It’s over, then. It was nice seeing Tokyo arc animated.
In the end, they really did save the best for last, and what a last! I’m very happy with this last installment, I liked it a lot and it’s my favorite of all 3.
So here are some thoughts of mine while I was watching the subbed version of Shinsen Subs, who did a pretty good job, by the way, better than last time.
Yuuko mentioning about the prices that Subaru and Kamui had to pay in order to travel through different dimensions really made me curious and wondering if we’ll ever find that out. Fuuma and Seishirou’s prices are also very much desirable.
One of the greatest things of this OAD were the seiyuus. I think Ohara Sayaka has really found herself on playing Yuuko. You can tell from the previous two installments too but particularly in this one where she has a lot of screen-time. You can really sense the seriousness and power that Yuuko’s voice should have. I think Sayaka sounds more secure on playing her than before.
Namikawa did a great job on Fye too. He brought a lot of emotion to the almost emotion-less vampire transformation scene. He’s great, but I have to admit that sometimes he sounds more “Namikawa” than “Fye”, if you know what I mean.
And what a surprise, I’m giving my compliments to Yui Makino, who would have thought? Well, she did a great job as well, I must acknowledge that. She brought even more emotion to the scenes featuring Sakura. I think “tough” Sakura inspired her xD
Fye’s vampire transformation scene, like I said before, didn’t cause me the same impact the manga did. Actually the manga is better in all levels, in my opinion, but this scene in special is very shocking in the manga, you can tell Fye’s in real pain, but not that much in the OAD. I would say Namikawa’s gasps saved the scene.
I loved the scene with the water containers, looks so pretty xD I’m glad Ohkawa kept it even though an outsider can’t tell it was Watanuki who filled them up.
Fuuma mentions that he found the feather container 4 years ago, that really makes me wonder for how long he’s been traveling xD For some weird reason I couldn’t remember that was said in the manga, I looked it up and it really was. I demand more Fuuma/Seishirou/Kamui/Subaru backstory.
It’s a shame Ohkawa didn’t keep Yuuko’s line about how troublesome the hunter brothers were, I loved when she said that in the manga xD
Also regarding the hunter brothers, Ohkawa said in that notorious Puff interview that she wanted to add an “ordinary talk” between Fuuma and Seishirou if an animated version of Tokyo arc was ever to be made. Apparently she didn’t.
Sakura’s quest for the egg was definitely the biggest highlight of this OAD. It was perfectly animated. I actually felt pity for Sakura in the same way I did in the manga (partly due to the animation, partly due to Makino’s performance), her injuries were all very faithful. It is also a very dynamic sequence, I really like how we can see the events with Sakura alternating with those inside the Tokyo Government Office, it was a smart way of saving time and like I said, giving a dynamic feeling to it.
The total lack of censorship should be noticed too. When Sakura shot the first monster and they showed a wide shot (again xD) from the wreckage, I thought they would censor all the shootings, but then came the two-headed snake and the shoots were there, violent as they should be.
If Sakura’s quest was the biggest highlight, the appearance of Sakura Kinomoto was the biggest surprise. I could never, ever possibly guess this would happen, out of all things that could happen that would be different than the manga. This is the first huge difference between the OADs and the manga, and I think it could be a vital thread for a possible original ending, if they’ll ever make one. It’s as if CLAMP really want a continuation (of course they do) and they used their very best resource for that.
And she looks so adorable! Sakura Kinomoto, that is. You can tell the staff put a lot of effort into making her, as if she was the big star of the episode.
Is she pure fan-service? I don’t think so. Partly, it could be, because for heaven’s sake, it’s Sakura Kinomoto, CLAMP’s most known character, but I don’t think Ohkawa would put her only for the sake of the fans. She might be there for the sake of the cliffhanger and make people wish for a continuation, yes, but I doubt her appearance was meaningless for the plot.
Fan-service or not, if she’s there, there must be a reason behind it. Sakura Kinomoto IS “the dream seen by the princess”. Sure, there is that other dream that you all know that we only found out in Infinity, but for an outsider, someone who is not up-to-date with the manga, Sakura Kinomoto is the dream that Princess Sakura saw. She asks herself in the end if what she saw was a dream or an illusion, and then the killing cliffhanger question “Or was it…?”. That last line is TOTALLY screaming THERE WILL BE A CONTINUATION.
