Name of Series:

Card Captor Sakura Part 1

Manufacturer:

Bandai HG-if

Date of release (estimated):

June 2004

Price (singly in ¥):

200 ¥

Sculptor:

Unknown

No. of Pieces in the series:

6

Secret (SP)/Chase:

None

Variants:

None

Size:

Around 4-6cm

Availability (in Singapore):

Toys Frenz, capsules might be available in Toys Room

Other Remarks:

One of my fave shoujo (perhaps the only shoujo series I enjoy) anime series but none other than the renowned Clamp team about an average 10 year-old girl named, Kinomoto Sakura who was bestowed with an ability to capture and command a stack of cursed Tarot cards created by the enigmatic Clow which got accidentally escaped from a magical book. With the help of her little feline-like guardian, Kero-chan and best friend, Daidouji Tomoyo, as well as at times, her love interest, Li Syoran.

Sakura
(Sai fuku, School Uniform version)

Sakura is commonly seen in the anime series, in her sailor school uniform, and with her trusty rollerblades with protective gear as she scurries her way to school every morning. This time round, she realises the adorable Kero chan is tagging along, hoping to be lucky such that there might be his favorite strawberry cake for desserts.

I really like this piece, firstly is the design of Sakura in her usual school-bound outfit, the inclusion of my fave Kero chan as well as been very stable despite the standing figures in Bandai HG series has a reputation of been very unstable. The clear PVC support stand this time is nicely molded to fit the rollerblades. The only not so appealing part has to be point on her neck which connects to her head, which is quite evidently badly done. Kero chan is done nicely, though his facial features could be made more prominently. I also like the leather school bag Sakura is carrying.

Sakura
(Opening Costume)

I believe this is the costume we see Sakura in the first opening theme of the 1st season of the anime series, "Catch you, Catch me". I am never paying much attention to what costume Sakura is wearing week in and out as she had a costume-making fetish in Tomoyo who couldn't stop churning out new costume for each and every Sakura's card chasing adventure.

This is the worst piece of the set I must say. The main fault been the poor sculpt and Sakura could not stand on her own at all. I can envision the designer wanting to do a nice pose , taking reference to the opening sequence of the anime in which Sakuta is holding a tarot card on her left hand and casting a spell using her wand on the right. But the positioning of the legs just make the entire piece very unstable which is made even worse with the right been heavier than the left side because of the presence of the wand. It took me a while stabilise her for the photo shoot using blue tac. Not a big fan of the red and white European style costume but I do like the pair of wings at the rear as well as that pink wand which could be use for many purposes by Sakura.

Sakura
(Episode 8's Battle Costume)

As the name implied, Sakura wore this in her battle in episode 8 like many of us really care so much about it. I think only avid fanboy with very limited amount of social life would actually care to remember.

At this point I'm quite irritated by this point with the fact that they made yet another Sakura in freaky fanfare costume instead of doing another character like Li Syoran or Meiling or even Tsukishiro but they just got to add another lame looking costume wearing Sakura. This costume is kind of cross between Catwoman and the opening theme European dress. Well at least this piece can stand by itself.

Sakura & Tomoyo

The best pals are side by side on a cake like podium, all dressed in French maid uniform. Sakura looks bashful as she held her magical wand while Tomoy armed with her omini-present digital video camera, always ready to capture every seconds of Sakura's adventure with the tarot cards.

For someone who dislike busts, I actually find this piece very interesting. It's like some cover art Clamp might draw for the manga series or special art book.Firstly the piece is very stable. The color of the base is not too attractive but it is been made up for by the 2 girls whom are sculpted and painted very nicely as well as the Kero chan emblem at the front. Tomoy is the nicer between the 2 with an intersting pose as well as a cool looking video camera, you can also feel the twinkle in her bright eyes. Sakura looks quite cute being bashful.

Sakura
(Ending)

When she is not busy with her school work and her card capturing adventures, Kinomoto Sakura, like any other 10 year old Japanese girl (yah right!) loves to do some ryori (cooking). And in the ending theme of season 2 of the anime series, we see Sakura with much help from her good friend, Tomoyo cook up some delicious pastries and desserts with the theme of "Candy", and much to the delight of Kero chan who always has a sweet tooth.

This piece when place side by side with the Tomoyo ending piece forms a nice vignette. Sakura's knee-bending pose to unveil the wrapped up chocolate heart is pretty original and the way it is sculpted to the heart itself, make the whole piece pretty stable. The color of the dress and apron matches pretty nicely and Sakura's face is sculpted and painted very naturally. Lastly the chocolate looks pretty tasty though has a tinge of artificial feel to it.

Tomoyo
(Ending)

Tomoyo helping out Sakura with her cooking, opened a pizza box only to be pleasantly surprise to find the ever-starving Kero-chan grinning gleefully after gobbling down the entire pizza.

Tomoyo looks very nice with her pose, nice feminine lady blouse and a very nicely sculpted face. I feel Tomoyo is really stealing all the thunder from Sakura in this set as she is made so much nicer than Sakura in the last 2 pieces featuring her. Kero-chan is not that nicely done once again, perhaps his size might be a limiting factor for the sculptor, but that grin is a Kodak moment indeed. Many collector including myself is pretty buffled by the present of the 2 rectangular hole embedded inside the pizza box and we are still wondering are we missing any part that supposed to peg onto the holes.