The magic of CLAMP's 1990s anime adaptation of Cardcaptor Sakura continues to enthrall viewers more than twenty years later. Following schoolgirl Sakura Kinomoto on her fantastical mission to recapture the mystical Clow Cards (after accidentally releasing them into the world), Sakura fights to become the Master of the Clow Cards with the help of her best friends and stuffed animal mentor, Cerberus. Thanks to the show's loveable characters, captivating plot, beautiful animation, and incredible costume design, Cardcaptor Sakura gave the magic girl genre a new lease of life.
For those craving more enchanting adventures after finishing Cardcaptor Sakura's 70-episode run, we've compiled a list of similarly charming, exciting, and interesting anime to watch next.
Updated on March 30th by Brianna Albert: Cardcaptor Sakura tells the story of a young girl named Sakura Kinomoto after she becomes chosen to be the Cardcaptor of the Clow Cards. The series is full of both heart and deals with certain mature themes, but it remains one of the most beloved magical girl stories in anime. Although the series has been over for over a decade, the sequel's reassurance shows promise— and it has also reignited interest in other magical girl series, as it is a monthly manga. Here are 5 more anime like the show that fans who enjoyed the series can watch.
15 Sugar Sugar Rune
Sugar Sugar Rune isn't a well-known anime, but it is a hidden gem nonetheless. The series focuses on two girls— Chocolat Meilleure and Vanilla Mieux— witches who also happen to be best friends.
They travel to the Human World to compete in a contest to pick who should become the Queen of the Witch World, and what other way to do this than collect their hearts? The two venture on a journey of rivalry, romance, and learning what it means to be a human.
14 Phantom Thief Saint Tail
Phantom Thief Saint Tail puts a twist on the magical girl genre by including a phantom thief. Meimi Haneoka is a typical teenager during the day, but no one knows her secret: She's actually the infamous magician and phantom thief Saint Tail.
She's a thief, but one who only steals from those who have acquired what they have through evil means. Hot on her tail is Daiki Asuka— her classmate who wishes to catch Saint Tail and has affection for her, despite Meimi and her being the same person. Will both Saint Tail and Meimi be able to escape him...and steal his heart?
13 Dream-Colored Pâtissière
Ichigo Amano is an awful baker, but she has an amazing sense of taste. After being scouted by Henri, a teacher at the famous culinary academy, St. Marie Academy.
The academy teaches young pâtissières, and Ichigo learns of the existence of Sweets Fairies and the Four Sweet Princes. The series has tons of sweets, heartwarming moments, and romance.
12 Phantom Theif Jeanne/Divine Wind Thief Jeanne
Phantom Thief Jeanne is similar to Phantom Theif Saint Tail, but it deals with a young girl who gains powers from a real-life figure as she is Jeanne d' Arc's reincarnation.
She transforms with an angel's help and steals paintings and treasures that have evil embedded within them. However, with the appearance of another thief named Sinbad, who seems to have both a problem and affection for her, things become complicated.
11 Searching For A Full Moon
Searching For A Full Moon mostly deals with some heavy topics but is similar to Cardcaptor Sakura because of it. Mitsuki Koyama has throat cancer, but she still wishes to be a singer to see her first love and friend Eichi Sakurai who moved to America.
After meeting two shinigami who tell her she only has one year left to live, she makes a deal with them— with the time she has left, she will become a professional singer by turning into a teenager with their magic. Will Mitsuki be able to live long enough to achieve her dream?
10 Shugo Chara!
Part of Cardcaptor Sakura's appeal is the happy-go-lucky nature of the titular heroine, always acting with a pure heart and good intentions. Amu Hinamori, the heroine of Shugo Chara!, grows to develop that same joyful outlook.
Although Amu appears popular, she's deeply introverted and shy. After wishing to become her ideal self, she awakens to find three colorful eggs in her room, hatching to reveal three tiny Guardians inside. Helping Amu discover her true self, tackling self-doubt and internal conflict, these Guardians guide Amu through the most difficult aspects of life and growing up. However, nothing is quite as it seems. As the anime unfolds, Amu must use her new-found inner strength to overcome unexpected obstacles.
9 Kamichama Karin
Thirteen-year-old Karin finds herself living a lonely existence when she moves in with her mean aunt following her parents and beloved pet cat's loss. Her only memento of her parents is her mother's ring, which just so happens to hold the power of a deity. As the bearer of the ring, Karin discovers she has a goddess's powers and was always destined to have great strength. Sadly, mystical strength is a beacon call for villains, and Karin soon finds herself having to evade enemies desperate for her power.
Filled with romance, humor, and cute animal sidekicks, this magic girl anime is full of twists and turns, which will keep you guessing until the end.
