage in the first place?
In conclusion, because of changes made that had relatively little impact on the story, I judge these episodes to be...
Equal!
Episode 38
Episode 36
Episode 37: Sakura and Tomoyo's Lost Voice (Card Captor Sakura) or The Show Must Go On (Cardcaptors)
Sakura, Madison, Chelsea, Zachary, Meilin, and Li are having a picnic and are playing with Madison's mother's brand-new karaoke microphone. As Madison sings and Sakura thinks about how awesome Madison is at singing, something shines in the cherry blossoms. At home, Kero complains about how he wasn't able to come with them. Eventually, this leads to a discussion about Kero's true form. Sakura asks him what it's like but his answer is vague. He informs her that once she captures all of the Clow Cards, she'll see it. As she turns away to do something, Kero mutters to himself that she'll meet someone else at that time as well. The next day, it's the end of the school day, and Sakura wants to walk home with Madison after their respective practices but Madison says she can't: the choir is practicing for their school competition and she has an introductory solo so she is staying late. In the English version, it is the same song as the one she was singing during the Song Card capture and during the opening scene while the Japanese version has her sing completely different songs each time. As the two girls part ways, Ms. Mackenzie stops Sakura and asks if Madison was going to practice. Sakura says she is. Ms. Mackenzie that Madison should take care to protect her voice while Ms. Mizuki just says that Tomoyo is having a hard time and Sakura should help her. Anyway, it's cheerleading practice and Sakura, Chelsea, and Nikki talk about Madison's awesome singing and how they're going to watch her practice afterwards. At this point, Julian shows up with Tori, who teases Sakura about her clumsiness with the baton. Eventually, they go back to playing soccer and Sakura, out of excitement, throws her pompoms halfway across the school grounds. She goes to fetch her pompoms and hears Madison singing. She then senses a Clow Card but can't see it although the audience can see a shining ball in the branches above her. The Clow Card shoots through the school and Sakura gives chase only hear the music teacher asking if Madison is all right. It turns out that Madison has completely lost her voice. Madison is picked up by her bodyguards to seek medical attention. That night, Sakura is finished explaining this off camera to Kero and explains that she called but Madison wasn't home/didn't answer (English/Japanese). Kero reaffirms that Sakura sensed a Clow Card so that must be the reason. Kero concludes it's the Voice Card, which steals voices it likes. Sakura then realizes that Madison losing her voice must have been what Ms. Mackenzie meant. Kero remarks that perhaps he should meet this teacher of hers. Meanwhile, at Madison's house, Madison is in bed, looking at her choir book sadly when her mother frantically rushes into the room. She heard about what happened and how the doctors think it's a cold. She says she'll stay home to take care of Madison but Madison writes in a notebook. Her mother hugs her and informs her that she is "not fine". The next day, Madison is absent from school and Sakura is sad. At the end of the day, Sakura is still sad and Li seeks her out, trying to see what is up with her. Later, in a park, after Sakura explains off screen what happened, Sakura says that she has to find that Card and get Madison's voice back or she won't be able to perform for the contest. In the Japanese version, Li offers to help her think and Sakura is very happy about this. This sets off a blush on Li's face and he protests that he just wants to capture Clow Cards. He then jumps up to head to Tomoyo's house with Sakura running after him, telling him he's going the wrong way. The English version has Li suggest upfront that they try looking at Madison's house and perhaps lure the Voice Card back to it. He then jumps up and starts walking away with Sakura following. At Madison's house, Madison doesn't have her voice back. Sakura is upset about this but Madison writes down something encouraging and this steels Sakura's resolve to capture the Card. At this point, Madison's mother enters with tea and cake. Li introduces himself to her and Madison's mother and Sakura start setting the tea and cake up. In the Japanese version, this is followed by Li looking at Sakura just a little too long, which catches Tomoyo's attention. Tomoyo writes to Li: You are always watching over her, aren't you? This sets Li off into "the lady doth protest too much" mode. After this, there is a montage of Li and Sakura thinking in various parts of the room. Eventually, Li asks