But not just fan-service, Miyuki-chan in the end is fan-service. Sakura saw someone who looks just like her, and judging by her clothes, she was most definitely not from that country. Wouldn’t you ask yourself who she was? She already asked that, and if there will be a continuation, she’ll keep asking herself who was that girl, she won’t forget her and how she helped her finding her way back to Syaoran and the others.
About the other dream, it’s worth mentioning that when Sakura arrives and Fye greets her, there’s a close up to her hand touching Fye’s arm, which is the moment she had the vision in the manga, the moment she touched him. Supposing there will be a continuation, this could be another thread (I can totally picture Ohkawa inserting that detail in the script).
Another difference that I noticed was that there was no mention by Yuuko about the “two futures”. That is probably related to Watanuki and thus, XXXHOLiC, so maybe Ohkawa decided to cut that part off of the plot, since the XXXHOLiC anime is not making links with Tsubasa’s, for the sake of a possible alternative ending.
The animation was very well-done, all scenes looked very good. I still don’t like the soundtrack, except for a couple of songs, so for this episode I will give a 9/10 grade. For being faithful, pretty, dynamic, having the emotion the previous episode did not have and for its surprising and foreshadowing element at the end.
Thinking better, I shouldn’t have given 9/10 to OAD #1, because the last one is my favorite, and I shouldn’t have given 7/10 to OAD #2 either. Now that we have all three, and we can compare one with the other, I can valuate them properly. So my final ranking and grades would be:
1st – The Dream Seen by the Princess 9/10
2nd – The Magician’s Message 8/10
3rd – The Boy’s Right Eye 6/10
After watching this episode, there’s no doubt that Ohkawa was thinking on a continuation when she was writing these, she left the door wide open just in case. Now we wait and see if the DVD sales were good enough to make a continuation or not. I’d say it’s just a matter of time for the announcement to come, and if that happens, all I ask is to keep Ohkawa in charge of the scripts.
53 thoughts on “Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations – The Dream Seen by the Princess”
Leave a comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Chibi Yuuto's CHRoNiCLEs 
I agree with your ratings of the episodes.
Believe it or not, I ended up having to watch the last one without any sound…so I just watched it by subs. >___<
However! That made me focus on the animation and I must say…It looks much more realistic, detailed, and just BETTER than the anime series.
I really do hope they make more. ^__^
LikeLike
Really? That’s so nice to read ^^
>Believe it or not, I ended up having to watch the last one without any sound…so I just watched it by subs. >___However! That made me focus on the animation and I must say…It looks much more realistic, detailed, and just BETTER than the anime series.
It’s WAY better than the anime series, that’s for sure. The anime looks horrendous near these OADs.
LikeLike
Wow.. that was an amazing read. I love reading your thoughts on the OADs after we’re all done (or hoarse) from squeeing our little hearts out. Most of all I agree with everything you’ve said.
We must have more. I hope hope hope hope that the dvd sales were good. I almost don’t want this to get licensed in the US. But I do because then it can be subbed and i can buy it on dvd and i’d really really really really like to do that. No bootlegs though.
Now all that’s left is to… MARATHON. Watch all 3 back to back. That’s how I’m planning to spending my Saturday.
LikeLike
Thank you very muchly !!! They were very genuine so it makes me happy that you agree with me ^^
>I hope hope hope hope that the dvd sales were good
Me too. I know they needed to sell 20.000 copies of the first OAD to pay its bill, in the end it sold over 30.000 copies. Don’t know how well the other two were, though. Probably the same.
>Now all that’s left is to… MARATHON. Watch all 3 back to back.
That should be fun xD
LikeLike
I love your review, it’s very thorough and perceptive! I would love it if TRC anime has an alternate storyline with CCS!Sakura in it!
LikeLike
Thanks a lot!! ^__^
I really think TRC is walking towards its own original ending. Obviously some things will remain the same, but it won’t be a carbon copy of the manga, I think.
LikeLike
I agree, Yui Makino did fabulous as Sakura.. I could totally feel and tell the difference when she used the serious and tough Sakura voice, it really touched me.
