OP Sequence

OP: 「synchronicity」 by 牧野由依 (Makino Yui)
Watch the OP! Mirror 1, Mirror 2

Summary:

Having barely escaped the country of Record thanks to Fay’s magic, Syaoran and company arrive in a new world. When Mokona asks, Fay tries to justify his use of magic by saying that it used sound and thus was different from what he used before. Syaoran blames himself for not considering enough of how to get out of the library, and he can’t remember what happened after he got thrown by the library’s watchdog. In any case, the group finds themselves in a damaged building that’s surrounded by more ruins. As they’re walking through the desolate landscape, Syaoran spots a rock that is rounded on top, and the reason for this becomes clear when it starts raining a moment later: the rain burns through things. With such a dangerous thing falling all around them, the group runs for shelter inside the one still-standing building nearby. However, they find that the lobby of this building is littered with corpses. Syaoran goes further inside with Mokona to investigate, and although Mokona can’t detect Sakura’s feather, Mokona does sense a great power underneath them.

Before Syaoran can get any further, he comes under attack by a hail of crossbow bolts. He manages to dodge most of them, but he loses his balance and one of them pierces through his left leg. Above him appears a hooded group of people, and their leader thinks that Syaoran wants to die since he set foot in here. They suspect that Syaoran is a thief and shoot one more bolt to finish him off, but someone throws a rock into the arrow before it hits him. That someone is Kurogane, and he calls for Mokona to give him his sword. The leader of the hooded group, whose name is Kamui, then flies at him and nearly takes off Kurogane’s arm, but Kurogane gets out of the way in time and is able to retaliate. After Kamui kicks Kurogane into some rubble, Kurogane responds by almost slicing through Kamui’s neck and using his Shouryuusen attack. Kamui gets knocked into the ceiling, but he’s unhurt and his eyes suddenly change in shape. He decides to walk away from the fight to go underground, leaving it up to his subordinates to handle Syaoran’s group.

When Kurogane questions what’s underground, one of Kamui’s comrades reveals that there’s water down there. They had thought Syaoran and company was here to take that water, so Fay and Mokona explain that they’re actually from far away. The longhaired guy in the back named Kakyou feels that there’s no need to kill them since Kamui hadn’t, and Kakyou is also the guy who decides to help Syaoran with what medical care they can provide. Syaoran and company are then led further into the building and go upstairs where they are given a room. While Syaoran is getting bandaged up, Kusunagi explains that there’s been acid rain for 15 years now, making all of the surface water unusable. They survived through an underground water vein that wasn’t exposed to the acid because it was under this building – the Tokyo Government Office. Unlike other buildings, the Tokyo Government Office hasn’t crumbled, though there is also another source of water underneath the city’s tower.

Later that night, Fay watches as Syaoran and Sakura sleep and comments on how he hopes that Sakura doesn’t wake up in this world. Kurogane is less concerned about that and questions instead why Fay used magic. He remembers that Fay didn’t use it when their lives were in danger in Koryo Country and how Fay had said that he was running because he was afraid of a certain person catching him. Kurogane claims that Fay being chased by bad guys has nothing to do with him, but he feels that Fay doesn’t want to get close to anyone, yet Fay was worried about Sakura and Syaoran and got himself involved with them by using his magic. Fay finally admits that he doesn’t want anyone to become miserable by getting involved with him. Their conversation gets interrupted by Kusunagi, but Kurogane doesn’t let Fay off the hook so easily and indicates that although Fay’s past has nothing to do with him, he thinks Fay should cut the crap and prepare for the worst. Collapsing against the wall, Fay laughs and quietly says that that is hard for him.