if Kero said anything else about the Voice Card. Sakura repeats that the Voice Card liked Madison's voice so much that it stole it. Li tries his Lasin Board but that doesn't work. Sakura adds that the Voice Card will continue to steal voices and likes to hide. Sakura is getting distraught and mentions the Song Card in reference to Madison which gives Li an idea. He suggests using the Song Card (which has previously copied Madison's voice) to make the Voice Card think it hasn't taken all of Madison's voice and it will come to get it. Sakura uses the Voice Card and it sings, using Madison's voice. This catches the Voice Card's attention and it comes to Madison's house. With Li's help, she seals it. It returns Madison's voice and everything's okay again. Then it is time for the competition. Madison's classmates (except Sakura) talk about how Madison is such a good singer and how the choir is up next. Backstage, Sakura asks about Madison's voice. She's fine and, in the English version, points out that Sakura and Li make a good team. In the Japanese version, Tomoyo points out that the song she is about to sing is one she wanted Sakura to hear. Anyway, Madison sings her solo and it is great. The Japanese version of the song is about friendship, in case you're curious.
Wanna see it?
Cardcaptors Episode 37: Part 1/3
Click to viewCardcaptors Episode 37: Part 2/3
Cardcaptors Episode 37: Part 3/3
Card Captor Sakura Episode 37: Part 1/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl4T0CWClwE
Card Captor Sakura Episode 37: Part 2/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgZIpnrlvTo
Card Captor Sakura Episode 37: Part 3/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3WUDX7H0uA
That "Wings of a Dream" song is now stuck in my head! AAA! Anyway, I couldn't stop giggling during this because I just kept thinking of Gravitation because Shuichi losing his voice is a plot point near the end of the anime. What also made me laugh is that fact that a relatively famous singer named Maaya Sakamoto plays Tomoyo in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle so it would made more sense with that actress rather than this one.
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, Voice
Current number: 35
Li: Time, Storm, Return, Dash, Freeze
Current number: 5
Hm, both of the titles kind of stink. The Japanese one is just kind of there and the English one is a little too hammy. I guess the Japanese one is slightly better.
Nothing major is cut or changed, as you can tell from the summary. One notable change is the song Madison sings. In the English version, she and the Song Card sing one song. Don't get me wrong, I like the "Wings of a Dream" song but are the English producers that lazy? They couldn't write another song for this episode. I mean, they're obsessed with adding insert songs into the dub so why not? Also, it created a plot hole because she sings that song during the picnic and then later, when Sakura asks if Chelsea has heard the song, she says she hasn't. Um, yes, you did. It was yesterday. You were there with Sakura. Never mind the fact that Madison and her choir is still competing with the same song for over a year now! I was in choirs and bands and we changed our songs every semester: Winter and Spring concert. Also, during the concert scene, the choir never actually sings in the English version. I much preferred the song used in the Japanese version and the choral arrangement used. I really thought the English producers could have tried harder. Another thing that was weird was Madison pointing that her mother was coming. Considering that Madison and her mother have a better relationship in the English version, I found this surprising: I just assumed her mother would be there. But Madison brings it up as if this is unusual. Then again, her mother is a workaholic so maybe it is surprising even if they do have tea parties and vacation together.
Li coming over to the heterosexual side of things was trimmed as well. Two moments in particular is in the park, when he has a blush attack after he suggests that he help Sakura and she oh so happy for his help, and during the tea scene, when Tomoyo is all "I saw you looking" and he is all "No, I wasn't!". Oh, and there is a blushing moment during the opening picnic but that was really minor. On one hand, those scenes were cute and I liked them. On the other hand, when I was watching the English version, I didn't even notice anything amiss. I did notice, however, Madison saying that Sakura and Li make a "great team". Tomoyo doesn't even bring Li up (she says that Sakura got her voice back when it was Li's idea). Maybe it was a concession because, after reflection, there are some good reasons why the moments may have been cut.