I watched the episode raw and subbed, and the second time around, I really couldn’t watch Sakura get pierced by that rod/rock again >_<
One thing that bothered me is that they didn't show that second egg… because I was lost in the manga when she got the second egg or whatever ._. I'm so bad at reading manga xD!
I didn't like the use of the OST either… except for the new bits of music. I hope they release another OST!!
LikeLike
>I really couldn’t watch Sakura get pierced by that rod/rock again >_One thing that bothered me is that they didn’t show that second egg…
Well, this enters in the XXXHOLiC crossover category, I think. Yuuko says that the egg was duplicated, just like those kids. I think it’s also related to the “two futures” subplot that got cut. Anyway, I think we won’t be seeing the second egg at all, but that’s just my opinion ^^
LikeLike
Pretty much the same as me, the third is definitely the best. It sure has it’s low points, like the vampire transformation scene, or the abcense of ending video (although they did credit one, wtf o.0?), but nothing as bad as last episode’s underwater part. I’m amaze Ohkawa succeed to cramp a tankoubon and a third in 30 minutes!
>I’d say it’s just a matter of time for the announcement to come
Absolutely, expecially since they are doing a comics+DVD set for the first print of School Rumble 21 and 22. If the exported the concept to another series, TTR’s sale must have been good enough.
http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc/yoyaku/comics/school_rumble/
They’ll be issued for July and September, so I would expect a second set of Tsubasa to be released on different months (like June, August and October), just not to ruin the Shounen Magazine fans to bankruptcy. ^_^
LikeLike
Definitely the best, glad to see you agree with me ^^
>I’m amaze Ohkawa succeed to cramp a tankoubon and a third in 30 minutes!
I’m also very impressed! Some things were left aside but EVEN so, it must have been so tough to make it fit in 25 (not even 30) minutes!
>Absolutely, expecially since they are doing a comics+DVD set for the first print of School Rumble 21 and 22.
I saw that! Seems like Tsubasa started a new trend? I’m so curious as for what is to come!
LikeLike
>Seems like Tsubasa started a new trend?
Seems so, it’s a bit like the first OVA ^_^
Although it will be better if they could find a shorter name than “comic coming with a Original Animation DVD” that’s long as hell! I son’t know, something like C+OA [Comic + Original Animation] or something.
LikeLike
>you can tell Fye’s in real pain, but not that much in the OAD. I would say Namikawa’s gasps saved the scene.
totally agreed. Fye didn’t seems to struggle a lot when Kurogane hold on to him, I think he should have more reactions towards the pain.
I wonder if it was Clamp that suggests Kinomoto should be there. Somehow I don’t like the scene with CCSakura, not that I don’t like her, it’s just that I don’t like them changing the original manga.
Yui Makino really did a great job. I was quite touched by the scene that Sakura said sorry to Fye after her mission.
Thanks for writing reviews, we just love reading them XD
LikeLike
>I wonder if it was Clamp that suggests Kinomoto should be there
It most definitely was. Nanase Ohkawa wrote the scripts so yeah, it was CLAMP’s idea.
Thank you for reading my review and dropping a comment ^^
LikeLike
*headdes* I haven’t had time to watch it yet…i’ve been so busy and we have guests….ahhh..but i’ve been reading spoilers and i want to see it SO bad
And i flailed and screencaps of Sakura Kinomoto! I’ve been expecting to see her in the manga for AGES and here she is in the OAD. I MUST WATCH THIS SOON!
LikeLike
Oh noes, I hope you can watch it soon! It’s a great piece of animation, so exciting.
LikeLike
finally, watched it…after 3 times having to restart my compu from overheating…and it’s now 2am my time..
I’m glad i did watch it though, the artwork is gorgeous, and Kinomoto made me happy. She did take the spotlight, and the ending leaves you with a rather wide range of possibilities.
I happened to like Fai’s transformation, it’s not centralized, because of timing issues, but he is a guy (as girly as he may appear) and he would try to contain any signs of pain and grunt more than scream.
and the “good morning Kurogane.” with Kuro’s reaction made me awww so bad for Kuro. That was COLD! I hadn’t figured it that way for some reason. It hurt more watching it move i guess.