8 Nanatsuiro Drops
This anime adaptation is a mere twelve episodes long (perfect for those looking for a quick adventure) based on the shonen light novel. When student Masaharu Tsuwabuki mistakenly drinks a potion instead of his soda, he turns into a lamb plushie. To return to his normal form, he must collect seven-star drops.
To do this, he'll need the help of a Stellar Spinner — a magician who specializes in catching star drops. Fortunately for Masaharu, his classmate Sumono Akihime — a Stellar Spinner — and her best friend, Nadeshiko Yaeno, agree to help him. While Nanatsuiro Drops relies on magic girl tropes, at its core, it's a charming story of love.
7 Tokyo Mew Mew
This adorable anime is fun, bright, and full of heart. When eleven-year-old Ichigo discovers she has special powers, she joins forces with four other girls to form the Mew Squad, protecting Earth from an alien race led by the evil Deep Blue. Battling against Deep Blue's minions and monsters, the five girls rise to defend Earth and every living creature on the planet.
Tokyo Mew Mew brought a modern twist to the magical girl formula when it first aired in the early 2000s. Featuring extravagant costumes and a central heroine with all of Sakura's winning qualities, this anime will surely thrill fans of the Cardcaptor series.
6 Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Arc
Fans of the original Cardcaptor Sakura will surely love the 2018 sequel. Recapturing the first series's core elements while updating the story and characters for a new generation is a stunning follow-up from CLAMP. As Sakura starts junior high, she discovers all of her Sakura Cards have turned blank and powerless. The series follows Sakura and friends as they try to solve the mystery, gaining new, stronger Clear Cards as they go.
Clear Card saw a fan-favorite character's return, allowing the relationship between Syaoran and Sakura to (finally!) blossom. It's a triumphant return that retains all the charm, friendship, adventure, and magic of the original series — and incredible outfits, of course!
5 Little Witch Academia
Originally a short film, Trigger developed Little Witch Academia into a short series in 2017 to further explore Luna Nova Magical Academy's mysterious world. The anime follows Atsuko Kagari, who enrolls in the prestigious school of witchcraft to follow her hero's footsteps, despite not coming from a magic background. With her friends Lotte and Sucy, Atsuko works hard to become a powerful witch while championing wizarding traditions that are losing favor with a new generation of sorcerers.
Little Witch Academia is not only full of wonderful art, captivating adventures, and heart-warming friendships but also champions the power of holding onto your dreams and believing in yourself, making it an entertaining series for all ages.
4 Princess Tutu
When a prince's heart is shattered and the pieces scattered, a duck transforms into Princess Tutu to find all of the pieces and return them to the young boy, defeating all the forces of evil standing in her way.
While the premise sounds bizarre, it's a fun, emotional adventure that puts a new spin on the magic girl format. Heavily inspired by ballet and fairy tales, the show successfully mixes magic girl elements into a fantasy ballet. Violent battles are replaced with dance sequences, with a soundtrack that perfectly complements the story. Enhanced with beautiful artwork and a captivating plot, Princess Tutu is sure to charm.
3 Sailor Moon
Perhaps the most famous magic girl franchise, Sailor Moon, quickly became a global phenomenon. Usagi Tsukino and her fellow Sailor Soldiers are fighting against evil forces to protect love and justice. Tasked with collecting crystals to help in their missions, the Sailor Soldiers embarked on an epic adventure filled with comedy, romance, and drama.
For an ensemble cast, each of the characters was strikingly different with their own distinct personality, which didn't stand in the way of the five girls making strong, empowering friendships. A series that's both magical and moving, it's a classic anime deserving of its iconic status and reputation.
2 Kobato
Another series from CLAMP, Kobato, is enchanting and heart-breaking and often takes unpredictable turns to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. Kobato is tasked with filling a mysterious bottle with healed hearts before the end of the four seasons. She's aided in her mission by Ioryogi, a spirit in the shape of a dog plush toy who must ensure Kobato succeeds in returning to his human form.
Kobato has all of CLAMP's trademark features, from stunning animation to jaw-dropping costumes combined with a magical fairy tale style. However, it's the delightful, often funny, heartfelt storyline that really makes this anime stand out.
1 Reservoir Chronicle: Tsubasa
Created by CLAMP to tie their various characters together, Reservoir Chronicle shows Sakura and friends in an entirely different light. Set in an alternate reality, Princess Sakura of the Clow Kingdom loses her memory. Childhood friend and budding architect Syaoran offers to help her, discovering it is possible to restore Sakura's memory by venturing through different realities to collect the scattered fragments. Still, the princess will forget Syaoran if all the pieces are restored.
This fantasy adventure revisits our favorite characters in an entirely new setting with new stakes. Filled with beautiful artwork, romance, and magic, it's a must-see for anyone looking for more Sakura on their screens.