1. Li blushing in the park was preceded and followed by Sakura being weepy. The English version tends to discourage showing Sakura to be a crybaby unless they absolutely have to. Also, why have Li explicitly state he is going to help? What, were we expected to think that Li would go, "Wow, that sucks about Tomoyo. Hope you find that Voice Card before I do! See ya!" and walk off? Come on, we know he's going to help, why not just cut to the chase?
2. Maybe they wanted to avoid the secret message because of the Japanese writing? This is harder to buy because they did a pretty good job of getting around it by having the scene never focus on it and having people read it. On the other hand, how would that message be read aloud? Unless Li "thought" it to the audience but the English version tends to only give Sakura that privilege. Or Li could simply not read it and just have Li react, leaving the audience to wonder "What did Madison write?!" Of course, if they had done that, I would be writing "Why didn't they read the message aloud? I needed that information to understand what was going on!"
So, one half of me is lamenting the loss of cute scenes while the other half of me admits that I didn't even miss them the first time I watched it.
Speaking of Sakura being weepy, they cut a lot of Sakura crying. One scene that they cut was near the end, when Tomoyo gets her voice back. When Madison gets her voice back, she simply speaks and Sakura is glad, end of scene. The Japanese version has Sakura bawl her eyes out and run into Tomoyo's arms. That scene was so over the top and Narmish that I actually burst out laughing. Sakura, Tomoyo lost her voice for a little over a day, she didn't nearly die of throat cancer. Chill out!
One kept scene that surprised me was Sakura's scene with Julian. Not only was this scene kept but Tori brought up the crush issue by saying that Sakura gets clumsy around "a certain someone". The Japanese version just has Toya tease her about her rock-hard head so I was surprised by this. Tori hasn't referenced the crush since the pilot! Are they bringing the crush back? I wish the English producers would make up their minds!
Speaking of changing things, did they forget about how Li is captain of the drill team? Then why is he going to soccer practice in the English version? Of course, he could do both but he's not like Meilin, who transferred here and will live here: Li came for the Cards, not to build a new life in Reddington. So he shouldn't be wasting time playing sports when there are Cards to catch. They had a wonderful opportunity to do some continuity and they blew it. I told you we would never hear about the drill team again.
And Ms. Mackenzie continues to rock. I loved her prediction this time while the Japanese version was unbelievably vague and lame. The English one makes one think, "Wow! Ms. Mackenzie does know about the Clow Cards!" while the Japanese one makes one think, "Wow! Was she just referencing the contest, the Clow Card, some sort of home situation, or what?"
The English cast needs to work on one-inch voices, though. Especially Matt Hill. Seriously, Sakura is not more than three feet away and Kero is going on about the other person she'll meet without any change in volume. She can still hear you! Oh, and what was up with the granny doing the announcement for the contest? Who was that?
All right, plot holes.
1. Okay, seriously, no one in that entire town has a better singing voice than Tomoyo? I find that hard to believe.
2. Not that I expect doctors to conclude "magic" as a reason for illness, but why did they conclude a cold? Tomoyo literally could not talk, she wasn't hoarse. Furthermore, she had no other symptoms of a cold. Why did no one argue stress?
3. Was it really wise to have, essentially, a private conversation on a notebook when the subject of conversation is sitting right there? Because Tomoyo making that statement to Li about "always watching her" was kind of risky with Sakura sitting close by.
4. Why doesn't Tomoyo's mother hear first the Song Card singing with Tomoyo's voice and then Sakura running around after the Voice Card? Are the walls soundproof?
5. How does Sakura get from backstage to her seat so fast? Never mind that, why was she allowed backstage in the first place?
In conclusion, because of changes made that had relatively little impact on the story, I judge these episodes to be...
Equal!
Episode 38