The treck through the city for Sakura was brilliant though, and i just loved this one out of all 3.
Here’s rooting for more~
LikeLike
I loved Sakura’s quest too! They were my favorite parts ^^
LikeLike
Thanks 4 your review chibiyyutochan i’ve been waiting for it n_n
this 3rd oad was my fav. the animation was so clean, detailed and
so dynamic.
I felt so excited when i saw sakura from ccs, it was
so emotional, and the end was perfect for me, so i really
hope a continuation *0*
LikeLike
Really? Thank you so!
>this 3rd oad was my fav. the animation was so clean, detailed and so dynamic.
Same here!
>I felt so excited when i saw sakura from ccs, it was so emotional
Totally was! The sound suddenly went silent, it was really creepy xD
LikeLike
I was waiting for your review chibiyuuto-san!, for me it’s almost like reading an article/review in a magazine xD only that it’s in LJ and I dun have to pay! hahaha xD
o,o yesh this is the best out of the three! Loved it!, yui makino was incredible 🙂 I could totally notice when she started to use her tough sakura voice and it was a cool feeling x3
sakura kinomoto being there was SHOCKING! I read your ‘spoiler’ and I thought her apperance would be like miyuki-chan’s and totally unrelated to the story, but surprise! she was the dream!, ccs!sakura was beautiful animated 🙂 she looked as innocent and adorable as ever and I think ohkawa put her there because we’re heading towards an alternative ending in the ovas (in case they’re continued), so they can have a proper end, because it would be pretty difficult to keep animating all the next volumes of the manga o_o…they’d end up making a big number of ovas xD
I really hope there’s a continuation cuz, I’m really intrigued! (I wouldn’t if ccs! sakura hadn’t been there, cuz I’d know what’s to come, but her appearance it’s a huge twist! xD)
LikeLike
>I was waiting for your review chibiyuuto-san!, for me it’s almost like reading an article/review in a magazine xD only that it’s in LJ and I dun have to pay! hahaha xD
HAHAHA That’s so flattering, thanks a lot!! *blushes XDDD*
>I think ohkawa put her there because we’re heading towards an alternative ending in the ovas (in case they’re continued), so they can have a proper end, because it would be pretty difficult to keep animating all the next volumes of the manga o_o…they’d end up making a big number of ovas xD
My thoughts exactly ^_~ They can’t animate everything, unfortunately.
LikeLike
When I first read Fay’s transformation scene in the manga, I was getting chills down my back because I could hear him screaming in my head. I lost all that impact in this animation, so I was dissapointed about that.
But yes, definitely the best episode of the three. Sakura’s retrieval of the egg still had me cringing and crying out. CCS!Sakura was absolute cuteness. I don’t what they did when they drew her but she was screaming “I am adorable!” ♥ Just an incredible episode overall. I am deeply satisfied. 🙂
~^__^~
LikeLike
>When I first read Fay’s transformation scene in the manga, I was getting chills down my back because I could hear him screaming in my head. I lost all that impact in this animation, so I was dissapointed about that.
Definitely agree. As always Mokona showed all her talent into making a scene look very real and emotional.
>I don’t what they did when they drew her but she was screaming “I am adorable!” ♥
I KNOW! XDDDD She was so huggable.
LikeLike
Actually, I hated this part of the oad’s.
everything was good until sakura’s quest:
first of all, the ost was taken from the anime and the first OAD and they were recycled again, and the ost on sakura’s quest (ships of fools, if I’m correct) was played 3 times in a raw – that was iritating!!
sakura kinomoto – definitely the impressions were halved, some did like it, some did not. I personally didn’t like it at all, it was too much, sorry.
The production studio didn’t include woonded watanuki , which could have add so much drama to the story. I think this moment shows us that holic story is very much related to tsubasa story, and there is lot behind the scenes that trc gang doesn’t aware of.
and what really made me angry is that they didn’t show as fay’s past.
why?! it is one of the highlight in tokyo story, and it’s very necessary for infinty arc. it also short moment, maybe 10 seconds , so why not?
I really disappointed from this one..
LikeLike
I hate to OST too, but yeah, it’s not like we didn’t know they would re-use the same OST as of the anime.