Sakura, who has been asleep since they got here, is meanwhile dreaming of herself underwater and hears someone tell her that she shouldn’t be here. The voice coming from the bright ball behind her urges her to wake up before she’s caught in the dream. The following day, Fay, Mokona, and Syaoran leave Sakura in Kurogane’s care while they go out for a hunt for a giant worm. With the others’ help, Fay fires the crossbow bolt that kills the mutant worm that they plan to eat. However, a second worm unexpectedly appears, and Syaoran springs into action to kill it with his sword before it can hurt anyone. Shortly thereafter, a second group of people arrives on the scene – the people from the Tower. Since the other side still wants their water, Kamui attacks their leader Fuuma, but Fuuma catches Kamui’s arm and wonders if Kamui’s hurt since he’s moving slower than usual. Kamui responds by throwing Fuuma, however Fuuma still manages to land on his feet. They never get to finish their fight because Fuuma then has to leave due to the tower coming under attack.

In discussing with the others about how Fuuma is the only person who’s been able to compete against Kamui, Syaoran and company learn that Kamui had only appeared in the past two years. When the current group had first met him, they thought he was trying to steal water, but they noticed he was in a confused state and looked like a lost child. After seeing the water, he had vowed to protect it. Kakyou had thought that Syaoran and Kamui were similar because they each had something they were after. Back at the Tokyo Government Office, Sakura continues to dream of being underwater and questions why the bright ball she’s talking to is there too. The voice tells her that it’s also sleeping, and it again urges her to wake up. Still unable to do so, Sakura then gets enveloped by the ball. Sitting beside her bed, Kurogane notices her hand move slightly, but he quickly realizes that Sakura is now no longer breathing. It is at this same moment that Mokona senses a feather and tells Syaoran that it’s under the Tokyo Government Office building. Kamui, however, points a crossbow at him because he won’t allow Syaoran to go there. It’s not until Mokona mentions that Syaoran is after Sakura’s precious thing that Kamui stops treating Syaoran like a threat.

In Fei Wong Reed’s world, the other Syaoran suddenly comes to life and breaks out of his prison. He is greeted by Xing Huo who claims that she won’t get in his way and is willing to use her one-time-use ability to send him across dimensions. When he questions why she’s doing this, Xing Huo simply says that the dream has to end. This Syaoran soon reappears in modern day Japan where Yuuko is waiting.

ED Sequence

ED: 「さいごの果実」 (Saigo no Kajitsu) by 坂本真綾 (Sakamoto Maaya)
Watch the ED!: Mirror 1, Mirror 2

I know this is an OVA, so it should be particularly good quality, but I still have to say that this is easily the best single episode of Tsubasa I’ve ever seen. The battle in the beginning between Kamui and Kurogane was just amazing, and everything just looks so much more detailed. They also left in all the blood and violence from the manga, as far as I could tell. That’s not so important now because there wasn’t that much blood to begin with at this point, but it will be by the end of this. In any case, after the work Production I.G has done here, I don’t think I ever want to see Bee Train touch this series again.

Overall, this episode followed the manga fairly closely and covered roughly chapters 107 through 115 of the manga. I was a tiny bit surprised to see them pick up right at the beginning of the Tokyo arc as if the anime original stuff from the second TV series never happened, but in thinking about it, it’s probably better that way. They moved the Fuuma vs. Kamui fight to the point after the worms were killed and changed a few minor things to accommodate this, however that didn’t really impact the story. The part with Syaoran being momentarily possessed by the other Syaoran was also cut, and I suspect that was for time constraint reasons. Again, it’s not a huge deal since the episode was so impressive in general. The only downside for me is that I really want to see the next episode, but the next DVD won’t be out until January 17th, 2008.

110 Comments

  1. Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations will be three episodes covering the entire Tokyo Arc. There are a total of 29 chapters in this arc, and covering approximately 9 or 10 chapters per episode for three episodes will get through it perfectly.

  2. Finally, been waiting for this for quite some time. Great episode, can’t wait for subs. Glad to see the cast of X/1999 here, wonder if the Angels won the war? BTW, the last pic looks like it’s from Code Geass, especially Syaoran’s uniform.

