A hugely popular series, Cardcaptor Sakura captured the imagination of fans across the globe when CLAMP's manga story was adapted into a 70-episode anime series in 1998. Filled with humor, action, romance, and adorable outfits, the story followed elementary school student Sakura Kinomoto as she set out to become master of the magical Clow Cards after accidentally releasing them. Her adventure took her to unexpected places, showing her true strength as a brave, compassionate heroine.
Twenty years later, Cardcaptor Sakura continues to be adored by fans. With many stand-out moments in the series' 70 episodes, we turned to IMDb to see which episodes of this beloved anime are considered to be the very best of Sakura's adventures.
10 "Double Take" (7.8)
Very few of the Clow Cards were fleshed out to be more than mischief-making entities, there to help or hinder Sakura. The Mirror is a rare exception, having a light character arc and interacting directly with Sakura and her family, forming relationships with them as the show progresses.
In "Double Take," Sakura's shocked to hear that she has been spotted causing trouble around town. Using the Clow Card's fortune-telling abilities, she learns that there is another Sakura – and she knows about the real Sakura's Cardcaptor powers. To make matters worse, the doppelgänger lures Sakura's brother, Touya, to the woods, accidentally injuring him. Fortunately, Sakura arrives, revealing her double to be The Mirror.
9 "The Switch" (7.8)
In a classic body-swap tale, The Change causes trouble when it switches Cerberus and Syaoran for a day. Proud Syaoran, now trapped in the cuddly lion's body, feels humiliated by being carried around by Sakura. Meanwhile, Cerberus, now in a human body, must try to blend in as Syaoran. Despite their efforts to keep a low profile, chaos inevitably follows.
While being filled with good humor, the episode shows Syaoran's tough exterior begin to soften as his friendship with Sakura and Cerberus starts to blossom. Perhaps being trapped in a claw machine game for a while can humble even the hardest of hearts?
8 "Under the Weather" (7.8)
Bed-ridden with a fever, Sakura learns that The Cloud is conjuring rain. Determined to capture the mischievous card, Sakura uses The Mirror to take her place so she can sneak out without Touya noticing. Weak in battle, Sakura faints, leaving Syaoran to capture the card and give it to her. Returning home feeling even worse, Sakura discovers her ploy didn't work, with Touya recognizing The Mirror from their previous encounter.
While the episode puts an interesting twist on Sakura's usual Cardcaptor missions, it also showcases the strong support Sakura has around her – her caring and brave friends and her kind and sensitive brother. Dream sequences also reveal her mother's gentle nature, suggesting she continues to watch over Sakura.
7 "A Strange Intermission" (7.8)
A fan-favorite episode in both the anime and manga thanks to its humor and creative costumes, "A Strange Intermission" sees Sakura and her friends take part in the school play. Performing an adaptation of Sleeping Beauty, Sakura dons her popular Prince costume while Syaoran worries about his role as the titular princess. But as the lights go out, plunging everyone into darkness, The Light card emerges from within Sakura to confront The Dark card. Instead of battling, the Clow Cards congratulate Sakura on her journey and grant her the rare achievement of capturing two cards in one episode.
While being a fun episode, this episode is also significant as it mentions the mysterious Yue for the first time, suggesting there might be more to Sakura's adventure than sealing Clow Cards.
6 "The Last Card, Part 1" (7.8)
With only one card left to capture, Sakura's journey appears to be coming to an end when we reach the mid-way point of Season Two, but 'The Last Card, Part 1' proves that our hero still has a long way to go. Supporting Yukito in a big archery competition, Sakura is surprised to see her kind math teacher, Ms Mizuki, reach the finals.
Sensing a strange power, Cerberus confronts the teacher, only to learn that she knows all about Sakura's magical exploits and her upcoming confrontation with Yue, revealing that Sakura will need to face a "Final Judgement." If the dramatic revelations aren't enough, the last card, The Earthy, arrives on the scene, causing severe damage and destruction. The episode ends on a nail-biting cliffhanger.
5 "One Fateful Day" (8.0)
It's no surprise that the very first episode of Cardcaptor Sakura is rated so highly. Introducing Sakura, the Clow Cards, and her mission, it's a great introduction to a magical new world. Following the happy-go-lucky heroine as she roller skates to school along cherry-blossom-lined streets, her future is foreshadowed as subtle events hint that something big is coming to interrupt her innocent normality.
Finding a strange book at home, she opens it, activating The Windy card and releasing all of the Clow Cards into the world. It also prompts Cerberus to appear. Gifting Sakura with her sealing wand, he appoints her Sakura the Cardcaptor, beginning her adventure.
4 "The Third Element" (8.0)
Every long-running series needs a holiday-themed episode, and Cardcaptor Sakura's entry brilliantly combines the wonder and magic that is so integral to the series and the holiday season. The episode centers around Sakura's worry about what to get Yukito for Christmas, inviting him to an amusement park where they and their friends are confronted by The Firey card.
Working with Syaoran to keep everyone safe from the dangerous card, Sakura uses The Windy and The Watery together to capture The Firey before it can do too much damage. Filled with action and seasonal sentiment, it's the love triangle that makes this episode a cosy Christmas special. Syaoran's true feelings for Sakura are finally revealed, unbeknownst to the young girl who is desperately trying to capture Yukito's affections.
3 "The Last Card, Part 2" (8.1)
Sakura continues to reach new heights in the pivotal concluding half of this two-parter, as she confronts the last – and strongest – Clow Card. As The Earthy continues to devastate the town, Sakura puts the townspeople to sleep and pursues the card on her own. Sakura uses all of her wits and knowledge from her previous adventures to seal the card, showing just how far she has come since unleashing the cards.
With all the Clow Cards recaptured, Cerberus' full power is restored and he transforms into his regular large lion form. But it also unlocks new danger, as Yukito transforms into Yue, revealing he has been hiding in plain sight all along. Ready to unleash his true power, Yue challenges Sakura and Syaoran to their fateful Final Judgement.
2 "The Final Judgement" (8.4)
The second season's finale shows the true extent of Sakura's power. With Yue having defeated Syaoran by turning his Moon-powered cards against him, it's Sakura's turn to face him. The stakes are high, with everyone losing feelings for those they love – forgetting them completely – if she loses. When it appears as if Sakura might fail she fights even harder, using her first card, The Windy, to trap Yue without hurting him.
It's an emotional episode, ending with Sakura passing the Final Judgement. Vowing to be as hard-working and good-hearted as Clow Reed, she becomes the new Master of the Clow Cards, succeeding in her mission, proving that Sakura is a worthy heroine.
1 "Revelations, Part 2" (8.4)
The final episode of Cardcaptor Sakura focuses exclusively on Sakura's relationship with Syaoran. Learning that he is leaving for Hong Kong, Sakura is heartbroken and rushes to the airport for a romantic goodbye. Syaoran gifts her with a homemade teddy bear and leaves for his flight.
A new Sakura Card emerged during the episode, The Nameless. It would prove to be so troublesome that Cardcaptor Sakura The Movie 2: The Sealed Card would center around Sakura's battle with the card, reuniting her with Syaoran for the adventure and bringing them together at last.