The Cardcaptor manga saga is divided into two series - the original 6-volume Cardcaptor Sakura and the subsequent 6-volume Cardcaptor Sakura - Master of the Clow, which picks up the storyline immediately.

The Master of the Clow story arc is currently available in right-to-left 100% Authentic Manga format. The original 6 Cardcaptor Sakura volumes are being reissued in that same right-to-left 100% Authentic Manga format in two boxed sets in the Fall of '03 and the Winter of '04. At some point after the second of those boxed sets, the individual volumes will also be available for purchase in the r2l format.

Sakura Kinomoto was just an average 4th Grader - loved P.E., hated math - until one day, while looking through her father's library, Sakura found the Clow, an enchanted book designed to hold a set of magical Clow Cards. But when Sakura opened the book, it was empty. Talk about disasters!! Cerberus, the Creature of the Seal, emerged from the cover of the book and told Sakura the cards must be returned to the book. "If the cards aren't in the book, they come to life and do evil!" Kero formed a contract with Sakura making her a Cardcaptor and together with Sakura's best friend, Tomoyo, they embark on a mystical journey to capture all the Clow Cards before the Cards can wreak chaos and destruction. Created in 1996, Cardcaptor Sakura is the original manga by the all-female manga studio CLAMP. It forms the foundation for both the Kids WB! animated Cardcaptors television show and the home video series in release from Pioneer.

What is 'CLAMP'?

CLAMP is the four-woman manga studio that creates the world's most popular manga. For the past 15 years they have worked non-stop, creating everything from the adorable shojo (girls comic) hit Cardcaptor Sakura, to the dark and brooding Tokyo Babylon, to the sci-fi romantic comedy Chobits. Currently they are working on four series: Legal Drug, X, Tsubasa: Resevoir Chronicle and xxxHolic. The group also has a close relationship with anime studio Madhouse, which has adapted most of CLAMP's manga into equally successful anime.

2004 marks the team's 15th anniversary, and to celebrate they are working on a retrospective collection called CLAMP no Kiseki, available from TOKYOPOP in 2005.


Member Bios

Name: Ageha Ohkawa
Role: team leader; story & script
DOB: March 2
Blood-type: A
Birthplace: Osaka

Name: Satsuki Igarashi
Role: design; art assistant
DOB: Feb 8
Blood type: A
Birthplace: Born in Kyoto, raised in Shiga

Tsubaki Nekoi
Role: art assistant; chibi artist; lead artist on Wish, Legal Drug, Suki, The One I Love
DOB: January 21
Blood-type: O
Birthplace: Kyoto

Mokona
Role: lead artist; colors
DOB: June 16
Blood-type: A
Birthplace: Kyoto

Sakura Kinomoto
Sakura Kinomoto is an energetic fourth grader who would rather be out roller-blading than in a math-class. After accidentally discovering the secret Clow Cards, she is appointed the Cardcaptor by Cerberus and charged with the duty of rounding up all of the lost cards that could wreak havoc if they're not found. Once she has captured the cards she can use them herself. Although her mother passed away when Sakura was very young, she has grown up in a loving household with an overprotective brother, Toya, and an always-pleasant father (who's also an excellent cook). She also has a crush on her brother's friend, Yuki.

Kero
Kero-chan, or Kero - whose true form is Cerberus - is the guardian of the Clow Book and Sakura's mentor. He is feisty, defensive, and always hungry. Most of the time he appears as a cute stuffed toy with an attitude ... but his true form is that of a winged lion - see below.

Cerberus
This is the true form of Cerberus - a majestic winged lion!

Tomoyo Daidouji
Sakura's best friend. She knows about Sakura's secret life as a Cardcaptor, makes all her costumes, and videotapes her adventures. Tomoyo has a 'crush' on Sakura. She is very formal and polite.

Syaoran Li
He is from Hong Kong and belongs to the Li family, which claim descendancy from Clow Reed, the magician who created The Clow. When he shows up in Tomoeda, he demands that Sakura give him The Clow. He is an ultra-serious kid whose attention is exclusively on capturing the cards. And though he and Sakura are not truly enemies, they become serious rivals for the Clow Cards, even as Li slowly falls for the fun-loving Sakura. As the adventure enfolds, though, Li eventually becomes one of Sakura's most valuable allies.

Yue
The second Guardian of the Clow, Yue's power is based on the moon. His true form is that of a white-haired angel.

Yukito
A high school boy with a big heart and an even bigger appetite, Yukito is Toya's best friend and the object of Sakura's affection. But this charismatic teen has an alternate identity so secret even HE doesn't know about it...

Toya Kinomoto
Sakura's older brother may seem like a bully, but when it counts, he's always there to look out for his sister. When he's not watching Sakura's back, he's at one of his many part-time jobs.

Fujitaka Kinomoto
Sakura's father teaches archaeology at Towa University. He's a wonderful father, a great cook, and maybe, just maybe, he holds some other secrets ...

Nadeshiko Kinomoto
Nadeshiko passed away when her daughter, Sakura, was just 3 years old. Sometimes it seems as if her spirit is watching over the young Cardcaptor.

Eriol Hiiragizawa
Eriol first appears in the Master of the Clow series. He transfers to Sakura's classroom from England. Generous, well-mannered, and wise beyond his years, riol is definitely more than what he seems.

Supi
Makes its first appearance in the Master of the Clow story arc. Supi is Eriol's mild-mannered housecat ... until he transforms into Spinel Sun, that is!

Spinel Sun
Makes its first appearance in the Master of the Clow story arc. Spinel Sun - a great winged panther - is what Supi transforms into at Eriol's request.

Ruby Moon
Appears in the Master of the Clow story arc. Ruby Moon - a winged guardian - is what Eriol's other companion, Nakuru, transforms into. While she keeps a female body, she's really a genderless magical being.

Nakuru
Nakuru attends Seijyu High with Toya, but can transform into the winged guardian Ruby Moon.

Rika
One of Sakura's classmates, Rika is elegant and mature and has a crush on her teacher, Mr. Terada.

Chiharu
Sakura's bright and cheerful friend. She's on the cheerleading squad with Sakura, and is always found with her cousin and best friend, Takashi.

Takashi
The other boy (aside from Li) who hangs out with Sakura and her girlfriends. He's famous for telling very tall tales which are 99% untrue.

Naoko
Quiet and composed, Naoko is a big fan of mysteries and ghost stories.

Clow Reed
Many years before Sakura was even born, Clow reed blended Eastern and Western spells to create his own form of magic - powerful forces trapped in cards. He kept his cards in an enchanted book which was protected by the Guardian Beast, Cerberus. Following his death, the cards were lost from memory until they were rediscovered by a young girl in Tomoeda. It seems Clow Reed knew that Sakura would be the next Cardcaptor, as he left many surprises to help her in her quest. Now that Sakura is Master of the Clow, Clow Reed's presence is stronger than ever. What could the spirit of this great magician want?