    Hector
  3. I am SO glad this turned out THIS good.
    My heart was racing while watching! (*-*;;)

    What Bee Train did to the Tsubasa anime was terrible, and I’m relieved this OAD is not treated as a continuation of it but simply as an animation of the manga chapters.
    Even though they changed a few details, they got the most important aspects of the storyline right, and finally, finally we get to watch something that has the proper “Tsubasa atmosphere”!

    I can’t wait for the next OAD!
    And I’m praying they will animate the Infinity and following chapters one day, too!

  4. @Unknow Voice : mind enlightening me what you are trying to imply about the continuation , because i don’t really see the relation of the last screenshot of the ending , and what happens after .

    kurotsuki
  5. @kurotsuki
    Last screenshot of ED is I.G’s take on first or second chapter cover of Infinity Arc.

    Show Spoiler ▼

    Thats a probable hint that ova 3 will end with Show Spoiler ▼

    Combining it with Ohkawa’s words that “if it sells well, continuation is possible” it makes a perfect sense

    Unknown Voice
  6. I LOVE YOU CLAMP NO MINA SAN!!!!
    WATASHI NO KAWAII JOUSEI TACHI!!
    JU TEN ++++++++++
    They are ( clamp girls )the only manga creators that put their hearts on every thing they do!!!It´s like every time I watch their creations I am making love with them!!
    AHHHH……That´s poetry…. 😛

    Tensai Otaku
  7. zelphers: There are a few select episodes you’d need to watch in the second series if you want to keep up at least the manga storyline. Assuming you count the second series as a continuation of the first, the specific episode numbers would be 27-29, 33-36, and 40-43. I would also highly recommend episode 37 because even though it’s an anime original, it’s hilarious. Or if you’re lazy and don’t wanna watch all that, you can always read up on them in my archives.

  8. @polar bear, I think more episodes would depend on how well this DVD does. But you got to also take into account how close to the actual manga storyline this OVA is. If they made another full series they would have to resort to fillers again. So for the time being I think they are just going to go with OVAs every few months.

    Kraker2k
  9. this ova is a success!!!!! bee train is just fail,, look at this!
    prod. I.G has done an excellent job.

    i hope that the success of this ova will make an opening for a new season!

    and no bee train please.

    gmdeath
  10. @since
    i think the whole ending sequence strongly hints that they won’t omit these parts XD

    @Kraker2k
    I doubt that we will see another “series”. Ovas are fine and i doubt CLAMP wants to get into another war (the war against beetrain is enough).

    @kaplan
    Wrong. Looks like Kamui.
    Kamui is Original.
    Kamui as character appeared at 1995, at the very first chatper of “X” manga. And at 1999 at “X” anime.
    Then this Kamui appeared at 2004 in trc manga.

    however you look, Lulu third and not the original one.

    Unknown Voice
  11. People, will you stop comparing Tsubasa characters with people from Code Geass? Tsubasa predates Code Geass by at least 3,5 years, not to mention the fact that most characters in this arc are from X which, as people have mentioned before, was first released in 1992 (though I dunno about Kamui; did he really appear so late in the X manga?).
    I know it’s normal that parallels are drawn between the two due to the similarities of the character design (it’s CLAMP in both cases after all), but it isn’t “the guy who looks like… from Code Geass”. It’s the other way around. In other words, it’s Suzaku who looks like Syaoran, it’s Orange who looks like Kurogane, it’s Lelouch who looks like Kamui, and the list can go on.

    Sorry if I’m getting a bit upset about this, but, while I enjoy both Tsubasa and Code Geass, I’ve seen the original referenced to as the copies elsewhere too and it kinda annoys me.