>sakura kinomoto – definitely the impressions were halved, some did like it, some did not. I personally didn’t like it at all, it was too much, sorry.
Given that fact that we don’t know why she appeared, I’m still neutral about it. Of course, very surprised and intrigued by her appearance, but let’s see what Ohkawa planned for her and later I can tell whether I liked it or not. If her appearance is important for the plot, than I think it’ll like it.
>The production studio didn’t include woonded watanuki , which could have add so much drama to the story
That was also Ohkawa’s decision, since she wrote the script. I think she cut off all XXXHOLiC links because the animes aren’t linking with each other like the mangas are.
>and what really made me angry is that they didn’t show as fay’s past.
Hum, some things have to be cut. She kept Yuuko’s line but not the scene. I think it would have been too much information. And if Celes will be animated, then we’ll have his entire past.
LikeLike
Definitely agree with your ratings. After watching the first one, I was starting to worry this wasn’t going to be much better than the Bee Train adaptation, but the second episode was an unbelievable step up, and the three was fantastic.
LikeLike
Thanks! ^__^
I hated the 2nd one, but this one was very good xD
LikeLike
Reading the comments, am I the only person who actually liked having the song “Ship of Fools” thrown back in there ^_^;;; Considering that was one of my favorite songs from the anime…
But anyway, totally agree with all you said about the OAD *is hoping they will make more*
LikeLike
Ship of Fools is exactly one of the few songs I like I still don’t like the soundtrack, except for a couple of songs xD
LikeLike
I liked the ship of fools too! But honestly, I was way too focused on Sakura’s journey to really pay attention to the music… Yui Makino really put the emotion where it was needed!
LikeLike
Thanks for the great review–I loved Yuuko’s seiyuu, too. 😀
I thought the appearance of Kinomoto!Sakura was the feather coming to life (or to… semi-life?). It was a part of Sakura that she didn’t know she had, but one that didn’t want to forget her.
That’s my $.02. ^-^;;
LikeLike
But why would Sakura Kinomoto be related to Princess Sakura’s feather?
LikeLike
I think Tsubasa is some sort of mass conspiracy by Clamp to get me to cry and squee at the same time. XD
That said, I loved this installment, and agree with your ratings. But…one thing is bothering me. In the manga, Sakura was guided back by the people who died, so does that mean CCS!Sakura is dead? (Gawd, I hope not!) D8
http://groups.msn.com/TsubasaReservoirChroniclesOnlineManga/chapter132.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=3056
LikeLike
That’s what I thought too! I was all like “No, they killed Sakura again!” Like she died while Tokyo was being destroyed or something. It’s just terrible!
~Lu.
LikeLike
I hope too that there will be more! There has to be more ^^ If we get the Celes arc animated it would be the most amazing thing ever!
LikeLike
I’m crossing my fingers ^^
LikeLike
I do agree that OAD 3 is the best, but really?? OAD 2 was not so good??
LikeLike
I didn’t like OAD 2, but that’s just my opinion ^^
LikeLike
For me this OVA was my own tragedy.
They ripped my favorite scene when Kamui got angry and trying to kill Fuuma …:) And then Fuuma bind him *___*
I’m just obsessed with Fuuma Kamui …*nervous laugh*
But I love seiyu’s work anyway …haha 🙂
Sorry for this absolutely random and silly comment 🙂
LikeLike
I know! I was all pumped up for that part too! And badass!Subaru too… Ah well, we got badass!Sakura, so I guess I can’t complain too much. xD
LikeLike
*still laughing nervously*
LikeLike
Well, it’s a pity, yeah, but cuts are inevitable when you’re dealing with a big volume of material and short time. I think Ohkawa did a good job and kept the essential elements for Tsubasa’s plot. Kamui/Fuuma relationship is one of the many side-stories that you can only find in the manga, that’s what makes it so damn special ^^
Manga forever xD
LikeLike
*holding hand* manga rules xD
LikeLike
*cries*
I need to wait until Tuesday to get my hands on this episodes! Having slow and limited connection is a lifetime suffering… *cries again*
I want to see! I want to see those different scene!!! *cries*
LikeLike
I hope you got to see it by now !!