    Anyway, now on to the episode itself, I can now rest in peace. I liked the pacing and the animation quality was on a different level than in the Bee-Train anime.
    As for the content, nothing surprising there, because this was a very faithful adaptation.
    And really, I’m having that problem too… Two months is too long…

    Arashi-chan
  12. @Arashi-chan
    well if u are really sick of it why dont u blame the clamp… in the first place they are the 1 to create tsubasa and xxholic which have many cross character… for your information , just in case u dont really know , tsubasa chornicle is compilation of all clamp art work tat they create into 1 anime…….. therefore all the character they come out is absolute 100% original. it may appear same look of character but different personality . please learn to accept it !!!!

    furinyue
  13. @furinyue

    1. CODE GEASS is NOT Clamp anime. Only characters were designed by them.
    2. The complaining was because people kept comparing KAMUI to Lelouch and not the other way. Lelouch has NOTHING to do with these series.

    Unknown Voice
  14. Ok guys, for those who read the manga and know what’s going on. Because I don’t, and I’m not going to start anytime soon. I really don’t mind a spoiler at this point, so just fill me in on the two Sayourons or however you spell his name heh. I really don’t mind, so just fill me in please. =)

    GP
  15. @GP
    I can’t really understand on whats the fun knowing on what is going to happen, but that is your choice:
    Show Spoiler ▼

    Unknown Voice
  16. Eyepatch Syaoran is buff! XD

    This turned out pretty good, I liked the opening animation and song and I was very pleased they left in all the blood.
    Plus there were some new bg songs I think. OST number 5? (yay)

    Senefen
  17. mango.. it would be good if you can read some comments.. its not F&%%ing Lelouch,it kamui, the caracter made for Clamps several years before they made Lelouch. Come on people! get over it and try to watch X-1999

    Amber
  18. what happens in this and everything afterwards is like a train wreck in slow motion…

    while the anime portrayed everything up to this point as more or less happy go lucky, the manga was at least quite a number of shades darker, and after this arc it just goes downhill for all of them…

    damn… can IG do the rest of the manga after this?

    Slade
  19. tat guy tat u say look like lelouch is actually is subaru o kamui?? since both of the look the same accept hair color : subaru – black , kamui- brown. since the anime theme is black so it hard to different shape them… call anyone tell me

    furinyue
  20. Well, I really don’t mind knowing the deal with the two syorans. That’s all I wanted, I had a few ideas and it looks like I was right even without having to read 150 chapters of the manga heh. Knowing what happens doesn’t change the fact that the OVA looks great and will be great animated. So I don’t lose anything anyways.

    GP
  21. Great music. There will be a new OST for sure.
    I loved the fighting parts and especially the part where Syaoran moves his hand in the tube. Moving animation is good in this one.
    Though, I still like the manga a little bit more. That is only because I can use my own mind to picture these things, and that’s limitless in my part.
    I like what I have seen so far and will wait for the other two to come.
    So go everyone and by the DVDs. If they sell well, there might be a big suprise for us after a while. ^_^

    Tuuli
  22. BUY BUY BUY!

    If you want Tsubasa to continue the way it should, then actually BUY the OVAs and the OSTs and everything to do with the anime adaptation! plus the TV version DVDs too I guess.

    I’m just glad I didn’t have to wait for so long since the end of TV Season 2, as I had only discovered TC barely 2 months back! ^_^

    on one hand I can’t thank the fansubbers enough for letting me experience this, and on the other hand the rampant downloads may be what ruin our chance for it to go beyond 3 episodes 🙁

    BUY!!!

    The Chronicle MUST continue!
  23. @pt
    I know it by looking at the official website on NHK. Its all there in “FAQ”.
    http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/tsubasa/faq.html

    The very last question:
    Q: “Are you going to broadcast season 3?”
    A: “There are no plans to broadcast season 3.”

    Nevermind interviews with CLAMP ladies commenting on how nhk deemed “season three material” as inappropriate for tv.

    Also CLAMP has already removed their contract with Studio Beetrain, so there are no possibilities to continue “tv show”. And I doubt CLAMP would want it – not only fans were angry at the mess up of storyline in anime, you know…

    And the bird is filler. Thus it won’t EVER happen in the correct continuity (that is an OVA).

    So i’ll say again, stfu and try to actually LOOK for info next time, before commenting.

    Unknown Voice

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