LikeLike
Uhum ^^ the seiyuus really did a great job~
I demand more Fuuma/Seishirou/Kamui/Subaru backstory. Same here!!
*loved the lack of censorship*
Wah~ I really really hope for a continuation! XD I guess we all do, ne?
LikeLike
Yes, we all do! I’m crossing my fingers !!
LikeLike
>they really did save the best for last, and what a last!
It was definitely my favourite too! I LOVED how they animated Sakura’s quest! I was very impressed with how it really captured how she cared so much for her companions that she killed those creatures in order to complete her mission and also showed how much it pained her to do it.
>this scene in special is very shocking in the manga, you can tell Fye’s in real pain, but not that much in the OAD.
I totally agree. Fai’s transformation is my favourite moment in the entire manga and the OAD rather lacked dramatic impact here. It needed more focus, more time and a touch more emotion in Kurogane’s expression as he watches. “Kurogane” and his expression when Fai says this was perfect, though. I loved how his face visibly fell but not a moment too long was spent lingering on it.
However, overall this one was beautifully animated, well paced and undoubtedly had the best voice acting out of the entire series and OADs so far. The tension and strain was obvious in everyone’s voices and even Namikawa, who I have never liked as Fai’s seiyuu, sounded perfect.
I’m not quite sure as to the purpose Sakura Kinomoto’s appearance. It must be more than fanservice, she’s just too significant a cameo for that. And, as you observed, she is the dream seen by the Princess, not Fai’s future. I wonder if they do make future episodes how much they will differ from the manga…
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, -san, I enjoy reading them ^^ And well done CLAMP and Bee Train!
LikeLike
>It needed more focus, more time and a touch more emotion in Kurogane’s expression as he watches.
Definitely agree on that.
>It must be more than fanservice, she’s just too significant a cameo for that. And, as you observed, she is the dream seen by the Princess, not Fai’s future.
Exactly ^-~
Great comment, I see you agreed with me in most of my point of view ! Thanks! ^^
>And well done CLAMP and Bee Train!
It wasn’t BeeTrain (thank god!) who animated it, it was Production IG ^__^
LikeLike
> It wasn’t BeeTrain (thank god!) who animated it, it was Production IG ^__^
*Facepalm* of course it was! *wanders off in search of brain* >.
LikeLike
I really didn’t remember about the ‘first’ sakura appearence! o_o’. We can wait everything from clamp. It seems to be nothing important, but i can guess that it was a little tip from the manga. I still hoping to see ‘card captors sakura’ characters in tsubasa, maybe, yuuko are in tomoeda dimension *0*.
and great script! my wish for yuuko is more OADs *_____*
LikeLike
>I really didn’t remember about the ‘first’ sakura appearence! o_o’.
What first? Isn’t this the first time she appears? O.o
LikeLike
A complete review, just like it should be. I watched the OAD the day of release. Miraculously, MU was benevolent and allowed me to download it ^O^ Lack of time left me reading your review in three parts, on three different days XD Now that I’ve read it all, I can post. But I miss something. I haven’t watched it with subs yet, so I can’t say anything about script -___- But about that final line of Sakura I had guessed that the meaning was “And also…” or something of the kind. Apparently not, but not very different from what I thought.
I think little Sakura was fanservice. That was my first idea, but then, we’re dealing with Ohkawa here. Everything’s possible, so I’ll have an eye out for it ~__^ But I still don’t see why they took out the fact that Sakura-hime can see spirits and that they help her. That, I belive, was completely pointless. I loved to see little Sakura Kinomoto again, but I missed the point of it all. I hope it will lead to something.
Question: Where’s Miyuki and why didn’t I see her? Or perhaps is probably due to the lag in the video. The audio was a couple of seconds faster that the video, which meant having to stop and rewind every minute to try to match them. Really exhausting -____-
This last one was, like you said, very well done. I too liked how they managed to put the plot of the others talking while showing Sakura’s progress. It was a great way of saving time and putting in more and making it look like what it was, everything happening at the same time. Too bad they didn’t show Sakura’s vision of that future. But then again, it’d look best if shown on an Infinity arc animation *__________*
I’m still unsure as to the rating. I’ll see to that after I see it subbed. But so far, it is the best in animation.
LikeLike